# BMW M3 header question **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [August 9, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887 "2009-08-09T20:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/1 "2009-08-09T20:10:36Z")
Hey guys, I have a question for you euro pros. The other day the M3 got pretty loud and to my surprise the rear exhaust header cracked! I’m looking to put a set of long tubes on it now, and was wondering if any has done this before? I’d be doing it at work on jack stands in a loading bay. Any tips or tricks? ---
**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/2 "2009-08-09T20:16:24Z")
If I remember correctly you need to make some fairly precise cuts to get the long tubes to line up with the mid pipes so you can use the provided slip joints… good luck… have fun! (use lots of liquid wrench/deep creep). ---
**Author:** ![Storamin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Storamin](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Storamin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/3 "2009-08-09T20:26:46Z")
i’m pretty sure i remember seeing a rather extensive thread on this in the FI section of bimmerforums. i’d suggest you read up on there. while i generally think everyone on bimmerforums is a major idiot, the track and FI sections are filled with people who know what they are doing. ---
**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/4 "2009-08-09T20:32:35Z")
Track section, maybe. FI section? That’s laughable. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/5 "2009-08-09T20:37:20Z")
I’ll probably run it open headers until I have a shop make up a mid pipe for me. I’ll check out bimmer forum to see how hard it is to slide them up in. ---
**Author:** ![95dime](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/95dime/32/7514_2.png) [@95dime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/95dime)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/6 "2009-08-09T20:39:11Z")
theres alot of talk on e46fanatics about headers, i think a diy too. have you checked m3 forums? i found the majority of the people on these forums are idiots but there are some that are extremely knowledgeable… ---
**Author:** ![Coldaccord](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/coldaccord/32/7272_2.png) [@Coldaccord](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Coldaccord)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/7 "2009-08-09T21:17:01Z")
this. may. sound. crazy. ebay headers for the s50/s52? fit. great. no problems whatsoever. myself and my buddy dan have run them with no problems. and he’s a bmw master tech. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/8 "2009-08-09T22:16:27Z")
> [@Coldaccord](#): > > this. may. sound. crazy. > > ebay headers for the s50/s52? > > fit. great. no problems whatsoever. myself and my buddy dan have run them with no problems. and he’s a bmw master tech. Yah dude I’ve heard a lot of good from the ebay ones. I think they are like $120 shipped? Did you install them from the underside? Is it easy? What did you do for the air pump? Can I keep the cel off somehow? ---
**Author:** ![turbociv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/9 "2009-08-09T23:21:55Z")
> [@ultradriver10000](#): > > Yah dude I’ve heard a lot of good from the ebay ones. I think they are like $120 shipped? > > Did you install them from the underside? Is it easy? > > What did you do for the air pump? Can I keep the cel off somehow? nothing involving e36 manifold/headers is easy. 24 nuts and about 22 of them suck.😃 you can buy air pump sims for relatively cheap. AA sells them and some others as well. ---
**Author:** ![djdstar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/djdstar/32/7617_2.png) [@djdstar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/djdstar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/10 "2009-08-10T00:29:47Z")
> [@Coldaccord](#): > > this. may. sound. crazy. > > ebay headers for the s50/s52? > > fit. great. no problems whatsoever. myself and my buddy dan have run them with no problems. and he’s a bmw master tech. e46 ebay headers fit like shit but are seconds off a big name manufacturer. they’re all the craze, it’s about getting the right ones though. without a cat people dyno some pretty awesome gains. ---
**Author:** ![Coldaccord](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/coldaccord/32/7272_2.png) [@Coldaccord](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Coldaccord)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/11 "2009-08-10T00:34:15Z")
it definitely sucks trying to get at the nuts, but it’s not awful ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/12 "2009-08-10T05:19:37Z")
I put headers in my e46 with little to no problem. Need to feed them in from the bottom and wrangle them into posistion as the fit is tight. I used a lift though, so i could stand under it. You should try to get the car up as high as possible though. You need the room to get the headers fed up into posistion. plan on using new bolts. The existing ones are actually studs with a nut. If you are heavily corroded, it’s likely you’ll pull the stud out before the nut. ---
**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/13 "2009-08-10T05:54:40Z")
also use ratcheting wrenches. But good luck, these things are a pain in the ass to do. If going the Ebay route make sure they are the “JVT” brand, that is the brand most people have been having luck with. Also plan on this taking more than one day by the time you run into all your problems and what not. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/14 "2009-08-10T06:21:09Z")
Ugh I was hoping this was going to be cheap! Long tube headers: $120 SAP Sim: $150 LoL V-Band mid pipe: $100 Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 8:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/15 "2009-08-10T08:00:43Z")
really? you think that’s expensive? It’s a BMW pal! ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/16 "2009-08-10T09:29:29Z")
THAT IS CHEAP!!! go price out some real supersprint headers. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/17 "2009-08-10T11:02:44Z")
I seen the headers on Ebay and was hoping to get it done cheap. Yes the M3 is my **cheap** DD. Anyone want to buy a used SAP? LoL AA is on zee way. The headers on the corvette were over $1500 alone. I just purchased a set of Kodiak Wheels for the C5 too. 🙂 ![http://www.kodiakracingwheels.com/images/frontangle.jpg](http://www.kodiakracingwheels.com/images/frontangle.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 11:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/18 "2009-08-10T11:11:55Z")
SS headers and cats list at $4,400 ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/19 "2009-08-10T11:36:50Z")
> [@66impalass](#): > > SS headers and cats list at $4,400 :eek:! Why on earth! You could buy a built LSx for that kind of money and actually go fast! LoL ---
**Author:** ![Shifty](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/shifty/32/4959_2.png) [@Shifty](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shifty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887/20 "2009-08-10T12:24:30Z")
Just buy these from AA: ![http://active-auto-werke.com/images/products/640/product30.jpg](http://active-auto-werke.com/images/products/640/product30.jpg) Matt & I did headers on my M3 and it wasnt hard to change out. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-m3-header-question/71887.md?page=2)