Another thread about headers (s52)

[smerfs]

I'm in the last leg of my S52 swap here, and I've heard a lot of debate as for which ones to use.

Short background on my swap:

S52
25mm sway bars
treehouse racing eyeballs

I realize most headers will require mods to clear the sway bars, but a heat torch and a hammer should solve that easy enough

Ebay: I've heard the Ebay long tube headers can be hit or miss as far as quality, and require a lot of modification to mount to the block.

Raceland (leaning to this): I know the previous generation they had were garbage, but haven't heard much about their new long tube design. Anyone tried these out? how is the fit to the engine?

http://www.racelandus.com/exhaust-headers/bmw-exhaust-headers/bmw-e36-m3-exhaust-headers.html

Any info is helpful! need to get this car driving ASAP! thanks!

[JdmEuroNorth]

Very interested in this as well.

[Fernflex]

I have those on my e30, they were removed from the e36. I don't know if they did anything to make them fit perfectly in the e36 but in my car they fit perfect.

The only time my front IE swaybar touches the headers is when the car is lifted.

You can also add this.

http://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac---e36-m3-euro-exhaust-header-to-pipe-flange-p590.aspx

[e30rapidic]

I have racelands on my S50.

Hit the control arm bushing a little bit.
They hang really low so scrape on just about anything.
They are raspy.
I have a 22mm bar up front. I have spacers and about 2mm clearance.
Good for racecars I suppose.

I just picked up a set of M/S52 headers that I'm going to replace the racelands with.

[robgoesvroom]

Has anyone used anything other than raceland or ebay headers on an S52 E30? Ex. turner shorty headers

Also, it seems like from my reading that if you use S52 headers there will still be clearance issues between the sway bar and subframe. Is this true if you plan on going catless?

[smerfs]

Well I just bought a set and am waiting for them to get delivered. Once I get my engine running I'll report back

[netcsk]

My long tube Raceland headers hit both the subframe and sway bar. Wound up having having to shim both the motor mount and the sway bar. Would go ebay if I did it again.

[agent]

My eBay headers fit quite well out of the box. The only modifications necessary were to hammer a bit on the heat shield for a little more clearance, and to drill new holes for the O2 bungs.

[Gooch]

My Raceland long tubes were of the early variety (they needed the mounting flange holes drilled out significantly). I went to install them with the motor out of the car and they wouldn't bolt up, the front bank hit the block. Even after "modifying" them further, the flange swept back behind the black and there was no way the trans would bolt up. I was pretty upset since I had purchased them over a year before I tried to install them.

I emailed Raceland with pictures and explained the predicament and they sent me a set of their two piece long tubes at absolutely no charge. I was floored, talk about customer service. The two piece design fits and clears perfectly (also I have THR arms and ST sways).

[Varinn]

I'm running stock S52 headers on my swap and the front aimed directly at the subframe before having it fixed. The shop modified it to change the angle a few degrees and point it back at a different angle and it worked great but some shitty bends on the front downpipe have it rubbing on my 22mm bimmerworld swaybar. I have no experience with 25mm bars or aftermarket lollipops.

Tldr: Stock S52 headers, easily modified will fit easily around IF the shop pays attention when making the downpipes.

[NickL]

My racelands fit perfect besides barely touching the subframe which a hammer fixed. They do hang a bit low but I had the lower flanged retigged higher to match the other flange.

[robgoesvroom]

I'm running stock S52 headers on my swap and the front aimed directly at the subframe before having it fixed. The shop modified it to change the angle a few degrees and point it back at a different angle and it worked great but some shitty bends on the front downpipe have it rubbing on my 22mm bimmerworld swaybar. I have no experience with 25mm bars or aftermarket lollipops.

Tldr: Stock S52 headers, easily modified will fit easily around IF the shop pays attention when making the downpipes.

Thank you, good info!


Anyone have experience using any other type of headers for a direct-fit?

[MR E30 325is]

Modified SS rep headers for me.

Custom merge avoids any altercations with the firewall or the swaybar.

I did have the IE subframe reinforcement plates welded to the top of the front subframe, which added another ~1/4" of clearance.

Its going to be difficult to get almost any headers out of the box to fit problem free.

In my opinion, invest a bit of money and get a professional to merge the headers together to avoid any issues, or the need to bang up your pipes, reducing the exhausts effectiveness.