m20 street build : part deux

[digger]

i got a longtube header in and screwed up the paint on my valve cover while doing it.





don't ask. i opted to install after the engine was in instead of hanging them prior. have no clue if it was the right decision.

did get them in.





at some point i managed to clean up and rebuild the brakes and added in some stainless lines.




that one was easy. getting the 2 small lines in above the rear sub was no fun.


don't mind the rusty rotors i have replacements.

i got one of those aae z3 racks in before stuffing the engine in but i have pics elsewhere. i'll try to remember to pop one or two on

Howz the ground clearance with the collectors? do you have a height difference measurement to the bottom of front sub frame i.e. how much below the front sub frame does the collector (merge) it hang?

[82eye]

Howz the ground clearance with the collectors? do you have a height difference measurement to the bottom of front sub frame i.e. how much below the front sub frame does the collector (merge) it hang?

actually not as bad as expected. they sit higher up than stock, clearance is tight but doable. it don't think it really comes any lower than the frame rail. the car's on h&rs so is probably dropped about an inch +. i can reach though the engine bay and touch ground from above. the bell housing is lower than the headers at the firewall.

[kyleconstantine]

Which headers are those? They seem to fit a lot nicer than the headers I have.

[82eye]

Which headers are those? They seem to fit a lot nicer than the headers I have.

IE long tube. bimmerheads sold them as well but they all seem permanently out of stock. i tried to get them from bimmerheads but they could not supply and told me to grab the last pair from IE last winter. i've had them a yr or so before i hung them.

they are supposed to be an improvement over the shorties. i figure my car could use anything i could get. it's a pretty mild build.

[kyleconstantine]

Wow you must have snagged them right before I could. Last winter I built my m20 and it seemed like nobody had headers in stock. I ended up using eBay headers with the plan to upgrade when I found some but there still doesn't seem to be an option other than the super sprint at ecs. I've heard they fit bad and interfere with the CAB. The eBay ones don't fit great either and I just have them connected to a custom mid pipe I welded and a stromung cat back. If I ever get my hands on a good set of headers for my 2.9 I plan on upgrading the whole exhaust system.

[82eye]

Wow you must have snagged them right before I could. Last winter I built my m20 and it seemed like nobody had headers in stock. I ended up using eBay headers with the plan to upgrade when I found some but there still doesn't seem to be an option other than the super sprint at ecs. I've heard they fit bad and interfere with the CAB. The eBay ones don't fit great either and I just have them connected to a custom mid pipe I welded and a stromung cat back. If I ever get my hands on a good set of headers for my 2.9 I plan on upgrading the whole exhaust system.

these are tight getting past the cab as well. i removed the heat shield to install and reshaped it a bit tighter to get back in. i'm getting a custom mid built and i'm running a stromung out back as well.

[McGyver]

I don't need them, but are these Schmiedmann headers any good? $282 USD + shipping seems cheap, but they're available.

https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/bmw-E30/18189-new?product=SCM3034M20

[82eye]

I don't need them, but are these Schmiedmann headers any good? $282 USD + shipping seems cheap, but they're available.

https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/bmw-E...uct=SCM3034M20

i know they're a pretty trusted parts supplier but i can't comment on that product. they look like a 3 piece, with the collectors somewhere between a shorty and a long tube. i like that they've included the x pipe with an 02 sensor bung.

edit : $300 dollar headers does raise questions lol

[kyleconstantine]

Wow that's very interesting. I never heard of that brand and didn't see these when I was looking for headers. This might be the only option available right now so I gotta find a review or something. There almost too cheap though.

[82eye]

Wow that's very interesting. I never heard of that brand and didn't see these when I was looking for headers. This might be the only option available right now so I gotta find a review or something. There almost too cheap though.

they don't make them. they are just a reseller. if you check ebay you'll see a few vendors selling that header. it's made in china. it's based off a supersprint design they copied. the supersprint is $1400.

[moatilliatta]

I had a set of the IE ones back in the day.

Installation and removal made the word headers a word of hate.

Especially fooling with that leaky xpipe.

you could probably cut them we’re they overlap and put a butt style lap clamp if they ever bothered you… looking back now at it.

I had to loosen the primary’s to get the x to slip on and off.

[82eye]

I had a set of the IE ones back in the day.

Installation and removal made the word headers a word of hate.

getting them in was not fun. after installing them once though i could do them again much easier.

Especially fooling with that leaky xpipe.

you could probably cut them we’re they overlap and put a butt style lap clamp if they ever bothered you… looking back now at it.

I had to loosen the primary’s to get the x to slip on and off.

i'm getting a custom mid made. we'll probably do an x pipe with 02 bung right off the back of the collectors. the shop recommends something removable and i agree. i'm not sure if we can do v-bands, they're usually the source of a leak.

[AWDBOB]

I had a set of the IE ones back in the day.

Installation and removal made the word headers a word of hate.

I once agreed to sell a set of IE long tubes that I installed on the engine before it was in the car.

I learned new words that day, trying to remove them in the car. Ended up having to pull all of the exhaust studs out of the head to get them off

[AWDBOB]

i'm getting a custom mid made. we'll probably do an x pipe with 02 bung right off the back of the collectors. the shop recommends something removable and i agree. i'm not sure if we can do v-bands, they're usually the source of a leak.

Consider merging further back than right off of the headers if you can. Check out digger's post on merging and exhaust harmonics

[82eye]

Consider merging further back than right off of the headers if you can. Check out digger's post on merging and exhaust harmonics

also have to decide if we're going single at the mid too, or dual all the way back. then there's resonators and cats to consider. shop wants to discuss it and come up with a plan.
i have a dual stromung cat back to finish it.