What are the BEST M20 long tube headers on the market?

[itsonlygeorge]

I really want a set of Racing Dynamics 'bucket of snakes' headers...


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[MR 325]

I am definitely a fan of the IE headers but another decent option is these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E30-325i-325ic-325is-87-91-Race-Spec-Performance-Exhaust-Header-Headers-/391015410561?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5b0a55ab81&vxp=mtr

Quality is actually pretty impressive for the price.

[MPLFoster]

I really want a set of Racing Dynamics 'bucket of snakes' headers...


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The one with equal length pipes?

I am definitely a fan of the IE headers but another decent option is these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E30-325i-325ic-325is-87-91-Race-Spec-Performance-Exhaust-Header-Headers-/391015410561?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5b0a55ab81&vxp=mtr

Quality is actually pretty impressive for the price.

What size are the collectors? It's not anywhere in the ad. Do you have experience with them? Any pics installed? Sorry to bombard you, just very interested in maximizing the mods im planning. I would merge these just after the collectors and run 2.5in all the way out through two resonators and a muffler. All 2.5in.

[SkiFree]

I also herd that ie headers are welded in China I could be wrong don't quote me on it but I did hear if from a vary reliable source and I personally have a problem with China parts know my car. Not saying the ie headers are bad herd nothing but good. I'm just a picky ass lol. The only reason I got the eBay headers cause my car has a massive exhaust leak and I needed to fix it fast.

uhm..... the IE Stg2. Longtubes are made in Pasadena (meaning MADE in Pasadena, flanges cut, tubes welded, etc.). They were designed by looking at all of the existing headers in person and tweaking for ideal fit on an actual car. There were a good three test variations before going with what you see now. The fabrication/welding is done as a bit of a favor to Jeff (ireland) by one of his old friends who happens to be a pretty neat old salt-flat racer and front engine drag racer. He's still on the board of the SCTA.

Part of the reason this latest batch of Stg.2's are taking a while is the afore mentioned gentlemen had his wife die a couple weeks ago. In spite of this he's still rocking on the headers (just taking longer understandably).

And as for a "reliable source" I work for IE and was the one who convinced Jeff these headers were worth the R&D in the first place.

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In full disclosure and to hopefuly help edu-ma-cate some on here..... the IE "shorty headers" are made in China. The headers made over there aren't "bad" per-say. You have to understand that these headers are simply made by a contractor given a provided sample and any hope of ending up with proper fitment depends entirely on the communication between the contractee and contractor. It is implied that upon delivery of a batch of headers that a good percentage is immediately scrapped through even through the most basic R&D (and given the very low production cost it's feasible)... that is to say the success of your china/ebay header lies largely with the supplier. Just don't expect them to be near the overall quality to be in the same range.

Batches from China can vary wildly from one another so to say one chinese-built header will always fit the same from batch to batch isn't very realistic. This is one of the reasons you might find one fellow who said the ebay headers fit great on his car while another said they didn't come close to fitting. This is where a seller really should be a bmw specialist willing to devote the time to QC (ie NOT your typical ebay china-header sellers like TOPSPEED or CXRacing).

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In conclusion I could have the stg2's made over in China and probably come close to doubling our profit margin while suffering a bit on the feedback side. But given the quality I've already got coming and the neat history behind the hands making them, the China route is not a route I'd like to pursue.

The headers Matt posted will probably be fine if time is the issue. Sorry this is so long, just want to make things clear.

[Bimmer_man]

I appreciate your correction. I misunderstood then what he was meaning. I didn't know he meant that the shorties are made in China. Please accept my apologies. The long tube are a nice product always have been I guess I just misunderstood. Once again thank you for the correction.

[SkiFree]

No worries, I didn't mean to come across a bit harsh. You gave me the opportunity to set the record straight so thank you.

[Bimmer_man]

Well I guess we helped each other out Haha.

[MR 325]

What size are the collectors? It's not anywhere in the ad. Do you have experience with them? Any pics installed? Sorry to bombard you, just very interested in maximizing the mods im planning. I would merge these just after the collectors and run 2.5in all the way out through two resonators and a muffler. All 2.5in.

I don't have access to them currently to check sizing. (I can't remember).

But they did fit nicely.

[itsonlygeorge]

racing dynamics equal length headers


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[MPLFoster]

uhm..... the IE Stg2. Longtubes are made in Pasadena (meaning MADE in Pasadena, flanges cut, tubes welded, etc.). They were designed by looking at all of the existing headers in person and tweaking for ideal fit on an actual car. There were a good three test variations before going with what you see now. The fabrication/welding is done as a bit of a favor to Jeff (ireland) by one of his old friends who happens to be a pretty neat old salt-flat racer and front engine drag racer. He's still on the board of the SCTA.

Part of the reason this latest batch of Stg.2's are taking a while is the afore mentioned gentlemen had his wife die a couple weeks ago. In spite of this he's still rocking on the headers (just taking longer understandably).

And as for a "reliable source" I work for IE and was the one who convinced Jeff these headers were worth the R&D in the first place.

------------------

In full disclosure and to hopefuly help edu-ma-cate some on here..... the IE "shorty headers" are made in China. The headers made over there aren't "bad" per-say. You have to understand that these headers are simply made by a contractor given a provided sample and any hope of ending up with proper fitment depends entirely on the communication between the contractee and contractor. It is implied that upon delivery of a batch of headers that a good percentage is immediately scrapped through even through the most basic R&D (and given the very low production cost it's feasible)... that is to say the success of your china/ebay header lies largely with the supplier. Just don't expect them to be near the overall quality to be in the same range.

-----

In conclusion I could have the stg2's made over in China and probably come close to doubling our profit margin while suffering a bit on the feedback side. But given the quality I've already got coming and the neat history behind the hands making them, it's not a route I'd like to pursue.

The headers Matt posted will probably be fine if time is the issue. Sorry this is so long, just want to make things clear.

good info.

[ATTACH]95588[/ATTACH]racing dynamics equal length headers


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any leads on one?

I don't have access to them currently to check sizing. (I can't remember).

But they did fit nicely.

I guess i'll find out. just snagged the set you linked me to. hope they turn out to be decent.

[cgk_iii]

tubular automotive makes the best long tube headers for the M20 in my opinion. They are equal length and the diameter of the piping is tuned for our motor. It looks like bimmerheads/ie are selling those headers on their websites (correct me if I'm wrong). They are commonly known as the "bavauto" headers.

[MR 325]

tubular automotive makes the best long tube headers for the M20 in my opinion. They are equal length and the diameter of the piping is tuned for our motor. It looks like bimmerheads/ie are selling those headers on their websites (correct me if I'm wrong). They are commonly known as the "bavauto" headers.

The IE headers are not BavAuto headers.

Andrew already explained that they are made FOR Ireland Engineering here in SoCal.

[EyExR]

Bullet Ride led the BavAuto header group buys and from the link below appears there might be another round, but as you can see prices will increase if so...

I bought these on the 3rd round and had them coated. They came out great!

Link: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...=304402&page=8

[fromtheashes]

http://www.schmiedmann.com/3_series/E30/Equipment_-_accesories/tuning/page2.htm#18194

I mine from here. Got them in a week and a half when the site said they were going to be back in stock in 40 days.

[itsonlygeorge]

There was a set of RD headers for sale yesterday.


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