[rick100]

So I was going to go with 3 stage intake but I m having such a hard time finding a used intake and the new one is just too expensive. Furthermore buying used could be a risk , etc ,etc. At the same time after reading so many reviews I really want to get the AA headers plus the tune Unfortunately I can not afford to do both at the same time as money is a little tight now ( I just spent 40 000$ in doing my basement)

I m thinking 3 stage intake or AA headers would be around 1500$- 2000

I m wondering which one would give me more gains and be worth more. I need advised

[W37V]

Try here:
http://car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi

Your search criteria should be:
Car: 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si (255 hp)
Part: engine - intake manifold

Per quick search, there are several. Price range from 150 usd to 500 Canadian.

Per results these guys have one from 2010 328 n51 (which has 3im) http://www.basicautoparts.net

[E46driver]

Wait for the headers to go on special. AA has promotions on them from time to time. I got them when it was 699+shipping which ended up being 740. Their usual special price is 749+shipping and install can vary from shop to shop. Unless u can do it yourself then that'll save you cash for the tune or the manifold. After installation I spent a total of 1040 to get the headers on the car and it was worth every penny.

[Tim07e90]

Headers+Tune

[Mike.]

pics of basement

[rick100]

Originally Posted by Mike.

pics of basement

I still have to wait till february. But I already sign contracts and put a deposit down . I was ready to get the M235 but again the trade in value was not there , we were 3000 $ off. Then my wife and daughter started to pressure me on doing the basement , long story short they convinced me and there is not way out now.

Having said that , there is not car on the market right now that I really want and that I can afford. Most of the cars I would really like to buy are over 50k . I ll wait a couple of years once prices come down in the meantime I wouldnt mind getting a few more HP out of this car.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by E46driver

Wait for the headers to go on special. AA has promotions on them from time to time. I got them when it was 699+shipping which ended up being 740. Their usual special price is 749+shipping and install can vary from shop to shop. Unless u can do it yourself then that'll save you cash for the tune or the manifold. After installation I spent a total of 1040 to get the headers on the car and it was worth every penny.

any issues with the headers ? like code lights , hesitation , smell in the cabin ?

I had headers in my civic before and I did not have any problems at all , only thing was that it make the car a bit louder , but a nice type of loud

[rick100]

Originally Posted by W37V

Try here:
http://car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi

Your search criteria should be:
Car: 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si (255 hp)
Part: engine - intake manifold

Per quick search, there are several. Price range from 150 usd to 500 Canadian.

Per results these guys have one from 2010 328 n51 (which has 3im) http://www.basicautoparts.net

thanks for the link!

[Tim07e90]

Originally Posted by rick100

any issues with the headers ? like code lights , hesitation , smell in the cabin ?

I had headers in my civic before and I did not have any problems at all , only thing was that it make the car a bit louder , but a nice type of loud

Issues: No, maybe slight idle issues but that comes with adaptation to the vehicle and needing a tune.

Code Lights: Yes, but a tune will get rid of that.

Smell in the cabin: No, unless you roll around with your windows everytime you drive, then it could be a bad thing. If you keep your secondary cats it may tone the smell down.

[E46driver]

I'm not running an AA tune but the car isn't throwing a CEL. I did have rough idle and jumpy throttle for the first few days after installing them but the car ended up smoothing it out after about a week and it was great.

I have secondary cats still in place and the performance exhaust with the headers and it's loud after cold starts but once the engine is warmed up the volume is I would say moderate. With the windows rolled up I can hear the exhaust but it is in no way intrusive like drone.

I have a bad nose and my car only smells during cold starts. Otherwise I can't smell it with the windows rolled down or even after some WOT fun.

The only issue I have with the headers is how much more prone I am to reving the car out just to hear them working

[mmmnot]

Just save and do all at once with one proper tune until you dyno it in.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by mmmnot

Just save and do all at once with one proper tune until you dyno it in.

For this option, you are looking at about 1700-1800

3 stage intake - 200-300
Headers - 750-850 (if you get them on sale - PM Andrew)
Tune - 500
Simon cable - 150-200 (I think they give you discount for buying it at the same time as the tune)
Optional - New filter (probably k&n, but I don't recommend it) - 50

If you decide to do headers, In order to save some $$$ you could immediately get 3 stage intake tune. That way you don't have to buy another one. I run my car on 3 stage tune without the intake in my car. It ran smooth. No cel. It was fine. Once I installed 3IM, car just had to adjust to it. That was it.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by W37V

For this option, you are looking at about 1700-1800

3 stage intake - 200-300
Headers - 750-850 (if you get them on sale - PM Andrew)
Tune - 500
Simon cable - 150-200 (I think they give you discount for buying it at the same time as the tune)
Optional - New filter (probably k&n, but I don't recommend it) - 50

If you decide to do headers, In order to save some $$$ you could immediately get 3 stage intake tune. That way you don't have to buy another one. I run my car on 3 stage tune without the intake in my car. It ran smooth. No cel. It was fine. Once I installed 3IM, car just had to adjust to it. That was it.

thats a good idea and an option I did not even think about. I thought in order to run 3 stage tune you actually need the intake. I ll pm andrew to confirm this , thanks for the advice

[rick100]

Originally Posted by mmmnot

Just save and do all at once with one proper tune until you dyno it in.

This would be ideal. But remember I m in canada so 700$ headers are actually 900 $ here , a 300 intake is close to 450 , installation is probably close to 1000 $ ( I was quoted 300 for intake ) , and to get it tune is like 200$ ( since I already have a tune)

So Im looking at 2500 to get everything done , which is a little bit over my budget . I have 1500 $ so I need to prioritize. Plus I would like to enjoy one mod at a time so I don't get bore of the car .

[Mike.]

Originally Posted by rick100

This would be ideal. But remember I m in canada so 700$ headers are actually 900 $ here , a 300 intake is close to 450 , installation is probably close to 1000 $ ( I was quoted 300 for intake ) , and to get it tune is like 200$ ( since I already have a tune)

So Im looking at 2500 to get everything done , which is a little bit over my budget . I have 1500 $ so I need to prioritize. Plus I would like to enjoy one mod at a time so I don't get bore of the car .

Just save your 1500 and wait. Believe us

[W37V]

Originally Posted by rick100

This would be ideal. But remember I m in canada so 700$ headers are actually 900 $ here , a 300 intake is close to 450 , installation is probably close to 1000 $ ( I was quoted 300 for intake ) , and to get it tune is like 200$ ( since I already have a tune)

So Im looking at 2500 to get everything done , which is a little bit over my budget . I have 1500 $ so I need to prioritize. Plus I would like to enjoy one mod at a time so I don't get bore of the car .

You could do installation your self.

It's really not that hard and it will give you great satisfaction of working on your car.

I did 3IM on mine (twice actually). Intake will take you about 4 hours. Headers about 10. It's a cool weekend project.

Given that you purchase and do everything at once, Before you start with installation, I recommend that you start by getting tune in order.

For the tune, you will need to read the cars current state. Reading the car takes about 1 hour. When reading the car you will need to hook up the car to a battery tenderer (I got mine at Costco for 30$) and just run the software. As simple as that.

You will need to email the tune to AA and they will reply to you with your tune. Applying their tune to the car takes about 15 min. I would recommend driving the car a between reading it and applying the tune. You want your battery in top shape.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by W37V

You could do installation your self.

It's really not that hard and it will give you great satisfaction of working on your car.

I did 3IM on mine (twice actually). Intake will take you about 4 hours. Headers about 10. It's a cool weekend project.

Given that you purchase and do everything at once, Before you start with installation, I recommend that you start by getting tune in order.

For the tune, you will need to read the cars current state. Reading the car takes about 1 hour. When reading the car you will need to hook up the car to a battery tenderer (I got mine at Costco for 30$) and just run the software. As simple as that.

You will need to email the tune to AA and they will reply to you with your tune. Applying their tune to the car takes about 15 min. I would recommend driving the car a between reading it and applying the tune. You want your battery in top shape.

Thanks for the advice. However I dont have the simon tool , so I would have to take it to the shop that did my tune the first time for an update, as far as I know it is 275 for an update .

As per doing it myself, I dont really have the time to do it , as I work a lot , plus it is winter time in canada and my garage is not big at all. I may do the intake though

Now I also have to worry about shipping cost. Last time I order something from the state I got screw big time. They charge me 80$ in shipping fees for a 100 $ item. It seems like canada custom is getting very anal about these charges

[mmmnot]

Originally Posted by Mike.

Just save your 1500 and wait. Believe us

YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!

[W37V]

Can you ship it to someone in US drive to their place and pick it up?

Also, you really don't need much space. As long as you can walk in front of the car, you should be ok. For headers, you will also need to be able to crawl under the car.

[stewey]

Does anyone have a before after video of the headers? I'm warming to it but worried about the sound. Pretty sure I'll still do the 3IM first.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by W37V

Can you ship it to someone in US drive to their place and pick it up?

Also, you really don't need much space. As long as you can walk in front of the car, you should be ok. For headers, you will also need to be able to crawl under the car.

I can ship it to buffalo to those places that you can use as an address. Problem is I m still debating on whether I should pay the tax or just drive it like it was a used part I bought from kijiji

[rick100]

I had a good talk with my mechanic today. Installation cost for AA headers and 3 stage intake would be 750 $ , plus he can piece together a 3 stage intake for around 350 -400 bucks. Tune would be around 250 . Headers is going to be the most expensive one with the exchange rates @ 1000 canadian plus whatever tax I have to pay at the border.

So once is all set and done I would be somewhere between 2300-2500 for 3 stage intake and headers includings , parts, labour and tune

He also has a afe intake for sale @ 450 $ but i m not sure if its worth it or not.

Still 2500 $ to gain 30-35 WHP is not bad . Still cheaper than buying a new car