Headers is a tune required?

hassmaschine · 10-03-2016, 11:43 AM

I would consider BPC or Epic.

You could install them ahead of time if you already have them. it's not going to hurt anything - not sure if your O2 readiness will set or not with the stock tune, but I think it should.

tdavis42 · 10-03-2016, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

I would consider BPC or Epic.

You could install them ahead of time if you already have them. it's not going to hurt anything - not sure if your O2 readiness will set or not with the stock tune, but I think it should.

I'm leaning more towards Epic as the provide revised tuning based on data logging. I have heard nothing but great things about BPC but that would require a few visits to a dyno.

What's your take on Epic? I haven't really heard much about them with our N52's. I know they do big things in the autocross world though.

hassmaschine · 10-03-2016, 11:57 AM

Epic knows their shit.

tdavis42 · 10-03-2016, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Epic knows their shit.

How risky is it to go to a local shop thats known for tuning high performance cars? I have two local shops that have dyno's and can tune. I'm just not sure I want to go to someone that doesn't specialize in BMW's.

hassmaschine · 10-03-2016, 12:01 PM

if they have never tuned an N52 I don't think it's a good idea.

Delta0311 · 10-03-2016, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdavis42

How risky is it to go to a local shop thats known for tuning high performance cars? I have two local shops that have dyno's and can tune. I'm just not sure I want to go to someone that doesn't specialize in BMW's.

Why not just get a AA or Eurocharged tune like we all did? Go with what we all know works.

hassmaschine · 10-03-2016, 12:26 PM

There are reasons..

Taskmaster · 10-03-2016, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

There are reasons..

This. BCP has my vote

RyanDavies · 10-03-2016, 01:03 PM

Yep. I'm happy with Epic, but may consider changing (again) after I have a conversation with BPC about 100 octane and an actual dyno tune.

tdavis42 · 10-03-2016, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Why not just get a AA or Eurocharged tune like we all did? Go with what we all know works.

Just because one company is talked about alot in this forum doesn't mean it's the best. If you go to epic motorsports page you see actual results like trophies not dynos.

Edit: same with BPC

tdavis42 · 10-03-2016, 11:13 PM

Do you guys think the exhaust note will change with the AFE headers? I am keeping stock exhaust from them back.

3002 tii · 10-04-2016, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

I have insider info.

And I also ran my car without a "header tune" for months and thousands of miles with no issue.

Might run fine without tune but isn't the tune supposed to help realize the full potential?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdavis42

What about AFE catted headers and no tune?

I think someone ran the Afe headers and the cats eventually started failing lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

I would consider BPC or Epic.

You could install them ahead of time if you already have them. it's not going to hurt anything - not sure if your O2 readiness will set or not with the stock tune, but I think it should.

Add TTFS (Frank Smith) potentially

sprp85 · 10-04-2016, 09:24 AM

The failed header was used along with AA off-road tune, wasn't it?

3002 tii · 10-04-2016, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprp85

The failed header was used along with AA off-road tune, wasn't it?

Perhaps but don't see how that would lead to failure so quickly

tdavis42 · 10-04-2016, 09:35 AM

aFe catted header with AA's off road tune will kill them.

Ruddigger · 10-04-2016, 09:55 AM

If all the offroad tune does is kill the CEL, then it shouldn't have any effect on catted headers.

overdrivex · 10-04-2016, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

If all the offroad tune does is kill the CEL, then it shouldn't have any effect on catted headers.

Yeah, and then my question is, if thats all it does, why is it required to "optimize" performance of the headers? I really thought that was only for turbocharged cars? If thats the case, why doesn't my Miata need a tune for the use of a different header?

Ruddigger · 10-04-2016, 10:26 AM

AA has said the catless tune does more than just delete the CEL. How much more, I dont know, and the people that might are being coy about it. But if the catless tune will destroy catted headers, then something more is going on.

overdrivex · 10-04-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

AA has said the catless tune does more than just delete the CEL. How much more, I dont know, and the people that might are being coy about it. But if the catless tune will destroy catted headers, then something more is going on.

Hmm interesting...I guess theres no clear answer as to whether it does more or not.

tdavis42 · 10-04-2016, 10:56 AM

This is why I am shopping around and when I do talk to these companies about tunes I am very specific about what I have and what their tune does exactly.

I know what happened to Tom, I am buying the set he has laying in his garage.

AA is an off the shelf tune, I want something more refined and specific for my car. I have a 3IM that hasn't been tuned either so I in theory have a lot of horse power and torque just waiting to be used. I just need to find the right company that can handle both without blowing shit up.

Taskmaster · 10-04-2016, 11:56 AM

A lot of speculation here, but let's just go with the fact.

You can run headers without a tune.

You SHOULD tune your car for headers

The AFE failure was the only one we've seen (and the only one the company is aware of) there are other members who have them with no issues.

AA's tune may...or may not turn off the cat overheat protection. In fact, I don't think anyone besides BCP does - (unconfirmed)

Taskmaster · 10-04-2016, 12:00 PM

I will say this - outside of AAs 2 dynos (both dyno tuned) I've asked around and looked - I've never seen a 'tune only' dyno for header software. I've even asked members if they noticed a difference going to header specific software and they noticed none. Some companies don't even offer a header specific tune...

Don't trust your ass dyno, don't take their word for it. Dyno your car - ask questions, and seek results.

10-03-2016, 11:43 AM	#23
hassmaschine Major General 3966 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	I would consider BPC or Epic. You could install them ahead of time if you already have them. it's not going to hurt anything - not sure if your O2 readiness will set or not with the stock tune, but I think it should.
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10-03-2016, 11:57 AM	#25
hassmaschine Major General 3966 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	Epic knows their shit.
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10-03-2016, 12:01 PM	#27
hassmaschine Major General 3966 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	if they have never tuned an N52 I don't think it's a good idea.
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10-03-2016, 12:26 PM	#29
hassmaschine Major General 3966 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	There are reasons..
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10-03-2016, 01:03 PM	#31
RyanDavies Lieutenant 63 Rep 448 Posts Drives: 2012 128i MSport Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (2)	Yep. I'm happy with Epic, but may consider changing (again) after I have a conversation with BPC about 100 octane and an actual dyno tune.
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10-03-2016, 11:13 PM	#33
tdavis42 Captain 181 Rep 657 Posts Drives: 08 E90 328i ZSP AT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	Do you guys think the exhaust note will change with the AFE headers? I am keeping stock exhaust from them back.
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10-04-2016, 09:24 AM	#35
sprp85 Lieutenant 96 Rep 406 Posts Drives: S54/N52 Join Date: May 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 E46 M3 [0.00] 2007 E91 328i [0.00]	The failed header was used along with AA off-road tune, wasn't it?
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10-04-2016, 09:35 AM	#37
tdavis42 Captain 181 Rep 657 Posts Drives: 08 E90 328i ZSP AT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	aFe catted header with AA's off road tune will kill them.
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10-04-2016, 09:55 AM	#38
Ruddigger Major 694 Rep 1,302 Posts Drives: 2012 E91 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	If all the offroad tune does is kill the CEL, then it shouldn't have any effect on catted headers. __________________ My build thread. It's a wagon with stuff on it.
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10-04-2016, 10:26 AM	#40
Ruddigger Major 694 Rep 1,302 Posts Drives: 2012 E91 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	AA has said the catless tune does more than just delete the CEL. How much more, I dont know, and the people that might are being coy about it. But if the catless tune will destroy catted headers, then something more is going on. __________________ My build thread. It's a wagon with stuff on it.
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10-04-2016, 10:56 AM	#42
tdavis42 Captain 181 Rep 657 Posts Drives: 08 E90 328i ZSP AT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	This is why I am shopping around and when I do talk to these companies about tunes I am very specific about what I have and what their tune does exactly. I know what happened to Tom, I am buying the set he has laying in his garage. AA is an off the shelf tune, I want something more refined and specific for my car. I have a 3IM that hasn't been tuned either so I in theory have a lot of horse power and torque just waiting to be used. I just need to find the right company that can handle both without blowing shit up.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-04-2016, 11:56 AM	#43
Taskmaster Banned 2465 Rep 9,004 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT / E92 328 Msport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	A lot of speculation here, but let's just go with the fact. You can run headers without a tune. You SHOULD tune your car for headers The AFE failure was the only one we've seen (and the only one the company is aware of) there are other members who have them with no issues. AA's tune may...or may not turn off the cat overheat protection. In fact, I don't think anyone besides BCP does - (unconfirmed)
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10-04-2016, 12:00 PM	#44
Taskmaster Banned 2465 Rep 9,004 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT / E92 328 Msport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	I will say this - outside of AAs 2 dynos (both dyno tuned) I've asked around and looked - I've never seen a 'tune only' dyno for header software. I've even asked members if they noticed a difference going to header specific software and they noticed none. Some companies don't even offer a header specific tune... Don't trust your ass dyno, don't take their word for it. Dyno your car - ask questions, and seek results.
	Appreciate 0 Quote