[overdrivex]

Just out of curiosity, besides the CEL, is a tune required if i was to purchase AA headers, or will the car run just fine without one?

[hassmaschine]

No point in headers if you dont tune it.

[Ruddigger]

I had my headers installed last night, drove home without the header tune and went into limp mode on the freeway. That was fun. Loaded the tune this morning and all is well now. You CAN run the headers without the tune, but I would say the tune is the optimal way to go. Others can chime in if I'm wrong.

[Ruddigger]

Oh, here's a question about the AA header tune, for anybody who has it. I thought it would disable the cold start, but it didn't. Is it not supposed to?

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

I had my headers installed last night, drove home without the header tune and went into limp mode on the freeway. That was fun. Loaded the tune this morning and all is well now. You CAN run the headers without the tune, but I would say the tune is the optimal way to go. Others can chime in if I'm wrong.

Considering the AA header specific tune doesn't do much besides remove the CEL, that probably wasn't the issue.

[Ruddigger]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

Considering the AA header specific tune doesn't do much besides remove the CEL, that probably wasn't the issue.

How do you know that to be the case?

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

How do you know that to be the case?

I have insider info.

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

[overdrivex]

So would I be okay without the tune? Ive heard that a tune is really only necessary on turbocharged cars....which the 328 is not.

[Ruddigger]

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.

Well, my car had been running fine before. I find it hard to believe that minutes after installing the headers my limp mode issue is related to something else, especially since the problem has not reocurred since updating the tune. Maybe the car just needed to adapt, and the tune did nothing, as you say, but most likely the limp mode was header related.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

Well, my car had been running fine before. I find it hard to believe that minutes after installing the headers my limp mode issue is related to something else, especially since the problem has not reocurred since updating the tune. Maybe the car just needed to adapt, and the tune did nothing, as you say, but most likely the limp mode was header related.

Most likely you should scan for codes.. You will probably have some hidden codes stored that will let you know why your car went limp.. You are right it could be nothing or a sign of bad things to come.. Last thing you want is to be stranded on the side of the road.

[Ruddigger]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Most likely you should scan for codes.. You will probably have some hidden codes stored that will let you know why your car went limp.. You are right it could be nothing or a sign of bad things to come.. Last thing you want is to be stranded on the side of the road.

I have, there are no codes. At least none that would show up with a standard OBD II reader.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

I have, there are no codes. At least none that would show up with a standard OBD II reader.

ODBII wont show you BMW shadow codes.. You need a BAV tool or something similar.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

So would I be okay without the tune? Ive heard that a tune is really only necessary on turbocharged cars....which the 328 is not.

"OK" but you're not going to realize the potential of headers with no tune. You would have been better off getting a tune and no headers..

[overdrivex]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

"OK" but you're not going to realize the potential of headers with no tune. You would have been better off getting a tune and no headers..

Thanks! I'll invest in a tune if i get headers then.

[Ruddigger]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

ODBII wont show you BMW shadow codes.. You need a BAV tool or something similar.

Thanks, I know, that's why I specified regular obd2. I really should break down and get a better reader at some point.

[hassmaschine]

$20 cable and INPA for your laptop. Generic code readers are a waste of time, and things like the BAV tool are way too expensive for what they do.

[Ruddigger]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

$20 cable and INPA for your laptop. Generic code readers are a waste of time, and things like the BAV tool are way too expensive for what they do.

Well, not a complete waste of time, they do show a lot of the codes, and I had it anyway from my previous cars. So, all I need is a 20 dollar cable, and a windows laptop, which I dont have. lol

Anyway, Hass, can you shed anymore light onto Axiom's claim that the O2 tune is just a CEL delete?

[hassmaschine]

That appears to be the main difference, yes. However, that doesn't mean that a "no tune" header swap is the same as having a tuned one (error code delete or not).

[bimmerquick43321]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

That appears to be the main difference, yes. However, that doesn't mean that a "no tune" header swap is the same as having a tuned one (error code delete or not).

Not sure but I remember asking them (AA) about this, as I know is some cars a cel from the O2 will trigger a sort of 'safe mode', and a more rich a/f ratio is used.

they said that even if the car doesn't go into 'safe/limp/whatever mode' however yes it will use a table that will make it run richer and they do adjust that with their tune, this is from what I was told...

[tdavis42]

What about AFE catted headers and no tune?

[hassmaschine]

doesn't matter. you're running stock ignition timing, fuel, Vanos, etc. There's not much point in headers without a tune. you won't get a CEL, but you're not going to see a big increase in power - certainly not enough to warrant the cost.

[tdavis42]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

doesn't matter. you're running stock ignition timing, fuel, Vanos, etc. There's not much point in headers without a tune. you won't get a CEL, but you're not going to see a big increase in power - certainly not enough to warrant the cost.

Just wanted to know if its even worth install before I get the tune. Not sure what tune to go with though, according to Tom D. AA has no experience with these headers, BPC is one option, and Epic is another. Kinda stuck on what tune to get.