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AFE Header Review. AFE high flow Cat Headers
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04-24-2015, 12:35 PM | #1 |
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AFE Header Review. AFE high flow Cat Headers
OKAY. So, I have had these headers for a few months now and I keep hear/seeing posts asking about N52 headers other than AA or headers with cats. So, as suggested, rather than keep posting in different threads, I'm going to put everything up here.
Disclaimer: I have NO affiliation with AFE, I am NOT a mechanic. I am a computer science major so any claims or theories put out here should be taken with a grain of salt. Furthermore, if this violates any forum rules, please edit and do no delete or let me know my errors and I will rectify ASAP. Engine/Car: 2009, AT 328i N52. Modifications PRIOR to Headers (engine/performance): Dinan catback exhaust Dinan ram intake Secondary cat delete RPI intake scoops BMS powerbox (which was replaced, more below). Storyline: So, much like many of you, I grew bored with the N52 powerband. Upon many months of research (and as AA was releasing their catless header) I decided that emissions issues and CEL would just drive me nuts. For a DD, I do not need to jump through hoops to pass emissions. I research AFE as a company as a hole and then specifically their headers with high flow cats. Based on the research and their power claims - not to mention I would pass emissions, I hit the buy now button. I would never look back from time period again. Here is the details on their website: http://afepower.com/shop/details_new...artno=48-36307 The thing that sold me was not only emissions being a cake walk, but their dyno graph: The above image is provided by AFE and NOT my own dyno* So, about ten days later, these beauties come in the mail: First off, let me stop by address the build quality. Top. Notch. The welds were almost a work of art, the bends made engineering and logical airflow sense and they weighed 12lbs lighter than OEM headers/manifold even considering they had high flow cats installed. Note the flanges, the thickness was something that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside because to me, that indicates a proper build process and they did not get lazy on items. It spoke very highly to me, yes, these small things really matter and you should really pay attention to some products you buy, won't mention names here, but you get the point. (No, no - not AA, a more 'generic' reseller). I looked up DIY, I forget his username, but he has the 130i had an awesome (I believe it was you) thread. Being mechanically disabled, I opted to have a shop install them. It was about 5 hours shop time, so that would mean 5 weeks my time. No regrets there, ego hurt but I'll recover. Back on track, I literally just kept my phone at my desk and kept looking at it praying the shop would call and say, all good - come pick up. Finally, they did. I left work early and bailed out to see my sleeping beauty. Results: The results were very impression. From the initial start, the car sounded WAY more aggressive, slight rasp, yes - I will not lie, but I think that's due to any header system in an inline 6 engine. The cold start idle literally sounded like a V8 'camming'. I put about 100 miles on the headers and watched as they went from a silver metallic stainless to a nice golden color from the heat, which I find beautiful: It's just so, so pretty to me So, a few more miles later, I had the dyno itch craving. Well, maybe buyers remorse in a way. "What the hell did you do, Josh? This is a few mortgage payments, this is an LSD, this is ___________" I needed a dyno to be assured I had made the right choice. So, called up the shop and did my first dyno in my BMW. The results, I would say, are very impressive. I instanatly stopped crying over lost money and started to plot new upgrades, a 330 manifold and tune. Here is the dyno with ONLY afe headers, intake scoop dinan intake, 2nd cat delete and dinan catback (all of which, minus headers offer substantial gains IMHO) I was very, very, very impressive with the gains over stock. I was so excited. Now, I knew I had to do more. So, from there, I took off the BMS power box tune and installed a 330 intake manifold then purchased a proper tune from AA. Both of those items are NOT in the dyno and I am currently pending a NEW dyno next week. Sound clips or GTFO you say? As you wish. Below is a video of my car with ALL mentioned mods, you can get an idea of the rasp, which I mostly contribute to the 2nd cat delete, but I enjoy it and it is very loud (SIC). This was a warm start and I wish I had audio from a non stationary situation, but at this time it is all I have. I am hoping to be around the 250whp mark with the current final mods. So, all in all - if you're worried about AA's catless headers like I was, this is a very viable option that offers some amazing improvements as well as audible enhancements. There you guys go. Any questions/comments/concerns - please post. I'll be glad to help answer any questions.
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Last edited by mmmnot; 04-24-2015 at 01:18 PM.. |
04-24-2015, 01:05 PM | #2 |
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I first want to say my decision to buy the AFE catted headers and Supersprint mid pipes were do in large part to your previous posts. Both items should be waiting for me when I get home this evening. I too had emission concerns and with previous cars, when I did a primary cat delete, the exhaust smell could become overwhelming at times. I have a N51 so it will be interesting to see how it responds to a less restrictive exhaust. Fortunately, Arizona is not a N51 mandated state. I am also hoping this set up helps to cure my M3 fever, which I've concluded is as a result of the lure of a V-8 roar. Not that I'm expecting that type of exhaust note, but a meaner exhaust note should be, to some extent, more satisfying. Thank you for a very detailed write up, and pretty soon we will be AFE header brothers in arms.
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04-24-2015, 01:20 PM | #3 |
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What kind of dyno did you use?
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04-24-2015, 01:24 PM | #4 | |
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Sorry for lacking that information. It was a standard dyno jet? (Not mustang)
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04-24-2015, 03:19 PM | #5 |
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Nice!
You mention that you are happy with the dyno... did you have a baseline before the headers??
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04-24-2015, 04:11 PM | #6 | |
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04-24-2015, 05:07 PM | #7 |
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any drone before or after?
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04-24-2015, 07:48 PM | #8 |
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They are a thing of beauty!
Now, for the BIG question, should I attempt the install tonight? Hmmmmm. . .
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04-24-2015, 07:59 PM | #10 |
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Can't wait to see dyno with tune and IM. Great review! Also I agree with you on how awesome they look after the heat!
Also, shout out to CS majors haha
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Current 2008 Bmw 328xi Coupe Sport N51 /w 3 stage IM | VMR 710 w/ Conti DWS | AA Tune Stage 2 | AA Signature Exhaust | Red Cyba scoops | Lux V4 | Euro-box mod w/ Silicone intake hose | Eibach pro kit w/ Bilstein Sport | Carbon Fiber Hood powerdome | Mtech Bumper w/ Akyrim CF lip Last edited by NJ Krish; 04-24-2015 at 08:05 PM.. |
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04-24-2015, 08:01 PM | #11 |
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I'm considering getting the aFe headers over the AA due to the emissions, but I'm still on the fence until such time when I do them later this year or next year.
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04-24-2015, 08:16 PM | #12 |
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04-24-2015, 10:17 PM | #14 |
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n51 represent!!!
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Charcoal Delete // K&N Drop In // Cyba Air Scoops // OEM SSK // AA Stage 2 Tune // BC Coils // Apex Arc-8 18X9.5 255/35/18 //
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04-24-2015, 11:00 PM | #15 |
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Awesome mod review
These are tempting once I see a tune/manifold/high flow dyno. The loss versus a real header may be worth it for the easy life. So I guess Afe dyno plot didnt lie and these can be compared to all the plots TheAxiom made. The bad news is that all those air intakes can't really claim 12-15 hp increases. OP not to discourage you. BUt don't know if you will see a 250whp number after manifold plus tune. That is maybe real headers territory if I recall correct. I predict something like 235-240whp based on intuition. Which tune will you do: a off road header tune or a typical manifold only tune? Will a tuner like AA allow header tune on this? Because Header tunes differ than just turning off the CEL, wonder if the 300 CEL can handle it...
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128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE
In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is Last edited by andrey_gta; 04-25-2015 at 02:27 PM.. |
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04-24-2015, 11:28 PM | #16 | |
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04-25-2015, 06:56 AM | #17 |
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Ugh so conflicted!
I just don't know if carless headers are worth the BS for an extra what, 5-10 over these? What I do know is that my car certainly starts to dog down a little about 15 min into a session at hpde when my 150k plus mile cats start to heat up
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04-25-2015, 09:44 AM | #18 |
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Go catless and leave the secondaries.
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04-25-2015, 10:51 AM | #19 |
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Did AFE say what cell count are the cats to make no CEL come up? 200, 400? If you can find out that out, I would rather buy AA headers, ask them to weld what I send them (I know the amount to weld/fit would cost maybe close or up to AFE's price on top of my own cats sent).
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04-25-2015, 12:24 PM | #20 | |
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04-25-2015, 12:30 PM | #21 |
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That was my original plan and prob makes the most sense and will cost a lot less (because I would obviously do the catless secondary pipes with the afe headers) and just spend the extra hundo for the catless AA tune.
I wonder what kind of shape my 160k mile old secondary cats are in though.... We just put a set of LS7 manifolds/cats on my dad's LS3 vette... so there is a pair of 2.5" oem corvette cats with only 15k miles on them. I thought about doing AA headers, and getting the AFE secondary pipes and welding in the corvette's cats.... and doing a crossover tube before the cats
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