Need help with AA headers

[Blacksport]

Got my headers from AA, but they came with NO instructions...

Pretty sure this is how they go...

[tuphdc]

did they come with a set of lock nuts? if not, you may have gotten the weld on kind of headers

[andrey_gta]

The boxer 6 in the BMW is tricky to fit these for

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by Blacksport

Got my headers from AA, but they came with NO instructions...

Pretty sure this is how they go...

Let us know how you like them. I ordered the same set a while back (just got a tracking # today!) but I won't be home for another month or so to do the install, and I'm eager to hear some more impressions.

[Blacksport]

I can tell you I like them so far...very nice quality, beautifully welded.

Was going to get SS headers but figured I'd save $800...hey, I could always dump them on ebay if I didn't like them...so far, that won't be happening.

[dailowill]

Originally Posted by tuphdc

did they come with a set of lock nuts? if not, you may have gotten the weld on kind of headers

They should have come with new nuts and new gaskets.

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Let us know how you like them. I ordered the same set a while back (just got a tracking # today!) but I won't be home for another month or so to do the install, and I'm eager to hear some more impressions.

I had my AA headers installed last month by my mechanic. There's definitely more power after the install, but nothing too insane. There's an increase in exhaust sound if you have any type of aftermarket exhaust.

Overall, I think its a great mod. It's got me to the point where I'm happy with the acceleration of the 128i in all gears.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by dailowill

They should have come with new nuts and new gaskets.



I had my AA headers installed last month by my mechanic. There's definitely more power after the install, but nothing too insane. There's an increase in exhaust sound if you have any type of aftermarket exhaust.

Overall, I think its a great mod. It's got me to the point where I'm happy with the acceleration of the 128i in all gears.

I've got a BMW PE, so I hope the headers don't make the sound over the top. I wouldn't mind a little louder, but I don't want to sound like some fart-canned Civic, lol.

Do you also have the 3-stage intake manifold? I suspect the two mods together work quite well.

[dailowill]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

I've got a BMW PE, so I hope the headers don't make the sound over the top. I wouldn't mind a little louder, but I don't want to sound like some fart-canned Civic, lol.

Do you also have the 3-stage intake manifold? I suspect the two mods together work quite well.

I had a PE too and it was way too loud for me. I switched over to a 135i exhaust because the stock 128i exhaust is really soul-less. I have a thread about it here -- http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1121094

I do also have the 3 stage IM and they do work together well.

[Swimjim]

yep, that's how they get installed. be sure to cut a hole in the hood for the upper header to exhaust out or there will be a large dent.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by dailowill

I had a PE too and it was way too loud for me. I switched over to a 135i exhaust because the stock 128i exhaust is really soul-less. I have a thread about it here -- http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1121094

I do also have the 3 stage IM and they do work together well.

Thanks a lot for your input. I did actually see your other thread before, a while back, and maybe that's what got me worried in the first place, lol.

Anyway, noise is subjective, so hopefully what you thought was "too loud" will be "just right" for me. I've seen guys remove the BMW PE because they thought it was too loud, and I love it. But, you also love the sound of (just) the BMW PE, which is what has me worried, because we may have similar tastes. Was it too loud all the time? Or just at WOT or above a certain RPM? I don't mind it being pretty loud, say, at or above 4000 rpm, or maybe even a little lower. But I don't want it to be obnoxious at 1500-2000 rpm when I drop my kid off at school, lol.

I don't take my car on the highway too much, so I'm not worried terribly about drone, but I just don't want to be the terror of my subdivision every time I drive down my street. Nothing to do about it now but wait and see how it sounds. It's good to know at least that the 135i exhaust fits if I need to dial it back a little (and I have to admit I do like those black exhaust tips).

[dailowill]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Thanks a lot for your input. I did actually see your other thread before, a while back, and maybe that's what got me worried in the first place, lol.

Anyway, noise is subjective, so hopefully what you thought was "too loud" will be "just right" for me. I've seen guys remove the BMW PE because they thought it was too loud, and I love it. But, you also love the sound of (just) the BMW PE, which is what has me worried, because we may have similar tastes. Was it too loud all the time? Or just at WOT or above a certain RPM? I don't mind it being pretty loud, say, at or above 4000 rpm, or maybe even a little lower. But I don't want it to be obnoxious at 1500-2000 rpm when I drop my kid off at school, lol.

I don't take my car on the highway too much, so I'm not worried terribly about drone, but I just don't want to be the terror of my subdivision every time I drive down my street. Nothing to do about it now but wait and see how it sounds. It's good to know at least that the 135i exhaust fits if I need to dial it back a little (and I have to admit I do like those black exhaust tips).

The best way I can describe it is that it accentuates the noise of the PE throughout the rev range. Just imagine your current noise multiplied by 1.5. I don't think it'll be obnoxious at 1.5-2k, past 2.5k is where I think the 128i starts making some noise.

Here's a quote from Andrew when I asked him about the noise level -- "You will definitely hear the car with an exhaust though so being quiet will not happen unless you stay stock exhaust."

[mike@x-ph.com]

If you need any help contact AA directly, they offer really good customer support

[Fume]

Originally Posted by Swimjim

yep, that's how they get installed. be sure to cut a hole in the hood for the upper header to exhaust out or there will be a large dent.

I'm sure the OP must be have been joking in that original picture.

Edit: I don't have headers nor have I installed headers but I remember Stig put up a post when he installed his supersprint headers that had a bit of DIY in there which is probably worth looking at in addition to just asking the Active Autowerkes people. Found the thread: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=805784

[Blacksport]

Headers are installed...the fit is very good, and they look fantastic. I'm not running a muffler, and they are now too loud...picked up a Borla muffler from Summit, model # 400496, which will fit nicely where the muffler goes, and I can still keep my Chinese-copy Remus dual tips.

Here's 2 photos, one showing the headers installed, and the other shows the gaskets sitting on the header...the gaskets wouldn't stay in the machined circles on the cylinder head, so I carefully centered them on the header and held them in place with a few drops of super-glue...you can see in the photo that I carefully rounded the sharp edges with some sand paper so they would go in the cylinder circle easily...it worked perfectly...I also gently sanded the inside edge of each pipe using a sanding drum on a Dremel...don't take it too far; just sand off the sharp inside edge...that alone probably added 30 horsepressure, LOL.

[Dafttt]

Those. look. so. nice.