[.RJ]

I just picked up a euro airbox from ebay germany and was poking around at what other parts were listed there - and I saw a few listings for what looked like a different style exhaust manifold/header for the E90 N5x motors. They kind of look like short tube headers like the AFE product.

Has anyone tried installing these on a US car? I dont really have any interest in ditching the cats in the headers because of emissions testing and noise so these are appealing. I have the BMW PE now and the sound is about perfect for me, and the fitment of OE parts will always be good.

[Noir]

here for the science

[PORTMOODY]

I have these, but I deleted the cats. They are actually n53 headers, if I'm not mistaken. I doubt the gain in performance would be worth it. You'd get more bang for your buck performance wise deleting your second cats and it would be much cheaper. Also, no emissions codes to detect.

[.RJ]

I thought I'd read that these were N53 but the googlepedia sez N53 only came in 5-series E60 cars - true?

[hassmaschine]

no, the N53 came in all sorts of cars, including the E9x.

I agree probably not worth it.

[308win]

i have these headers as well on my n52 2006 330i

i will bump my old exhaust tread if anyone is interested in these headers with a custom setup.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1382199

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

no, the N53 came in all sorts of cars, including the E9x.

I agree probably not worth it.

Bummer. I was hoping someone would have tried this out with some tuning & dyno time.

[PORTMOODY]

Not worth it. Can delete the second cats and get better gains. Quick cut and weld at a shop as opposed to header purchase labour time and dyno time. For what 5whp maybe?