OBX headers...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Such instant negativity for no reason... 
Just because its a Mercedes Benz doesn't mean you must have the most expensive parts.
While OBX is a knock-off brand of headers, they are usually very good quality for the money. Yes someone, somewhere received a poor example, but for the majority, they are pretty well made.
OBX usually copies some of the best designed headers made for a particular model. While that is kind of a greasy thing to do, replicate a design that some other company spent countless hours and dollars creating. But still, it provides us with an affordable, well designed header.
Just because they are cheap doesn't mean they won't make power. Surely they will make more power than stock, it shouldn't take much to make more power than the stock headers. It might not be as high of gains as the kleemann headers, but at a fraction of the cost, you can't go wrong. Even if you gained 2hp, for the money, one couldn't complain.
You can get your headers ceramic coated at any local powder coating shop for much cheaper than $350, and it will provide similar gains as the "Swain" coating.
Just because its a Mercedes Benz doesn't mean you must have the most expensive parts.
While OBX is a knock-off brand of headers, they are usually very good quality for the money. Yes someone, somewhere received a poor example, but for the majority, they are pretty well made.
OBX usually copies some of the best designed headers made for a particular model. While that is kind of a greasy thing to do, replicate a design that some other company spent countless hours and dollars creating. But still, it provides us with an affordable, well designed header.
Just because they are cheap doesn't mean they won't make power. Surely they will make more power than stock, it shouldn't take much to make more power than the stock headers. It might not be as high of gains as the kleemann headers, but at a fraction of the cost, you can't go wrong. Even if you gained 2hp, for the money, one couldn't complain.
You can get your headers ceramic coated at any local powder coating shop for much cheaper than $350, and it will provide similar gains as the "Swain" coating.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 1
From: Norcal
43
Such instant negativity for no reason...
Just because its a Mercedes Benz doesn't mean you must have the most expensive parts.
While OBX is a knock-off brand of headers, they are usually very good quality for the money. Yes someone, somewhere received a poor example, but for the majority, they are pretty well made.
OBX usually copies some of the best designed headers made for a particular model. While that is kind of a greasy thing to do, replicate a design that some other company spent countless hours and dollars creating. But still, it provides us with an affordable, well designed header.
Just because they are cheap doesn't mean they won't make power. Surely they will make more power than stock, it shouldn't take much to make more power than the stock headers. It might not be as high of gains as the kleemann headers, but at a fraction of the cost, you can't go wrong. Even if you gained 2hp, for the money, one couldn't complain.
Just because its a Mercedes Benz doesn't mean you must have the most expensive parts.
While OBX is a knock-off brand of headers, they are usually very good quality for the money. Yes someone, somewhere received a poor example, but for the majority, they are pretty well made.
OBX usually copies some of the best designed headers made for a particular model. While that is kind of a greasy thing to do, replicate a design that some other company spent countless hours and dollars creating. But still, it provides us with an affordable, well designed header.
Just because they are cheap doesn't mean they won't make power. Surely they will make more power than stock, it shouldn't take much to make more power than the stock headers. It might not be as high of gains as the kleemann headers, but at a fraction of the cost, you can't go wrong. Even if you gained 2hp, for the money, one couldn't complain.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 11
From: PNW
2001 E430
Last edited by suicidal4life; Oct 28, 2011 at 10:06 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
500hp+ IS300
The fact that there is even a handful of threads about cracked Kleemann headers disgusts me, for that kind of money, there shouldn't even be a chance of it cracking.
Agreed though, you do get what you pay for, but in some instances paying more doesn't always mean better...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,880
Likes: 321
From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Hadn't found it b4
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 1
From: Lantana TX
2004 Chrysler Crossfire
I haven't installed them yet. But here are some more observations. They are more than shinny C43 stock manifolds. These are very similar to VRP. I belive these would be less restrictive than my stock C43 manifolds on my car. The primary tubes are slightly larger than stock and swept back to the collector pipe but not quite as large as the VRP. The collector pipe is a bunch larger than the stock collector pipe but still a bit smaller than the VRP. One thing I don't like is the size of the exit. It is the same size as stock at 1.75" which seems like a cork in the system. There is a lot of material here and I am going to open this up to 2.0" which matches the VRP header. The mounting surface has very slight uneven spots from grinnding and polishing. I not sure the stock metal gaskets will seal properly. The OBX headers come with traditional exhaust gaskets that whould seal them fine. When I take these to my machinist to open the exits up I am going to see if they can surface the mounting flange so that i can feel comforable about using the MB exhaust gaskets. If this is not possible I will use the OBX gaskets. I do believe that these will flow better than stock but they are obviously these and the VRP headers are not real headers that have a scavenging effect at the collector. If you want real signifiant gains, you need Kleeman long tube headers. I was talking to Brandon at Kleeman and they are planning on putting the C43 header back into production. I think with just a liittle bit of work, the OBX headers are good bang for the buck. I think for real gains with the OBX you also have to address the head pipes. My plan is to try the OBX and go full cat delete. I have spacers for the down stream O2 sensors that fool the sensors into thinking the cats are working and will not result in a CEL. I did a baseline dyno and will dyno agian after install.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta
Current: AMG GT-C. Sold: 01 CLK55, 00 ML55, 01 ML55, 06 E55
I haven't installed them yet. But here are some more observations. They are more than shinny C43 stock manifolds. These are very similar to VRP. I belive these would be less restrictive than my stock C43 manifolds on my car. The primary tubes are slightly larger than stock and swept back to the collector pipe but not quite as large as the VRP. The collector pipe is a bunch larger than the stock collector pipe but still a bit smaller than the VRP. One thing I don't like is the size of the exit. It is the same size as stock at 1.75" which seems like a cork in the system. There is a lot of material here and I am going to open this up to 2.0" which matches the VRP header. The mounting surface has very slight uneven spots from grinnding and polishing. I not sure the stock metal gaskets will seal properly. The OBX headers come with traditional exhaust gaskets that whould seal them fine. When I take these to my machinist to open the exits up I am going to see if they can surface the mounting flange so that i can feel comforable about using the MB exhaust gaskets. If this is not possible I will use the OBX gaskets. I do believe that these will flow better than stock but they are obviously these and the VRP headers are not real headers that have a scavenging effect at the collector. If you want real signifiant gains, you need Kleeman long tube headers. I was talking to Brandon at Kleeman and they are planning on putting the C43 header back into production. I think with just a liittle bit of work, the OBX headers are good bang for the buck. I think for real gains with the OBX you also have to address the head pipes. My plan is to try the OBX and go full cat delete. I have spacers for the down stream O2 sensors that fool the sensors into thinking the cats are working and will not result in a CEL. I did a baseline dyno and will dyno agian after install.
