Every car I have ever owned, I have always installed headers. Easily the best way to open up an engine (and of course I usually port and polish the heads but that is another forum.)


Anyway, I put a new heat exchanger from fabtech on. They ASSURED me it was direct bolt on, and it was NOT. I had to fabricate a great deal. My question for any of you guy is are there headers out there which ARE a direct bolt on for the W211? I would look at long tubes (shorties are really just a waste of time) with deleting the first cats. If anyone has any experience with long tubes, whatever you could let me know would be greatly appreciated. Also, have you ever had any problems with the computer throwing codes when you changed the exhaust? (On a audi I owned, the headers shut the computer off and it had to be reprogrammed)


thanks in advance gentlemen!

 

I recently installed the American Racing Headers long-tubes with cats and the X-pipe. It was supposed to be a direct bolt-in, and for the most part it was. The driver's side had some fitment issues that I had a local shop fix. I seem to be the only one that has had issues with them.

The other thing to note is that the rear O2 sensors will not reach to the bungs behind the cats. I had to make some extenders for mine but they still aren't working correctly; I'm still troubleshooting the issue.

 

MBH long tube Headers. Quite simply The Best you can buy.. They are works of art..

 

 

All long tube manufactures have had fitment issues, including MBH. IMHO, partly due to our fluid filled mounts that set the motor at different heights, depending on condition.

The manner in which the vendor services the customer after the sale, is what you should use to make your decision.

 

JoeJErnst - see that is what I am talking about. Fabricating stuff to make things fit properly is getting old. I no longer have access to lifts (my dad had a speed shop but retired) and it's getting hard doing repairs in my driveway! Anyone else have issues with the long tubes and the cats or O2 sensors? thanks again guys!

 

Yeah, I hear you. Unfortunately it's all part of the modification process. You never know when things will work 100% as advertised. FWIW, ARH was perfectly willing to work with me to get my issues solved, but it would have required me sending the headers back to them. I needed the car on the road, and I couldn't dedicate another two weekends to the project, so I punted and had my local guy fix the issue. (BTW, these long-tubes combined with a PLM H/X at the same time lowered my 1/4 mile ET by about .15s)

 

MBH here. I did not have fitment issues and I did not have to extend my o2 sensors either.

 

Did you guys get the mid section with X-pipe? Super pricey.

 

MBH? Yes. Pricey but they're works of art and make proven power. I also have their cats and test pipes along with the X-pipe for a modular system. There are probably better cats out there.

 

What did it do to the trap speed?

 

Roughly 2MPH (~114 before, ~116 after)

 

ARH and no fitment issues. Mine even came off a car that burned to the ground so...quality speaks I guess...