Budget exhaust?

[95Alpine3]

I am in the middle of replacing my head gasket and decided it would be a good time to upgrade my headers. Then I saw this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OBX-SS-Catback-Header-Combo-Exhaust-Kit-fit-for-BMW-E36-M3-325-328-/390436410989?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ae7d2d66d&vxp=mtr

I found a few videos of obx exhaust on an e36 and it seems to sound really good. Like I said, this is budget. Please don't suggest a $4k exhaust.:D Has anybody heard this in person, or better yet, have it? Thanks.

[Pik Masta]

I've heard mixed reviews OBX brand, like fitment issues mostly.

[islandtime]

Fitment with them has been hit or miss in my experience. Never done their E36 exhaust but I've had some systems on other cars fit perfectly and others need a good bit of massaging and even rewelding sometimes. I had thought about using that system myself since any exhaust costs about $200 just to ship here.

[95Alpine3]

Fitment with them has been hit or miss in my experience. Never done their E36 exhaust but I've had some systems on other cars fit perfectly and others need a good bit of massaging and even rewelding sometimes. I had thought about using that system myself since any exhaust costs about $200 just to ship here.

How does it sound? I'm trying to avoid any "fartcan sounding" exhaust. And yeah $600 shipped seems too good to be true for a complete exhaust.

[flyfishvt]

Headers won't give you fart can sound. That's a function of the resonators and muffler.

[95Alpine3]

Headers won't give you fart can sound. That's a function of the resonators and muffler.

I'm thinking of replacing the entire exhaust. link above^. It comes with everything.

[bmerl0ve]

someone buy this and tell me how you like it

[PurifyNothing]

I have an OBX exhasut on my 328is. It sounds pretty dang good I think and as for the fitment it was a little off on a couple hangers but nothing had to be modified to get it to fit.

[95Alpine3]

I have an OBX exhasut on my 328is. It sounds pretty dang good I think and as for the fitment it was a little off on a couple hangers but nothing had to be modified to get it to fit.

Can you describe the sound please? Throaty, growl, High pitch, low pitch, bumblebee in a can:D? Fitment doesn't worry me. I just don't want to sound like some obnoxious teenager.

[Sallad]

Don't these cars come with headers from the factory? I know my 318 has some kind of tube header installed.

[PurifyNothing]

Can you describe the sound please? Throaty, growl, High pitch, low pitch, bumblebee in a can:D? Fitment doesn't worry me. I just don't want to sound like some obnoxious teenager.

Its a pretty low growl, once I get a few more posts ill try and post of a vid for you.

[islandtime]

Don't these cars come with headers from the factory? I know my 318 has some kind of tube header installed.
The 4 cylinder cars have a tubular manifold that performs almost as well as any header but the sixes all have cast iron manifolds that do leave some power on the table.

[sjpgoalie]

The 4 cylinder cars have a tubular manifold that performs almost as well as any header but the sixes all have cast iron manifolds that do leave some power on the table.

M3s came with tubular manifolds...pretty sure the 328 and 323 did as well...

[Sallad]

Good to know, thanks.

[95Alpine3]

M3s came with tubular manifolds...pretty sure the 328 and 323 did as well...

Hmm? So it might be a waste to install headers? Well not a waste, but would I prob get the same results with a cat back or header back as I would from a complete exhaust? I was going to do this because I had the head out and it would be easy to change them. Maybe I could leave the stock headers and get a header back exhaust later?

[islandtime]

[quote=sjpgoalie;25763356]M3s came with tubular manifolds...pretty sure the 328 and 323 did as well...[/
Let me rephrase that, they didn't come with tubular headers like the M42/44's did. They are tubular but not a good design and nothing like the euro manifold. You will gain some power by a proper designed header but some of the eBay headers have a horrible design and probably make less power than the stock manifold. The OBX looks to be a decent design.

[95Alpine3]

Does anyone know if the headers that come with the obx exhaust are direct bolt ons? I'm a little leary about the exhaust so i'd like to be able to switch it back to stock easily for emissions or if I just don't like how it sounds. So basically, If the stock exhaust will bolt up to the obx headers i'll pull the trigger on this. Thanks.

[locks325is]

OP,
That setup doesn't look like much of a upgrade for your M3. You would be better off with OBD2 headers & a catback. Or the replica SuperSprint headers & a catback.

[95Alpine3]

OP,
That setup doesn't look like much of a upgrade for your M3. You would be better off with OBD2 headers & a catback. Or the replica SuperSprint headers & a catback.

I was wondering about that. So, OBD2 headers will work on a 95? And yeah, I did some thinking and decided not to put an ebay brand exhaust on my car. I have the broken off down pipe studs soaking at the moment so I guess i'll see if I can get them out first. It's nice to have the option to go with OBD2 headers though. Thanks for the reply.

[locks325is]

I was wondering about that. So, OBD2 headers will work on a 95? And yeah, I did some thinking and decided not to put an ebay brand exhaust on my car. I have the broken off down pipe studs soaking at the moment so I guess i'll see if I can get them out first. It's nice to have the option to go with OBD2 headers though. Thanks for the reply.

They will bolt up to your midpipe without any problems, you will need to pull the o2 sensors & plug the holes. If you can find a obd2 midpipe in good condition, that would also be a upgrade over your stock pipes & will bolt on without issue, again you will need to pull sensors & plug holes, match the sensor layout of the obd1 pipes. The sensor should go in the drivers side pipe, pre-cat, double check that. Then just find a catback that you like.

[95Alpine3]

Thanks.:thumbup: