I purchased my SS V2 Stepped Header and CPI Euro200 from Jack at Custom Performance. Jack is an amazing guy, very knowledgable, and offers amazing products and prices on all your exhaust needs! Upon the installation of the perfectly fitting SS V2 Stepped Header and CPI Euro200, I could feel the drastic difference in power from stock. There was just much more power everywhere throughout the power band. All the typical flat spots in the power band were now gone and the car just pulled nice and smooth to redline. You could almost tangibly feel the car breathing better. When I got my SS V2 Stepped Headers, I chose to go with the CPI Euro200 to meet emissions requirements here in IL, along with decreasing the smell and rasp. The Section 1 utilizes two Magnaflow Metallic Race Cats that are 200cpsi. Overall, I was extremely pleased with the money spent and performance gain.
Fast forward many many months to Black Friday 2011. Jared at Supersprint NA announced an incredible sale on the SS V1 Stepped Header and V1 SPipe. In all honesty, this was the header for many years that I truly wanted. At the time that I committed to purchasing headers, my budget just didn't allow me to swing for these bad boys. Thanks to Supersprint's generosity and willingness to please our community, I had to take advantage of their great sale. Honestly, I was not really expecting any gains from making the switch. Everyone has told me that there really is not much to be gained from moving to catless and the bigger headers. Due to my stubbornness, I persisted and bit the bullet.
PHOTO COMPARISON
Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers
Well crafted collector. Notice how seamless everything is merged together.
~1.5" Primaries that step up to ~2" before meeting at the collector
Close up of collector and EGT bung. Notice the beautiful TIG welding.
Both Pre and Post Cat O2 Bungs and 2.36" outlet piping.
More Pre and Post Cat O2 Bungs
More fancy stepped goodness
Perfect flanges
Etched Supersprint shameless plug
Custom Performance Innovations Euro200
TIG welded flanges
MIG welded cats and O2 bungs
MIG welded cats and O2 bungs
SS V2 Stepped + CPI Euro200
Supersprint V1 Stepped Headers
Primaries with incredibly TIG welds
~1.5" stepped up to ~2"
Sexy collector and welds
Full 2.5" outlet flange!!
Internal portion of Post Cat O2 sensor
SS V1 Stepped vs SS V2 Stepped
2.36" vs 2.5"
Notice the different pathways
2.36" vs 2.5"
Slip On vs OEM style
Massive full 2.5" piping for SS V1 SPipe
Post Cat O2 Sensor
PERSONAL REVIEW
As I noted before, I was not really expecting to feel an incredible difference between the two. The Magnaflow cats flow very well, the V2 Stepped is already a great design, and the V1 Stepped has been said to provide minimal gains over the V2 Stepped.
Upon installation, I noticed that smell of exhaust fumes has increased, but it wasn't as bad as people said. Maybe my sense of smell isn't as sensitive, but I really don't notice it in the car with the windows up and in traffic. It is definitely noticeable on cold start in the garage first thing in the winter morning though.
Sound wise, not too much different either. I was expecting a ton of more rasp. Nope, didn't notice much of a difference. The tone was slightly different, almost a crisper more refined type of rasp with the V1 Stepped Headers. Personally, I actually enjoy it more with it being catless. The volume is no louder either, no more drone than stock. Overall, I am very happy with the sound of the car. It's soft, quiet, and not terribly raspy.
Driving impressions, there is a tangible difference between the two for sure. The biggest difference that I could feel was just how hard it pulls to redline. I really kept telling myself that it must be adrenaline or the placebo effect. So I just kept driving it and driving it and driving it and I still noticed the difference. It pulls great at the very end and doesn't seem to run out of steam.
Overall, I am very pleased with the upgrade to the SS V1 Stepped Header and V1 SPipe. It was worth the annoying removal and installation of all headers. It was worth waiting months for them and shipping out my prior setup. I am very happy I came full circle and ended up with the headers that I originally wanted.
NOTES
I will be the firs to admit that this is not a true apples to apples comparison. Primarily because my dynos with the SS V2 Stepped Headers included the CPI Euro200. Whether the Euro200 robs power or increases low end power/torque...I don't know. In addition, the dyno runs were done on two different days weeks apart. Weather conditions were ever so slightly different, mainly the drastic drop in humidity. I truthfully don't know if that will effect power or not. So please take this review and dyno results with a grain of salt. All I can guarantee is that either setup is well worth the money to me. The car pulls so hard down low and screams all the way to the top of redline.
DYNOS
2002 BMW M3
Dynojet 248X at Dean's Peformance, St. Charles, IL
4th Gear | 93 OCT | Hood Open
SAE
STD
UNCORRECTED
CONDITIONS
SPEED (depicts that same gear was used)
DYNO ANALYSIS
Overall, I was a bit surprised to see these results. The dyno graphs clearly depict the drastic power gained, pretty much throughout the whole power band! The whole purpose of the stepped design was to provide strong low-end torque and monstrous top end. Looking at the substantial gain in area-under-the-curve is clearly seen! That data collection is very tangible on the street. There is no doubt in my mind that the larger 2.5" piping and removing of the cats is helping a lot.
Looking back in hindsight, I can't really pinpoint where all the gains are coming from. Are they mostly from removing the cats despite everyone saying that it doesn't rob that much power? Is it really coming from the difference in piping design and flow characteristics?
Who knows...
All I know is that Supersprint currently makes the best headers on the market for the S54B32. Perfect fitment. Superior build quality. Welds that look like art.
Stay tuned for more. I have been doing all these dynos in the past to get consistent baselines before I dyno my Evolve Carbon Fiber Airbox and AlphaN Tune.
MANY THANKS TO
Hans at Dean's Performance for the dyno time and great patience.
Jared at Supersprint NA for providing an amazing opportunity to acquire the SS V1 Stepped Headers and V1 S Pipe.
Jack at Custom Performance Innovations for getting me hooked on the power mod craze and the SS V2 Stepped Header along with your incredible CPI Euro200.
My buddies at iND Distribution for installing removing the prior exhaust setup and throwing in my power sapping OEM headers.
My buddies at VS Motorsports for installing the SS V1 Stepped Headers and SPipe. Thanks for letting me borrow the sick E28 528e! That thing had more electronics in the car than my E46 and E90 have.
The good friends at Evolve Automotive for educating me on how to analyze data and to strive for only the best products out there! Time get this bad boy tuned along with the CF Airbox
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