Budget Header Option?

[natemail]

During some whimsical online shoping, I stumbled upon these: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...andl_shipto=US

Seems like they straight up copied Eurocode's advertising paragraphs, but the pictures are completely original (or at least I couldn't find them anywhere else on the web). I've used ebay/chinese headers on other cheaper cars, like Miatas and WRXs and never had an issue. Now obviously, you don't want to wrap them, as the increased heat will put the welds under greater stress, but otherwise.... $400 vs $2400 is a massive price difference. Hell, they're cheaper than a set of testpipes on their own! Has anyone tried these? Should I try these? It's VERY tempting.

[hardfive]

Im not gonna study these to find some miniscule difference, but they're probably the same as "mertop" headers. A search here will yeild results.

Think they're mostly fine, but I'd have them machined flat before installing for piece of mind.

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[Nillious]

Those look nice. I also seen these. Looks like cheap test pipes with faux cats

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https://m.aliexpress.us/item/3256803...86914962%21rec

[Fresh.S4]

make sure you machine a fine layer off like mentioned above.

outside of that theyre legit folks run them.

[natemail]

Im not gonna study these to find some miniscule difference, but they're probably the same as "mertop" headers. A search here will yeild results.

Think they're mostly fine, but I'd have them machined flat before installing for piece of mind.

make sure you machine a fine layer off like mentioned above.

outside of that theyre legit folks run them.

That's why they always come with the super thick multilayer header gaskests! I will check them with a flat-edge if I get a set to see if they're good enough or pretty warped.
But I'll have to look at the Mertop, that's interesting. I'll probably get a set since I'm about to install a ported supercharger and I'm still on the stock cats....

[Iceman502]

Keep us posted please, I was eyeing their 200 cell high flow cat variant since that would keep the car within emission spec but alleviate the heat buildup issue that causes the stock ones to fail.

[Nillious]

I would never put Chinese cats in stock location. I think that’s a lot of work to end up having a failure. I would put them downstream in the mid pipes. And do the headers.

[Fresh.S4]

Keep us posted please, I was eyeing their 200 cell high flow cat variant since that would keep the car within emission spec but alleviate the heat buildup issue that causes the stock ones to fail.

I've got 200cell cats in the baby resonate location and they're holding up just fine

[Iceman502]

I've got 200cell cats in the baby resonate location and they're holding up just fine

Did you extend the O2 wiring harness to still run the post-cat sensor?

[Fresh.S4]

They're plugged in no extension

[Iceman502]

They're plugged in no extension

No kidding, never would have expected the harness is long enough to reach. Nice to know they would be plug-and-play! If my cats ever fail, I will 100% be getting headers, and then dropping in high flow cats where the baby resonators live. Seems like an ideal setup.

[B7TitaniumA4]

I have a set of the AliExpress headers and so far so good after about 5,000 miles.

I wrapped mine in the DEI titanium header wrap, I used factory manifold gaskets, I did not shave the flange and I have not had any leaks.







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[B7TitaniumA4]

Audi S4 3.0Tfsi walk around
https://youtube.com/shorts/0n0UXcyIMvk?feature=share


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[Iceman502]

That looks really clean! Are you going to pair this with a stock tune, and hope the 02 spacers get you by?

Please post a follow-up exhaust video after you get everything reinstalled, and whatever setup you have downstream.

[B7TitaniumA4]

The car has been back on the road a little over a year now.

I have IE dual pulley, running stage 2 on 93 octane, no codes from lack of cats, but car never reaches readiness for testing. I just dont go for the yearly emissions lol

IE doesn’t adjust its tune for no cats or write out the CEL.

Sound clip, (real speakers sound much better)

These are paired with AWE resonated Down pipes and the touring exhaust…

https://youtube.com/shorts/dOEUMSH8Nl0?feature=share

Idle and driving “normal” is fine, Highway drone isn’t as bad as I thought, but when you get into it, WOT…. ITS FUCKING LOUD! And raspy and it commands attention so I have to be careful with cops. Lol

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[BrokeBichB8]

I want these bad but heard that the o2 sensor fitment can be an issue. I think if someone chopped it off at the collector and put a VBand right there, and at the test pipe mate would be a game changer

[B7TitaniumA4]

I did have an issue with the passenger side rear O2 spacer being too “tall” and the sensor hitting the firewall when I reinstalled the engine.
I swapped to a low profile spacer for that side and it fits fine. No CEL since the refresh.

I can probably dig up what 2 spacers I have…


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