XS Power Header for B6/B7 4.2 V8 Review

[mug23]

Hello all. With permission, I like to post a review on my new XS Power headers for the B6/B7 4.2 V8 S4. Just a disclaimer that XS Power did not give me discount or sponsored me in anyways. I paid the full price of these headers out of my own pocket. I just want to display the quality and craftsmanship on the welds on the header. First round is just open box review and looking at all the welds, magnet test to see if everything is truly all 321 stainless steel as stated.

The package arrived in a nice box and everything is packaged nicely to protect it from shipping. So far, all the welds looks pretty good. The flange is 12mm thick which is pretty thick. No kinks in all the bends. I did the magnet test on everything including the welds and they are all indeed stainless. The only thing that the magnet did stick to it was the bolt on the vband but not the vband itself. The magnet also stuck to the gasket which is steel but I would highly suggest to get the OEM exhaust gasket as I'm pretty sure the gasket they provide will corrode and break off as time goes on. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with the way it is right now.

I may want to either ceramic coat them or simply just wrap them but of course, I much rather ceramic coat them but depending on the cost.

I will update post once the headers are installed onto the engine and lastly, the engine back into the car. Stayed tuned!

[mtwallace85]

Damn, I can’t believe they increased the price from $400 to $725.

[mug23]

If this works out, $725 is not really a bad price. Everything else prices jumped as well. Just had a hot water boiler replaced at my mom's place and it cost $2K.

We will see how it goes.

[Rol-co]

Why are the welds still dirty? You can take off the color and black with a rvs paste and make it nice and shiny, sometimes these un treated welds get rusty.

But they looking great, let us know how they fit.

[mtwallace85]

If this works out, $725 is not really a bad price. Everything else prices jumped as well. Just had a hot water boiler replaced at my mom's place and it cost $2K.

We will see how it goes.

Hopefully the quality increased as well, these are pretty notorious for not fitting properly and the welds rusting.

[P.Kudom]

I've been running mine for over 2yrs now and have had no issues with them. Give a great change to the exhaust tone but be aware it will be A LOT louder than before. Only thing I wish is that I was able to get it up a little higher around the flange for more ground clearance with my coils.Screenshot_20230103-165410_Gallery.jpg

Sent from my SM-G975W using Audizine Forum mobile app

[mug23]

Today, I brought the headers to a shop to get ceramic coated. Once I get it back, I will post more pictures. Stayed tuned.

[mug23]

I've been running mine for over 2yrs now and have had no issues with them. Give a great change to the exhaust tone but be aware it will be A LOT louder than before. Only thing I wish is that I was able to get it up a little higher around the flange for more ground clearance with my coils.Screenshot_20230103-165410_Gallery.jpg

Sent from my SM-G975W using Audizine Forum mobile app

Did one of your runner touch one of the exhaust stud? I have tested and it seems like one of the exhaust stud is touching one of the runner. Also, did you use the gasket that came with the kit or what gasket did you use?

I see some negative reviews from some people on this headers. Was it really bad experience for them? I wonder why?

[P.Kudom]

I didn't have any issues with clearance and fitment. Everything fit as it should for me. I did use the gaskets supplied with the kit and they've held up well through 2yrs of explosive Jackal 2-step.

Getting them ceramic coated is a great idea, it's the only thing I wish I did before it went in, but I was quoted a crazy high number. I didn't want to risk it corroding with heat wrap so I just threw them in naked. It makes your under hood temps high idling in the summer, probably cost me a couple sensors.

Not sure why they get such a bad rap. Mine were supposed to just be an experiment but turned into one of my favorite mods.



Sent from my SM-G975W using Audizine Forum mobile app

[mug23]

I didn't have any issues with clearance and fitment. Everything fit as it should for me. I did use the gaskets supplied with the kit and they've held up well through 2yrs of explosive Jackal 2-step.

Getting them ceramic coated is a great idea, it's the only thing I wish I did before it went in, but I was quoted a crazy high number. I didn't want to risk it corroding with heat wrap so I just threw them in naked. It makes your under hood temps high idling in the summer, probably cost me a couple sensors.

Not sure why they get such a bad rap. Mine were supposed to just be an experiment but turned into one of my favorite mods.



Sent from my SM-G975W using Audizine Forum mobile app

Awesome. Thank you for the feedback. The ceramic coating will cost somewhere around $400. It is a lot pipes to coat for sure. Unlike my Honda K series 4 cyl headers. Once I get it back from coating, I will post picture.

I think some of the bad rep is maybe perhaps some people paid crap loads of money for the other headers and need to justify for what they paid?

[Chris12491]

Following! I'm a few weeks from pulling the trigger on buying a set. Im glad to hear people are having good luck with these headers. Does anyone know why ssautochrome.com has them for $450 but xs power has them for $750?

[CONative]

I’m not sure of why the price difference - but they appear to be the same company. When I ordered mine in 2021 they came from ssautochrome but the email shows three websites.

Image1676409407.554764.jpg

I think JHM makes quality products and if I had the extra coin to spend I would have supported them. They are hand built to order right here in the US, the XS are made in a factory somewhere in China. I’ve been happy with the XS headers and they sound amazing paired with the Corsa catback exhaust. I wish I had spent the money to have them coated though. I ended priming/painting with high temp coating and it definitely has helped keeps the footwell from getting warm like it used to with the stock manifold/exhaust.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[Chris12491]

I was thinking of getting the bare ones and wrapping them. Higher Temps in the footwells never crossed my mind.

I currently have a sebring exhaust. I just got the car a few months ago. I'm excited to put it on the road soon.

I would love to get the jhm headers if I had the money. They look beautiful and like you said I'd rather support a local company than a factory in China.

I emailed and called both websites. No reply. I think I'll get the ones from xs power. Something in my gut is telling me to not go with the cheapest price.

[P.Kudom]

I originally wasn't aware of the xspower website, so I ordered from SSAutochrome. Site looked okay but then I started checking reviews people were calling the site a scam. I waited a couple days and with no tracking number, I immediately tried to cancel my order through PayPal citing that lots of people called it a scam site. PayPal responded with their investigation and said that they'd shipped and provided me a tracking no. I can't recommend or not recommend ssauto because they don't respond to any form of communication (emails, calls, etc) but I will say I got my headers as described. I checked and it shows 16 days from the minute I paid to when PayPal gave me a tracking number, although they may have shipped slightly before that.

Sent from my SM-G975W using Audizine Forum mobile app

[Chris12491]

That's good to know the shipping will be that way. I don't need the headers for a few months so I guess I'll say heck with it and give ssautochrome a shot! If that doesn't work out I'll go with xs power then.

[bennyc767]

Following! I'm a few weeks from pulling the trigger on buying a set. Im glad to hear people are having good luck with these headers. Does anyone know why ssautochrome.com has them for $450 but xs power has them for $750?

The description on the headers is the exact same on both websites... No idea why XS is so much more expensive.

SSAC sells ceramic ceramic coated for $25 more

https://www.ssautochromeinc.com/head...b6-b7-headers/

[Chris12491]

I know right?!? I'll definitely be spending the extra $25 for ceramic coating. If i can get these headers for $500 total I'll be so happy.

I have heard it's best to use an oem gasket because the one they provide is apparently thin. Not sure if I'll need new nuts but they're cheap enough I'll order those too eventually. I'll be installing the headers when I do my timing chains. I'm planning on dropping motor and trans in one shot out the bottom while it's connected to the subframe. Hopefully it will make installing the headers easier later. I do have a lift to do this job.

[CONative]

You definitely will need additional nuts. You’ll notice when you pull the manifold off there are 3 or 4 nuts that are bolt length due to the design. I would also purchase OEM gaskets as the ones provided are junk.

Also you may have to shorten two of the studs to get the nuts on and tightened. There really wasn’t a way to get the nut on due to the design of the header pipe.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[Chris12491]

Thank you for the tips. I will definitely get the gaskets and nuts. I will take any tips anyone has!

This s4 will be a big learning process. I haven't worked on many audis in my lifetime. Mostly domestic cars for the good part of 10 years. From what I'm figuring out is to just take it slow and easy.

[x X CLoud X x]

I remember I bought a cheap knock off exhaust manifold this was back in 2006 and it was an xs power header for my 2jzgte I also had a nicely made in the U.S Boost Logic header my god the difference was astounding.... The amount of slag alone inside that cheap knock off header xs power was enough to scare me away from mounting it onto my precious MK4 and the positioning of the T4 flange with my big 76mm turbo resting on top of it made for a shitty fitment hopefully 16-17 years later they improved. God speed

[Chris12491]

I hope they have improved since then too! I placed my order with them a few days ago. We will see how it goes. I've been hearing more good reviews than bad lately.