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Agency Power Header Install on E46 M3

We have installed plenty of Super Sprint exhaust components on cars over the years. They make a superbly engineered product with plenty of research and development to back up their performance claims (and price). The biggest down side to Super Sprint is the sometimes sketchy build quality and comparatively high price. There are some good alternatives out there, including the Agency Power units we installed on an E46 M3 recently.

The quality of manufacture of the American made Agency Power headers for the E46 M3 install was excellent. The tubes were flawlessly formed and polished and the welds looked strong. The headers included all the bungs necessary for the pre-cat O2 sensors (post-cat sensors and temperature probe were removed) so no modifications needed to be made. As always we used new OEM gaskets and copper crush nuts at the block end of the headers.

Here is a picture of the headers installed, viewed from the engine compartment:

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Here are the two collector pipes attached to the Bora mid-section.

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Agency Power is a great, less expensive alternative to Super Sprint if you do not absolutely need every last horsepower.


Comments

I notice the manifold studs barely clearly the nut when it's all the way on. I have heard some people switch to the e36 studs. Which were used for this install?

E46 studs were used. As long as the stud tops out with the nut, you're ok. The picture here shows the nuts not yet fully torqued, so a bit more of the stud will peek thru. It's important that you snug up the nuts evenly. And always use new hardware.