solution: Check engine light w/ aftermarket Headers

Right...so I have an inspection coming up in a few months and headers I really dont feel like paying a grand, getting the headers taken off, putting stock manifolds on, and then having the headers put back on. Now what?

Well, you could start by reading up on the posts here in this very sub-forum. Start with these:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=713645
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...885&highlight=

How to install the 02 rear , do not have space for 02 with non Foulers , can i install them in the exhaust system

Don't waste your time messing with non-foulers. See post #282 above for some links to helpful information.

When I get headers, I'll have my tuner disable the light. It'll take him 2 seconds.

Okay so heres my question... well first of all I installed my ebay headers on my 2003 325i (which was a pain in the ass) and im going to have to get my O2 sensor ports moved and welded to a different spot for clearance purposes. But why cant you just plug off your post-cat O2 sensor ports and just tie them up somewhere in your engine bay? Why wouldnt that work? The post cat senors would be out of stream and essentially "tricked" too. So far that is what I have done, and im getting a CEL light. I just want to know why that wont work.

Because the O2 sensors read different O2 levels under acceleration and when coasting. If the car doesn't see the appropriate voltage levels after you take your foot off the gas or for the specific amount of gas applied it throws the CEL.

Ok so heres a question for everyone, i have no running o2 sensors on my car w/headers simply becasue i was left with no room to fit them. I am currently looking into fixing the problem by buying extensions. Now every where i read people say that running the car without o2 sensors is a bad thing especially the post sensors suposedly and others say to ignore it. At this point i have no idea what to think, does anyone have a thread or some input?

this setup works great on my car

I have a couple questions for the op and anyone that has an opinion. I have no 02 sensors on my car due to the fact that i have no room, making it that i have to buy each o2 sensor a 90 degree extension in order to fit them in correctly. I also wanted to do the spark plug non-fouler mod but woudnt i be good with the amount of space i have created with the extensions in order to trick the computer? Idk if im anywhere being right on this. Also does anyone know if my check engine light will go away as soon as plug in the o2 sensors or do i have to clear the code some how?

I can say that non foulers do work. I have using them on my car for years now and no issue at all

So how do you install on the headers exactly?

Originally Posted by chanaka

I can say that non foulers do work. I have using them on my car for years now and no issue at all

Does that remove the check engine light or emissions?

done right they can eliminate the dash light and pass emissions, but it's hit or miss with the sparkplug defouler method.

I've seen it work to pass emissions on a 2003 Acura RSX Type-S, but have heard of a lot of trouble when used with e46's

My car is a 2002 320Ci Convrt with M54B22. It had headers with cats. I used performance headers with no cats.

Installed the defoulers (which are longer than spark plug defoulers).

They were welded onto the tail end of the header pipe and the sensors bolted onto them.

Have had it running for years with no issue at all.

No dash light and passes our emissions without any issue but our emissions is not hard to pass anyway

Does the 42008 Non-fouler work? Can't fint the 42009.. :\ Autozone doesn't got 42009.