OVER 9000!

Is the heat shield located by the exhaust manifold needed or would I be safe running oem headers without it? I definitely don't want to risk an engine bay fire, but it is a PITA to get to/secure that last bolt and the engine bay looks much better without it. Also I regularly autocross my S if that is of any importance.

s2k-jn

I wouldn't risk it in my opinion. Although I do agree a clean engine bay does look nice, it wouldn't be worth it to take a risk. At most, I would invest into a PWD JDM Carbon Fibre heat shield to be in the best of both worlds

s2kreeper

I've been running without the black part for some time now, maybe 10k miles. No issues thus far and I religiously checked the components for about the first week after doing it after my commute to work. The header still has another heat shield on it and I think the black plate is more to help keep heat away from the AC lines which run right next to it, which I don't have any more.