I have been reading the discussion in this thread (http://e90post.com/forums/showthread...=carbon+filter) for a while. Since no one post DIY yet, I decided to do it myself.

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I'm a bit confused about this. Do we need to put in a filter after we cut out the charcoal filter? Or can we just cut it out and not replace it?

You will have ONE filter when finished. The charcoal filter does not get replaced with anything.

Just did the charcoal delete. My K&N is currently in the mail. It revs much faster and sounds clearer and smoother. May do a silencer tube build when I put in my K&N next week. I dig it. Very easy mod that fixes a very stupid design.

Thank you from Italy

I just did this eager to see the results and right after my valve cover gasket blew and started smoking....now I have to wait 2 days before I get to see the results. I'll be back with an EDIT and leave my review. Anyways it was easy enough. Only took 20 minutes or less. I only had 120 grit so I had to work with that just make sure you have all the masses of the charcoal filter out. I washed the box after then cleaned the MAF. That's all for now, I'll post the aftermath next week. Oh and be careful the filter is dirty as hell and when you rip it out, you might accidentally breathe in the dust and yea....watch out.

Anyone think that the gases that escape from the engine that the charcoal filter is supposed to stop may screw up your MAF sensor?\

Anyway to just clean the charcoal?

The MAF is position in between the engine and the charcoal filter. With or with out the charcoal filter the gases from the engine would still pass through the MAF.

I recently did this mod, and like other posted results the car revs smoother and feels as if there is more power above the 2000rpm band. Gas milage showed no change.

I will do this today. Thanks for the write up. Last time i had it open to drop in KN i wondered what that " junk" was. So time to take it out

Got it. I just cleaned my MAF and haven't driven enough to notice whether that makes a larger difference than what most people here seem to have noticed after doing the charcoal filter delete (potentially marginal improvement in MPG).

Doing this over the turkey day weekend. Just ordered an AFE Pro Dry S replacement filter as I'm not too keen on K&N's oil filter technology. Looking forward to letting my N52 breathe a little better by getting rid of the stupid charcoal filter.

So I did the Charcoal Filter Delete over the weekend, and figured I would share some pictures with y'all ...

The OP has already posted instructions on how to remove the air filter box. I will start from after you have it removed from the car.

Unscrew the 6 Torx screws around the box and open it up


Crack it open!


Leave the orange air filter alone. Need to only work on the gray charcoal filter.


IMPORTANT: Carefully remove the MAF sensor at this point. It is the white thingy in the round hole behind the charcoal filter.



Soak the charcoal filter with water (to avoid dust.) Cut it along the edges using a utility knife. Cut as close to the plastic rim as possible.







Wavy ridges from the filter remain along two sides.


The other sides will have straight edges. Remove all these remnants using a dremmel tool / razor blade / sand paper


This is what it looks like all cleaned up


Put the box together again and reinstall in the engine bay.

Car seems to breathe a lot easier after this mod

thanks

I did not read the whole thread. but this applies same to e92 N54 too?

I used that K&N filter as well, first mod everyone should consider. Thinking if going for the CAI next.

great diy
wondering if anybody in cali have done it and no problems with smog ?

Did this today and swapped in an AFE dry flow filter and the engine definitely feels a little peppier and revs more freely. Thanks!

You shouldnt go for CAI

You'll actually get worse performance.

I do recommend cyba scoops with this mod