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      04-04-2010, 02:34 AM   #1
Si-M240i
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My own enhanced Air intake MOD (N54)

So, here it is after a bit of playing and pondering. I looked at the Dinan and another DIY intake that was done recently, both of these use an additional filter and flow the air in "after" the stock air filter. I thought I would go for a different version without needing to use another air filter. Since I use an after market replacement air filter (Streamline Helene) and we all know the standard airbox is still fitted to cars with 400BHP+ so can't be too bad in design to start with.

I decided to leave everything after the air filter as it stands as I did not want to introduce and air turbulance on the engine side of the filter, when the current box flows well already.

The rest I will show in pictures for you all













I am fitting a small pipe as a "vent" tomorrow to stop water being drawn up if I drove through VERY deep water, which will face the front so as not to draw in hot air.

I have test driven today and 2nd gear upwards does feel stronger, so I'm pleased with it.

My approach was just to get more cold air in and reduce the resistance of "sucking" for the engine to get air

Also, in picture no.5 you can see where I cut the plastic strut out from infront of my Forge FMIC using a "wire saw" for about $3. It only took 15 mins too including the time to remove and refit the grill.

Any thoughts from any of you ?
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      04-04-2010, 03:41 AM   #2
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I don't think this works the way you are expecting it to work... You are still restricted by the stock airbox/filter...

i don't believe you are getting more air to the engine this way either. it's like sucking on a straw. Even though there are two holes on the straw, you are still sucking in the same amount. But if you did Mr.5s DIY, he made it so you are sucking on two straws. make sense?
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      04-04-2010, 06:26 AM   #3
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yeah.. but nothing wrong with giving it a try though. hopefully he will follow on with some datalogs?
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      04-04-2010, 12:18 PM   #4
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If I hold a steady 30MHP in 2nd gear and "floor it" the power between 5000rpm and the redline is noticably better, even the wife commented on it feeling stronger. 3rd gear feels stronger on the change too.

My intention was to get more "cold" air in rather than just "more" air. I understand the 2 straw principle, but the inlet into the std airbox is over size already and capable of more then "stock" bhp by far. I was only interested in inducing more "cold" air by mixing it with the current air being drawn in. At speed I am sure I will be getting more air in too, but the main thing is the power delivery in 2nd gear alone was with the time to modify it
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      04-04-2010, 12:50 PM   #5
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Unfortunately, the choke point is the inlet of the box, not the duct. So this modification should really do anything. We did a bunch of secret flow bench testing on the complete induction system last year and found all the restriction points:

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      04-04-2010, 01:02 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shiv@vishnu View Post
Unfortunately, the choke point is the inlet of the box, not the duct. So this modification should really do anything. We did a bunch of secret flow bench testing on the complete induction system last year and found all the restriction points:

But I am only after injecting extra cold air into the surrent flow, not increasing the amount of air by any significant amount
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      04-04-2010, 01:07 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Si-135i View Post
But I am only after injecting extra cold air into the surrent flow, not increasing the amount of air by any significant amount
But what's colder than the ambient air that the factory duct is providing to the airbox. Again, the shortcoming of the whole induction system is that not enough of this air goes into the airbox due to the size of the duct at the inlet of the airbox.
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      04-04-2010, 01:42 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shiv@vishnu View Post
But what's colder than the ambient air that the factory duct is providing to the airbox. Again, the shortcoming of the whole induction system is that not enough of this air goes into the airbox due to the size of the duct at the inlet of the airbox.
It gets drawn from the radiator where temps are high. I am drawing colder air from ner the FMIC.

Anyway, I'm happy with what I have done and it feels stronger in 6th and the pull in 2nd is the best it's been. \with this being confrimed by the wife (2 butts are better than one, dyno) I'm happy
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      04-04-2010, 01:53 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Si-135i View Post
It gets drawn from the radiator where temps are high. I am drawing colder air from ner the FMIC.

Anyway, I'm happy with what I have done and it feels stronger in 6th and the pull in 2nd is the best it's been. \with this being confrimed by the wife (2 butts are better than one, dyno) I'm happy
The factory duct gets air drawn from in front of the radiator so temps are as low as can possibly be.
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      04-04-2010, 01:56 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shiv@vishnu View Post
The factory duct gets air drawn from in front of the radiator so temps are as low as can possibly be.
speaking of...

didnt you at some point have a little airbox coming out ?
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      04-04-2010, 07:20 PM   #11
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I don't see the point of this mod, wouldn't scoops be a better approach to what you aiming for?
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      04-04-2010, 07:49 PM   #12
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Don't drive through a puddle or you will have a big water injector!
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      04-04-2010, 10:05 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maxnix View Post
Worst thing one can do is put a cone filter under the hood to draw in preheated air, especially in the summer.
This has been disproven on the 335. Many threads on it. Just an FYI.
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      04-05-2010, 02:57 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FBOOST View Post
I don't see the point of this mod, wouldn't scoops be a better approach to what you aiming for?
I have scoops too
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      04-05-2010, 02:58 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roadkillrob View Post
Don't drive through a puddle or you will have a big water injector!
I have a small hole higher up to stop that from being a risk, also if this was the only air feed it would be a big risk, but as it draws air from the fron too it would draw air from the easiest route.
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      04-05-2010, 03:23 AM   #16
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Creative solution, it should provide some extra air flow. Probably quite little though compared to the Mr. 5 solution.
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      04-05-2010, 03:39 AM   #17
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Completely pointless mod. You just ruined your stock air box. You should expect some gains if you followed the Mr 5 custom intake, but with this, there is no change of getting any better flow.
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      04-05-2010, 03:41 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by R1000K3 View Post
Creative solution, it should provide some extra air flow. Probably quite little though compared to the Mr. 5 solution.
I Agree, but any extra cold air is a bonus and I can feel a difference, so I'm pleased with this as a simple and easy to do MOD.

I didn't want to spend huge amounts on the Dinan or the Japanese CF one (I can't remember the name) or have an additional filter to clean etc.

I used to have the stage 3 Riss Racing intake and loved it, but the filter needed cleaning every 3 months and god p'eed off with that hassle.

So I have:-
Scoops
Helene Streamline Air filter
And the above MOD of my own.

It has made a noticable different in 2nd gear upwards. (2nd is really noticable as is 6th gear)

If anyone wants to try this it's quite cheap too and all with commercially available parts:-
Pipercross Induction pipe (51mm) £24
38 mm Silicon Pipe (I/D) £20
Zip ties (in my toolbox)
Stanley knife (in my toolbox)
High Temp Adhesive £3
liquid soap (the pipe is a bit tight to get through)
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      04-05-2010, 03:48 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefsotos View Post
Completely pointless mod. You just ruined your stock air box. You should expect some gains if you followed the Mr 5 custom intake, but with this, there is no change of getting any better flow.
Harsh

If I was already running 400BHP I woud argee the air box is already at it's limits, but I am not at that level yet and a bit of extra cold air being "forced" in can only be a +. Also it does feel better.

I understand there are better options out there, but this does work for my car which runs just below 350BHP before I did this. I will be back on the Dyno soon.

Also the airbox has not been touched at all. I purchassed a new intake plenum to "play" with and it was only £37 ($53) so I can go back to "stock" easilly.

When I got the new Intake plenum I noticed it is not sealed very well and leaks all over the place, so I sealed all the leaks.....maybe this helped the performance...whatever it was though my car is better now.
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      04-05-2010, 04:56 AM   #20
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Just buy a used stock airbox and give it another try but using the Mr. 5 formula as others have stated.
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      04-05-2010, 12:04 PM   #21
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Placebo effect
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      04-05-2010, 01:13 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stealth-twntrbo View Post
Placebo effect
On the wife too ? she immediately felt the difference in 2nd gear when we hit 5000 rpm and it ripped it's way to the red line
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