[benzo23]

Ive read everything there is to know about that damn thing...just wanted to know for u guys running a k&n with the carbon filter gone what have been your experiences with it as time has gone by? I dont know whether or not to hack the thing out of there...

[blitzkriegF82]

No negatives and mine has been out for over a year. Can't go wrong with removing restriction.

[angcd3]

i agree do it.. easy mod to free up some air flow.

[HuuuWeee]

i didnt really notice any different at all.. mayb its too minimal to notice. but the logic of freeing up the air makes sense.

[know1isgod]

I have the Dinan Ram Air. The instructions called for the removal. It's gone.

[TommyK]

it doesn't hurt. just do it

[benzo23]

Originally Posted by TommyK

it doesn't hurt. just do it

word, ill dremel the bitch out when i get home lol

[dirte90]

Just did this last night as well as deleting the intake silencer. Easy project and only took about 25 minutes start to finish for both. Free way to free up some flow!

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by frdvshcy

Just did this last night as well as deleting the intake silencer. Easy project and only took about 25 minutes start to finish for both. Free way to free up some flow!

Where is the best instructions for this?

[c_jeong89]

there is a diy guide in the diy section, but all u really need to do is unscrew the intake/MAF sensor and take a utility knife/dremel/something to cut the filter out and sand the edges down to smooth it out. then just make sure u clean up everything.

[fdriller9]

I've had an oiled aFe drop in for the last year with the carbon filter/air silencer removed.

Responsiveness increased a bit. Nothing to crazy over.

Just make sure you clean the airbox well to make sure no debris gets sucked into your engine and handle the MAF carfully.

Also with an oiled filter, you may need to clean the MAF more often...just cleaned mine and had a nice "boost" in power.

[AlpineSwift]

Box cutters or a knife work well to cut the CF out. Just use some sandpaper to smooth the rough edges left behind. And please for the love of all that's holy in the BMW world, don't forget to clean out the airbox afterwords (vacuum, hose, etc).

[benzo23]

Originally Posted by AlpineSwift

Box cutters or a knife work well to cut the CF out. Just use some sandpaper to smooth the rough edges left behind. And please for the love of all that's holy in the BMW world, don't forget to clean out the airbox afterwords (vacuum, hose, etc).

Well the deed is done...used a box cutter to cut the filter out and a sander to get all the excess adhesive off. Hosed it off about 3 times and blew it off with a yard blower (10pm Neighbours didnt care for that much). Umm as for improvements? I kept trying to feel something but i didnt. Maybe a very very very slight louder hiss from the box and thats about it. I did notice a bit better response in throttle, but the weather here in fl has been significantly cooler then normal so that might be it. But the concept of more air makes sense so whatever. All in all took about an hr to do cause i wanted the edges perfect. Thanks for all your input guys i appreciate it...

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by c_jeong89

there is a diy guide in the diy section, but all u really need to do is unscrew the intake/MAF sensor and take a utility knife/dremel/something to cut the filter out and sand the edges down to smooth it out. then just make sure u clean up everything.

Ok thanks did find that DIY thread, so this is a permanent layer of air restrictive device just for the US?

[zuluZero]

Originally Posted by dtc100

Ok thanks did find that DIY thread, so this is a permanent layer of air restrictive device just for the US?

And Canada .... I removed mine, no human-detectable difference, but in some theories you're better off without it. I'll save the environment through improved mileage instead of vapour control ;-)

[dtc100]

Well that didn't take very long I don't expect to have any noticeable difference, but knowing a piece of unnecessary item is gone is a good feeling.

Took out on a test drive last night, did notice more aggressive intake sound, the pull was stronger too but that could just be that the temp had dropped quite a bit.

[benzo23]

i think its just from the lower temps outside...

[dtc100]

Posted this Q in DIY but got no response, after comparing the pictures of the stock airbox and the BMW PI box, I see the only difference is one split opens, the latter opens from the top, of course the PI has a cone filter.

Did anyone attempt to retrofit a cone filter into a stock airbox? I know someone mentioned the Dinan ram filter kit, am asking if anyone tried a DIY.

[E90aL]

for the people who did this mod, did you remove all the ridges from the box? i sanded for a long time and i still cant make the surface flat for the zig zag area.

[benzo23]

Originally Posted by slEEpy_aL

for the people who did this mod, did you remove all the ridges from the box? i sanded for a long time and i still cant make the surface flat for the zig zag area.

Yea I removed all the ridges and got it all smooth. I used an electric sanding block with some low grit paper then worked my way up. I also used a couple of different heavy duty files. Those seemed to worked very well...It takes a little bit of time but I got everything smooth enough for my liking washed it out ALOT dried it with the blower and re installed.

[benzo23]

Originally Posted by dtc100

Posted this Q in DIY but got no response, after comparing the pictures of the stock airbox and the BMW PI box, I see the only difference is one split opens, the latter opens from the top, of course the PI has a cone filter.

Did anyone attempt to retrofit a cone filter into a stock airbox? I know someone mentioned the Dinan ram filter kit, am asking if anyone tried a DIY.

ive never heard of anyone running a cone filter into the stock box...I would just stick with a k&n panel filter, ditch the carbon filter, and if your really feeling like a badass u could try and make your own version of dinans ram air...run some hose from the bottom of the bumper into the bottom of the stock box. But i dont think the gains (if any) would be worth the time. Just stick with panel filter and charcoal delete and leave it alone.

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by benzo23

ive never heard of anyone running a cone filter into the stock box...I would just stick with a k&n panel filter, ditch the carbon filter, and if your really feeling like a badass u could try and make your own version of dinans ram air...run some hose from the bottom of the bumper into the bottom of the stock box. But i dont think the gains (if any) would be worth the time. Just stick with panel filter and charcoal delete and leave it alone.

I agree with you on the dinan ram air thing, altough it would be a fun project I don't see how much can it gain when we know the limiting factor now is the filter, not the air intake track.

But fitting a cone fillter in the stock box is definitely doable, just need to find the right size filter. The BMW performace intake is basically a stock airbox fitted with a cone filter.

BTW, I finally got my K&N in, noticed some clear differences (unlike just the charcoal filter delete the other night) on my initial test run. The throttle lag on startup was gone, the car pulled harder, the engine was more eager, at redline the sound was more aggressive. I will give it some time to get used to, then make my final decision on a tune.