Cheap engineered Air scoops

Nutballa · 07-30-2009, 11:38 AM

I was bored for the past 2 days and decided to see if I could make some ram air scoops for my Beemer. I may have posted in wrong section... mods feel free.

Sheet metal from Home Depot($5.60, plus some metal cutting scissors,$14.00)

My reference for the design...Thanks aFe

This is some paper cut out I made of what the air scoop might look like. I work well with physical models that I can look at (Brainstorming).

Tools!! The pliers are used to bend the metal. The sheet metal was pretty tough to bend.

Prototype. I used the hammer to flatten out the curves.

The semi-finished product. I still have to adhere the side walls. I'll use metal "super strength" Epoxy adhesive.

Retrofit screw holes that will fit the top OEM air scoop. I test fitted the air scoops more then 10 times and made adjustments so it would fit as snug as possible.

I wore gloves most of the time but still managed to cut myself. hah.

After I bond the side walls I'm gonna install them and do some test runs. They should hold up to my predictions. I'm thinking of painting them Yellow. I'll post the finished product soon!.

I decided to paint them black.

Here's one of the air scoops installed.

Front view.

I have a short video that I'll post proving that air scoops DO work. I just need help posting the video. it's from You tube.

raceyBMW · 07-30-2009, 05:50 PM

I did the same thing, pretty easy, and well worth saving the cost of what they are to buy already made.

One tip, I used 3M double sided foam tape (same stuff to stick on spoilers and such), and they have held on since I installed about a year ago...and I have hit 150+mph more times then I should admit.

Oh and I painted mine black.

iheartsole · 07-30-2009, 07:42 PM

cool. did it make any difference?

Jonny550 · 07-30-2009, 08:21 PM

sweet......your giving me idea's

tell us what the outcome is

gl

dlwhite · 07-30-2009, 08:28 PM

Brilliant!

jopa489 · 07-30-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutballa

Beemer

http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/referen...er-Beemer.aspx

Cool idea though, looking forward to seeing how they look on your car.

SennaZ · 07-30-2009, 08:56 PM

Thanks! Somebody has to suck up all those cig. butts tossed from cars in front of them, might as well be you.

(just kidding

)

Nutballa · 07-31-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raceyBMW

I did the same thing, pretty easy, and well worth saving the cost of what they are to buy already made.

One tip, I used 3M double sided foam tape (same stuff to stick on spoilers and such), and they have held on since I installed about a year ago...and I have hit 150+mph more times then I should admit.

Oh and I painted mine black.

Nice!

Nutballa · 07-31-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartsole

cool. did it make any difference?

Not yep, I'll post once I install them. The bond is still curing...

Nutballa · 07-31-2009, 12:31 AM

This adhesive is very strong! I had to use a drill to sand down the sides. I'll install them later on today. I cut them and made them a half inch shorted in the front

Nutballa · 07-31-2009, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jopa489

http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/referen...er-Beemer.aspx

Cool idea though, looking forward to seeing how they look on your car.

haha, my bad. Beemers stand for moto's. I forget.

Nutballa · 07-31-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SennaZ

Thanks! Somebody has to suck up all those cig. butts tossed from cars in front of them, might as well be you.

(just kidding

)

haha. Once, I opened up my intake where the filter is and found some big ass moth, lol. This was before I made the scoops, so idk how it got in there.

Nutballa · 07-31-2009, 10:29 AM

I took the car out for a drive this morning and did some pulls on a long stretch of road with 335i auto with paddle shifters. I noticed improved throttle response with the help of AFe's high-flow filter installed. IN addition, when I change gears the transmission seems smoother. This was noticeable around 50-100MPH. However, performance may have improved in a wider range of speeds. I only drove it for 15 minutes, plus i got freaked out when I flew past some parked cops.

Jonny550 · 07-31-2009, 10:30 AM

make sure we get some pics installed on the car if they fit good

iall pay you to make me a set

JDLM · 07-31-2009, 10:37 AM

I thought about this also, but I just paid for some (40 bucks or so)

Mr. 5 · 07-31-2009, 10:46 AM

I would definitely paint those!

GeorgeSmooth · 07-31-2009, 11:30 AM

Nice going. I really laughed when I saw those thick leather gloves and when I saw the cut with the plaster I nearly peed my pants hehehe. It would be cool if you could create a real size pdf with the cutout dimension for all the DIY dudes.

Nutballa · 07-31-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

I would definitely paint those!

Yeah, they look ugly without paint. I decided to paint them black.

xsb00st · 07-31-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutballa

I have a short video that I'll post proving that air scoops DO work. I just need help posting the video. it's from You tube.

Posted your video up for you here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=1#post5624414

AlpineG05 · 08-01-2009, 08:48 PM

nice vid i always thought my scoops helped at higher speeds.

Former_Boosted_IS · 08-03-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xs*****

Posted your video up for you here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=1#post5624414

There will always be an argument here. The problem is they cover up part of your radiator which inevitably must cause the car to run hotter. Without logging the difference, we don't know. This is the "give and take" on scoops.

raceyBMW · 08-03-2009, 10:20 AM

The technically don't cover up the radiator, because the slant at the back of the scoops will still allow airflow over the top portion of the radiator.

07-30-2009, 11:38 AM	#1
Nutballa Captain 251 Rep 840 Posts Drives: BMW F13 M6 // BMW F22 M235i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Austin, Texas+ San Antonio iTrader: (1)	Cheap engineered Air scoops I was bored for the past 2 days and decided to see if I could make some ram air scoops for my Beemer. I may have posted in wrong section... mods feel free. Sheet metal from Home Depot($5.60, plus some metal cutting scissors,$14.00) My reference for the design...Thanks aFe This is some paper cut out I made of what the air scoop might look like. I work well with physical models that I can look at (Brainstorming). Tools!! The pliers are used to bend the metal. The sheet metal was pretty tough to bend. Prototype. I used the hammer to flatten out the curves. The semi-finished product. I still have to adhere the side walls. I'll use metal "super strength" Epoxy adhesive. Retrofit screw holes that will fit the top OEM air scoop. I test fitted the air scoops more then 10 times and made adjustments so it would fit as snug as possible. I wore gloves most of the time but still managed to cut myself. hah. After I bond the side walls I'm gonna install them and do some test runs. They should hold up to my predictions. I'm thinking of painting them Yellow. I'll post the finished product soon!. I decided to paint them black. Here's one of the air scoops installed. Front view. I have a short video that I'll post proving that air scoops DO work. I just need help posting the video. it's from You tube. __________________ BMW FTW! "Power is nothing without Control" - Pirelli. Last edited by Nutballa; 07-31-2009 at 10:36 PM..
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07-30-2009, 05:50 PM	#2
raceyBMW king of the hills 92 Rep 2,915 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 w/ESS55, 2001 540i/6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arvada, CO iTrader: (1) Garage List 2001 BMW 540i/6 [8.17] 1994 530i [9.00] 2007 335i Coupe [8.37]	I did the same thing, pretty easy, and well worth saving the cost of what they are to buy already made. One tip, I used 3M double sided foam tape (same stuff to stick on spoilers and such), and they have held on since I installed about a year ago...and I have hit 150+mph more times then I should admit. Oh and I painted mine black.
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07-30-2009, 07:42 PM	#3
iheartsole Brigadier General 85 Rep 4,929 Posts Drives: 08 335i coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (2)	cool. did it make any difference?
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07-30-2009, 08:21 PM	#4
Jonny550 Brigadier General 241 Rep 4,936 Posts Drives: 2012 550i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Jersey Shore iTrader: (14)	sweet......your giving me idea's tell us what the outcome is gl __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] .
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07-30-2009, 08:28 PM	#5
dlwhite First Lieutenant 31 Rep 324 Posts Drives: Sparkling Graphite 2007 335xi Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335xi [0.00]	Brilliant! __________________ 1987 Black on Black Mitsubishi Starion ESiR 2007 Sparkling Graphite 335xi
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07-30-2009, 08:56 PM	#7
SennaZ been there... done that 4 Rep 277 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Phoenix iTrader: (1)	Thanks! Somebody has to suck up all those cig. butts tossed from cars in front of them, might as well be you. (just kidding )
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07-31-2009, 12:31 AM	#10
Nutballa Captain 251 Rep 840 Posts Drives: BMW F13 M6 // BMW F22 M235i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Austin, Texas+ San Antonio iTrader: (1)	This adhesive is very strong! I had to use a drill to sand down the sides. I'll install them later on today. I cut them and made them a half inch shorted in the front __________________ BMW FTW! "Power is nothing without Control" - Pirelli. Last edited by Nutballa; 07-31-2009 at 12:53 AM..
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07-31-2009, 10:29 AM	#13
Nutballa Captain 251 Rep 840 Posts Drives: BMW F13 M6 // BMW F22 M235i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Austin, Texas+ San Antonio iTrader: (1)	I took the car out for a drive this morning and did some pulls on a long stretch of road with 335i auto with paddle shifters. I noticed improved throttle response with the help of AFe's high-flow filter installed. IN addition, when I change gears the transmission seems smoother. This was noticeable around 50-100MPH. However, performance may have improved in a wider range of speeds. I only drove it for 15 minutes, plus i got freaked out when I flew past some parked cops. __________________ BMW FTW! "Power is nothing without Control" - Pirelli.
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07-31-2009, 10:30 AM	#14
Jonny550 Brigadier General 241 Rep 4,936 Posts Drives: 2012 550i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Jersey Shore iTrader: (14)	make sure we get some pics installed on the car if they fit good iall pay you to make me a set __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] .
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07-31-2009, 10:37 AM	#15
JDLM Banned 73 Rep 3,277 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Sedan Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kansas iTrader: (4)	I thought about this also, but I just paid for some (40 bucks or so)
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07-31-2009, 10:46 AM	#16
Mr. 5 Modder Raider 755 Rep 8,633 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Surf City, HB iTrader: (31) Garage List 2007 e90 335i [8.00]	I would definitely paint those! __________________ e36 M3 Coupe, e36 325i Sedan e90 335i--SOLD Best 60-130-------------9.15 Seconds------------------WWW.MR5RACING.COM
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07-31-2009, 11:30 AM	#17
GeorgeSmooth Lieutenant 38 Rep 565 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 335i AT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Nice going. I really laughed when I saw those thick leather gloves and when I saw the cut with the plaster I nearly peed my pants hehehe. It would be cool if you could create a real size pdf with the cutout dimension for all the DIY dudes. __________________ 08 E90 335i AT RB Turbos -NX Wet Kit - Chiplogic Flash or Procede V5- M3 Diff - AE Exhaust- Forge Dv's - Helix Intercooler - AR DP's - P3 Boost Gauge - Vishnu Meth- Stett Chargepipe and CAI 09 C63
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08-01-2009, 08:48 PM	#20
AlpineG05 hi 129 Rep 1,140 Posts Drives: Alpine White G05 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bakersfield, Cali iTrader: (1)	nice vid i always thought my scoops helped at higher speeds. __________________ 2022 M Sport G05 Jb4, CTS catless dp, M performance exhaust, bms intake, IND goodies, Maxton kit
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08-03-2009, 10:20 AM	#22
raceyBMW king of the hills 92 Rep 2,915 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 w/ESS55, 2001 540i/6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arvada, CO iTrader: (1) Garage List 2001 BMW 540i/6 [8.17] 1994 530i [9.00] 2007 335i Coupe [8.37]	The technically don't cover up the radiator, because the slant at the back of the scoops will still allow airflow over the top portion of the radiator.
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