Helene Performance Air Filter Installed!

Mr. 5 · 03-18-2008, 03:28 PM

It's finally here- The Helene Performance Air filter is finally here.

I've dealt with Helene Performance in the past with my previous e46 M3 and based on the studies that I performed both on and off the track, the quality, filtration, and performance are completely top notch.
This is a great option for those who do not want to deal with the intakes and keep their stock configuration.

Will this filter give you 20 wheel horse? umm, no.
I'll tell you why I personaly believe that this filter is my favorite--The filtration is unbelievable yet the flow is much better than OEM. It actually maintains the OEM filter’s 99% debris collection efficiency per ISO 5011 standards.

So, once I got my hands on the 335, it didn't take me long to contact Blaine at Helene Performance about making the air filter to satisfy our needs.
I'm not an expert by any means with the in depth discussions on filtration, but from what I understand, Helene Performance focuses on creating a filter with a low number of pleats while still keeping the filtration superb.

I took some pictures of the product and before you start thinking that it's a K&N filter, I have included pictures comparing the Helene filter to the K&N.
The Helene filter has less number of pleats than the K&N and is a bit thicker.
You can also see that the filter is also a tad thinner than the OEM filter.

Mr. 5 · 03-20-2008, 12:48 PM

Here's some Pics.

BoostedE90 · 03-20-2008, 12:53 PM

Looks good!

Where'd you get it from?

Mr. 5 · 03-20-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoostedE90

Looks good!

Where'd you get it from?

I got it from Blaine at Helene Performance.
His name is Battlewagon here on the forum.

cn555ic · 03-20-2008, 01:01 PM

looks like the k & N but with less pleats

Mr. 5 · 03-20-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

looks like the k & N but with less pleats

Extremely different though.
Blaine should chime in about the differences.

tom @ eas · 03-20-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

looks like the k & N but with less pleats

Much different than the K&N. Info to follow shortly.

e90AW335i · 03-20-2008, 01:36 PM

Looks good....

RedGT3 · 03-20-2008, 01:42 PM

Great review, like always Mr. 5

Perpetrator · 03-20-2008, 01:42 PM

Looks good. Has this been released yet? I've been looking forward to this.

sflgator · 03-20-2008, 01:44 PM

How is this Helene air filter different from the BMC air filter?

Mr. 5 · 03-20-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sflgator

How is this Helene air filter different from the BMC air filter?

This would be a good comparison.
I didn't have the BMC to compare.

hl0m4n · 03-20-2008, 02:25 PM

wow they're finally out? how much if i may ask? FTMFW people seriously the best air filter you can buy.

musc · 03-20-2008, 02:25 PM

This is the same company with the 'streamline' filter for the E46 M3, right? Definitely a high quality filter.

NZAB · 03-20-2008, 02:28 PM

Change in sound? Price?

radgator1 · 03-20-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musc

This is the same company with the 'streamline' filter for the E46 M3, right? Definitely a high quality filter.

Is this the same as streamline? I thought I read the pleats on the streamline were going to run the same direction as the OEM, not 90 degrees off like the K&N?

Archibald Donnington · 03-21-2008, 02:45 AM

OK, So...how does she feel? Any difference?
aaron

Mr. 5 · 03-21-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radgator1

Is this the same as streamline? I thought I read the pleats on the streamline were going to run the same direction as the OEM, not 90 degrees off like the K&N?

This is the Streamline and this is one of the questions that I wanted to ask Blaine.
I thought the pleats were going to do that as well, but I don't know if they tested it both ways and found that this way would be the better of the two.

The filter feals great, but like I said in the first post--It's not like I just added another tune or anything.

The testing that I did in the past was comparing a streamline filter to a K&N at the track. My 60 foots were almost identicle, the traps were higher with the helene and the 1/8th miles were better.

Spazdoc · 03-21-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZAB

Change in sound? Price?

I would like to know as well.

Mr. 5 · 03-21-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZAB

Change in sound? Price?

Sound is the same, but i already hear my turbos pretty well with the DPs.
I can't comment on the price.

BattleWagon · 03-21-2008, 07:03 PM

Finally found this thread. Will try to answer all the questions.

Why are the pleats perpendicular to the OEM ones?
In air flow tests, the OEM pleats displayed considerable harmonic vibrations at high RPMs and this created restriction to an already challenged air box due to physical underhood constraints. Not all filters require this change in orientation but this particular air box created conditions that benefited from this design. Not all filter designs require or benefit from this pleat orientation change, but this 335 box sure did!

How is this filter different from the competition?
The similarities are that they are all made of rubber cotton, mesh and oil. But how these ingredients are manipulated to create the final product is vastly different. The amounts of each ingredient differ in that we use almost twice as many plies of cotton as the competition. More cotton means more oil which means more filtration which contributes to air flow. Deeper pleats also is a variable in this equation as it is also a factor in retaining particulates at high RPMs. Unlike the OEM filter which uses a paper variant to stop the dirt (via tiny holes which is very restrictive), these filters use oil to trap and retain the dirt. The proprietary additives in the oil are responsible for the specific characteristics of each filter. At HP our goal is to create a filter that PROTECTS as well as it performs, not one or the other as compromise is not an option.

Is this the same Streamline filter that lit up M3Forum.net and catapulted Helene Performance into existence by providing a true custom tuned panel filter?

YES!

Why does this filter have less pleats then the competition?
We are tuning this filter to the stock air box in order to optimize the air flow for its configuration. Having said that, it is very likely that the production filters will have less pleat count then this prototype. Reducing pleat count will decrease dust loading capacity but it will easily go for 10k to 15k miles between cleanings (depending on local condtions).

How much will this cost
Pricing will be very competitive relative to current offerings. It will be inline with the current pricing levels of Streamline filters most likely.

baggerben · 03-21-2008, 07:22 PM

and at what cost?

03-18-2008, 03:28 PM	#1
Mr. 5 Modder Raider 753 Rep 8,633 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Surf City, HB iTrader: (31) Garage List 2007 e90 335i [8.00]	Helene Performance Air Filter Installed! It's finally here- The Helene Performance Air filter is finally here. I've dealt with Helene Performance in the past with my previous e46 M3 and based on the studies that I performed both on and off the track, the quality, filtration, and performance are completely top notch. This is a great option for those who do not want to deal with the intakes and keep their stock configuration. Will this filter give you 20 wheel horse? umm, no. I'll tell you why I personaly believe that this filter is my favorite--The filtration is unbelievable yet the flow is much better than OEM. It actually maintains the OEM filter’s 99% debris collection efficiency per ISO 5011 standards. So, once I got my hands on the 335, it didn't take me long to contact Blaine at Helene Performance about making the air filter to satisfy our needs. I'm not an expert by any means with the in depth discussions on filtration, but from what I understand, Helene Performance focuses on creating a filter with a low number of pleats while still keeping the filtration superb. I took some pictures of the product and before you start thinking that it's a K&N filter, I have included pictures comparing the Helene filter to the K&N. The Helene filter has less number of pleats than the K&N and is a bit thicker. You can also see that the filter is also a tad thinner than the OEM filter. __________________ e36 M3 Coupe, e36 325i Sedan e90 335i--SOLD Best 60-130-------------9.15 Seconds------------------WWW.MR5RACING.COM
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03-20-2008, 12:48 PM	#2
Mr. 5 Modder Raider 753 Rep 8,633 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Surf City, HB iTrader: (31) Garage List 2007 e90 335i [8.00]	Here's some Pics. Attached Images __________________ e36 M3 Coupe, e36 325i Sedan e90 335i--SOLD Best 60-130-------------9.15 Seconds------------------WWW.MR5RACING.COM
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03-20-2008, 12:53 PM	#3
BoostedE90 Lieutenant Colonel 55 Rep 1,690 Posts Drives: e90 335i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tampa/Gainesville, FL iTrader: (5)	Looks good! Where'd you get it from?
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03-20-2008, 01:01 PM	#5
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	looks like the k & N but with less pleats
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03-20-2008, 01:36 PM	#8
e90AW335i Major General 137 Rep 6,608 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ...... iTrader: (4)	Looks good.... __________________ I install all tunes, intakes, o2 simms, and most cosmetic mods. PM me for a quote.
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03-20-2008, 01:42 PM	#9
RedGT3 Major 76 Rep 1,253 Posts Drives: .2 GT3/M3cs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (3)	Great review, like always Mr. 5
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03-20-2008, 01:42 PM	#10
Perpetrator Lieutenant 20 Rep 407 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fullerton, CA iTrader: (4)	Looks good. Has this been released yet? I've been looking forward to this.
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03-20-2008, 01:44 PM	#11
sflgator Major General 148 Rep 5,389 Posts Drives: '09 MB C63 AMG & '08 MB GL450 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: U.S. iTrader: (1)	How is this Helene air filter different from the BMC air filter? __________________ \|2009 RENNtech MB C63 AMG \| Black/Black Leather/Black Maple \| Premium II \| MultiMedia \| iPod \| \| TeleAid \| Charcoal Filter Delete \| BMC High-Flow Air Filters \| High-Flow Secondary Cats \| Clear Side Markers \|
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03-20-2008, 02:25 PM	#13
hl0m4n Major General 2158 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NY iTrader: (58)	wow they're finally out? how much if i may ask? FTMFW people seriously the best air filter you can buy.
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03-20-2008, 02:25 PM	#14
musc ****** 184 Rep 1,702 Posts Drives: Audi TTRS, 335is Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SC iTrader: (9) Garage List 2011 BMW 335is [10.00]	This is the same company with the 'streamline' filter for the E46 M3, right? Definitely a high quality filter.
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03-20-2008, 02:28 PM	#15
NZAB Private 2 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Change in sound? Price?
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03-21-2008, 02:45 AM	#17
Archibald Donnington Lieutenant 46 Rep 570 Posts Drives: 2015 X1 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	OK, So...how does she feel? Any difference? aaron __________________ a family man...
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03-21-2008, 07:03 PM	#21
BattleWagon 9 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6mt, 325iT 5mt Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Finally found this thread. Will try to answer all the questions. Why are the pleats perpendicular to the OEM ones? In air flow tests, the OEM pleats displayed considerable harmonic vibrations at high RPMs and this created restriction to an already challenged air box due to physical underhood constraints. Not all filters require this change in orientation but this particular air box created conditions that benefited from this design. Not all filter designs require or benefit from this pleat orientation change, but this 335 box sure did! How is this filter different from the competition? The similarities are that they are all made of rubber cotton, mesh and oil. But how these ingredients are manipulated to create the final product is vastly different. The amounts of each ingredient differ in that we use almost twice as many plies of cotton as the competition. More cotton means more oil which means more filtration which contributes to air flow. Deeper pleats also is a variable in this equation as it is also a factor in retaining particulates at high RPMs. Unlike the OEM filter which uses a paper variant to stop the dirt (via tiny holes which is very restrictive), these filters use oil to trap and retain the dirt. The proprietary additives in the oil are responsible for the specific characteristics of each filter. At HP our goal is to create a filter that PROTECTS as well as it performs, not one or the other as compromise is not an option. Is this the same Streamline filter that lit up M3Forum.net and catapulted Helene Performance into existence by providing a true custom tuned panel filter? YES! Why does this filter have less pleats then the competition? We are tuning this filter to the stock air box in order to optimize the air flow for its configuration. Having said that, it is very likely that the production filters will have less pleat count then this prototype. Reducing pleat count will decrease dust loading capacity but it will easily go for 10k to 15k miles between cleanings (depending on local condtions). How much will this cost Pricing will be very competitive relative to current offerings. It will be inline with the current pricing levels of Streamline filters most likely. __________________ BMW strut bar /// BMW perf exhaust /// ZHP shift Knob /// MFD Scoops ///M3 floor mats (from old car LOL) Last edited by BattleWagon; 03-21-2008 at 09:24 PM..
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03-21-2008, 07:22 PM	#22
baggerben Private First Class 2 Rep 141 Posts Drives: volvo s70 t5,for now.335i soon Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: north eastern usa iTrader: (0)	and at what cost?
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