Free Power (charcoal filter removal) - Page 9 - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

katsbimmer · 04-28-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90hawaii

i took apart the airbox and found the charcoal to be practically glued on the the plastic frame. is there a safe way or removing it without shredding the filter into a tons of pieces? thanks!

What about using a hair dryer or heat gun to soften the glue up???do you think it would peal off the plastic easier??? just a thought!!

USAF BMW · 04-28-2006, 05:00 PM

good idea

fibercus · 04-28-2006, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porscheneer

what good are pics of it cut going to do for you? You have seen pictures of the filter..... now imagine a hole through it !

call me crazy, but I was just qurious if anyones cut is cleaner then mine. pretty funny huh

katsbimmer · 04-29-2006, 03:49 AM

how much louder is the engine noise with it removed...inside and out of the car????

Gooby · 05-01-2006, 06:39 PM

i jus did this today too...it wasnt that hard to do. i took the whole airbox out, found some leaves and such in it what a surprise

. i just used a utility knife to cut out the charcoal filter making sure i was as close to the edge as possible. be careful of the black dust from the filter.. Just be sure to shake it out and blow it out as best as you can and you should be fine.. do any of you guys think that not smoothing out the little edges on the edges will cause a problem?? I mean its as smooth as i could get it but its not stock smooth.. i dk but the car drives soo much smoother i love it...this is a must do mod!!

noflash · 05-01-2006, 08:57 PM

I can't beleive this made it 9 pages without pics or DIY!!!

USAF BMW · 05-02-2006, 07:30 AM

PICS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

graves4r6 · 05-02-2006, 01:18 PM

I just did mine.
It's easy!! I sanded the edges and cleaned it up very well.
I noticed for having better acceleration but a little lost power in high end.

katsbimmer · 05-02-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graves4r6

I just did mine.
It's easy!! I sanded the edges and cleaned it up very well.
I noticed for having better acceleration but a little lost power in high end.

how far in the high end...(what rpm's) does it drop off...tell us more

graves4r6 · 05-02-2006, 04:03 PM

I feel it's loosing low end torque with you're running 100+ mph.
May be the ECU needs to make some adjustments.
It is worth it? May be not.

noflash · 05-02-2006, 04:35 PM

You're the first to note any power loss.
You say you drive an M3.
You write about "loosing low end torque with you're running 100+ mph", which makes no sense.

Hmm...

graves4r6 · 05-02-2006, 04:42 PM

Yes I have E46 M3 convertible also.
May be because of get used to with M3...
Just my two cents.

ADHD · 05-02-2006, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graves4r6

I feel it's loosing low end torque with you're running 100+ mph.

lololol...AHh this statement contratidicts itself and makes no sense!

low end torque is usually found under 50mph if im not mistakin!

ANyhow I just did this mod and cut out the whole filter with a blade as close to edge as i could and grabbed a dremel and removed all the rest!
it looks good.. I started the car and reveed it a bit and no check engine lights or anything so Im sure its good to go I have not drove it yet so I cant tell if it made a difference or not but YES it was an easy mod thanks to all for bringing this to my attention!

javajaws · 05-08-2006, 11:15 AM

I find it interesting that BMW has molded this charcoal (carbon) filter into the airbox. Carbon filters can only absorb so much before they stop absorbing things and become useless. I'm not sure what the life expectancy of this carbon filter is (maybe 2-3 years?) but I'm sure there will come a point in its lifecycle that it won't be doing anything for your car except restricting the air intake. And that time may come even sooner if you drive in a lot of traffic and/or smoggy conditions.

My vote...remove the obstruction.

katsbimmer · 05-08-2006, 12:35 PM

filter gone...just did this mod. went for a quick test drive ...smoothhhhhhhhh...the car used to stumble a little right at the start, with slight throttle (ie

ulling from a stop)...if i stepped on the gas just abit, but if i stepped a little harder it wouldn't do this...now that seems to be gone......glen

ADHD · 05-08-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javajaws

I find it interesting that BMW has molded this charcoal (carbon) filter into the airbox. Carbon filters can only absorb so much before they stop absorbing things and become useless. I'm not sure what the life expectancy of this carbon filter is (maybe 2-3 years?) but I'm sure there will come a point in its lifecycle that it won't be doing anything for your car except restricting the air intake. And that time may come even sooner if you drive in a lot of traffic and/or smoggy conditions.

My vote...remove the obstruction.

And u would now this because?

javajaws · 05-08-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADHD

And u would now this because?

I'm not quite sure what your question is because it is ambiguous...

But if you are doubting that a carbon filter can become exhausted then I suggest you read up on how carbon filters work....in short they clean air by trapping chemicals in the pores of the carbon...which lose their efficiency over time as the pores of the carbon fill in and eventually become "full". Once the carbon has been used up it is doing nothing but getting in the way. BTW, the chemical process for this is adsorption (not absorption).

younghov85 · 05-08-2006, 06:36 PM

What tool did you all use to open the air filter box??

ADHD · 05-08-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javajaws

I'm not quite sure what your question is because it is ambiguous...

But if you are doubting that a carbon filter can become exhausted then I suggest you read up on how carbon filters work....in short they clean air by trapping chemicals in the pores of the carbon...which lose their efficiency over time as the pores of the carbon fill in and eventually become "full". Once the carbon has been used up it is doing nothing but getting in the way. BTW, the chemical process for this is adsorption (not absorption).

I never doubted u in anyway bro! the little smiley tells the whole story!
I know how carbon filters work man there used to decrease smell!

ADHD · 05-08-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by younghov85

What tool did you all use to open the air filter box??

the star tool thingy! hex tool i think its called and its size 25!

javajaws · 05-08-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADHD

I never doubted u in anyway bro! the little smiley tells the whole story!
I know how carbon filters work man there used to decrease smell!

too funny...I didn't catch the smoking smiley association!

steve40704 · 05-08-2006, 08:49 PM

This is one of the funniest threads I have ever read. I spend way to much time in the audio forum. The only thing missing is a Cartman "die hippie, die!"

04-29-2006, 03:49 AM	#180
katsbimmer Captain Drives: 2010 e90 328i Msport Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pt. St. Lucie,fl. Posts: 829 iTrader: (5) Garage List 2010 328i LCI E90 [5.00] 2006 325i [0.00]	how much louder is the engine noise with it removed...inside and out of the car???? __________________ AW 2010 E90 LCI

05-01-2006, 08:57 PM	#182
noflash Captain Caveman Drives: '06 325eyeyiyi Join Date: May 2005 Location: midwest Posts: 1,716 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	I can't beleive this made it 9 pages without pics or DIY!!! __________________ E90 325i Monaco Blue, Black Leatherette, Sport, Cold Weather, Xenon, Sat Prep, 18" BBS RGR Mods: Polorized Film for Business CD, added lumbar, rock chip on hood

05-02-2006, 04:35 PM	#187
noflash Captain Caveman Drives: '06 325eyeyiyi Join Date: May 2005 Location: midwest Posts: 1,716 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	You're the first to note any power loss. You say you drive an M3. You write about "loosing low end torque with you're running 100+ mph", which makes no sense. Hmm... __________________ E90 325i Monaco Blue, Black Leatherette, Sport, Cold Weather, Xenon, Sat Prep, 18" BBS RGR Mods: Polorized Film for Business CD, added lumbar, rock chip on hood

05-08-2006, 12:35 PM	#191
katsbimmer Captain Drives: 2010 e90 328i Msport Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pt. St. Lucie,fl. Posts: 829 iTrader: (5) Garage List 2010 328i LCI E90 [5.00] 2006 325i [0.00]	filter gone...just did this mod. went for a quick test drive ...smoothhhhhhhhh...the car used to stumble a little right at the start, with slight throttle (ieulling from a stop)...if i stepped on the gas just abit, but if i stepped a little harder it wouldn't do this...now that seems to be gone......glen __________________ AW 2010 E90 LCI

05-08-2006, 08:49 PM	#198
steve40704 - Drives: e90 m3 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NH Posts: 56 iTrader: (0)	This is one of the funniest threads I have ever read. I spend way to much time in the audio forum. The only thing missing is a Cartman "die hippie, die!" __________________ e90m3\|dct\|jerez\|silver\|cf\|loaded

04-28-2006, 05:00 PM	#178
USAF BMW Private First Class Drives: hopefully... Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 186 iTrader: (0)	good idea

05-01-2006, 06:39 PM	#181
Gooby Mr. Euro Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 244 iTrader: (1)	i jus did this today too...it wasnt that hard to do. i took the whole airbox out, found some leaves and such in it what a surprise . i just used a utility knife to cut out the charcoal filter making sure i was as close to the edge as possible. be careful of the black dust from the filter.. Just be sure to shake it out and blow it out as best as you can and you should be fine.. do any of you guys think that not smoothing out the little edges on the edges will cause a problem?? I mean its as smooth as i could get it but its not stock smooth.. i dk but the car drives soo much smoother i love it...this is a must do mod!!

05-02-2006, 07:30 AM	#183
USAF BMW Private First Class Drives: hopefully... Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 186 iTrader: (0)	PICS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

05-02-2006, 01:18 PM	#184
graves4r6 Captain Drives: Bicycle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Heaven on earth Posts: 732 iTrader: (14)	I just did mine. It's easy!! I sanded the edges and cleaned it up very well. I noticed for having better acceleration but a little lost power in high end.

05-02-2006, 04:03 PM	#186
graves4r6 Captain Drives: Bicycle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Heaven on earth Posts: 732 iTrader: (14)	I feel it's loosing low end torque with you're running 100+ mph. May be the ECU needs to make some adjustments. It is worth it? May be not.

05-02-2006, 04:42 PM	#188
graves4r6 Captain Drives: Bicycle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Heaven on earth Posts: 732 iTrader: (14)	Yes I have E46 M3 convertible also. May be because of get used to with M3... Just my two cents.

05-08-2006, 11:15 AM	#190
javajaws Private Drives: 2010 335i AW/Saddle/msport Join Date: May 2006 Location: Round Rock Posts: 80 iTrader: (0)	I find it interesting that BMW has molded this charcoal (carbon) filter into the airbox. Carbon filters can only absorb so much before they stop absorbing things and become useless. I'm not sure what the life expectancy of this carbon filter is (maybe 2-3 years?) but I'm sure there will come a point in its lifecycle that it won't be doing anything for your car except restricting the air intake. And that time may come even sooner if you drive in a lot of traffic and/or smoggy conditions. My vote...remove the obstruction.

05-08-2006, 06:36 PM	#194
younghov85 Captain Drives: 2006 E90 black 325 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lanham, Maryland Posts: 890 iTrader: (0)	What tool did you all use to open the air filter box??

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