BMS Cowl Filters without removing cowl

Milkbar · 09-26-2022, 10:10 PM

Hey all, so I just installed the BMS intake on my car, and I'll be honest, maybe I was expecting too much, but there is barely any sound difference to me with the turbo spools. I'm not sure if its because my exhaust is too loud (VRSF Race Exhaust with VRSF HFC), but I'd like to try and get more sound out of the intakes since its the whole reason I got it.

I saw that removing the cowl will allow you to hear it more, but I don't really want to remove it and have another worry on my mind. I'm wondering if there would be any difference in sound if I only replaced the stock cabin filter with the BMS filters but left the cowl on. The stock filter looks pretty hefty so I'd imagine there is some sound deadening there. Would anyone be able to provide some insight into whether its worth switching to the BMS filters before I pull the trigger? Thanks.

TSilver335i · 09-27-2022, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milkbar

Hey all, so I just installed the BMS intake on my car, and I'll be honest, maybe I was expecting too much, but there is barely any sound difference to me with the turbo spools. I'm not sure if its because my exhaust is too loud (VRSF Race Exhaust with VRSF HFC), but I'd like to try and get more sound out of the intakes since its the whole reason I got it.

I saw that removing the cowl will allow you to hear it more, but I don't really want to remove it and have another worry on my mind. I'm wondering if there would be any difference in sound if I only replaced the stock cabin filter with the BMS filters but left the cowl on. The stock filter looks pretty hefty so I'd imagine there is some sound deadening there. Would anyone be able to provide some insight into whether its worth switching to the BMS filters before I pull the trigger? Thanks.

I have BMS filters and stock cowl still in place only because it's easy for removal and looks cleaner imo. No sound difference still can't hear any induction noise via DCI's. Some cut the cowl m3 style mod. but i choose to leave it and it seals off the engine for fresh air.

Milkbar · 09-27-2022, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSilver335i

I have BMS filters and stock cowl still in place only because it's easy for removal and looks cleaner imo. No sound difference still can't hear any induction noise via DCI's. Some cut the cowl m3 style mod. but i choose to leave it and it seals off the engine for fresh air.

Ahh I see, well that’s a bit disappointing. I saw a lot of posts about how night and day the difference in intake sound is, some even said it was so loud they couldn’t daily it, are these people running a bowl delete probably?

whyzee125 · 09-27-2022, 09:28 AM

On n54 there's a massive sound difference with the BMS filters vs the stock setup. N55 has a much louder exhaust and quieter intake but I think you'll still notice a difference.

njang92 · 09-27-2022, 05:19 PM

I run an oem m3 cowl kit so the engine bay is still sealed off, but has more "breathing room". It's a bit louder, but not by much and probably not worth the $6-700 bucks of plastic if you just want noise. Mostly just saves me 5 mins of pulling the thing off when working on it.

darkfires102 · 09-27-2022, 09:52 PM

Free mod: Just open the hood and remove the seal that's attached to the cowl, it seals to the hood and restricts lots of noise. Then you get to keep the nice cabin filter air and have the cowl draining water correctly. Tested in snow too and is fine. I take off the cowl and run BMS filters in summer and switch to the cowl with seal removed otherwise. I would say it is just a tiny bit muffled compared to BMS filters but a lot better than stock.

Milkbar · 09-27-2022, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkfires102

Free mod: Just open the hood and remove the seal that's attached to the cowl, it seals to the hood and restricts lots of noise. Then you get to keep the nice cabin filter air and have the cowl draining water correctly. Tested in snow too and is fine. I take off the cowl and run BMS filters in summer and switch to the cowl with seal removed otherwise. I would say it is just a tiny bit muffled compared to BMS filters but a lot better than stock.

Interesting life hack. Sounds promising. Can the seal be reapplied once its taken off?

darkfires102 · 09-28-2022, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milkbar

Interesting life hack. Sounds promising. Can the seal be reapplied once its taken off?

Yes, it just clips back onto the cowl.

TheGoodTheBadTheUgly · 09-28-2022, 08:23 PM

It's been a while since I have gone from the stock airbox to the BMS cold air intake system so I really don't recall how it sounds. In fact, it was my first mod, not necessarily proud of it due to its pretty low usefulness hahaha.

But I must say that it really changed (at least for my car) the way the engine bay sounded inside the vehicle.

I bought the BMS cowl filters but I run them with the lower part of the cowl always installed since I have a LOT of snow during the year and I don't want to take any chances. On top of that, I have also upgraded my stock DV to the GFB DV+ since the diaphragm on the stock one was torn and was causing compression surges. DV+ can make the chirping noises you hear.

I have a pretty bad video where you might be able to hear how loud the air gets sucked in and some pretty high-pitched turbo spool.

Let me know if you have anything similar in your case.

Milkbar · 10-27-2022, 04:43 PM

Hey all, just wanted to give an update for those who might be thinking of doing the same. Turbo noises are pretty audible now. The thing that helped the most was removing that seal on the cowl. i also bought the BMS cabin filter, I think that helps with being able to hear the turbo sounds more when the windows are up. Didn’t really notice a difference with the windows down.

09-26-2022, 10:10 PM	#1
Milkbar New Member 6 Rep 22 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	BMS Cowl Filters without removing cowl Hey all, so I just installed the BMS intake on my car, and I'll be honest, maybe I was expecting too much, but there is barely any sound difference to me with the turbo spools. I'm not sure if its because my exhaust is too loud (VRSF Race Exhaust with VRSF HFC), but I'd like to try and get more sound out of the intakes since its the whole reason I got it. I saw that removing the cowl will allow you to hear it more, but I don't really want to remove it and have another worry on my mind. I'm wondering if there would be any difference in sound if I only replaced the stock cabin filter with the BMS filters but left the cowl on. The stock filter looks pretty hefty so I'd imagine there is some sound deadening there. Would anyone be able to provide some insight into whether its worth switching to the BMS filters before I pull the trigger? Thanks.
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09-27-2022, 09:28 AM	#4
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1665 Rep 3,629 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	On n54 there's a massive sound difference with the BMS filters vs the stock setup. N55 has a much louder exhaust and quieter intake but I think you'll still notice a difference.
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09-27-2022, 05:19 PM	#5
njang92 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 43 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 335xi MSport Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 335i [0.00]	I run an oem m3 cowl kit so the engine bay is still sealed off, but has more "breathing room". It's a bit louder, but not by much and probably not worth the $6-700 bucks of plastic if you just want noise. Mostly just saves me 5 mins of pulling the thing off when working on it. __________________ 2013 E92 335xi MSport DOCVU+JB4\|xHP Stage 3\|VRSF DP\|VRSF FMIC\|AFe Stg2 CAI\|Remus Race Exhaust\|ER CP\|GFB DV+\|
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09-27-2022, 09:52 PM	#6
darkfires102 New Member 10 Rep 26 Posts Drives: '11 335xi, '09 335xi Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Free mod: Just open the hood and remove the seal that's attached to the cowl, it seals to the hood and restricts lots of noise. Then you get to keep the nice cabin filter air and have the cowl draining water correctly. Tested in snow too and is fine. I take off the cowl and run BMS filters in summer and switch to the cowl with seal removed otherwise. I would say it is just a tiny bit muffled compared to BMS filters but a lot better than stock. __________________ 2011 335xi N55 6AT FBO + 2009 335xi N54 6AT BONE STOCK
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09-28-2022, 08:23 PM	#9
TheGoodTheBadTheUgly Captain 256 Rep 674 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 335i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Gatineau iTrader: (0)	It's been a while since I have gone from the stock airbox to the BMS cold air intake system so I really don't recall how it sounds. In fact, it was my first mod, not necessarily proud of it due to its pretty low usefulness hahaha. But I must say that it really changed (at least for my car) the way the engine bay sounded inside the vehicle. I bought the BMS cowl filters but I run them with the lower part of the cowl always installed since I have a LOT of snow during the year and I don't want to take any chances. On top of that, I have also upgraded my stock DV to the GFB DV+ since the diaphragm on the stock one was torn and was causing compression surges. DV+ can make the chirping noises you hear. I have a pretty bad video where you might be able to hear how loud the air gets sucked in and some pretty high-pitched turbo spool. Let me know if you have anything similar in your case. __________________ TOTALED \| 2011 E90 335i xDrive - BMS Cold Air Intake - ETS Charge Pipe - ETS 7" FMIC - MHD Stage 2+ - GFB DV+ - PE Mod - VRSF Catless Downpipe - xDelete - xHP Stage 3 2015 E84 X1 35i M-Sport Last edited by TheGoodTheBadTheUgly; 09-28-2022 at 08:39 PM..
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10-27-2022, 04:43 PM	#10
Milkbar New Member 6 Rep 22 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Hey all, just wanted to give an update for those who might be thinking of doing the same. Turbo noises are pretty audible now. The thing that helped the most was removing that seal on the cowl. i also bought the BMS cabin filter, I think that helps with being able to hear the turbo sounds more when the windows are up. Didn’t really notice a difference with the windows down.
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