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      11-26-2011, 06:00 PM   #1
scottalin
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Best E90 intake upgrade

Hi,

I'm looking to get a little more horsepower and improve the sound of my E90 M3 without spending a lot. I've heard that OEM intake unit is optimal compared to aftermarket units and the best upgrade you can make is changing the filter. Is this true? I just bought mine yesterday and I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

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      11-26-2011, 06:11 PM   #2
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Don't waste your money, OEM is fine. Congrats on your purchase!
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      11-26-2011, 06:52 PM   #3
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Dont bother changing the full intake you might end up losing power. Go for a drop in filter from a reputable company. I have the active autowerke filter and love it but there are a lot of others to choose from. Search and choose the one you like the best
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      11-26-2011, 07:16 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1sikbmr View Post
Dont bother changing the full intake you might end up losing power. Go for a drop in filter from a reputable company. I have the active autowerke filter and love it but there are a lot of others to choose from. Search and choose the one you like the best
+1

Don't waste money on an intake. Drop-in filter is the way to go!
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      11-26-2011, 08:16 PM   #5
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The best intake upgrade is one with a compressor attached. Otherwise look into the macht schnell intake system for better sound.
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      11-26-2011, 08:41 PM   #6
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I have posted about this recently. A filter (I got BMS but MS or any other high flow oiled filter will do) will give you a nice increase in intake roar over stock.

However the OEM filter size is so monstrous and big, and the intake box sucks in so much air, and there is an opening in the hood directly from the intake, that you get as much intake sound as you are going to get.

For an experiment I took the top off my intake box and left it as a "open" intake setup to see if it was signifigantly louder and even with the top of the airbox off (just filter on) it was no different than the stock setup with the lid on like normal. I think the intake path out the hood allows for all the sound to be heard as that is a direct path to the filter. The other intake kits are not worth it and IMO likely lose some performance.

The "elbow" in the aftermarket parts is generally larger than OEM and the larger the diameter, the slower velocity of air flow. Bmw designed their elbow the size they did for a reason IMO and I believe the OEM setup is better than anything out there. Filter is a good upgrade though-sounds great!
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      11-26-2011, 09:22 PM   #7
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To add to what Ateam said, the stock filter has a charcoal filter built in and the aftermarket filters do not, which is why they are a bit louder and add some horsepower.

Currently my car is stock, but I will be buying a BMC filter soon
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      11-26-2011, 09:45 PM   #8
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Actually after 2010 they no longer have charcoal built in and they are changed to the euro filter setup. So if you have a pre-2010 you even get more difference with aftermarket filter.
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      11-27-2011, 12:57 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ateam View Post
Actually after 2010 they no longer have charcoal built in and they are changed to the euro filter setup. So if you have a pre-2010 you even get more difference with aftermarket filter.
That's good to know, it disproves any rumors that the removing the charcoal filter will harm the car in any way. Thanks
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      11-27-2011, 02:11 PM   #10
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Thanks for everyone's input. I really appreciate it.
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      11-29-2011, 03:38 PM   #11
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Yeah I have heard a lot of customers are happy with the drop in filters. Active Autowerke or aFe make some great filters.
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      12-01-2011, 11:47 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan@Jlevi SW View Post
Yeah I have heard a lot of customers are happy with the drop in filters. Active Autowerke or aFe make some great filters.
What's better the pre oiled or dry AFE filter?

I'm going to do this mod however I want to make the right choice.
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      12-01-2011, 12:02 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWNTHZST View Post
What's better the pre oiled or dry AFE filter?

I'm going to do this mod however I want to make the right choice.
Oiled has better performance, but the dry filter has better filtration capability. Personally I go with oiled just to get that extra performance, but either one you go with, I'm sure you'll be happy.
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      12-01-2011, 12:24 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWNTHZST View Post
What's better the pre oiled or dry AFE filter?

I'm going to do this mod however I want to make the right choice.
The oiled filter has 75% better air flow over stock and the dry filter has 50% better air flow over stock. Personally, I wouldn't want to deal with re-oiling the filter after cleaning it so I would go with a dry filter. I highly doubt I would notice a 25% difference in air flow, but who knows It all comes down to personal preference. Can't go wrong with either choice though.
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      12-01-2011, 10:37 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ateam View Post
The "elbow" in the aftermarket parts is generally larger than OEM and the larger the diameter, the slower velocity of air flow. Bmw designed their elbow the size they did for a reason IMO and I believe the OEM setup is better than anything out there.
LOL - you just made that up.

The key factor on the intake side is pressure drop, not "air velocity".
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      12-01-2011, 11:43 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Singletrack View Post
LOL - you just made that up.

The key factor on the intake side is pressure drop, not "air velocity".
huh? Velocity of both intake air as well as exhaust gases is what effects the pulses in a NA engine that is actually pretty important. Smaller diameter tubing in intake or exhaust causes the the velocity of the gas to move faster. That is why some exhausts on many other cars that would put whopping large piping on would lose horsepower due to loss of velocity and scavening.

While pressure changes is related to velocity due to burnoille's principe it is definetly a factor. Some of the RPI exhaust designs are kind of cool that they progressively get smaller toward the end of the exhaust to keep the gases flowing more quickly. Not on the m3 obviously.
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      12-03-2011, 12:00 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ateam View Post
huh? Velocity of both intake air as well as exhaust gases is what effects the pulses in a NA engine that is actually pretty important. Smaller diameter tubing in intake or exhaust causes the the velocity of the gas to move faster. That is why some exhausts on many other cars that would put whopping large piping on would lose horsepower due to loss of velocity and scavening.

While pressure changes is related to velocity due to burnoille's principe it is definetly a factor. Some of the RPI exhaust designs are kind of cool that they progressively get smaller toward the end of the exhaust to keep the gases flowing more quickly. Not on the m3 obviously.
The only issue with your application of theory is that all the actual data is contrary to it on this engine. If the intake elbow change were so detrimental, then it would be represented on the various dyno plots that have been posted. They would show a loss in power. People can argue about the gains, or whatever, but they always show gains, or similar power. I've yet to see a Dinan or MS intake lose power on the dyno.

We won't know exactly what is optimal until someone like Evolve does a thorough analysis, like they did recently on the exhaust. Making gross generalizations without any data to back them up doesn't help anyone.
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      12-03-2011, 12:44 AM   #18
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I just Drop in a K&N filter, and I'm happy lol...
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      03-11-2013, 03:00 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ateam View Post
Actually after 2010 they no longer have charcoal built in and they are changed to the euro filter setup. So if you have a pre-2010 you even get more difference with aftermarket filter.
So what does that mean? Aftermarket intakes have a different performance spec on the 2010-2013????
I was wondering too, does an Intake do much as in sound and performance of the car???
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      03-11-2013, 11:19 PM   #20
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very useful info in this thread!
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      03-12-2013, 06:50 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SV Concepts II
Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWNTHZST View Post
What's better the pre oiled or dry AFE filter?

I'm going to do this mod however I want to make the right choice.
The oiled filter has 75% better air flow over stock and the dry filter has 50% better air flow over stock. Personally, I wouldn't want to deal with re-oiling the filter after cleaning it so I would go with a dry filter. I highly doubt I would notice a 25% difference in air flow, but who knows It all comes down to personal preference. Can't go wrong with either choice though.
If these filters flow that much more air compared to stock with similar filter area they must be letting in a shit pile of dirt.

An air filter can't let in more air without letting in more dirt when unless the filter media area is larger!
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      03-12-2013, 03:29 PM   #22
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Well you are disregarding the entire concept of an oil filter. The whole point is that it can have bigger "holes" in the filter but the oil itself acts as a filter to "stick" to particals. So instead of a mechanical filter if you will, its a oil film filter that lets air through but sticks the dirt and particals.

So yes you can have bigger flow with not much more dirt go through due to the oil. That is why putting an oiled filter back in under oiled is devestating

I have 5 new BMC fitlers i replace every 10k miles as I don't like to clean and reoil mine.

The non-oiled filters obviously flow less as stated
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