[//M]

So U.S. cars come with a second air filter it's a carbon filter for fumes, (CARB thing I really don't think it makes a difference) they've been putting these on North American M cars since the E46. I've been meaning for a while to take it out to see what effect it would have on intake noise. I finally got around to it.

You will need to take off the carbon strut bar to do the drivers side, it only takes 2 minutes to get off, 6 13mm bolts and one 10mm bolt. The filter is clipped into the top side intake covers and is black with a gray filter, the yellow and orange filter is your main air filter and should not be touched. It is kind of clipped in place so you'll have to get a screwdriver into one of the recessed tabs and pop it out you only need to get in one corner to pop it out. But the drivers side intake cover I couldn't get nearly enough clearance with the strut bar in place.

This makes a very nice difference with intake noise, if you're a fan of turbo spooling noise I highly highly suggest you do this. It also definitely helped with spool but I am not running the stock tune or stock exhaust.

It's not excessive when you're driving around but when you rev the engine it definitely adds that turbo sucking noise that were all kind of missing.

Go try it and tell us how much better it is!

[Poochie]

Instead of removing the charcoal layer from the orange OEM filters, I suggest you ditch them altogether and just throw in two high flow KNN air filters. They sound better, don't heat soak, and increases the throttle response.

I already confirm with my service advisor, whom is an old friend, that KNN drop-in air filters doesn't in anyway void the warranty with BMW.

BMW even supply a K&N as an approved accessory for fitting with the BMW Performance air intake for the 135i..


https://www.knfilters.com/mobile/air...ent-air-filter

[Cycle Pilot]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Instead of removing the charcoal layer from the orange OEM filters, I suggest you ditch them altogether and just throw in two high flow KNN air filters. They sound better, don't heat soak, and increases the throttle response.

I already confirm with my service advisor, whom is an old friend, that KNN air filters doesn't in anyway void the warranty with BMW.

BMW even supply a K&N as an approved accessory for fitting with the BMW Performance air intake for the 135i..


https://www.knfilters.com/mobile/air...ent-air-filter

I did both! (Remove carbon filters and add K&N)

[atc5]

Originally Posted by Poochie

They sound better, don't heat soak, and increases the throttle response.

air filters heat soak?

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by atc5

air filters heat soak?

As oppose to installing an aftermarket intake on a pipe... :

[aerokubectl]

Man this was kind of a PITA and I lost one of the screws inside the engine bay(yeah yeah, but man this engine bay is packed).

I tried not to take off the strut bar which I should of done from the get-go, its dirt simple to get it off.

Anyways, finished this but I notice zero sound improvement

[CP911]

[AM9]

Originally Posted by CP911

great video thanks for sharing

[omasou]

Thanks for the video. I cannot believe we're worrying about micro amounts of hydrocarbon escaping the intake while we still have diesel trucks belching out black smoke!

[Tag]

These reusable filters don't require oil.

Magnum FLOW Pro DRY S Air Filters