[Apexeater]

Has anyone shown the OEM air filters are a significant restriction? I know the oiled filters tend to be a popular mod but in most cars they have show to not really be worth it. I'm not talking about the big snorkel intakes, just the drop in filters.

[Enabled]

I would be curious of this too.

Although, the oiled filters have the nice feature of burning up MAFs which is nice.

aFe prodry filter would be another test point.

[MSH_]

Originally Posted by Enabled

....Although, the oiled filters have the nice feature of burning up MAFs which is nice.....

Exactly why I won't bother. That plus the consensus I have read on the F8x cars obviously with same S55 is that they dont do much at all. A couple of hp max. The one thing I will probably do is 86 the charcoal filters. I have been meaning to do it cause its fast and easy just need to get around to it

[n8dgr84]

Originally Posted by Enabled

I would be curious of this too.

Although, the oiled filters have the nice feature of burning up MAFs which is nice.

aFe prodry filter would be another test point.

I have the aFe and like them.
Bit more intake noise and whoosh with just a panel filter swap and carbon filter removal.

[Backroads Bimmer]

Ditching the carbon filters made a very noticeable difference in intake sounds. I coded out the fake engine sounds though so if you still have that it may not be as noticeable. I was going to get an intake but after getting ridding of the carbon filters I am not sure its worth it. Ditching the carbon filters was not as dramatic as an intake but it does allow you to hear the turbos spooling along all the other great turbo system sounds.

[tropicatango]

Originally Posted by n8dgr84

I have the aFe and like them.
Bit more intake noise and whoosh with just a panel filter swap and carbon filter removal.

Exactly the same for me,

[David.m]

Originally Posted by n8dgr84

I have the aFe and like them.
Bit more intake noise and whoosh with just a panel filter swap and carbon filter removal.

I was using the aFe ProDry for a little while but went back to oem because the aFe was letting fine dust through.

I get away for spirited drives with friends, we'll do 800-1000km p/day for 3-5 days and once home I always clean out the air box & filter. With the aFe I noticed the walls of the intake on the filtered side had a very fine film of dust, wipe your finger and you could see the mark & dust on finger. Clean everything but after next trip away with the aFe had the film of dust again. Went back to the oem paper filter and the dust on filtered side is gone (I still clean the box/vacuum the filter).

For city driving the aFe is probably OK, for my use I don't want to risk any adverse affects the dust might.

[Apexeater]

What is the point of the charcoal filters? The prior owner removed them along with the OEM paper filter. He replaced them with some Italian named filter. Car has 21k now and I am considering returning to the OEM filters. I'm in AZ and dust is a real issue.

[David1]

The charcoal filters are there to capture unburned hydrocarbons when you turn the engine off that flow to the filter boxes.

[Joebie]

My OG doesnt have a charcoal filter, did they add one on the comp or something? Maybe the previous owner removed mine? (doubtful as the rest of the car was completely unmodified)

[David1]

S55 cars have them.

[n8dgr84]

Originally Posted by David.m

I was using the aFe ProDry for a little while but went back to oem because the aFe was letting fine dust through.

I get away for spirited drives with friends, we'll do 800-1000km p/day for 3-5 days and once home I always clean out the air box & filter. With the aFe I noticed the walls of the intake on the filtered side had a very fine film of dust, wipe your finger and you could see the mark & dust on finger. Clean everything but after next trip away with the aFe had the film of dust again. Went back to the oem paper filter and the dust on filtered side is gone (I still clean the box/vacuum the filter).

For city driving the aFe is probably OK, for my use I don't want to risk any adverse affects the dust might.

Good on you for being so analytical but FWIW I have 30k km on mine and don't have this issue. Maybe yours didn't seal very well. Or maybe our environmental conditions are different.

[David.m]

Originally Posted by n8dgr84

Good on you for being so analytical but FWIW I have 30k km on mine and don't have this issue. Maybe yours didn't seal very well. Or maybe our environmental conditions are different.

I'm certain it's environment related, I didn't use the aFe long enough to do 'city' mileage only removal/clean, there was always some very dusty road km involved (worse when you're not the lead car). Fitment/seal was OK to, I'd actually bought 2 aFe's so I could simply put a clean one in and wash the other. After the 3rd or 4th change with the dust film returning I just went back to oem.

It might be I'm too ocd, even using the paper oem I still vacuum the filter after each trip away and clean out all the rocks/sand/dirt from the 'unfiltered' side & box, amazes me how much gets in there, plus I swap a new one in around 12-15K intervals. The dust film on the filtered side has gone though.