[Malakas]

All,
Ive been feverishly working on coming up with something to suit our cars since this thread illustrated that our poor intakes have no clear path to suck in cold air.

Yes, the stock M4 parts will fit that area, but in that scenario they are pulling in the air at a 90 angle...

My question was whether there was a more elegant solution that would be a less angular path for the air which would ultimately have better flow. I also wanted to be sure that the solution was out of the way of the radiators, and would be cut into the side of the grill plastic in a way that the radatiors would not lose the pressure that is built up in the area by having the space sealed.

So here is the first full protoype. Thanks to Project_F87 for guidance and real engineering support. He suggested I add a piece with some sort of debris protection, which was a great idea.

Below you will see the intake snorkel itself which plugs into the stock piece (already tested) and now (new) snaps on to secure itself. And pictured is an attachment to the front that will hold a screen.

The pieces are being printed as we speak - so I hope to have install pics and IAT measurements soon. I just wanted to drop this teaser ...







As I said on another thread, many questions remain - this may be overkill, or frankly, it might not have any advantage over the M3/M4 part at all. Still it has been a very fun project and we will test IAT before and after and also dyno before and after (with huge fans) to see if a solution like this makes sense.

**Update:

Pieces are printed!

[Commanderwiggin]

Looking great! Can't wait to see the print and results!

[ashtaron14]

Happy to see this progressing.

[Alfy]

Amazing work, I can't wait to get a set of these!!

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by Commanderwiggin

Looking great! Can't wait to see the print and results!

Thank you!! Im axious to see how they print.

Originally Posted by ashtaron14

Happy to see this progressing.

This took way too long to proceed - but I had issues tearing the car apart for test fits, and also the shape took at least 100 iterations to get smooth

Originally Posted by Alfy

Amazing work, I can't wait to get a set of these!!

[hlm2c]

Nice work!! I'd be interested in ordering a set when they're finally available!

[flybigjet]

For clarity, I understand how/where the M3/M4 snorkel's fit-- and that they have a debris guard of sorts.

While the 90 degree bend may not be optimal (although I'm not certain that you could tell a real-world difference without *serious* instrumentation)-- where do these mount?

Do they come under the bumper/below the lights and mount there?

Two things come to mind: 1) Would they be subject to water ingestion in that location and 2) how would you determine where to cut the plastic? The M3/M4's are buggers in that you have to pull the bumper and headlight, but after that, you have room to work. With these, I'm having trouble visualizing where they go.

NOT trying to beak on you-- just trying to get a clearer idea of how these mount up.

Outstanding work/effort on your part-- I'm *truly* impressed!

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

For clarity, I understand how/where the M3/M4 snorkel's fit-- and that they have a debris guard of sorts.

While the 90 degree bend may not be optimal (although I'm not certain that you could tell a real-world difference without *serious* instrumentation)-- where do these mount?

Do they come under the bumper/below the lights and mount there?

Two things come to mind: 1) Would they be subject to water ingestion in that location and 2) how would you determine where to cut the plastic? The M3/M4's are buggers in that you have to pull the bumper and headlight, but after that, you have room to work. With these, I'm having trouble visualizing where they go.

NOT trying to beak on you-- just trying to get a clearer idea of how these mount up.

Outstanding work/effort on your part-- I'm *truly* impressed!

All good, I agree with all of your comments entirely - appreciate the compliment and the feedback! Im just a car nut like all of you so this has been more of a labor of love than anything.

The idea (that im hoping to show in install pics) is they will mount by removing the radiator support on top and then the grill. These will poke through the side plastic with a hole similar to how you would cut for the m3/m4 piece (slight difference in location).

My goal was to be able to install without removing the bumper, but again this remains to be seen if it is possible. If you look at the OEM piece you see not only does it take a turn but it rises quite a bit too - as do the ones I designed. Per my measurements, having taken everything apart, the intake nozzles themselves should be tucked on the sides of the front grill. Its going to be a tight fit but the install idea is this...

Take off radiator support and front grill.... use the template I made to cut a hole in the plastic with your dremel through the grill opening. Then snake the piece in and snap it to the oem snorkel end. We will see if it works... with the tapering diameter design, it should fit from in the grille inward. Then there will be the issue of how tight of a fit and sealing it (if needed) because the last thing we want is a pressure leak that not only 1) puts air into the engine compartment and under the hood - bad aero, and 2) drops the pressure head that builds at the back of the grill to help the radiator cool.

In terms of water ingestion, I traced the natural flow line of water and placed two holes in the bottom of the snorkel where droplets would likely collect after impacting the back of the snorkel and running down the curvature. I dont think these would impact air flow all that much, with the idea being that this style of snorkel will only like be better than oem at higher intake velocities /pressures ... and as you said - that remains to be proven.

In addition - for now - I am going to keep that side hole open in the oem piece (from the filter to my piece) to see if this helps any water to exit that might still be airborne past the turns. The actual intake filters I had in my GTR were littlerally exposed in the nose, and I never had any issues... but of course this is something to keep an eye on.

The piece pictured above as a screen holder will hold a 0.6mm thick, metal mesh screen that I will cut out, paint, and then further screw in its "frame". This should be a snap on part.

Ideally, all of this will be black so you wont really notice it much and in a very similar place to the eventuri and other branded scoops that sit behind the grill.

(you can see I've been putting likely too much time into this - LOL).

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by hlm2c

Nice work!! I'd be interested in ordering a set when they're finally available!

Absolutely!

[flybigjet]

Honestly, if this works out well, and you can (or are even interested) in scaling up for production, you might just find a nice niche market-- beer money at the very least!

The idea that this would be possible without removing bumper and lights? That in and of itself makes this a better design than the M3/M4 OEM parts!

R.

[Conissah]

Very cool! Will these be available for sale? Will the STL be available?

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

Honestly, if this works out well, and you can (or are even interested) in scaling up for production, you might just find a nice niche market-- beer money at the very least!

The idea that this would be possible without removing bumper and lights? That in and of itself makes this a better design than the M3/M4 OEM parts!

R.

Hell yes... paid for beer, is the best beer.

I will be thrilled if it all works and fits - and even moreso if we can generate great data interms of IAT or even horsepower. I mean we all know the engine dies at 6500rpm, and while this is clearly a function of tuning, I dont see how this motor could be happy at high RPM with the stock intake drawing hot air.

We can have it printed in other materials too - even carbon (according to the guys who print for me).

Originally Posted by Conissah

Very cool! Will these be available for sale? Will the STL be available?

Yes, if it all works as intended, anyone interested in being part of the "test program" should DM me... and if enough people want them - we could even do a group printing for a cheaper price for everyone.

[Saintjah]

Where do I sign up?

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by Saintjah

Where do I sign up?

LOL, let me test them up and then we can print a bunch if people want to try them

[ashtaron14]

I'm okay with having the front bumper removed for this but ideally we wouldn't have to mess with the headlights.

I'm going to get my front bumper removed tomorrow in order to reattach the MP lip. Apparently the Fall-line oil cooler guard has changed the bumper's shape so the lip doesn't sit flush onto the bumper fml

[Detoxified]

Originally Posted by ashtaron14

I'm okay with having the front bumper removed for this but ideally we wouldn't have to mess with the headlights.

I'm going to get my front bumper removed tomorrow in order to reattach the MP lip. Apparently the Fall-line oil cooler guard has changed the bumper's shape so the lip doesn't sit flush onto the bumper fml

I just removed the bumper myself in my garage. It's very easy todo.. now that I know how it would take me maybe 20min tops. The first attempt takes a bit longer since you need to find all the sensors to unhook and bolts to unscrew.

[mike@x-ph.com]

[chmura]

Definitely interested! Would you need to remove the bumper to get this piece into place?

I remember someone put in the M4 part and he said it was a major PITA. Since he had to remove the front bumper cover and I think headlights. Putting everything back together was an alignment nightmare. I think he got it sorted out at the end.

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by chmura

Definitely interested! Would you need to remove the bumper to get this piece into place?

I remember someone put in the M4 part and he said it was a major PITA. Since he had to remove the front bumper cover and I think headlights. Putting everything back together was an alignment nightmare. I think he got it sorted out at the end.

Hopefully not... im hoping to do it via the grill opening. Will know soon * hopefully by end of week! Fingers crossed

[Detoxified]

Originally Posted by Malakas

Hopefully not... im hoping to do it via the grill opening. Will know soon * hopefully by end of week! Fingers crossed

Took off my front bumper this weekend. Once you find the 2-3 screws behind the wheel well debris plastic shield and the 2-3 sensor plugs it's a breeze. Excited to try this new snorkel on my car once released

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Thanks Mike

Originally Posted by Detoxified

Took off my front bumper this weekend. Once you find the 2-3 screws behind the wheel well debris plastic shield and the 2-3 sensor plugs it's a breeze. Excited to try this new snorkel on my car once released

Good to know, the sensor part looked dicey to me on the DIY, but then again I thought drilling into the body panels to mount the lip / diffuser / winglets was nuts until the second or third drill hole... then its no biggie

[Malakas]

Pieces are printed!