E30 Zone

Hi there, I am looking into buying a BMC CDA induction kit for my iS, from evo-s.co.uk...however I wanted to hear your reviews and comments first as you lot know your stuff, are they benificial? Whats the gain on performance? Do they remain cool? (due to engine temp) How loud are they? etc
It's either the BMC or a K&N Panel Filter whats your opinions, please...

I've used K&N and an induction kit and gone back to the original set up with OEM filter. Original is the best IMO.

BUMP

ive never tried a BMC induction kit but i would like to know if its anygood. I've got a K+N panel filter on mine at the moment and its the best out of open induction kits and other air filters (genuine bmw filter comes a close 2nd!)

I had a BMC on my car (not my bmw) and it was a good filter, no point going on about performance it was a 1.2 so nothing would change how useless it was but they sound great. What i liked is you could drive it without it making lots of noise, unless you give it some beans.

If your going for full kit then I'd recommend the BMC CDA as its a sealed unit and only gets cold air. The K&N ones are never properly surrounded by cool air and you end up sucking in hot horrible engine air which will just drain your performance.

Cheers for your responses lads....anyone else???

OEM

Cheers

Another vote for OE filter.

BMC CDA, over stock or k&n gen 2 kit

Cheers

Just to add to my previous post, I had a BMC CDA fitted on my 325 for a while, sounded great if a little noisy. I did notice the car had a pronounced flat spot at low rpm (kinda when you really don't want one!)

Switched back to the OE filter box with a new element from BMW and the car has no flat spot, feels so much nicer on the road and is nicer on the motorway imo.

I have an ITG Maxogen sealed kit on mine and it works very well. Most noticable in the top end. I refitted the OEM just for comparison and it was definately less lively with the OEM. Of course the Maxogen is a proper sealed system so there's none to little hot air being drawn in from the engine bay, and the enclosure promotes the smooth flow of air to the filter.

Incitatus wrote:I have an ITG Maxogen sealed kit on mine and it works very well. Most noticable in the top end. I refitted the OEM just for comparison and it was definately less lively with the OEM. Of course the Maxogen is a proper sealed system so there's none to little hot air being drawn in from the engine bay, and the enclosure promotes the smooth flow of air to the filter.

what panel filter did you use when you re-fitted the oem box?

Cook318IS wrote:

Incitatus wrote:I have an ITG Maxogen sealed kit on mine and it works very well. Most noticable in the top end. I refitted the OEM just for comparison and it was definately less lively with the OEM. Of course the Maxogen is a proper sealed system so there's none to little hot air being drawn in from the engine bay, and the enclosure promotes the smooth flow of air to the filter.

what panel filter did you use when you re-fitted the oem box?

It was a practically new OEM filter.

i have a pipercross panel filter in mine with an evolve chip.
it is quiet compared to the one i had on a mk11 ecsort .
like no noise difference at all,it works well with the chip.

Cheers Guys...

i had the bmc on my 318is really good filter but my mpg was fookin shite propa bad. i used to get like 25 to 30 miles to a tenner i had to take it of for obviouse reasons but the do sound naugty when you put your foot down. its in my cellar gathering dust i tinks am gona put it back on seen as though petrol prices have gone down.

I have a K&N in my car, but have had since I've had it, so have no comparison to OEM. I have however had an unbranded "twin cone" induction kit jobby, didn't like it so promptly removed it.

Cheers anyone else??

yeah, waste of cash, OEM all the way
You'd be better spending the cash on an M20b25

Shut up Rob... At least advise him on a proper engine instead of taking a step backwards with an old fashioned M20


OEM unit has been proven to be the best design as an all-rounder give the best flow over all other panel filters.
I'm not sure what gains there are with the BMC kit, but I doubt I'd bother with the cost of them... money would be much better spent on other areas of the car.

dave, you can't stick an m50 in for less than £400 I reckon but you can get a 325 for the same price as the induction kit and has 30bhp on the m42 makes sense really

I cant comment on air filters I have big green cotton one stuffed behind my headlight.. never gets hot

okie dokie cheers lads

bump

bump

What's with all the 'bumps'??
You can waste your money on a K&N filter on a M20 325 if you want - it won't do any harm, unless you habitually drive in extremely dusty conditions, but I'd definitely think twice before using any oil based filter in front of a hot film air mass meter, such as on a M50.

Anyone Else??