Air Filters

Post Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:34 pm

I'm sure it's been covered many times before but a quick post for your thoughts on:

K&N
Pipercross
Green Cotton
OEM

panel filters for my 320i (with a Mild chip). Which one should I go for? Aware that it won't make that much of a difference but it needs a change anyway.

Cheers

Post Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:35 pm

Post Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:07 pm

I think the general consensus on the zone is OEM airbox with a K and N panel filter in it

Post Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:11 pm

personally verde, id say OEM filter, K & N may be fractionally better flow but its down to letting more air through so what else is getting through?!

OEM filter box and OEM filter panel would be best IMO, its not like BMw spent many many hours designing it or anything

Post Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:59 pm

Agreed with the above, OEM box, but with a K&N Filter.
BMW spent a lot of money in R&D, as have K&N, best of both worlds and if i recall it's been proven by rolling road on one car doing back to back tests against OEM intake with regular filter, K&N and Cone type.

Found the OEM both was good, with K&N filter was improved, but the cone actually was worse than retaining the OEM intake system.

Post Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:15 pm

No issues with my Pipercross, and it's cleanable, never have to buy a new one again

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:23 am

cones need cold air feed i think, so would rolling road give true results?

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:47 am

Usually run with a high power fan in front of the car to provide airflow to both intake and the radiator.

Usually cone filters suffer from heat soak and suck hot air from the engine bay, result = power loss!

BMW knew what they were doing

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:19 am

thats my point, usually see cones with some sort of tubing to feed cold air from ouside engine bay as car is moving at speed.. i'm no expert, dont know if this set up works, but it certainly wouldnt on a rolling road!

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 5:50 am

Chris_B86 wrote:No issues with my Pipercross, and it's cleanable, never have to buy a new one again

Thats handy because thats what i just gone and ordered myself.

I was panicing a bit just reading this when everyone was sayin k and n, but then i saw this. Good to know you havent had any problems with yours it gives me a bit of piece mind. At least i wont the only one with pipercross panel filter.

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 6:15 am

Chris, what made you choose pipercross over k and n?

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:55 am

Rich2388 wrote:Chris, what made you choose pipercross over k and n?

Purely previous experience and friends testimonies. I had the Pipercros Viper Cold Air Induction on a previous car and it was fantastic, but I wanted to keep things OEM under the bonnet so chose the Pipercross panel filter and have no complaints

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:07 am

Sweet. Looking forward to getting mine in now.