Induction kit question/solution?

[NH325CAB]

I know there is an issue with induction kit air filters (eg K&N, Piper cross etc) and despite the alledged extra bhp this is usually offset by the car sucking in hot engine air which causes severe performance loss and it made me think....

If the piper/k&n filter was housed in a unit which opens into the same space as the standard filter box inlet, surely the amount of hot engine air would be the same as the standard box(ie minimal) and there would be no loss of perfromance at all, even with a hot engine?

Would this solve the problem or have i missed the point?

And hope this makes sense!!

Nick

[kam-325i]

The K&N type of filters have not been proved to increase bhp on their own.
You might get a better throttle response from a properly sheilded filter.

These types of filters work best with other mods, not on their own.

[NH325CAB]

It won't be the only mod.... its gonna be with a bbtb and a performance chip too.

My thinking is that forcing air from the headlight/grill area into a unit which houses the pipercross/k&N performance cone filter would improve the performance. I guess its like a heat shield that totally encases the filter cone, but opens directly behind the grill/headlight area.

I guess the question i am asking is (if housed in similar units), would a cone filter provide more or less power than a standard panel filter?

[JAMZ]

Just use a K&N panel filter in yer stock AirBox..

Easy solution.

FYI i just got rid of my Pipercross Induction to my replaced Stock Air-Box and i noticed a difference with Urban driving right away and ive still got an old filter in there.. it will be replaced with a K&N one soon though

[Widge]

The cone filters actually loose you power because you will have to remove the plastic trumpet that is in the standard air box. This means the flow of air over the AFM flap is not a smooth as BMW intended leading to metering problems. Ant has prooved it on a rolling road, or at least I think it was ant IIRC.

[Brianmoooore]

A clean OE air filter will flow quite sufficiently for any E30 untill its quite extensively modified. It filters properly as well.

[NH325CAB]

Thanks for the comments... i will stick with my std box and get a decent panel one!

Cheers !

[M5pilot]

Under bonnet temps are the same inside the airbox and outside it once the car is moving - I have measured this myself.

If only gets hot when in traffic - but who needs full power in traffic??

Induction kits lose you torque because of the removal of the trumpet inside the airbox as mentioned above.

The ITG kit on the E30zone shop was bought out for this very reason - it has an integrated trumpet therefore you dont get torque loss. Infact you get a good torque increase in the midrange. Its felt!

The trumpet is slightly larger on the ITG kit therefore there is a tiny reduction under 2000rpm in torque - this is because air speed is slightly less.

[Ant]

On the racecar.com sport I just installed MsnS on, the underbonnet temp when running ( driving) without a cold air feed hit 52 degrees, with cold feed and ITG borrowed from my SE , this was reduced to 21 degrees,

Big jump in response and power felt, do not discount the effect of cold dense air folks

[NH325CAB]

So the ITG kit on the e30zone shop is recommended then? increase torque, increased airflow etc, and no loss due to missing trumpets!

[Jon_Bmw]

NH325 cab you have pm.

[M5pilot]

I think the opinion of people who have used this kit count more than mine as my opinion would be said to be biased - which is fair enough.

I'll get the guys who have fitted it to post up - all have really liked it.

Youll defo notice a difference.

[NH325CAB]

Ok i will watch this space........