Induction kits

[chinchilla]

Are K&N induction kits any good? has any one got one?

im looking to buy this from my 320i cab..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K-N-57i-Induction ... 0040230604


Or would any one recommend something else?

Many thanks

chinchilla x

[ed325i]

Keep the BMW air box and put a good panal filter in it.

[march109]

Id recommend a 325i engine first then modify it!

But seriously they are ok, I think the M20 engines respond better to the original panel filters, I'm actually putting mine back to standard as I think the cone filter (not K&N tho) has actually worsened the breathing of mine. The noise is great but I'm sure its not performing as it was before the filter was on, so I'm going back to standard before trying some different filters in the air box.

[Turbo-Brown]

Someone did some flow tests on the standard panel filter and a K&N one in the standard air box and found the standard one to flow better (I think) so for the fiver they cost from the main dealer, I'd have one of them!

[chinchilla]

lol 325i engine! i got insurance costs to think about, 320i is bad enough, plus i have no idea about how to go about an engine conversion, how much, where i can get an engine from and a decent place to get it done.

[march109]

ok man wrote long reply and it got lost in cyber space and probably seriously inconvenienced alot of innocent electrons along the way,

Unless your under 21 insurance difference between 325 and 320 is hardly worth worrying about! For me its Ԛ£22 a year! and a 325 engine can be had for around 4 of the K&N filters your looking at! maybe a bit more, fitting will be a pain in the arse cheaper to go down the DIY route and loadsa help and articles here!

But its almost crimbo and I'm sure some friendly mechanic would love a cash n hand, tax free job to get a few extra pressies for one weekend of his time, especially if you did some of the prep work like removing the old engine!.

[chinchilla]

Im 18 only been driving for about 6 months now..

hmm ill have to speak to the parents if they will let me get an engine conversion as they are paying for insurance, but i can see it being a big no no

Ill save my pennies for a body kit, interior retrim and ice (ill need the zones help with all this!)... engine will have to wait a few years

[--alpina--]

Dont speak to parents about engine conversions dude, its something kept secret away from them, as they dont want us driving with powerfull engines... its like going to the police station and telling them your a drug dealer...


Keep that conversion thing hush....

LOL


J.

[Simon]

The problem with induction kits is that they are not shielded from engine bay heat, if you really really want one, build yourself a heatshield.

[DaveD]

NOT the k& N kit they are crap ...try the itg from the zone shop or a pipercross which i like or replace the filter panel with th K& K one

[tim-ix]

I know all the logic about cone filters drawing hot air from inside the engine bay and reducing power. Thing is, it's the noise that makes the difference. A really nice induction roar is worth at least 15bhp to the ego. I can't justify it, but the K&N sounds brilliant. I have rigged up a cold air feed for it to try and make it work a little better.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Are K&N induction kits any good? has any one got one?

im looking to buy this from my 320i cab..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K-N-57i-Induction ... 0040230604


Or would any one recommend something else?

Many thanks

chinchilla x

IMO stay away from crap quality K&N and their crap "customer care"

I had a K&N on my 320i cab, the plastic braket broke after 18 months due to the heat making it brittle. Design flaw if you ask me. The unit from K& N is a universal job,to cut costs. I had to shortent the bolts on the air mass meter just to get it to fit.

Phoned them up saying I'd like to buy a new one to replace it with and they wouldn't even sell me on unless I still had the receipt!!!

I didn't even notice the difference in performance when it fell off.

I replaced it with a pipercross induction kit. It's a one piece job, sounds great and feels a little betetr performance wise. It's all made out if machined aluminium and not plastic crap. Much better

There's lots of for and against induction kits on this site, I'd say it's down to personal preference whether you have one or not. Some people have even manufacture heat shields to isolate it from engine heat.

There's even a link to a yank site that has tested lots of different inducion methods, standard, panel replaced and full induction, IIRC.

[DaveD]

totaly agree

[chinchilla]

Thanks for that blatantarrogance great help

[Rosc0PColtrane]

no problemo!

[Richy325iTouring]

I know all the logic about cone filters drawing hot air from inside the engine bay and reducing power. Thing is, it's the noise that makes the difference. A really nice induction roar is worth at least 15bhp to the ego. I can't justify it, but the K&N sounds brilliant. I have rigged up a cold air feed for it to try and make it work a little better.

if you want induction noise just drill the airbox

mine sounds better with a drilled box than the k and n i had on one of my 325s

[chinchilla]

Yeah i want that nice roar aswell!

You say just drill a hole in the air box? is that any good to the car?

Also blatantarrogance does the pipercross have a nice roar? or is the k&n have a better roar?

[Richy325iTouring]

not just one
a series of holes in the bottom of the air box

asnt done mine any harm

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Mate, I didn't even notice when the K & N fell off!!

The piper cross makes a lovely noise. Esp in third gear pulling about 2.5k revs.

When I took my air box off, I took it apart and noticed what looked like a very restrictklve "kissing gate" type affair made of plastic, near where it meets the air mass meter. Surely this is quite restrictive?

[d6dph]

I think the trumpet section in the airbox is to help low end torque (i'm not 100% sure but i seem to remember reading that)

I have a BMC CDA on mine, and it sounds awesome. Maybe a little loud if its your daily driver.

[M5pilot]

The trumpet in the airbox is very important.

If an induction kit loses this its a waste of time.

Only the ITG Kit has a built in trumpet.

It's not too loud either.

The BMC is LOUD.

Sal

[d6dph]

The BMC is LOUD.

Ooh yeah

[march109]

Ok, I just refitted an airbox to my 325i and have a trumpet bit left over, I couldn't see where it fit?

So where does it go? I refitted the airbox because the cone filter was crap! As per post above, don't even bother with them. I hate it when I have bits left over like this!

[dazleeds]

Ok, I just refitted an airbox to my 325i and have a trumpet bit left over, I couldn't see where it fit?

So where does it go? I refitted the airbox because the cone filter was crap! As per post above, don't even bother with them. I hate it when I have bits left over like this!

it goes inside the airbox at the opening to the afm if that makes sense??

just slides in then clicks to lock into position

Daz

[Turbo-Brown]

I hate it when I have bits left over like this!

That's what DIY's all about isn't it?

[march109]

Wow it worked, can't wait to give her a run now shes back to normal!

[chinchilla]

ok can some 1 find me a decent induction kit or filter on ebay for my 320i cab (1990) theres too many..

want something with good performance and sound

[M5pilot]

Why are you looking on ebay only?

Have you seen the Zone Shop?

The ITG kit is reguarded as the best one available as far as open cone filters go.

Sal

[charlie316]

Im in a similar position to you with the insurance and money situation!! , probably even worse because im at 6uni and can onl afford to run a 316i.

I found drilling the air box is as good as an induction kit. It sounds awsome and you still have the origonal filter which reading above seems to be the way forward. Make sure if you drill the air box that you only do it on the sides which face away from the engine because obviously the heat isnt good.

charlie

[M5pilot]

Drilling airbox does sound good.....I borrowed a drilled airbox off Ant a few years back on the Alpina I used to have.

Does lose you torque though.

Sal

[bigkev]

every single manufacturer goes to great lengths to feed cold air into their airboxes so i guess they cant ALL be wrong but saying that i am keeping my K&N on but i am going to box it in with a ram feed from the front will see how it goes

[M5pilot]

Not all airboxes are wrong. All depends on the time and effort given.

Example, on a Z3M Coupe we done some testing earlier this week on 2 different dyno on the same day.

We used Simota Carbon Airboxes and gained a consistent 10-18bhp over the standard airbox.

And that's an M car!

Manufacturers have to take into account noise aswell so they do have to compromise a little.

As far as BMW's airboxes getting the best possible cold air feed goes, it is excellent. I have tested this many times myself.

Sal

[chinchilla]

sorry but that zone shop seems over priced! and im a uni student so im broke!

drilling an air box! and one know how to go about this? how many holes, how big etc...

any pictures?

if you loose torque should i bother doing this?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

just google pieprcross for e30 or something, you'll get loads of responses from that.

[charlie316]

Well i have drilled the air box, i dont think it has affected torque and if anything the increased air flow has given it a little power,

Drill lots of holes of varying sizes but only on the sides that dont face the engine. Mainly you should drill the side that faces the wing.

If you type drilled air box into google images you will get the idea.