Performance air intake questions/suggestions ?

[Jessers05]

New to the 1 series community and I am looking for quality input. I have been reading the forums and see people usually upgrade their air intake with Euro boxes, Injens, Afe's, etc. And just wanted to have some input on how they felt about what they bought?

I'm leaning more towards the aFe Magnum Force stage 2....

[Thunderguts]

I have the M Performance intake and it looks nice and sounds pretty decent (but too quiet), but I would probably get the Turner intake if I were buying one again. Most of the performance gains come from removing the stock charcoal filter and replacing the paper filter with a high-flow unit like K&N.

[christofis135i]

INJEN. Injen all day. Fits perfectly, relocated power steering resevoir looks very good. Sounds amazing. Quality is through the roof.

[asbrr]

Just to add a different perspective - the performance gains are pretty much "minimal" - so if you're doing this, mentally prepare yourself for "you're doing this for the sound/look" and not much more.

I was very close to pulling the trigger on an aFe magnum force dry sealed unit, but couldn't justify the costs for just sound.

[Jessers05]

I understand the performance gains are not great. The stock one just seems bulky/boring and more of a hassle to change filters on.

[smeard]

Best gains are probably stock intake but K&N filter and charcoal delete. Well documented gains for very cheap. I have an Injen because quite frankly it looks nice and flashy under the hood and the noise is fucking intoxicating. Bought the Injen used for $100 off some guy off the 3 series forum and bought a new dry filter for $50. My friends have had issues with aFe Magnum and throwing codes. No issues here and I have had my Injen for about a year. PLUS CARB LEGAL!! Maybe I messed up on install but I had to cut a 3"x3" hole in the heat shield for the intake for some kind of hose going to the radiator. Never came up in install instructions, maybe cuz mine is m sport?? Overall happy!

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by smeard

PLUS CARB LEGAL!!

Just to be clear, NOT CARB legal on SULEVs in California. Don't recall seeing what the OP has, though.

[Jessers05]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Just to be clear, NOT CARB legal on SULEVs in California. Don't recall seeing what the OP has, though.

My car is stock. Just got it two weeks ago. I was wondering if it would pass emissions if I changed it since California is a pain in the ass

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Jessers05

My car is stock. Just got it two weeks ago. I was wondering if it would pass emissions if I changed it since California is a pain in the ass

Depends on if you have a SULEV N51 motor or an N52 motor. N51 wil not pass with that intake, N52 will.

[Jessers05]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Depends on if you have a SULEV N51 motor or an N52 motor. N51 wil not pass with that intake, N52 will.

[QUOTE=Suprgnat;25244238]

I have a N51 engine, Just to be clear you are talking about the aFe Magnum intake right ?

[carscatscoffee15]

Originally Posted by Jessers05

New to the 1 series community and I am looking for quality input. I have been reading the forums and see people usually upgrade their air intake with Euro boxes, Injens, Afe's, etc. And just wanted to have some input on how they felt about what they bought?

I'm leaning more towards the aFe Magnum Force stage 2....

Euro box with charcoal delete. Save yourself the bucks and put it towards something better.. if you're looking for a night and day difference it won't be found in that department

[Suprgnat]

[QUOTE=Jessers05;25244477]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

I have a N51 engine, Just to be clear you are talking about the aFe Magnum intake right ?

Yes, the aFe Magnum on an(y) N51 powered BMW is NOT approved by the CARB.

Here's a link to the CARB OE: https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...o/d-550-38.pdf

That said, it can be swapped out in about 2 minutes.

[Jessers05]

[/QUOTE]

Yes, the aFe Magnum on an(y) N51 powered BMW is NOT approved by the CARB.

Here's a link to the CARB OE: https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...o/d-550-38.pdf

That said, it can be swapped out in about 2 minutes.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for that. I'll take it into consideration

[smeard]

[QUOTE=Suprgnat;25245809]

Originally Posted by Jessers05

Yes, the aFe Magnum on an(y) N51 powered BMW is NOT approved by the CARB.

Here's a link to the CARB OE: https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...o/d-550-38.pdf

That said, it can be swapped out in about 2 minutes.

Wait is the Injen intake only CARB legal for N52 as well? I got pulled over and cop asked me to pop hood, showed him CARB plate on the intake and he said checked out and let me go.

[chris82]

Gains are minimal on any intake for this car, but it looks and sounds good!

I'd suggest one of the following, cheapest to most expensive
-stock box + charcoal filter delete + silicone intake hose
-Euro box (get from ebay for around $200 shipped) + silicone intake hose
-AFE SI intake ($480)
-stock box + charcoal filter delete + BMW performance intake ($700+)

All of the above are closed intakes. An open intake is going to take hot air from the engine compartment.

I currently have the stock box + charcoal delete + silicone intake hose and now upgrading to the euro box since I want to keep an OE look.

[chris82]

Just to report back, I installed the Euro box 2 weeks ago and have put a couple hundred miles on it since. What a difference, I would highly recommend this mod from my experience so far (I paid around $175 shipped from UK). Throttle response and the power band are smoother, and the sound increase paired with the silicone intake hose is really good; I've burned so much fuel just flooring it in 2nd and 3rd, it's addicting.

[Ric in RVA]

I just cut a big hole in my box. 135i front bumper on a 128i funnels a ton of air up there. Charcoal delete, K&N.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...2&postcount=40

[Jessers05]

Quick update

Bought the Eurobox, K&N drop in filter, and silicone intake boot..... waiting to have a recall done next week before I install

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by chris82

Just to report back, I installed the Euro box 2 weeks ago and have put a couple hundred miles on it since. What a difference, I would highly recommend this mod from my experience so far (I paid around $175 shipped from UK). Throttle response and the power band are smoother, and the sound increase paired with the silicone intake hose is really good; I've burned so much fuel just flooring it in 2nd and 3rd, it's addicting.

Interesting that you mention there is a sound increase - is that from the Euro box or the intake hose? I heard the charcoal delete with the hose actually reduces sound if otherwise stock....so I guess the Euro box is what's resulting in the extra noise...

What kind of filter are you using in the Euro box?

[Suhb]

I had read somewhere that the silicone intake hose is good for around 9hp. It definitely adds a lot more volume to the induction noise. I still have the stock air box, but with the silicone intake hose, the induction noise is amazing, especially when all the windows are rolled up.

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by Suhb

I had read somewhere that the silicone intake hose is good for around 9hp.

I highly doubt that. The intake hose, charcoal delete, K&N filter, and full intake combined probably give you around 9hp. Improved sound, however, is always a good thing.

[carscatscoffee15]

Originally Posted by Thunderguts

I highly doubt that. The intake hose, charcoal delete, K&N filter, and full intake combined probably give you around 9hp. Improved sound, however, is always a good thing.

yep he's probably referring to this one (with the Dinan style CAI)

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1186613

Euro box with high flow filter has been good enough for me and sounds a bit throatier in the cabin (can barely hear it though over everything else on the car). I compare it to breathing clearly after blowing a stuffy nose