Air filter upgrades - anyone tried them?

[SilverZed]

Has anyone tried a K&N element in the existing air box or the replacement induction kit? If so do they make any difference?

 

[r37]

Most will say K&N will coat your MAF sensor in oil which means replacing it. However at £55 for the induction kit (the K&N website has regular sales but its £75 normally) you can buy that and 2 MAF sensors for the cost of a simota induction kit. And theres not a great deal evidence to support. The simota induction kit seems a popular upgrade and comes with a carbon fibre heatshield whereas the K&N doesnt. But at £250 its a bit pricy. I have a K&N panel filter in my 2.8 but since it came with it i have no comparison. I can only assume its better than the stock one.

 

[z3cade]

I would recommend a KnN panel filter and then do the cold feed airbox mod.. Worked well on my 2.8

 

[GazHyde]

I had a Simota induction kit fitted to my old 2.0 and it definitely made a difference. Doesn't give the engine any real increase in power, just makes the engine breath a lot better. Also made it even smoother, and the engine revved better to. Not really fussed by the induction sound, but it did make it sound even better

IMHO it was definitely worth the £250 I paid for it. My Simota did not come with the heat shield and none of the adverts I looked at included them either.

BTW, I happen to have mine listed on eBay at the moment. Definitely fits a 2.0 and 2.8, but never got confirmation on the 2.2!

 

[zedonist]

I have tried the K&N Panel Filter, with the fogged Air Box mod, it definitely makes a difference by removing flat spots in the rev range, I am now using a K&N Induction Kit and works just as well if not better, no issues with the MAF, I expect the issues that do arise are due to exuberant cleaning and lashings of filter oil, the oil only needs to be applied after cleaning in a small quantity in a fine mist, and usually cleaning is only required after a gazillian miles.

These modifications wont add extra BHP output to your cars quoted BHP, but they will give back lost BHP (Lost BHP = Gross BHP - Air Intake effect (-ve BHP) - CAT & Exhaust effect(-veBHP))), especially when coupled to a free flow exhaust, getting you roughly back to the manufacturers quoted BHP, note the OEM quoted BHP is the gross output of the engine and not the application when in the vehicle, i.e. BHP at the Flywheel with out any extra load, or probably tested without an air intake (usually a blown air pipe) or a CAT fitted depending on how each OEM tests its engines. therefore by changing the filter, air flow entry and exit, you start to push the car back towards its gross output, this is why you feel a difference in the car (you are adding BHP but not to the Gross value), fitting a DECAT with the other mod swill give you great improvements in power delivery and will get you the closest to the OEM Gross BHP figure.

 

[peteslag]

As said previously, a K&N won't boost the BHP on a standard car. I bought a K&N to try and cure a throttle response problem, it hasn't completely cured it but it is has made things much better. Also, a K&N can be cleaned and re-used which is a good thing.

For me it was well worth it. My only complaint about the Z3 was the throttle system, the engine feels much more responsive now so a big :-bd from me

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

I have tried the K&N Panel Filter, with the fogged Air Box mod

Coulpe of questions
Whats a fogged airbox mod
And did the panel filter have any effect on exhaust note,as i am thinking of changeing mine for the K/N panel filter

 

[swamper]

fogged air box is when you run pipes from where the fog lights/radiator vent is into your air box (cold air feed)

 

[peteslag]

And did the panel filter have any effect on exhaust note

It had absolutely no effect on my exhaust note so I doubt if it would have an effect on the plastic pig's exhaust.

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

And did the panel filter have any effect on exhaust note

It had absolutely no effect on my exhaust note so I doubt if it would have an effect on the plastic pig's exhaust.

Just remembered what i like about you-----------------
F**k ALL

 

[peteslag]

And did the panel filter have any effect on exhaust note

It had absolutely no effect on my exhaust note so I doubt if it would have an effect on the plastic pig's exhaust.

Just remembered what i like about you-----------------
F**k ALL

It's not all bad having a plastic pig, at least if you crash into a lake you should float. Might even be worth keeping a paddle in your boot.

AT LAST, I HAVE MASTERED THE QUOTE THINGY. NEXT, WORLD DOMINATION. MU HA HA HA!!!!

 

[zedonist]

Here is the original on the Fogged Air Box:

http://mz3.net/1-9-fogged-airbox-modification.html

Essentially on the 1.9 the air intake is on the left kidney grille, piped over the radiator down and up to the air box about 1.5m of travel for the air before it reaches the the air box, the mod changes the route of the air and reduces the travel, which has the effect of reducing flat spots through the rev range and giving back a few horse power back towards the gross BHP of the engine.

I tried this and got the benefits explained in the mod, but then changed to the K&N Induction kit and cold air pipe from the front lower grille straight into the filter, this improved the response even more and the engine revs right up to red line in each gear with no flat spots. The induction kit made a difference to the exhaust note, but the K&N Panel did not.

I still have the K&N panel filter available if anyone wants it, only done 50 miles. K&N Part Number 33-2733 - will fit both M43 and M44 1.8 / 1.9 engines

This mod, coupled with a free flow exhaust definitely give you a performance boost by getting the power output of the engine back up towards gross quoted BHP.

 

[simonbud100]

I have a K&N filter, but don't really notice any difference if I'm being honest. I had it in my 2.0 and now have it in my 3.0. It maybe to do with the fact that on both occasions it was replacing a fairly new standard filter.

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

Thanks for the replies,i actually did this to my Z3,but wasnt aware of the correct name for the mod :-bd

 

[SilverZed]

What about the Pipercross filter element? Anyone tried that one?

 

[board]

I have the pipercross induction kit which I can recommend.

 

[SilverZed]

Looks like most K&N 57i induction kits come with a flexi hose to channel cold air from the front grille under the rad, that is except for the 2.2 engine variant! Even though the airbox looks identical on the 2.8 the kit is different and I can't help thinking it's a waste of nearly 70 quid if I'm not even getting cold air inducted! I thought that was the whole point of these kits. Surely without the ducting from the grille you are just getting the warmer air from up in the engine bay and might as well stick with the panel filter?

Does anyone know why the K&N kit for the 2.2 engine does not include the hose that goes down under the rad?

~X(

 

[peteslag]

Surely without the ducting from the grille you are just getting the warmer air from up in the engine bay and might as well stick with the panel filter?~X(

I had a cone filter fitted to my 3.0, it suprised me how little it changed the engine note. Even with the cold air feed the engine didn't seem to accelerate as fast, I think due to the hot engine bay temp. I sold it on and bought a panel filter instead.

 

[ticklemejoviemo]

does simota make a kit for the 3.0s? i know eurosport high performance does but thats about $370USD

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