Custom built CAI w/ K&N Write up, Pics, Review!

[morea328i]

Go to this link if you would like to see my install pics and write up for my custom CAI I installed today.

Took me 90 minutes to install and cost $54.00 INCLUDING the $42.00 air filter!

Fun project!


http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229755

 

[pcy]

Morea328i,

Good write-up. I also have '97 328i.

Quick question. While driving in rain, wouldn't rain water be coming
in contact with the Filter (through the brake duct, since you cut into it) ?
May be you already thought about it and solved it ...

pcy

 

[Tom]

Nice work! Thanks for sharing.

 

[morea328i]

Morea328i,

Good write-up. I also have '97 328i.

Quick question. While driving in rain, wouldn't rain water be coming
in contact with the Filter (through the brake duct, since you cut into it) ?
May be you already thought about it and solved it ...

pcy

I don't drive my car in the rain...have company car for those rainy days...

Solved that problem

 

[Cube]

Nice work, I was thinking about purchasing a CAI from Bavauto or M3Motorwerks.
Do I really need to get the heat shield that comes with the intake systems.

 

[bigdavid1001]

yes the whole point of the CAI is to do just that. The "cold" air, relative to the rest of the engine bay greatly assists in combustion. something like every 10 degrees cool equail like a 30 percent increase in output. The heat shield keeps the filter separate from the rest of the surrounding area. This shield is what provides the cold air of the CAI.

 

[morea328i]

yes the whole point of the CAI is to do just that. The "cold" air, relative to the rest of the engine bay greatly assists in combustion. something like every 10 degrees cool equail like a 30 percent increase in output. The heat shield keeps the filter separate from the rest of the surrounding area. This shield is what provides the cold air of the CAI.

A hole in your brake duct near the filter of a ram air tube is what provides the cold air.

The heat shield protects the intake from hot air from the engine compartment.

A true CAI should not need a heat shield. Its designed to be as far away from the engine as possible away from the warm air.

The cheap "short ram" intakes need a heat shield because they sit so close to the engine.

You can see in the picture below that my 8" K&N filter is not even visible because it is tucked down away from the engine. A heat shield wouln't hurt anything but it won't make that much of a difference. My filter sits right on top of a hole I cut in my brake duct to get OUTSIDE cool air to my filter.