Cold air intakes, are they worth it?

[vicgtr]

Hey all,
I'm new here and I'm just learning about my car. I have a question to ask. I'm looking at replacing my air filter and am wondering if a cold air intake will give me any more power. I hear both sides of the story. I seen on a site, http://www.harrisonmotorsports.com/s...roducts_id=496, hope the link works. It is alot of money to spend if it doesn't work. I could just get a direct replacement k&n and call it done. Does anyone have any helpful advice for me?

Thx for your time
VIC

[fastbmw]

BMW does a pretty good job when they do their R&D on their intakes. It's designed to make plenty of power, keep the noise down and filter out the air. I would not modify the intake, the most you could see is 3 horsepower which you wouldn't be able to feel. (The theory out there is you can only feel a 5-10 horsepower difference, anything less is imperceptable) Keep using the stock paper element also, it filters out way more dirt than most of the aftermarket filters.

Things I would recommend you first spend your money on;

1) All your regular maintenance. Change all your fluids, belts, plugs, etc. That will ensure you have the best base to make modifications.
2) Suspension & tires, won't help your straight line speed but will definitely make your driving experience way better.
3) Attend a driving school. A better driver can go faster in a stock car then a lousy driver in a modified car. There are plenty of excellent performance driving schools around the country.

[Initial D.oug]

add lightness.

[320Colin]

i think what doug is trying to say is remove heaviness

[adrian_325]

For what its worth, I had a k&n cold air intake on my 1984 325e and really didn't notice any difference except as Doug mentioned, it is lighter.

[fastbmw]

Originally Posted by 320Colin i think what doug is trying to say is remove heaviness

It's actually a famous quote from Colin Chapman (the man who started Lotus). "to add speed, add lightness"

[adrian_325]

Originally Posted by fastbmw It's actually a famous quote from Colin Chapman (the man who started Lotus). "to add speed, add lightness"

so true and impossible to deny

[scratchcat]

hey vic, this is scratchcat- i don't really know for sure if cold air intakes or any modification to the intake can add power but what i honestly do believe is that they save GAS

[EvolutionZen]

The short answer to the OPs question is:

No... Not really.

But they do sound mean.

[vicgtr]

Thx guys

[z1_micha]

Hi guys, this is an cold air intake
http://www.bmwm3shop.de/main.php?sit...sid=14&pid=253

[Blackice]

Nice carbon work

But 2599 EURO. Ouch !

[woods]

They don't add any measurable power. It just feels like it because the car is much louder when you press the go pedal to the floor. In fact, without correct shielding from the hot air in the engine bay, they can easily rob you of power.

[execuk]

this mod is only useful if you regularly drive above 100mph...
(similar to that reart spoiler to reduce drag factor)
for city driving it is not worth and will even slow down the engine warm up time specially in winter.

[Jono-vision]

I've heard both ends of it, I have yet to try the paper filter in I've always gone with K&N and clean it when I do my oil changes. I've seen people take the stock CAI tube and re-locate it in the right side high beam hole on the early 5 series, while keeping the stock air box, increasing air flow can be a good thing but than again unless you've tweeked the fuel to air ratio you may getting yourself into problems.