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Thread: Air Flow Intake Kits - 1999 M3 convertible - what's best?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Bremerton, WA
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    1999 BMW M3 Convertable

    Air Flow Intake Kits - 1999 M3 convertible - what's best?

    In looking to increase efficiency in my M3e, the air intake system is no exception. There are several on the market and I'm looking for comments ranging from what seems best to which ones are a waste of dollars. Some have a plastic housing around them to dampen the noise while others are completely open. Does the box restrict the airflow and the open ones seem better?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    156
    I think the box you might be referring to is a heat shield for your intake so your not sucking up hot air

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Media, Pennsylvania,
    Posts
    4,699
    My Cars
    1991 325i
    From what I remember the only intake thats worth anything is the one that mounts the air inlet down in the airdam. I think it was an afe or dinan design.
    1991 BMW 325i(Current Daily) (S52)
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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,107
    My Cars
    z3
    The stock air intake system is a true cold air intake. It ducts air from in front of the car at a high pressure zone (right in front of the bumper) intaking cold air from outside the engine bay. Cold air, and high pressure zone.

    Most aftermarket intakes go straight down right behind the bumper, taking in air from the engine bay (hot air, undesirable) and from a low pressure zone. The better designed systems have a heat shield (what you say dampens noise is to prevent hot air coming in). But its still taking in air from a low pressure zone unless its diverted from the brake duct or grill.

    So generally, OEM is best. You can take out the helmholtz resonator to make it sound cooler, but the helmholtz resonator serves a purpose to increase power (which is yet another design feature you will lose by going with a CAI...)

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