Cold Air intake install (with pics)

A few days ago I finally installed a cold air intake Mod for the BMW e34. I don't know what you guys think, but I can get by on one high beam light. I very rarely use it to begin with anyway.

I'm not replacing the air box or installing a pod style fiter. Just increasing the amount of cold air entering the engine. The stock air filer is staying.

The intake now comprises of PVC piping 80mm (the size of the stock air box opening) opening towards 100mm at the front. A speaker grill acts as a screen. The right highbeam light is now gone. The intake is not supported to the light harness (it's not attached to the harness).

To keep the piping together I drilled a small hole and used some computer case screws to hold it together. Two screws in each 3 parts of the intake (where the two pipes join). It cost maybe AUS$50 all up in materials to make. The parts that where most expensive where 80mm to 100mm PVC pipe - $25, 80mm to 80mm (joiner?) - $8 etc.......

The intake seems solidly supported.

Initial testing shows no noticeable difference in power (then again to notice more power you would proably have to create 10% more right?). High beam with only one light works fine at night. Took about 3 – 4 hours in labour.

Attacking / installing / removing the front grills now seem easy. Front clears should be no worries. It's different. I like the look of it.

Anyone know of a better grill (100mm) that I could replace for the speaker grill? To act as a filter for the intake?

What power / torque figures could I expect with this setup and an EAT chip (m30) on 98 RON,.

Please guys, comment and suggestions welcome.

Regards

Kristian

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Originally Posted by BigKriss

intake mods

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I can see the paperclip symbol, but I don't see the pix! How do I view them?

no errors about your high beam being broken?
on teh dash computer?

nope. everythings fine in that regard.

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=705&stc=1

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=706&stc=1

I got to run right now, I can get the other pics on later..

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=707&stc=1
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=708&stc=1
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=709&stc=1

the black eye kinda makes it look sleeperish...cool. With it setup like that you will have to knock sand outta the filter every other day from it flying in directly when you follow other cars and stuff.

Wow BigKriss, you're serious enough about the breathing that you'd sacrifice a headlight? I have an open cone K&N and I removed the plastic panel behind the headlights. I'm concerned of water getting in at high-speed/heavy rain so I'm careful not to rev too much in those conditions and vaccuming in trouble...your intake so much more exposed, aren't you concerened of that?

birds can blow turbines in jets, wonder what they would do getting sucked into that contraption

I can't see how particles of any signifcant size are going to enter engine with this setup.

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Originally Posted by 632 Regal

birds can blow turbines in jets, wonder what they would do getting sucked into that contraption

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http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=718&stc=1
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=719&stc=1
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=720&stc=1
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=722&stc=1
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/attachm...ntid=723&stc=1

wow a ram air setup, cool. I didnt see any screen on the other pictures, I'm sure this well help at speed!

For what it's worth, I took a wild chicken completely through the headlight when I was stationed in Guam. I was going up Nimitz Hill at about 60 when it flew out of the jungle and wham. It stopped at the battery however. Looked pretty funny when I got to work. Two feet sticking out of the headlight bucket. After that, I put some lexan covers over the headlights.

Once also took the head off a wild chicken with my spoiler on another car. Hit the bird, looked in the rear view and it was doing the "funky chicken" and spurting blood where head used to be.

I didn't go as far as removing the head light on mine as i wanted it to look stock(ish). The 100mm tube was hot glued in to an enlarged hole on my air box.

Just don't forget about the water drainage hole on the bottom of the air box ! ;)

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.law47...intake%201.gif

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.law47...intake%202.gif

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.law47...intake%203.gif

So you're down one high beam & you didn't notice any performance improvement. Has anyone determined that the stock engine NEEDS more air then the stock intake delivers? I think you'll see more of a benefit from reinstalling your headlight then you'll ever get out of that intake unless you are planning some serious engine mods.

will that pass inspection in your state? It wouldnt pass here in VA. - JT

Considering that his steering wheel is on the wrong side, It probably doesn't matter. :p

Will Ollison
1990 535i (Now E.A.T enhanced)
1981 528i
1975 2002

DOH! you are right! - I cant do anything to the #@$%^ car here in VA without asking "will it pass inspection?" ! - JT

I don't know if it will pass the registration check here. I don't think such as mod will. If it does not I will put back the light for the inspection when it's due.

The only probelnm I see with such a setup is when it is raining. I drove in very heavy rain last night for about 5 - 10 minutes and noticed some water (less than 30ml) going into the intake and through to the bottom of the filter box. A draingage hole at the bottom of the air box is a good idea. I will do it soon.

Thankyou for your comments guys, appreciated :D

thats an idea i have been toying with in my mind for a while but i got to know befor i go through with it. is their any performance benifits? or is it just a novelty.. my worry is i sacrifice a light and get ziltch in the area of power

hahahahahahaha
it looks like your car has a black eye now...
kinda cool though

like the other guys said above me, do you get any performance out of it??

Nothing that I noticed.

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Originally Posted by cybereclipse

hahahahahahaha
it looks like your car has a black eye now...
kinda cool though

like the other guys said above me, do you get any performance out of it??

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well i cant see how it wouldent give you any power. like your clipping along at like a 100km/h the amount of cold air thats getting rammed in their would have to be benifical..

Defect notice waiting to happen......Would be here in West Aus.

I've been pulled over a few times, but nothing has been said of it, thats about two years now.

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Originally Posted by Ausmpower

Defect notice waiting to happen......Would be here in West Aus.

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Looks neat. Next time you might want to use flexible dryer duct tubing, would be less work with same result. Back in the sixties people used to saw holes in the hoods of their cars for ram intakes. Less risk of sucking in water that way.

you should get a nice ram air effect with that, do you use a k&n in your air box.? if not I would switch to one or maybe an ITG filter if they make one for your application. another good thing to use besides dryer ducting is SCAT hose used for aircraft ventilation systems, very strong holds its shape better than dryer duct and only costs about 10 bux a foot. Only downside is that it is orange. but the SCEET tubing is the same but black and I beleive it has an extra layer of silicone.