Drivetrain CAI for R56 (home made)
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park IL, USA
k@rtm@n, honestly for the $25 and the 15 minutes it takes to do this mod. You will love it! Everybody here has tried it and it rocks! I personally love the sound, it's great.
And if you don't like it, then return the $25 filter and within an hour you will have your own results!
Good luck.
And if you don't like it, then return the $25 filter and within an hour you will have your own results!
Good luck.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 0
From: Central Texas
here how you remove the hood scoop incase anyone wants it.
"unscrew the two screws on the left and right that are visible, looking from the engine-->out. Then look up at the hood, dead center, you see that plastic plug? Pull it out, underneath it is another star drive screw, you need to take that out before the hood scoop piece can come out.
once that screw is out, then lift firmly from the top of the hood while grabbing the hood scoop insert. it pops out, careful as there are little plastic
pins all around the scoop that hold it in.
then you can take the other two screws you could not get too and presto
the plastic insert comes out.
I put the screws back in so I wouldnt lose them, pressure fit the hood scoop
insert back into the hood, put that big star screw back in, put the plastic
plug back in and presto all done.
as for temperature of the engine, I dont think its hugely signifcant, but I do notice that the fan does not stay on or not as long as it use to when parking the car and turning the engine off. so its obviously helping.
but as from experience with lots of cars over the years, when driving in 115 degree texas heat, the more air flow you can get through the engine compartment the better off you are. It also reduces the heat build up
under the hood which is also good especially for all those rubber hoses and plastic pieces that are scattered all over the engine compartment.
its like anything else though, you dont have to do it if you dont want to, be skeptical all you want, but it helps, it works, and it doesnt hurt anything."
"unscrew the two screws on the left and right that are visible, looking from the engine-->out. Then look up at the hood, dead center, you see that plastic plug? Pull it out, underneath it is another star drive screw, you need to take that out before the hood scoop piece can come out.
once that screw is out, then lift firmly from the top of the hood while grabbing the hood scoop insert. it pops out, careful as there are little plastic
pins all around the scoop that hold it in.
then you can take the other two screws you could not get too and presto
the plastic insert comes out.
I put the screws back in so I wouldnt lose them, pressure fit the hood scoop
insert back into the hood, put that big star screw back in, put the plastic
plug back in and presto all done.
as for temperature of the engine, I dont think its hugely signifcant, but I do notice that the fan does not stay on or not as long as it use to when parking the car and turning the engine off. so its obviously helping.
but as from experience with lots of cars over the years, when driving in 115 degree texas heat, the more air flow you can get through the engine compartment the better off you are. It also reduces the heat build up
under the hood which is also good especially for all those rubber hoses and plastic pieces that are scattered all over the engine compartment.
its like anything else though, you dont have to do it if you dont want to, be skeptical all you want, but it helps, it works, and it doesnt hurt anything."
If you remove the plug, the screw behind it, the scoop will pop up off the hood.
Then there are 4 screws holding the black grill to the scoop.
Then assembly is opposite of disassembly.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 0
From: Central Texas
Got my K&N rx4990 today. Really only three screws to remove the airbox-I didn't have to remove the top cover. I used a long zip-tie to hold it to the top-right and keep it from moving around. Really interesting sound! Might even appease some of the "supercharger noise lover" crowd!
I wish you could hear it better...maybe I will take another video when its not raining http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN-r84co588
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
Less responsive...??
So I just installed the K&N rx4990...it fits and sounds great. However, my car lost the "pick up" it had with the stock air box!?!? It just feels less responsive after the K&N filter install....and yes, the scoop is open for fresh air, and filter is never very hot...even after driving 1hr+...
Any ideas???
I'm thinking the air/fuel ratio might be too lean...? Since the turbo already compresses extra air into the cylinder, adding even more air might be overkill??
Hmmm.
Any ideas???
I'm thinking the air/fuel ratio might be too lean...? Since the turbo already compresses extra air into the cylinder, adding even more air might be overkill??
Hmmm.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
well...been running it for a couple of days now, and its in the mid 70's here.
FYI...also started a new thread for this topic:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=108300
FYI...also started a new thread for this topic:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=108300
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
Those of you with this mod...might find the Alta quote I dug up on this thread very informational.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=108300&page=2
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=108300&page=2
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,446
Likes: 10
From: L.A ca
So I just installed the K&N rx4990...it fits and sounds great. However, my car lost the "pick up" it had with the stock air box!?!? It just feels less responsive after the K&N filter install....and yes, the scoop is open for fresh air, and filter is never very hot...even after driving 1hr+...
Any ideas???
I'm thinking the air/fuel ratio might be too lean...? Since the turbo already compresses extra air into the cylinder, adding even more air might be overkill??
Hmmm.
Any ideas???
I'm thinking the air/fuel ratio might be too lean...? Since the turbo already compresses extra air into the cylinder, adding even more air might be overkill??
Hmmm.
It's just a guess but if it was too lean I think you would notice a increase in power not a loss. We did the K&N mod during part of our creative process for our CAI and if anything had a gain in power .The car with just a filter mod was able to out power a stage "2" car ( head , header , CAI etc ) easily . Just a thought , anyone with other theories ?
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
Well...I installed an elbow between the filter and MAF...and it seemed to help.
I really do think if u get a funky flow over the MAF, it affects the measurements.
As for resetting the ECU...I'm kinda sketch, but I guess it makes sense. Any vendors have their 2 cents about this?
I really do think if u get a funky flow over the MAF, it affects the measurements.
As for resetting the ECU...I'm kinda sketch, but I guess it makes sense. Any vendors have their 2 cents about this?
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 0
From: Central Texas
I didn't reset my ECU, never experienced any funkiness. No lags or anything. Just a little more noise. Maybe a little extra mileage.
I removed my hood scoop grill and just left it open. (and I had a green o-ring too)
I removed my hood scoop grill and just left it open. (and I had a green o-ring too)
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale, AZ
I left my scoop completely open too. I dont think that the little bit of water that could come in when it rains is anything to worry about.
Cant be any worse than when I wash my engine with the hose and some simple green.
Cant be any worse than when I wash my engine with the hose and some simple green.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville, TN
After reading this thread, I decided to give this a try. I bought a cone filter and a 90 degree 3" rubber elbow all for about $35. I put the elbow on to help smooth the air prior to the MAF and locate the filter behind the head and centered where the airbox was. I'm going to build a box for the filter and a tunnel for under the hood out of fiberglass to make it draw cold air from the scoop. Right now the filter stays warm but definitely not hot where it is. I hope to have the complete, true cold air kit built for under $50.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Sydney - Australia
I removed the hood scoop. Then i used a band saw and cut the back blocked side off. Then i fitted the insert again.
It matches the front grills again. Looks oem.
Also talking about cheap mods i read the forum on changing the intercooler silencer section. Got pumped up and drove to an exhaust place got them to cut me 8 inch stainless pipe and they put the car up on a hoist and fitted it in about 10 minutes. Cost me $20.
It matches the front grills again. Looks oem.
Also talking about cheap mods i read the forum on changing the intercooler silencer section. Got pumped up and drove to an exhaust place got them to cut me 8 inch stainless pipe and they put the car up on a hoist and fitted it in about 10 minutes. Cost me $20.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Seal Beach, CA
What are you guys making the "elbow" out of and how are you attaching it to the MAF? What size elbow is it? Thanks.
Maybe this would actually help smooth the flow to the MAF? The E46 M3 guys will know about this "Gizmo"
Maybe this would actually help smooth the flow to the MAF? The E46 M3 guys will know about this "Gizmo"
Last edited by aus; Jul 29, 2007 at 12:43 AM.
6th Gear - AX Champion
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,301
Likes: 300
From: Pittsboro NC
E36's came with something like this, right before the MAF
I used the bottom of the stock air box, built the top part of the box out of Lexan, and used a silicone elbow. I chose the Long oval K&N and angled it so that the greatest portion of surface area faced the incoming air from the free flowing scoop.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...intake_004.jpg
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...intake_005.jpg
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...intake_008.jpg
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...intake_004.jpg
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...intake_005.jpg
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...intake_008.jpg