First of all, I want to let everyone know that Evosport did finally ship the package and it arrived late in my office complex Friday afternoon. However, the package went to the wrong suite somehow and finally my staff got the package. So, Evosport has been forgiven!
So if you want the AFE intake for the 3.0i or 4.4i, definitely order from Evosport!! Tell them you saw it on
www.xoutpost.com
Well, it was pretty straightforward installing it. It took me about 30 minutes to do it. It was packed really well.
The AFE Intake for the 3.0i still uses the bottom half of the stock air box. The heat shield is made out of metal and replaces the top half of the OEM airbox and it is held by the same metal spring clips.
There is a rubber coupler to connect the top half of the air box to the air mass sensor.
Then you add the blue cone filter. Then you add the rubber stripping around the top edges of the AFE box.
This setup should increase airflow while shielding itself from the engine heat. Actually, the BMW airbox design is pretty decent to start off with cold air entering from the kidney grill to the air box area. Also, with using this design, you still avoid sucking up water unless you really submerge your X5.
There is just more surface area and free-flowing air with the AFE cone filter.
Driving impressions: no noticeable loss of low end torque. Smoother acceleration through the rpm band. More mid-RPM response for part throttle. A little more throatier intake sound at WOT but not obnoxious. Seems to like to reach redline more readily but our inline-6 engines has been always smooth and responsive. Idling is the same. (No, I didn't reset the adaptive electronic throttle yet).
On the side, I also have the Dinan Stage 3 software which goes with the Dinan Hi-Flow Throttle Body and the Dinan Auto Trans software. Also, as you can see in the pics, I have a Dinan strut bar just like Breyton X5.
So far, no SES light.
Enjoy the pics!