Contributed by: Kewl X5

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.


















Removing the top half of the OEM airbox and separating it from the air
mass sensor. Remove dirty OEM air filter. Replace top half of the air
box with AFE intake heat shield and use the metal spring clips from the
bottom half of the airbox.

















Putting on the rubber coupler to attach the AFE intake system to the air mass sensor and clamping it together.



Then add AFE blue cone filter and clamp it on...



Add rubber strip on the top edges of AFE intake heat shield.



Then, the top of the hood acts as the top of the AFE airbox.



Voila, AFE intake installed!


















References:
http://www.xoutpost.com/showthread.php?t=1792