Never, never, never try and fit an air filter!!

[dave_p]

Hey, there is no bloody way I'm taking this thing out now!!

[dave_p]

OK, scrap my last post. I have just read the reports - the bloody thing is coming out today and will be replaced with the OEM one. I have booked the car in at my local $tealers.

Hopefully, there is no damage to the engine already!!

[powers1]

Originally Posted by dave_p

Bought a K&N air filter for my X5 3.0d Sport off ebay last week. Thought it would be quite straight forward to fit. How wrong could I be?

Took the engine cover off, then tried to remove the top cover of the air filter housing - 5 torx screws were very easy to reach. But, there was 1 right at the back, couldn't even reach it (and I'm 6ft 4ins tall!!) let alone get a tool to it.

Phoned my local BMW dealer and spoke to a technician - he said that the whole top cover (around the pollen filter) needs to be removed, along with the windscreen washer container and about 8 bolts on the top cover, then the centre section pulls out. The wiper motor screws needs to be removed so that the cover can be pulled to one side and the air filter top cover back torx screw can then be reached - by kneeling on the bumper!!

Well I started taking my £52000 car to pieces, dropping various bits of plastic down the side of the engine. Enough was enough - I telephoned BMW assist - they sent someone out to me within 45 minutes. It then started chucking it down with rain and he told me that this was a big job, one for a service department - To change a bloody air filter? I said.

We were past the point of no return, the original BMW air filter was damaged - due to me losing my temper and trying to pull the thing out with the top cover of the housing still there.

Anyway, about 3 hours later, the K&N filter is now fitted. I am missing a bolt and a bit of plastic from the panel near the pollen filter - it's a bit of plastic that allows the twist bolts to secure themselves.

Never again will I attempt such a task. Of all the mods, this has got to be the hardest.

Should have Pm me !
I can tell you stories of how many 3.0D go for a service to the dealer where the air-filter is due for replacement and because its so inaccessible,they themselves dont even change it!The customers are charged as if one was installed!After all,not many customers are going to verify if its been changed!

The first time I changed mine,it was a nightmare ,just like yours.!
I ended up making a special tool for that hard to get allen cover screw!I moved the windscreen washer reservoir to one side and cut a bit of a plastic from the panel underneath the pollen filter near the windscreen washer reservoir.
Its a job that even after performing it on mine and customers cars,does takes a lot patience and some concentration!
Even installing the air-filter in the housing can be tricky!I always have to
check a few times ,otherwise you will "crash" the filter!Also the air filter housing is also a bit tricky to align correctly.
Dave,I didnt put a K&N or JR filter because we have some issues here where the oil from the filter gets in the MAF and damages it!Also,i have bad news for you!That K&N you got will get dirtier quicker than your oem filter and although when its new it will allow more air to pass thru it,you will notice a drop in performance when its blocked !
I personally just installed an oem filter but removed the "sponge" sleeve to let more air thru it.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by 6to

Man, I'm sorry to hear the bad story . Got a 1-week old X5 3.0d myself, and i've been seriously thinking about getting a tunit box + a K&N filter after reading your post on the tunit box.. guess if the filter access in my X5 is as bad as yours, I'll now think about getting the tunit box only. Been emailing with a guy named Daniel Jhonston of Tunit UK and he's been pretty good at clearing my doubts. Are you still happy with your tunit box?

Hi,
Will Daniel Johnston of Tunit give us a discount for 2 boxes???I want to get one as well....

[Lambeau]

I just installed an Air Filter Induction Box/Filter and it took me less than 10 minutes on my brand new 3.0 2006. All I needed to do was unsnap some latches and that's about it. Or, are you talking about the filter that filters the air for the ventilation system?

[powers1]

Originally Posted by Lambeau

I just installed an Air Filter Induction Box/Filter and it took me less than 10 minutes on my brand new 3.0 2006. All I needed to do was unsnap some latches and that's about it. Or, are you talking about the filter that filters the air for the ventilation system?

Dont think we are talking about the same engine??The 3.0D ,mate!We are talking about the air-filter.Read the post

[fln8tive]

Very informative post. Sorry to hear about the troubles...there is nothing worse than a simple little fun project becoming a nightmare. Good luck!

[powers1]

Originally Posted by accella4.4

Very informative post. Sorry to hear about the troubles...there is nothing worse than a simple little fun project becoming a nightmare. Good luck!

Nothing simple about it!Even the dealer doesnt like doing it!

[dave_p]

Originally Posted by powers1

Nothing simple about it!Even the dealer doesnt like doing it!

I phoned BMW assistance yesterday afternoon and the guy who came to my rescue ended up cancelling his evening out with his wife. He was working on my car for hours, even he had problems aligning the filter and the cover. Getting the cover off was almost as difficult as putting it back on.

My local BMW dealer are putting their best man on the job - he knows my car inside out. He also wont laugh too much at my DIY job!!

I just hope that this K&N filter being in for a day hasn't caused any damage to the MAF. What do you think?

There is also a bit of plastic to find - god only knows where it went. I didn't even hear it fall - it's from the cover which surrounds the pollen filter housing. The female part of the twist clip. The engine cover was off at that time.... So was the oil filler cap. Bloody mad isn't it? You have to remove the oil filler cap to remove the top cover of the air filter housing!!

Just what were those German designers thinking of when they finalised the designs for this engine. I mean, it's not as though there isn't enough space under the 3.0d bonnet

[powers1]

Originally Posted by dave_p

I phoned BMW assistance yesterday afternoon and the guy who came to my rescue ended up cancelling his evening out with his wife. He was working on my car for hours, even he had problems aligning the filter and the cover. Getting the cover off was almost as difficult as putting it back on.

My local BMW dealer are putting their best man on the job - he knows my car inside out. He also wont laugh too much at my DIY job!!

I just hope that this K&N filter being in for a day hasn't caused any damage to the MAF. What do you think?

There is also a bit of plastic to find - god only knows where it went. I didn't even hear it fall - it's from the cover which surrounds the pollen filter housing. The female part of the twist clip. The engine cover was off at that time.... So was the oil filler cap. Bloody mad isn't it? You have to remove the oil filler cap to remove the top cover of the air filter housing!!

Just what were those German designers thinking of when they finalised the designs for this engine. I mean, it's not as though there isn't enough space under the 3.0d bonnet

Most peolple in the knowhow use K&N filters more as LONGLIFE filter and in cars where it is normally it is easily accessible!K&N needs more maintenance than a paper filter which you just throw away but one cannot take any notice on their claims for cleaning the filter!Its a joke!I have had cars here which have shrivelled up the K&Ns,twisted them,after 15,000 miles!Have a look at the documents that came with the filter for their recommendations on maintenance!!!
Vw/Audi group Tdi cars consume MAFs "for breakfast".Stick a K&N in them and they will be having them "for dinner" as well.
The problem is the oil in these filters!MAFs dont like oil!Damages the filament that measures the volume of air going into the engine.
Dave,I dont think the K&N damaged your MAF!You should be alright.

Your missing plastic bit must be in the the engine plastic guard.
Just a tip and very important!NEVER leave your oil filler hole opened when working on the engine!You dont want to have to remove your valve cover !!!!