Alright X5 owners, show us your CAI

[RGX5]

Thanks for getting back w/me Xtacy...so it does pull air thru the plastic intake that's in the middle of the front area in the engine compartment? Just wondering, do you feel there's value added as compared to the AFE intake and why? Thanks for answering my questions.

[crosvs]

*NOTE*: did all of you with the aFe get the rubber seal that's supposed to go around the top of the intake allowing it to close against the underside of the hood? cuz i never got it ....... think it's adversely affecting me?

ALSO: i'm surprised people say there's such a noticible sound increase: all i hear is a VERRRRRRY slight whooshing sound at part-throttle application usually between 2K-3K RPM ... perhaps i would have heard more of a difference had i done the install before installing exhaust?

[EZDozzit]

Originally Posted by crosvs

*NOTE*: did all of you with the aFe get the rubber seal that's supposed to go around the top of the intake allowing it to close against the underside of the hood? cuz i never got it ....... think it's adversely affecting me?

ALSO: i'm surprised people say there's such a noticible sound increase: all i hear is a VERRRRRRY slight whooshing sound at part-throttle application usually between 2K-3K RPM ... perhaps i would have heard more of a difference had i done the install before installing exhaust?

Yes, it's included with the CAI. Email AFE customer service. They'll send you one no questions asked. Their support is excellent.

[Sudesh]

I'm planning on doing this mod but, going to do some special mods myself to improve cold air reaching the intake as one of the problem with the intake system is, the fact there is not enough COLD air reaching the system. I'm planning to run a cold air duct from either behind the bumper grill or the floor pan. It will be piped all the way to the intake system so it will be receiving cold air all the time from outside. I will work on using the standard intake box and filter first to see if there are any differences then I may move to K&N replacement element. By doing this mod the vehicle is also using the forced air therory as when the vehicle is moving air is being ducted and forced directly to where its needed. Plus it will also produce more air density than the engine naturally aspires (100% volumetric efficiency) forcing air past the MAS (Mass airflow sensor) generating more bhp and torque. The MAS will compensate for any fuel adjustments required.

[cue03]

Sudesh, looking forward to your findings.

Curtis

[otoupalik]

Originally Posted by cue03

BTW, where is the best place to buy the AFE intake specific for a 4.8is?

Curtis

We did the group buy and have been supplying xoutpost.com members since. I have a standing 10% discount on ALL parts for forum members! Now that I am an X5 owner also (as well as an owner of evosport), I will be on the forums daily!

Originally Posted by Blk03X5

1. does doing this mod void the warranty?

2. i also read in another post just like this about resetting the ADAPTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE? How does one do this? I have a 3.0

All your advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

1. No. Magnusson-Moss federal legislation prevents this. Some dealers may tell you that it does, but the law is on your side.

2. Nope - not needed. The car will adapt as it needs on its own.

Originally Posted by Blue Mountain Raider

is there a reason BMW doesn't make this CAI come as a stock part?

They do. The stock intake is actually very good. It just doesn't flow a lot of air due to the filter size and volume of the box. The X5 and 540/M5 intakes are really a true cold air intake. They pull air from behind the bumper. Now the aFe also benefits GREATLY from the billet aluminum velocity stack prior to the HFM. This works to not only accelerate the air but to smooth it out (which is far more critical).

Originally Posted by Sudesh

I'm planning on doing this mod but, going to do some special mods myself to improve cold air reaching the intake as one of the problem with the intake system is, the fact there is not enough COLD air reaching the system. I'm planning to run a cold air duct from either behind the bumper grill or the floor pan. It will be piped all the way to the intake system so it will be receiving cold air all the time from outside. I will work on using the standard intake box and filter first to see if there are any differences then I may move to K&N replacement element. By doing this mod the vehicle is also using the forced air therory as when the vehicle is moving air is being ducted and forced directly to where its needed. Plus it will also produce more air density than the engine naturally aspires (100% volumetric efficiency) forcing air past the MAS (Mass airflow sensor) generating more bhp and torque. The MAS will compensate for any fuel adjustments required.

This is a lot to do and I can tell you that it will not pick up any significant HP. The system pulls more then enough air with the factory set-up. We have researched this and I have spoken with aFe and Dinan reps. We have all found the same results. The gain is in the larger filter and in smoothing the air prior to the HFM, not in forcing more air into it. That will often work to make turbulence, which will create a loss in HP.

The BMW electronics are not like those on many other cars. You cannot just RAM more air into the HFM and let the electronics sort it out. You need to smooth the air.

One reason that these boxes (aFe and Dinan) make power is that they create a larger "container" of air brought in from the outside. The air in the box is still (not RAM), and the engine can pull what it needs. With the stock box, the volume is limited, so sometimes the motor will pull and the box will not have enough still air, while the larger box will. This is instant response, and creates a gain.

If you are dealing with a race car or any car with electronics that deal with Alpha-N, throttle position, etc (anything except a live wire HFM), the RAM works very well. That is not the case in our considerable experience with BMW however.

I applaud your desire to try things, and if you do go forward, please post your findings, I just do not believe that you will find what you are looking for.

(Disclaimer: I am not an engineer, so I apologize if the text is not crystal clear, and I am more then happy to reply to any follow up questions)

Thanks
Brad

[noncom23]

I'm lost. Are you saying, no point for this mod at all? I want more low end torque...

Originally Posted by otoupalik

We did the group buy and have been supplying
xoutpost.com members since. I have a standing 10% discount on ALL parts for forum members! Now that I am an X5 owner also (as well as an owner of evosport), I will be on the forums daily!



1. No. Magnusson-Moss federal legislation prevents this. Some dealers may tell you that it does, but the law is on your side.

2. Nope - not needed. The car will adapt as it needs on its own.



They do. The stock intake is actually very good. It just doesn't flow a lot of air due to the filter size and volume of the box. The X5 and 540/M5 intakes are really a true cold air intake. They pull air from behind the bumper. Now the aFe also benefits GREATLY from the billet aluminum velocity stack prior to the HFM. This works to not only accelerate the air but to smooth it out (which is far more critical).



This is a lot to do and I can tell you that it will not pick up any significant HP. The system pulls more then enough air with the factory set-up. We have researched this and I have spoken with aFe and Dinan reps. We have all found the same results. The gain is in the larger filter and in smoothing the air prior to the HFM, not in forcing more air into it. That will often work to make turbulence, which will create a loss in HP.

The BMW electronics are not like those on many other cars. You cannot just RAM more air into the HFM and let the electronics sort it out. You need to smooth the air.

One reason that these boxes (aFe and Dinan) make power is that they create a larger "container" of air brought in from the outside. The air in the box is still (not RAM), and the engine can pull what it needs. With the stock box, the volume is limited, so sometimes the motor will pull and the box will not have enough still air, while the larger box will. This is instant response, and creates a gain.

If you are dealing with a race car or any car with electronics that deal with Alpha-N, throttle position, etc (anything except a live wire HFM), the RAM works very well. That is not the case in our considerable experience with BMW however.

I applaud your desire to try things, and if you do go forward, please post your findings, I just do not believe that you will find what you are looking for.

(Disclaimer: I am not an engineer, so I apologize if the text is not crystal clear, and I am more then happy to reply to any follow up questions)

Thanks
Brad

[broknlgs24]

i have an AFE, but to describe it as a "Cold" air intake, i think,
is misleading. same goes for the dinan model. y r they defined
as CAI's? what do either of these systems do to decrease the
air temp. going into the engine?

[Xtacy]

Originally Posted by RGX5

Thanks for getting back w/me Xtacy...so it does pull air thru the plastic intake that's in the middle of the front area in the engine compartment? Just wondering, do you feel there's value added as compared to the AFE intake and why? Thanks for answering my questions.

RGX5,

It pulls the air from outside the engine compartment. As far as the value added...RPM's not noticed yet....but the X sounds much cleaner overall and the intake growl at 2k+ RPM is sweet.

[otoupalik]

Originally Posted by noncom23

I'm lost. Are you saying, no point for this mod at all? I want more low end torque...

NO, that is not what I am saying at all. There is a gain, I was saying that to change out the ducting pre intake is a waste IMHO.

Originally Posted by broknlgs24

i have an AFE, but to describe it as a "Cold" air intake, i think, is misleading. same goes for the dinan model. y r they defined
as CAI's? what do either of these systems do to decrease the
air temp. going into the engine?

They are a CAI in the same way the OE one is. Xtacy nailed it right on the head! They don't decrease the temperature, they pull cooler air from outside then the hotter air from inside the engine bay.

Thanks
Brad