Should I go with aFe Pro 5R or Pro Dry S for my X5 4.6is?

[JCL]

Sorry, didn't mean to offend. I should use more smileys.

But you did say that anything that goes through the filter can't hurt the engine. That is true for oil filters, which filter continuously recirculating oil. It isn't true for air filters, which get one pass. It is the quantity of what goes through the filter that harms the engine. You will see it in regular oil sampling results.

Side note. Not BMWs, or even gasoline engines, but filters none the less. My toughest filter challenges were all in dry climates, probably not unlike Texas. The shots below were taken at a customer site. We had the filter contract, as well as the new machine warranties and the fleet availability guarantees. We did a lot of studies and measuring, it was how we kept the fleet running. Notice the paper mask the driver is wearing in the first shot. He knows what is coming. The second shot was spotting the truck under the bucket, the third was as the loader operator dumped the bucket of the 992. Three or four passes, then repeat. They did this all day.

[bcredliner]

I did say that anything that gets through the filter won't hurt the engine. I was referencing the K&N filter based on what I do. I am saying the quantity that gets through the K&N filter using it that way is not a problem. Sure, to be very conservative, the greater the air is filtered the better the protection. As you know the more air into the engine the more fuel you can add and the result, assuming there is enough spark the more power you will make, to a point. I understand your position and respect it. Although Texas is not quite like your pictures and neither is NY. Rather than confuse the answer or scare the OP from doing anything. By the way, It a wonder anything runs at all in that cloud of dust, you must do great work. The OP is interested in better sound. The first thing I said was spend it on low restriction exhaust especially if he also looking performance gain. I am saying If it is going to hurt anything it is going to take a very long long time to do so. And that if OP wants to try it we need to offer our experience and study info that we think will steer him to the lowest restriction filter on the market, other than no filter or a filter we know doesn't filter at all. You and I both know that other than dirt track racers they suck the air in raw on extremely expensive engines that don't come apart because of dirty air. They say everything is bigger in Texas, obviously the dust is not. I say go for it OP!!!

[jcorreanyc]

Ok, so since my last post on this thread I put on an Eisenmann Race exhaust and Schmiedmann X-pipe. Sounds amazing!!!

I'm going to do the AFE CAI too, just deciding now between stage 1 and stage 2. Stage 2 has the intake tube included, not sure how much that really helps. Stage 1 uses the stock tube.

Also, AFE makes a throttle body spacer which looks a little gimmicky to me. But it's pretty cheap.

Any thoughts?

[Ricky Bobby]

What are the differences in price between the stage 1 and 2? If it's not much id get the stage 2 with both pieces included.

Also you still have your stock mufflers? Might be interested as id like the 4.6 tips on my 3.0 and it's probably easier to just chop off the old and weld the new ones on, shoot me a pm if you wanna get rid of them.

[e30cabrio]

I have been running K&N filters on my cars (oem air boxes & CAI) for decades. I have gotten Blackstone reports every other oil change (6k miles) since 2001 and have never had any horrible reports (related to air filtration) or filtration issue.

I have had slightly high silica but that is because there is a sh!t ton of sand in the air here in Phoenix, I was shocked when I first moved here at what came out of the vacuum filters when I did my carpets.

I change my oil at 3k intervals even though most manufacturers claim 10-15k is ok on Syns because I know even with OEM filters there is alot of junk in the air.

[upallnight]

If you want noise add a couple of these to your exhaust.

UNIVERSAL TURBO MUFFLER EXHAUST SOUND WHISTLER - YouTube