AFE Intake

[MasterC17]

At the request of danewilson77, I will review the AFE Intake.

To begin with, I can't compare directly to the factory intake as mine was shot from the accident and epoxied back together; needless to say it wasn't working as well as it should have been. However, I can compare it to my dad's (330i ZHP) intake.

Performance: The car seems a little peppier and seems to respond to the throttle better, in terms of actual performance gains I'd guess about 2-4hp/tq. I'm sure the car is breathing a bit better as well.

Sound: My favorite part! The sound is the same except in two situations - over about 4k and more than about 3/4 throttle at any RPM. The sound is, simply put, awesome. It gives a low, throaty growl to the car which it definitely did not have before. It is also a bit louder.

Fitment: I don't know if my is just old, but the fitment disappoints me - not sure if anyone else has this problem. The intake hits the Xenon Ballast, Expansion Tank, and the Upper Radiator Hose. Not to the point where it's going to break anything, but it is annoying and it rubs. Also, the top cover is a major PITA to get on (comes off fine). The bolts never seem to want to line up well enough.

Conclusion: Assuming AFE fixed the fitment issues, this is a very good intake. You will experience some performance gains and the sound, as stated, is pretty awesome. However, with the BMW Performance Intake currently at its competitive pricing, I would have to say go with the BMW Intake. While I can't compare directly, I assume it will give very similar benefits while fitting perfectly and looking good - two things the AFE, in my opinion, lacks.

Here is a picture of my AFE Intake:

http://www.skidooforums.com/e46/images/181.jpg

And here is a video comparing the stock intake to the AFE Intake (stock intake first, AFE second) and some pulls. However, the sound in real life is significantly better than the video can convey.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk52/MasterC17/th_StockVsAFEIntake.jpg (http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk52/MasterC17/?action=view&current=StockVsAFEIntake.mp4)

I hope you enjoyed this review.

[danewilson77]

How hard is it to get filters?
Thanks for the review. Very informative.

[MasterC17]

How hard is it to get filters?
Thanks for the review. Very informative.

Just the filter? I'm not sure, I doesn't look like AFE sells them separately. If you get an oiled one it should last a really long time. Just clean it under water and re-oil it.

[mikeyb74]

Replacement filter is available for the oiled filter.

#24-91021

[danewilson77]

Thanks for the writeup MC17.........

[kayger12]

Nice writeup.

[BCS_ZHP]

Last summer, we had an '00 323 coupe, 5 spd, stock 174 hp. My son bought a package from Bimmerworld -- aFES intake, HKS exhaust, and Shark Injector, it was about $1200 of his hard earned money. That was a sweet package, they said it would add 25-30 hp to that car, I think it did more. Primary reasons, that was the first year for the E46 coupe and the air box was small and a very restricted flow pattern (smaller than our ZHPs) plus the exhaust was a single pipe from right after the manifolds all the way back to the muffler, no double pipes midway like ours. The CAI had much better flow and the exhaust was 2-1-2 with separate resonators on each pipe for better flow -- all stainless and very sweet.

Unbeknownst to my wife or son, when my brother was in town one weekend we took the coupe and my wife's '03 330 vert 5spd out for a little comparison. Granted the vert is heavier but in stock form it supposedly had 50 hp more. We swapped cars during the test, I beat him in whichever car I was driving, and attribute that just to familiarity with the clutch/shifter, plus I owned them so I probably ran them a little harder than he did. When I drove the vert, I barely beat the coupe, maybe half a car length 0-80. The other way around, that "underpowered" little 2.5 coupe smoked the vert by over 2 car lengths. Then we did the twisties and the coupe pulled away from the vert no matter who was driving. If the money Gods were to drop a present under my pillow tonight, I'd probably add this Bimmerworld package to one of the ZHPs. But since I'm not the primary driver of either....

For Dane -- if you've ever heard the old S-3 ASW jet taking off, the "Hoover" with its suction sound, that's what the aFES CAI sounds like when you romp on it.

[danewilson77]

For Dane -- if you've ever hear the old S-3 ASW jet taking off, the "Hoover" with its suction sound, that's what the aFES CAI sounds like when you romp on it.

I just got a tingle in my secret place.

[kayger12]

Low bypass turbofan, ftw!

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[lpcmen2001]

Very interesting review. Thanks a lot ! I was wondering how easy was the installation ? Did you have to drill any hole ? How much time did it take ? Did you need to remove some parts under the hood in order to fit it in ? (Except your current AI of course...)

Thanks a lot !

[MasterC17]

Very interesting review. Thanks a lot ! I was wondering how easy was the installation ? Did you have to drill any hole ? How much time did it take ? Did you need to remove some parts under the hood in order to fit it in ? (Except your current AI of course...)

Thanks a lot !

Installation is very simple. No holes need to be drilled as it mounts to the factory points. It should take you about a half hour to get the old one out and the AFE in. The only things you need to remove are the snorkel and old intake. Just a couple plastic 'rivets' on the snorkel and some bolts on the intake. I've removed/put back the AFE Intake so many times now I could do it in under 5 minutes.

[danewilson77]

Why did you remove and put back the AFE "so many times"?

[MasterC17]

Why did you remove and put back the AFE "so many times"?

Doing my Oil Gauges required my removing of the Intake. I screwed around with that area so many times I took out the intake I think 9 times just for that. Also removed driver's headlight once which required removing intake, removed it multiple times during the CCV Update, and probably a few other times. Not because of a defect in the intake itself or anything.

[danewilson77]

Ok

Droid X! Srs Legitness!

[Johnmadd]

Get it Dane. Then we can dyno, c'mon mannnn.

[danewilson77]

I already bought it bro.

[MasterC17]

I already bought it bro.

On it's way or waiting to be installed?

[danewilson77]

It was 4 weeks back ordered, 1 week ago.

Droid X! Srs Legitness!

[echo46]

Saving my shekels for a new CAI and it's down to the BMW performance CAI and the afe. However, I am still trouble shooting my warm start up issue. I'm going to replace the upper and lower intake boots. My question is is there an upgraded performance type intake boot that anyone is aware of. I have seen the silicon lower intake boots that go for around $100 but they appear to only fir the m3. Should I look for upgraded intake boots or just go with BMW boots.

[kayger12]

I'm going to go with the Stett one here (http://shop.stettperformance.com/product.sc?productId=22&categoryId=4)when the time comes.

I believe David (Mtnmn) and a few other members have it.

[echo46]

Will check it out. Thanks.

[kayger12]

Anytime.

[webster]

I'm going to go with the Stett one here (http://shop.stettperformance.com/product.sc?productId=22&categoryId=4)when the time comes.

`


+1

[echo46]

Stettin kit goes for 155 bucks. Wow, is it really worth it? They look really cool but will I see an increase in performance as they claim.

[kayger12]

I don't think you'll see any performance increase.

The only reason I'm doing it is because I plan on keeping her until she falls apart-- it's worth the money (for me) to change it out once and not have to deal with it again.

[webster]

yep, silicon intake boot is for longevity, not performance. change once and you're done for life of car.

[echo46]

I agree, I am keeping my whip until the wheels fall off me, so I think you are right to replace things with the best. I'm hoping for at least 300,000 miles.

[echo46]

Ok, ordered the red Stett intake boots this morning. Wifey looked at me like I was nuts. She's not that far off. Hopefully I will have them before the end of the week. Also, hopeful it helps with my warm start-up issues.

[danewilson77]

Ok, ordered the red Stett intake boots this morning. Wifey looked at me like I was nuts. She's not that far off. Hopefully I will have them before the end of the week. Also, hopeful it helps with my warm start-up issues.

Why did she think you were nuts, lol?

[echo46]

That I spent 165 on two red hoses. I tried to explain that they were silicon and wonderful and will make my car slippery fast but she just smirked and kept it movin. Poor wifey, she just doesn't get it.

[danewilson77]

That I spent 165 on two red hoses. I tried to explain that they were silicon and wonderful and will make my car slippery fast but she just smirked and kept it movin. Poor wifey, she just doesn't get it.

Nice. The standard "eye roll, smirk".

Been gettin that daily.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[echo46]

Well, we'll see who laughs last when those babies are hook up and looking all bad ass. I may drive her around with the hood open so everyone can see my new sweet red intake boots.

[johnrando]

:rofl Looking forward to pics.

[HokieZHP]

If you could, please post pictures of the new boots with your aFe intake. My intake boots have a bunch in them since installing my aFe intake. So if yours stays straight even with the aFe intake than these boots could solve my issue.

[echo46]

Don't have the aFe intake yet. That's next on the list.

[danewilson77]

Don't have the aFe intake yet. That's next on the list.

Good. :like

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[cakM3]

I have the Afe CAI and can say that I love it...:thumbsup

[05ZHPCPE]

I have about 15000 miles on the AFE Pro DRY S CAI setup and have nothing negative to say about it. Fit is perfect, durable finish, sound is aggressive, paired with the UUC Full TSE3 exhaust... intoxicating, and hopefully it helped the power/mpg department.
http://img.tapatalk.com/aefcbac3-651b-084a.jpg

[danewilson77]

I have about 15000 miles on the AFE Pro5R CAI setup and have nothing negative to say about it. Fit is perfect, durable finish, sound is aggressive, paired with the UUC Full TSE3 exhaust... intoxicating, and hopefully it helped the power/mpg department.

That's the oiled setup, correct?

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[05ZHPCPE]

Yes. The Pro 5R is dry. I get tired of oiling the BMC race filter on my bike, so thought I'd give the dry one a try.

edit. Correction mine is the Pro DRY S

[danewilson77]

Lol....I have the Pro 5R, and its oiled.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0l/Engine/Intake/ES264140/

This is the dry one, no?

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0l/Engine/Intake/ES264138/

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Newjack]

"Pro 5 R Air Intake System
BMW E46 330i M54 3.0l
Dyno proven 20hp & 27ft lbs gains" (http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0l/Engine/Intake/ES264140/)



That's complete bull right? I know that there is some HP gain, but unless your using a shag carpet for a filter it shouldn't be that high of a gain right?

[danewilson77]

I'm thinking 8Hp or less. Probably 5.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[HokieZHP]

I think those gains have been accomplished with one of their filters on some car? But not on a zhp.

[zhp43867]

There is a thread about this intake vs the Dinan and BMW one. I had the Dinan, it was just okay. I actually sold it and made my own brake duct line, didn't feel a difference in losing the Dinan filter. Fit and finish on that is 100% though. If I had/have my druthers when I get my new zhp, I'll buy this and the BMW Performance one and do a dyno shoot out. The BMW one apparently has a fitment design flaw, just fwiw.

Right, I have ADD and got sidetracked. No Hokie, they apparently told a member of E46fanatics that this was an estimate, and some sponsors actually say the Stage 2 intake will have more gains, although it is rated for less and has no top. I really like the velocity stack they add, it has been dyno proven that a stack or a long tube intake can yield 5-10rwhp on an E46, due to smoother airflow and more consistent MAF readings.

[kayger12]

What is the fitment design flaw with the BMW intake?

[danewilson77]

What is the fitment design flaw with the BMW intake?

Good question.

[kayger12]

Yeah- just asking because my fitment was perfect and I haven't heard of any fitment issues with the exception of ones that were improperly installed.

[danewilson77]

............... with the exception of ones that were improperly installed.

This may be what he meant to say.

[zhp43867]

Something about a gap needing to be filled with silicone? Could have been under the front-edge part of the lid, but I'm reaching here. I'm digging in my memory to remember what I read. I know someone reported it and another person who had the intake agreed. I don't have it.

[kayger12]

I think I know what you're talking about. A lot of them have a gap where the top and bottom halves of the front of the intake come together. This is typically associated with clips that have either snapped or have a slight offset.

I actually just noticed this with mine the other day when I was changing my air filter out-- my clips are good, but you can pull them, apart with very little effort because of a slight offset.

On my way out now, but I'll post up some pics when I get back.

[kayger12]

Here you go:

Pic of the intake-- none of the scoop clips are broken and it sits flush.
http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2012-01-02_14-45-00_418.jpg

But... apply the slightest pressure, and you get this...
http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2012-01-02_14-45-11_324.jpg

Now if you apply slight lateral pressure to the top half of the scoop, the clips hold and you can't separate it like that. Seems like it's off by literally like 1 or 2 mm.