Macht Schnell vs. BMC vs. AFE filter...

Buti_BMW · 04-21-2009, 04:08 PM

I ordered the AFE, than canceled it because I heard the MS is better. So, I ordered the Macht Schnell, canceled it as well because I heard that the BMC is the best bang for the buck.
What I want to know is in what terms are each better than the other. And which should I purchase!!!

Macht Schnell - http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...oducts_id=2207

AFE - http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...oducts_id=1926

BMC - http://eagleday.com/bmwbmcpefi.html or http://www.bmcairfilter.com/VisCart.asp or http://www.bmcairfilter.com/VisModel.asp

What this forum has been saying is:

Fitment
1. Macht Schnell (oiled)
2. BMC (oiled)
3. AFE (oiled)

Sound
1. AFE (oiled)
2. BMC (oiled)
3. Macht Schnell (oiled)

Quality
1. BMC (oiled)
2. AFE (oiled)
3. Macht Schnell (oiled)

Is this correct!? Or is The BMC the best in everything!? I wish there were sound clips of each

powertrip · 04-21-2009, 04:37 PM

^^^ BMC sounds identical to the AFE...very throaty. The Macht Schnell and AFE fit exactly the same in my experience.

Cab5er · 04-21-2009, 04:40 PM

Its an air filter. Just get one. They all remove the charcoal filter, which is what improves flow. Pretty much all the same. Its not like you are buying a supercharger.

Buti_BMW · 04-21-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cab5er

Its an air filter. Just get one. They all remove the charcoal filter, which is what improves flow. Pretty much all the same. Its not like you are buying a supercharger.

lol...funny..you are right but I just want the best one since they are all the same price

SV Concepts III · 04-21-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cab5er

Its an air filter. Just get one. They all remove the charcoal filter, which is what improves flow. Pretty much all the same. Its not like you are buying a supercharger.

I have to agree with this. I have seen success with all 3, I really don't think you can go wrong honestly.

AMPowerJ · 04-21-2009, 06:58 PM

If BMC is a dry filter I might go with that. I think AA has a paper filter as well. I read somewhere that they (paper/dry) don't flow quite as well as an oiled filter but they have better protection. I would give up 1 or 2 hp for better filtering.

powertrip · 04-21-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

If BMC is a dry filter I might go with that. I think AA has a paper filter as well. I read somewhere that they (paper/dry) don't flow quite as well as an oiled filter but they have better protection. I would give up 1 or 2 hp for better filtering.

BMC is oiled. Unless you live in very dusty conditions I doubt you'll see much difference between dry vs oiled.

808MGuy · 04-21-2009, 07:18 PM

Are any of them washable/reusable or are they all one time use?

d_dot · 04-21-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

Are any of them washable/reusable or are they all one time use?

+1

powertrip · 04-21-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

Are any of them washable/reusable or are they all one time use?

BMC, AFE, and MS are both washable and reusable. The AA filter has to be replaced every 15-30k I think.

FStop7 · 04-21-2009, 07:31 PM

I think you are seriously over analyzing your $80 air filter purchase.

Jonmartin · 04-21-2009, 07:36 PM

I was going to buy the BMC because it was amazing quality on my 335 but RPI told me they had fitment problems and were in the process of redesigning it for the M3 so I ended up going with the Macht Shnell which seems to be nice. But in a few months hopefully the M3 BMC filter will be available and I'll buy it then.

powertrip · 04-21-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonmartin

I was going to buy the BMC because it was amazing quality on my 335 but RPI told me they had fitment problems and were in the process of redesigning it for the M3 so I ended up going with the Macht Shnell which seems to be nice. But in a few months hopefully the M3 BMC filter will be available and I'll buy it then.

Thanks for the update...Eloy over at RPI is a stand-up guy.

J08M3 · 04-21-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cab5er

Its an air filter. Just get one. They all remove the charcoal filter, which is what improves flow. Pretty much all the same. Its not like you are buying a supercharger.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by FStop7

I think you are seriously over analyzing your $80 air filter purchase.

+1

niterider · 04-21-2009, 10:19 PM

I have the AFE dry and have been trying to get rid of this rattle sound I got from it since day 1. I gave up and Im buying a new one so I would go with any of the other 2....And no Its not installed incorrectly. Ive took it off/on several times and re-installed it with diff. methods and still no luck.

SV Concepts III · 04-21-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powertrip

BMC, AFE, and MS are both washable and reusable. The AA filter has to be replaced every 15-30k I think.

Correct, the aFe oiled and dry versions are washable. The oiled version requires reoiling with the aFe charger kit, the dry version can be washed without the need to be reoiled.

BMRLVR · 04-21-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niterider

I have the AFE dry and have been trying to get rid of this rattle sound I got from it since day 1. I gave up and Im buying a new one so I would go with any of the other 2....And no Its not installed incorrectly. Ive took it off/on several times and re-installed it with diff. methods and still no luck.

The rattle sound is just the natural resonance of the engine comming through the intake..... it is amplified with the all the aftermarket filters because they are more free flowing and muffle this sound less. My guess is the less restrictive the filter is the louder this sound is. I'd bet that if you ran no filter at all it would be even louder.

FYI this "rattling" sound is actually there with the stock filter but it is very muted due to the more restrictive nature of the filter and the increased muffling effect this restriction has.

niterider · 04-21-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

The rattle sound is just the natural resonance of the engine comming through the intake..... it is amplified with the all the aftermarket filters because they are more free flowing and muffle this sound less. My guess is the less restrictive the filter is the louder this sound is. I'd bet that if you ran no filter at all it would be even louder.

FYI this "rattling" sound is actually there with the stock filter but it is very muted due to the more restrictive nature of the filter and the increased muffling effect this restriction has.

Not true, it makes the rattle because the end of the filter where the spring loaded piece sits is too weak. It causes it to fluctuate under load and has no kind of pressure release edges like the other filters do. I have been in a car with a Match Snell filter and it does not make the rattle sound my AFE makes. I also previously owned the AA paper filter and it didnt make any rattle sounds either.

powertrip · 04-21-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niterider

Not true, it makes the rattle because the end of the filter where the spring loaded piece sits is too weak. It causes it to fluctuate under load and has no kind of pressure release edges like the other filters do. I have been in a car with a Match Snell filter and it does not make the rattle sound my AFE makes. I also previously owned the AA paper filter and it didnt make any rattle sounds either.

My AFE and MS filters sound pretty much the same and fit exactly the same as well. Maybe I got a freakishly nice fitting AFE

?

Cab5er · 04-22-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niterider

Not true, it makes the rattle because the end of the filter where the spring loaded piece sits is too weak. It causes it to fluctuate under load and has no kind of pressure release edges like the other filters do. I have been in a car with a Match Snell filter and it does not make the rattle sound my AFE makes. I also previously owned the AA paper filter and it didnt make any rattle sounds either.

Why don't you get AFE to swap it out for you. I'm sure not all of them rattle. Probably a bad apple.

d_dot · 04-22-2009, 06:39 AM

where can i get a filter locally in nyc area?

MrHarris · 04-22-2009, 06:53 AM

If BMC does infact redesign their filter to fit perfectly, then I think I will make the switch. Til then, Macht Schnell all the way!

04-21-2009, 04:08 PM	#1
Buti_BMW Private First Class 65 Rep 155 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 AW M3 ;) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY iTrader: (0)	Macht Schnell vs. BMC vs. AFE filter... I ordered the AFE, than canceled it because I heard the MS is better. So, I ordered the Macht Schnell, canceled it as well because I heard that the BMC is the best bang for the buck. What I want to know is in what terms are each better than the other. And which should I purchase!!! Macht Schnell - http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...oducts_id=2207 AFE - http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...oducts_id=1926 BMC - http://eagleday.com/bmwbmcpefi.html or http://www.bmcairfilter.com/VisCart.asp or http://www.bmcairfilter.com/VisModel.asp What this forum has been saying is: Fitment 1. Macht Schnell (oiled) 2. BMC (oiled) 3. AFE (oiled) Sound 1. AFE (oiled) 2. BMC (oiled) 3. Macht Schnell (oiled) Quality 1. BMC (oiled) 2. AFE (oiled) 3. Macht Schnell (oiled) Is this correct!? Or is The BMC the best in everything!? I wish there were sound clips of each Last edited by Buti_BMW; 04-21-2009 at 07:46 PM..
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04-21-2009, 04:37 PM	#2
powertrip Scared money don't make money. 67 Rep 1,449 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2009 E92 M3 [0.00]	^^^ BMC sounds identical to the AFE...very throaty. The Macht Schnell and AFE fit exactly the same in my experience.
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04-21-2009, 04:40 PM	#3
Cab5er Colonel 80 Rep 2,339 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M3 (Sold) 13 A1 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fremont, Hainan iTrader: (22)	Its an air filter. Just get one. They all remove the charcoal filter, which is what improves flow. Pretty much all the same. Its not like you are buying a supercharger. __________________ E90 ///M3/ AW/ Fox Red
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04-21-2009, 06:58 PM	#6
AMPowerJ One mod leads to another ... 416 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: 2014 F10 M5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blythewood, SC iTrader: (10)	If BMC is a dry filter I might go with that. I think AA has a paper filter as well. I read somewhere that they (paper/dry) don't flow quite as well as an oiled filter but they have better protection. I would give up 1 or 2 hp for better filtering. __________________ Current: 2014 F10 M5 Previous: 2015 F80 M3, 2013 E92 M3, 2013 F10 M5, 2009 E90 M3, 1998 E36 M3
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04-21-2009, 07:18 PM	#8
808MGuy Colonel 219 Rep 2,339 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oahu, Hawaii iTrader: (3)	Are any of them washable/reusable or are they all one time use? __________________ 2016 Porsche Cayman GTS - Sapphire Blue / Black Full Leather Interior / Carrera S Wheels
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04-21-2009, 07:31 PM	#11
FStop7 I like cars 329 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	I think you are seriously over analyzing your $80 air filter purchase. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
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04-21-2009, 07:36 PM	#12
Jonmartin Banned 121 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angles (818) iTrader: (1)	I was going to buy the BMC because it was amazing quality on my 335 but RPI told me they had fitment problems and were in the process of redesigning it for the M3 so I ended up going with the Macht Shnell which seems to be nice. But in a few months hopefully the M3 BMC filter will be available and I'll buy it then.
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04-21-2009, 10:19 PM	#15
niterider Proove It! 39 Rep 618 Posts Drives: Gintani Supercharged Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: City of Angels iTrader: (0)	I have the AFE dry and have been trying to get rid of this rattle sound I got from it since day 1. I gave up and Im buying a new one so I would go with any of the other 2....And no Its not installed incorrectly. Ive took it off/on several times and re-installed it with diff. methods and still no luck.
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04-22-2009, 06:39 AM	#21
d_dot 4 * General 56 Rep 644 Posts Drives: F12 M6,Audi R8 Lambo Gallardo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tri-State iTrader: (0)	where can i get a filter locally in nyc area? __________________ Nissan GT-R (Sold) E92 M3 + 335 (sold) F10 535 (sold) When Driving Nice Whips It Helps To Have Nice Kix!
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04-22-2009, 06:53 AM	#22
MrHarris yodog 197 Rep 5,026 Posts Drives: '86 Corolla Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Diamond Bar, Ca iTrader: (5) Garage List 2009 BMW [10.00]	If BMC does infact redesign their filter to fit perfectly, then I think I will make the switch. Til then, Macht Schnell all the way! __________________ 2009 E92 M3 \| Alpine White \| Black Extended \| Advan RS \| Turner Test Pipes \| Dinan Axle-Back \| OETuning \| Eibach Springs \| UUC SSK \| VRS Front Lip \| VRS Type I Diffuser \| Matte Black \| RPi Scoops \| MS Filter \| Yokohama AD08 \| F1 Pinnacle Special Thanks: Gintani \| OETuning \| eAs
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