AFE Filter Review

[GT3 Tim]

Just installed the AFE oiled filter on the M.

The filter is of high quality and fitment is perfect. No more "charcoal" in the filter! I can see why they can get 50+% more airflow without that charcoal impregnated crap in there!

Install was a snap...bout 5 minutes or less.

The sound of the motor now is much more raw. I love it.

The car is more responsive and believe it or not, it feels more peppy and powerful. It definately steps out much harder in the 1-2 shift in S6 mode.

I cannot find a problem or downside whatsoever to the filter! Great quality, improved sound, and more responsive and power!

No affiliation, etc., just a happy customer!

[Sticky]

Guess I better go to the garage and pop it in.

[badfish]

I just put mine in, too. I gotta drive it now. Gonna take a trip out to Woodland Hills Fry's to search for a magazine. I'll post a DIY up, but for now I'll start a thread with some pix.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.... Greasy!

[BCMPOWER]

GT3 Tim, I am glad you are enjoying your filter, I am jealous. One of the best bangs for your buck!

[SupremeDTM]

put mine in and took out the car for a spin.... id have to agree with gt3 tim as well, the car sounds much better and my butt dyno says it added a little bit more juice to the m3. not a bad way to spend $84.

[BCMPOWER]

Originally Posted by SupremeDTM

put mine in and took out the car for a spin.... id have to agree with gt3 tim as well, the car sounds much better and my butt dyno says it added a little bit more juice to the m3. not a bad way to spend $84.

Man you paid that much! Harold at HP FTW I though you were in the group buy also.

[The Shiekh]

just installed mine and man!!! so many ups for so little $$$ the engine sounds more exotic and the car overall feels smooother. Response is also way up!!! awesome!!! +100 to afe

[Malarky]

Where can I purchase this!??!?

Nevermind, found the group buy!

-Carl

[The Shiekh]

you wont regret it! $84 is peanuts for this mod

[Ronin13]

Thanks to the stock incorporated charcoal layer, this may be the first legit 10hp bump from just an OE fitment air filter replacement.

[badfish]

Yes, this thing is good. I thought I would get a sucking, hissing noise from this mod. But instead, you hear more of the engine growl. My car is angrier now...

[Rovman]

Sweeeet. Good to hear about the reports and peoples findings. Sounds like a good cost effective mod. Good on you AFE and HP

[GT3 Tim]

Yeah, it is way better than I expected! I really did not think it would make much difference....I was pleased to "feel it"....I figured I would hear a difference, but really did not think I would feel anything. Very pleased....

However, due to my "issues" that I have been having with some drivability issues, the car will remain parked until I take it to the dealer on Sat.

Glad to hear the rest of you are confirming my observations.

[Ronin13]

Tim you were not kidding. I am more than pleased with this upgrade. Motor sounds and feels stronger even in the mid-range. After looking at the removed US stock filter, I can't see how there was any kind of airflow through the multiple layers. You can tell it's much thicker and heavier than the AFE. I bet the filter change will become the step one upgrade on the M3 much like the charcoal filter removal is on M5s/M6s.

[swamp2]

Guys, hate to be the perpetual skeptic (well...not really) but I have to ask this. Could the feeling of the change from a filter really be noticeable in a 400 hp car that weighs 3700 lb? Could this be the case of more noise and wanting to notice a change?

For the sake of argument, let's say you get 7hp from the filter. At ~9 lb/hp this translates to about 60 lb. Can you feel a 60 lb kid in your car, or equivalently about 10 gallons of fuel?

I am all for dyno testing but filter folks don't seem so keen on it.

[lebreeze]

any negatives to the new filter? or just more speed and better sound

[badfish]

Originally Posted by lebreeze

any negatives to the new filter? or just more speed and better sound

It left a $84 hole in my wallet. Car seems to be a bit angrier judging by the sound...

[Kadarin]

My real concern would be in knowing how effectively it filters dust and other contaminants. More airflow is great, but not if it's going to adversely affect the longevity of the engine.

[Ronin13]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Guys, hate to be the perpetual skeptic (well...not really) but I have to ask this. Could the feeling of the change from a filter really be noticeable in a 400 hp car that weighs 3700 lb? Could this be the case of more noise and wanting to notice a change?

For the sake of argument, let's say you get 7hp from the filter. At ~9 lb/hp this translates to about 60 lb. Can you feel a 60 lb kid in your car, or equivalently about 10 gallons of fuel?

I am all for dyno testing but filter folks don't seem so keen on it.

Yeah, we are just guessing about any performance gains until we get the before/after dyno numbers. My 10hp guess was largely based on Pencil's 10whp dyno result from the GruppeM intake. Since it uses the same stock intake points, it's been speculated that the filter made the difference. That and the impact of the charcoal filters the M5/M6 see.

[BCMPOWER]

Originally Posted by Kadarin

My real concern would be in knowing how effectively it filters dust and other contaminants. More airflow is great, but not if it's going to adversely affect the longevity of the engine.

That's one of the reasons why I went with the Pro Dry S, close to the same performance of the oiled but with 99% filtering efficiency which is close to OEM filter levels. However the oiled is rated at 98.6% so not that great of a difference.

[BCMPOWER]

Originally Posted by lucid

I'm thinking about getting this filter just to try it out. I don't expect much of a performance gain, but I am curious about the sound. I'd be up for pre and post install dyno runs if some folks are willing to chip in $20 each to support the cost of the dyno runs. And/or the vendor can send me a free filter if they are interested in establishing in independent benchmark. My car is currently stock.

AFE is quoting a 6hp gain on their website. Whether or not it is noticable is debatable, I am installing mine this afternoon. However for the increased efficiency and sound I think it is a worthwhile upgrade.

[GT3 Tim]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Guys, hate to be the perpetual skeptic (well...not really) but I have to ask this. Could the feeling of the change from a filter really be noticeable in a 400 hp car that weighs 3700 lb? Could this be the case of more noise and wanting to notice a change?

For the sake of argument, let's say you get 7hp from the filter. At ~9 lb/hp this translates to about 60 lb. Can you feel a 60 lb kid in your car, or equivalently about 10 gallons of fuel?

I am all for dyno testing but filter folks don't seem so keen on it.

Agreed....dyno numbers are good. But I can speak just for myself, I am very happy with it. I installed the factory filter today as I took it into the dealer and didn't want it messed with (just in case). I noticed a difference. NO, it is not major, but I could tell....

I think it is a good mod for less than $100. It aint night and day, but it is better, that's for sure.