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      12-23-2009, 10:25 AM   #1
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AFE's M3 Air Intake System Initial Review

So two things happened to me last week; the first was attending the one day M driving school in SC and the second was the arrival of the M3 Air Intake System by AFE. If you ever get the opportunity to attend the M school in Greenville SC do it! I, like most of us, get small glimpses of the true capabilities of these M cars when we pull out in traffic, race others on the highway and take aggressive corners. At the M school you do this for a couple of hours at the expense of their cars, brakes and tires. You truly gain a new appreciation of how these cars are engineered and how they handle. The instructors all had 15+ years of experience and provide informative instructions to help you become a better driver. In all it was a blast with the M5 race, drifting, and last run of the day by the instructors as the best parts.

Secondly I installed the AFE intake system with my initial expectations exceeded. The install was straight forward with the only hitch in aligning the intake with the open vent in the hood. I initially thought there was going to be a serious problem with alignment until I noticed that you could slightly unscrew the bolts perform the minor adjustments and tighten back where it would stay in place. In my opinion the black system blends well with the other engine components yet is clearly distinguishable from the stock unit. So here are two things that are immediately noticeable when driving. Increase of torque at 2 - 4.5K RPM and a significant increase in the sound of the engine. I've used these systems before and although I notice an increase in low RPM torque with this car and this system and it was much more noticeable. It could be just the car itself but I was happy with the improvement. I thought about putting it on a dyno but dismissed the thought after driving it over the past weekend. The other was the sound - it will definitely put a smile on your face - guaranteed. I had AFE’s OEM replacement filter in there previously and was happy with it’s improvement but the sound from the engine system is more dramatic and aggressive with this system. It's harder to tell and still early to determine benefits at higher speed and RPM due to the little have driven it on the highway but definitely happy with it so far. Also now that I have a hang of install it would literally take 5 minutes to re-install the OEM airbox.
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      12-23-2009, 10:42 AM   #2
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I thought the afe was an open box system. that looks pretty closed up to me;-)
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      12-23-2009, 11:03 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///V\3Dude View Post
I thought the afe was an open box system. that looks pretty closed up to me;-)
I was thinking the same exact thing.
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      12-23-2009, 11:25 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chungdae View Post
I was thinking the same exact thing.
+1

Is this the same system they have been posting about?
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      12-23-2009, 11:29 AM   #5
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This post sounds like an ad to me......

Especially coming from someone with only 4 posts, who can feel the increase in torque with their "butt dyno" and the vendor sounding explanation of how easy it is to align the hood intake....

Just the impression I get...
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      12-23-2009, 11:35 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J08M3 View Post
This post sounds like an ad to me......

Especially coming from someone with only 4 posts, who can feel the increase in torque with their "butt dyno" and the vendor sounding explanation of how easy it is to align the hood intake....

Just the impression I get...
LOL! I was thinking the same thing.
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      12-23-2009, 11:54 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SUB-ZERO View Post
LOL! I was thinking the same thing.
Owned.
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      12-23-2009, 12:05 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J08M3 View Post
This post sounds like an ad to me......

Especially coming from someone with only 4 posts, who can feel the increase in torque with their "butt dyno" and the vendor sounding explanation of how easy it is to align the hood intake....

Just the impression I get...
I agree. Remove the included scoops and replace the AFE filter to the OEM unit to see how performance really compares to stock.

Stock airboxes are very good, it will be hard to improve on this design.
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      12-23-2009, 12:19 PM   #9
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It looks good but I doubt it performs good.
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      12-23-2009, 03:28 PM   #10
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It's just a cover, its still an open box system. If I'm not mistaken all of those lid parts are aluminum as well.
This thing is just going to soak up all the heat it could get its hands on. The whole underside going to the front bumper intake is exposed
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      12-23-2009, 04:25 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J08M3 View Post
This post sounds like an ad to me......

Especially coming from someone with only 4 posts, who can feel the increase in torque with their "butt dyno" and the vendor sounding explanation of how easy it is to align the hood intake....

Just the impression I get...
It is.

Every AFE intake thread has gone south. No one wants this intake, they are trying very hard to sell it.

Their intakes for Bimmers in the past have proven to actually loose power.
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      12-23-2009, 05:42 PM   #12
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BMW stock intakes are very good that's why
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      12-23-2009, 05:57 PM   #13
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I can see why it's so hard to sell, that intake is the ugliest thing under the hood of that car. If I were to change my intake (I'm not), I'd be looking at Dinan's or Technocraft's units which at least look good underneath the hood. That thing is so ugly and looks like it has a very amateur craftsmanship to it.
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      12-23-2009, 07:06 PM   #14
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lets see how does it do in stock and go traffic during summer.

I dont know about the steel casing see HOT HOT HOT.

other then then that I think its missing the OEM design like how the air comes in from the bumper. Everything else look pretty much like a stock design+a larger charge pipe.
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      12-23-2009, 07:14 PM   #15
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I still say it looks like an industrial exhaust hood for a restaurant kitchen. Probably gets just a hot as well....

If you want something that looks good, okay, I get that. There are some nice looking CF systems out there. (But I have yet to see where anything out there actually delivers more than a simple filter upgrade would provide.)

And yes, I agree this is an advertising post. I mean, 4 posts count and then this? Please.
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      12-23-2009, 07:16 PM   #16
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I lost faith in AFE after two of my friends had purchased their intake for their M5's and both had lost power. They both did a before and after dyno and had the same results. I actually have the video and their dyno sheet as well. When I get home from the office, I will look for them to post.
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      12-23-2009, 07:18 PM   #17
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I just installed the afe element with scoops, imo thats as much one needs to mod on our cai system, the design, and benefits of our oem airbox is 2nd to none.

I can see if afe or any other company came out with a racing type of cai that reaches all the way to the back of the frt wheel well where the temps are cooler, but to place the element right in the center of all the heat
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      12-23-2009, 10:15 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chungdae View Post
I lost faith in AFE after two of my friends had purchased their intake for their M5's and both had lost power. They both did a before and after dyno and had the same results. I actually have the video and their dyno sheet as well. When I get home from the office, I will look for them to post.
+1 for before and after...
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      12-24-2009, 12:14 AM   #19
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I think this thing is actually "The Nozzle". The Nozzle

In addition to heating up, I'll bet it spends all of its time "calibrating"....

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      12-24-2009, 08:28 AM   #20
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I'm surprised by all the negative comments from those that have only seen the air box in pictures. I'm calling it how i can physically see it and drive with it.
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      12-24-2009, 09:49 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xxe92xx View Post
+1 for before and after...
I haven't been able to find the dyno sheets, but I did find the video. I will try to post the video when I have time.
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      12-24-2009, 09:50 AM   #22
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4 posts and this?

Come on.
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