M3 E9X Airbox - Sound like CSL!!!

[signes]

Originally Posted by aus

Aren't they around $7k for a set, opposed to below?

I think he is referring to the cost of 4 ZCP/CSL rears, price sounds about right. Would be a sweet setup.

[Sticky]

I realize I am bumping this, but is there ANY news at all regarding the airbox with the larger volume?

Not talking about the OEM box covered in carbon, but the actual carbon box shown here that is supposed to have an extra liter of volume.

I have PM'd the people who are supposed to distribute it but no response. Just would like clarification for the community if the added volume does actually do anything power wise.

[lucid]

Bimmerworld sells it. I called them up, and they said it would not lead to any drivetrain performance gains. Sound + ~8lb reduction in weight seems to be what it is. And I guess looks for the ones who care.

http://www.bimmerworld.com/html/e9x-...ake-plenum.htm

But then, bimmerworld says "Plenum volume is increased slightly which provides more airflow ability for the engine at higher RPM". I don't see how that works really. At constant flow, the bottleneck--if there is even a bottleneck--would be at the filter and the throttle bodies. Having a larger volume of filtered air sitting on top of the throttle bodies might increase the initial response though, but there seems to be no proof.

[FStop7]

Originally Posted by Sticky

I realize I am bumping this, but is there ANY news at all regarding the airbox with the larger volume?

Not talking about the OEM box covered in carbon, but the actual carbon box shown here that is supposed to have an extra liter of volume.

I have PM'd the people who are supposed to distribute it but no response. Just would like clarification for the community if the added volume does actually do anything power wise.

Yes, one of the owners of Bimmerworld sells the airbox (with the increased volume) but he was very direct in saying that it was for looks and sound and wouldn't add any appreciable power.

I would take the word of the owner of the company over their ad copy on the website.

[Checkcaptain]

Folks, I´m the one who opened this thread - and I do distribute these boxes in Germany! I also have mounted one of these boxes in my own M392. What I can say so far: sound is awesome!!! I was not on the dyno yet, since I am still waiting for my Acrapovic exhaust system, which is supposed to arrive this week. Then I will have a whole day on the dyno and will install the OEM Airbox again and get basic power result, then power with BMC airfilter, then, power with BMC filter and carbon Airbox, then, power with BMC, carbon box and Akrapovic system and finally with aditional DME modifications! This seems to me to be the only way to get relyable results!!! I do also have a carbon fibre airfilter box lid in development, which should be ready this week. I will post pictures saspo! Please be a little patient - I do not want to sell things without proof of effectiveness!

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by FStop7

Yes, one of the owners of Bimmerworld sells the airbox (with the increased volume) but he was very direct in saying that it was for looks and sound and wouldn't add any appreciable power.

I would take the word of the owner of the company over their ad copy on the website.

Makes sense to me, but then they should edit what they say on the site regarding the part: "Our E9X M3 carbon plenum unleashes the sound and feel of your S65 V8 engine's racing heritage. Plenum volume is increased slightly which provides more airflow ability for the engine at higher RPM."

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by Checkcaptain

Folks, I´m the one who opened this thread - and I do distribute these boxes in Germany! I also have mounted one of these boxes in my own M392. What I can say so far: sound is awesome!!! I was not on the dyno yet, since I am still waiting for my Acrapovic exhaust system, which is supposed to arrive this week. Then I will have a whole day on the dyno and will install the OEM Airbox again and get basic power result, then power with BMC airfilter, then, power with BMC filter and carbon Airbox, then, power with BMC, carbon box and Akrapovic system and finally with aditional DME modifications! This seems to me to be the only way to get relyable results!!! I do also have a carbon fibre airfilter box lid in development, which should be ready this week. I will post pictures saspo! Please be a little patient - I do not want to sell things without proof of effectiveness!

Looking forward to your results.

[serven7]

Not too sure that a plenum increase of %10 is going to do anything. There is no so called "bottle neck" in the cars intake, we proved that with the colossal waste of money GruppeM. JMD and I have tossed around the idea of a bigger plenum since our motors are .6L bigger than standard. We will post results however, Im going to say, your money is better spent on just about any other mod out there(not including scoops). although, it does look good and Im sure you can hear it sucking air more.

You should offer a non carbon model for a substantial price reduction. I think more people would be interested if this mod were under $1000.

[itofigari]

Originally Posted by Edman951

I've seen it here before

http://www.bimmerworld.com/html/e9x-...ake-plenum.htm

holy shit! its more than $2700!....I think I will get my exhaust first...

[rzm3]

Originally Posted by lucid

But then, bimmerworld says "Plenum volume is increased slightly which provides more airflow ability for the engine at higher RPM". I don't see how that works really. At constant flow, the bottleneck--if there is even a bottleneck--would be at the filter and the throttle bodies. Having a larger volume of filtered air sitting on top of the throttle bodies might increase the initial response though, but there seems to be no proof.

+1. Without any actual testing data I wouldn't give into the idea that "bigger is better". The intake of engines undergo extremely sophisticated CFD/lab testing to be the shape/volume/design they are, and I wouldn't trust a product that simply 'made it bigger'.

[Checkcaptain]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

I don't think there's even proof that it's even larger than stock. The web site says the following:

"This plenum is constructed using the factory airhorns and base with a 100% carbon fiber top..."

OK, so basically it's saying that the volume is the same. Where's the proof that it's even SLIGHTLY larger -- let alone 1L larger?

The major goal, when developing the box was sound and nothing but sound and that´s what it is offering The volume of the box is about 1 Liter bigger than stock - that is a hard fact!!! I do not expect more max power or torque on the dyno, but since the engine feels like giving a better throttle response I do expect some more torque or even power at lower rpm. Even if there will be no difference on the dyno, I´m pretty sure that the response improved with the box, but since the mod was together with the airfilter this could also be the reason - I will find out finally. Drivability of the engine may not show on the dyno but on the road! Concerning the price you have to know, that we take the OEM box as the base and this costs already ~ 700$ - not comparable with just a cover.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by aus

Aren't they around $7k for a set, opposed to below?

Actually, they are now $1800 shipping included from Tisher BMW (a month ago they were $1700).

The OEM CSL were never $7000 from BMW, they were and still are the cheapest OEM wheels for the E46 M3 ever offered... even cheaper than the OEM 18". What happened was that, because a CSL VIN was required for order, private sellers got hold of some sets thru legal CSL owners and they sold the wheels at those ridiculous prices for anybody else.

The ZCP rear wheels are exactly the same CSL rear wheels, only the front CSL wheel is different. Both the ZCP and the CSL wheels are spun cast.

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

I only care about volume, not sound. For those of us doing the stroker motor, plenum volume is very important. I'd like an explanation where this 1L extra volume is coming from. I do not believe it is possible to use a factory plenum base, and gain an extra liter of plenum volume simply by adding this fancy looking carbon top. Please explain how this is possible -- especially when the carbon top looks no larger than the stock plenum top.

It isn't his Plenum, it is KKS's who claimed 15 wheel with it but never backed it up.

[Checkcaptain]

Hope to receive the Akrapovic next week, so should be able to post the Dyno result by start of April!!!

[Checkcaptain]

Today I received the Filter Box lid - what do you think?
Guess there will be some more sound, cause it´s very thin!

[Sales@Evolve]

Just to confirm,

this airbox is NOT made in China or anywhere in the far east. We are a distributer in the UK and it comes directly from Germany.

As for an increased plenum size I am not sure but I am interested in finding out what it does on the dyno. The next time someone buys one we'll offer them a free of charge before and after dyno session and then put up the results.

Personally not expecting much but you never know!

[Checkcaptain]

The Akrapovic was mounted today and I was on the dyno for several pulls.
Had no time for testing all items seperately since the system was arriving late - sorry!
Final result:

447 HP/8066 rpm
443 NM/5662 rpm

I still have 2 systems left. If interessted PM.

[JuniorDee]

do you have the dyno graphs?

[lucid]

Originally Posted by Checkcaptain

The Akrapovic was mounted today and I was on the dyno for several pulls.
Had no time for testing all items seperately since the system was arriving late - sorry!
Final result:

447 HP/8066 rpm
443 NM/5662 rpm

I still have 2 systems left. If interessted PM.

Not sure what you mean by "The Akrapovic". Are you saying the CF airbox resulted in measurable power gains as expressed in the numbers above?

[dcstep]

I've got the Dinan throttle bodies. If someone wants to send me one of these plenums, I'll do before and after dyno runs back-to-back and report here. If there's hp increase, I'd buy one at the $1800, so long as we're talking more than 5 hp.

Dave

[lucid]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

Akrapovic is the manufacturer.

Are you saying Akrapovic makes the CF parts? I thought he was referring to an airbox that had an Akrapovic label on it.

Someone else claimed they were made by KKS?

http://www.kks-performance.com/conte...38/87/lang,en/

[Checkcaptain]

Originally Posted by lucid

Are you saying Akrapovic makes the CF parts? I thought he was referring to an airbox that had an Akrapovic label on it.

Someone else claimed they were made by KKS?

http://www.kks-performance.com/conte...38/87/lang,en/

Do not mix it up folks!!! Akrapovic is the manufacturer of the titanium axhaust system - you can compare it with the Ericsson system without headers but about half price. I also do sell the CF intake manifolds and CF filter box lids shown in this thread. These CF parts are made in Germany, but not by KKS - they are only distributing them - like me. Sorry to say, but I cant tell how much in HP any specific item is creating, since the result is a combination of air intake and exhaust system modification. I previously planned measurements with every single item, but since the Akrapovic was arriving late, I had no time for that. Just compare my result with the results on the Akrapovic homepage and you can imagine how much HP gain the intake system is creating - even when it´s different cars, which are shown! I should be able to post the diagramm by tomorrow. Of course the airbox gives better throttle response due to bigger volume and most important - MEAN SOUND. Here comes a link to the Akrapovic page to give you an impression, hardfacts and soundfiles:

http://akrapovic.de/?main=produktbes...anlagen_BMW_M3


Have fun!