[Mr. 5]

First of all, I have my flame suit on for all of you haters.
Here's the thread that I posted when I was calling it a project. As you can see, I changed a couple things. I went with a smaller "3 connector" pipe.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68787

Second, I have no idea if this increases power. It most likely doesn't since there's no heat shield.

So, why did I make it? Becuase it was fun to do.
Instead of waiting for a company to offer one or to purchase the gruppeM for 1800, I thought it would be interesting to see if I could make something and I did.

Of course, it could be improved, and I've thought of many ways to make this with the least amount of bends, but I really wanted to use the stock plenum so this is one of the reasons I came up with this design.
Also, there really isn't that much room.

So, how much did I spend? At the most 20 bucks, I used the ABS piping from Home Depot and made sure everything was glued securely.
The filter I had in my garage with 4 others from older cars/trucks. I had 2 bigger filters but they wouldn't fit under the hood. I think that an oval would be perfect.
I also had a sparco silicone hose that I used.

Here's a video that I shot so you can hear what it sounds like. Sorry about the shakiness, but I was the only one home so I had to clip it to the hood so you guys could see. I'm sure that with a bigger filter and some better/bigger diameter piping the sound would be a little better.

I'll check it daily to make sure nothing is melting (like some people said in my other thread), or coming loose. I wouldn't see how the abs would melt since it's not touching any metal. If the stock air box didn't melt then this will be fine.

I'm going to do a dyno run next week on my procede that I put on a week ago, so I'll throw thi son afterwards to see if I increased anything (or if I lost anything).

Now I need to find a heat shield.
hmmmmm.

[shyestsparks]

I hope you gain some good numbers for your effort.

[cn555ic]

looks very neat and as for custom looks pretty damn good...I hope you gain some hp with that mod....If you find some kind of aluminum sheet metal maybe that can be your heat shield!

[danielg]

+1

need a heat shield for sure. 2nd, is that the intake does one hell of turn right right there. I like the use of the OEM ram air through the kidneys.

A for effort!

[SfValley335i]

nice effort but from what i remember reading on some other forums in the past is that the plastic would melt on NA cars. Now taking the 335 with its extremely hot motor.... I think you might see it melt/deform pretty soon, hopefully it doesnt. Either way nice work, look at a company called weapon r... they had some sort of shield + snorkel type device...

[cn555ic]

wth a nice heat shield it should not melt if properly insulated

[scalbert]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

I'll check it daily to make sure nothing is melting (like some people said in my other thread), or coming loose. I wouldn't see how the abs would melt since it's not touching any metal.

That would be me.

This was not meant to be a knock, just speaking from experience. Different plastics have different operating temperatures. The plastic used on the stock intake is not ABS which is designed for ambient air use. The typical maximum continuous operating range for ABS is between 160 F and 180 F. After driving, with the hood closed, can easily reach this range. In fact, I placed a thermocouple between the intake manifold and the airbox and recorded 170+ with the hood open. Please be careful and keep an eye on it.

Again, I wasn't knocking, just providing experienced knowledge on the subject.

[sambonator]

Personally, I think the stock air filter has a larger surface area, and thus is less restrictive... in addition to pulling in cooler air.

[GTO2turbos]

Besides ingesting extremely hot engine compartment air, that piping looks very restrictive with all the bends.

Make sure you close the hood for your dyno runs to simulate real world conditions.

[DCJAX]

Looks good, curious to see if there are any gains.

[Riss Racing]

Good job!

[JmanE55]

Originally Posted by Riss Racing

Good job!

+1. Let us know the gains.

[chris b.]

nice. lets get some dyno runs.

[scalbert]

Originally Posted by Brisk

can u take some pics of the maf sensor sense u got ur airbox off

That will be difficult since the 335i uses speed density.

[scalbert]

Originally Posted by Brisk

TMAP?

That would be easier.

The manifold or light load pressure sensor can be seen under the cowl. I have a TMAP sensor I can snap a pic of off the car if desired. The extra one, on my work bench, is still functional but a test subject. I agree, it would be much easier to see on the car though with the main plumbing removed.

[de.abeja]

ABS pipe doesn't like too much heat it will get soft and then suck onto itself or burst and hemmorhage air.

[Lee Rambler]

I like the fact that he took the initiative to at least give it a try. If it works well and shows some gains, he could build it or have it built from metal so the temperature is a concern

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by de.abeja

ABS pipe doesn't like too much heat it will get soft and then suck onto itself or burst and hemmorhage air.

I don't really see how this could happen, but I really will watch it.

Did anyone check out the video that I posted in the first thread?
It doesn't sound too bad.

Like I said before, I think it's a good start and I'm not saying that this is the end all--be all.
Hopefully, a couple companies will see this and start testing out their own.

Just imagine if i had the capability to have a quick 2" to 3.5" piping with perfect bends that ended up with a big filter that all fit into a ram air setup.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by GTO2turbos

Make sure you close the hood for your dyno runs to simulate real world conditions.

Have you ever seen a dyno run performed with the hood closed in any car?
I'll be perfectly honest and say that when i do the dyno run, I will have the hood open, not closed.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by sambonator

Personally, I think the stock air filter has a larger surface area, and thus is less restrictive... in addition to pulling in cooler air.

I've keep seeing this a lot but have you ever looked through the opening where the ram air goes into the box?

It looks like we are only using half of our air filter. The bottom of the box almost touches the middle of the air filter.
Talk about starving for air!

[uberschnell]

I think there's a lot more going on with the air dynamics here then people are realizing. Example, the fact that the tube guiding the air to the filter chamber opens up so quickly lowers the velocity of the air prior to it reaching the filter without decreasing volume, and when air expands quickly it cools. Also, the benefits of ram air pressure through the stock system at 60 mph can't be replicated while the car is on a dyno, so the #'s from the dyno might not tell the whole story.

[LACA335i]

your Intake very close to the engine. I hope you get again hp n torque.. It look like it will rob you some hp n torque.. Get a heat shield asap