AFe Intake - where to get it?

[pilchardthecat]

Having given up on getting suitable back boxes for reasonable money, i've gone back to my original plan which was to go with a slightly fruitier induction kit.

Looking at the history i'm not holding out much hope of a Simota offering, and the Gruppe M is silly money, so I've settled on the AFe.

All the suppliers seem to be in the US, and some of them are either not offering UK delivery, or want $95 for it (!!) add to this the import/vat...... are there any UK suppliers or are people buying direct from the US?

 

[Voodoo]

Watching this thread with the same interest...

 

[JaEdBa]

hi,

i got one for my 3.0si off of here (not much use to you i know) there are some on e bay for £300ish including delivery...

one thing i would say is the quality isn't brilliant (if that bothers you) aside from a small issue i had regarding the 2nd hand one i bought having half a screw left in the MAF mounting hole :x (now hopefully resolved and the seller did actually apolgise and send me a small compensatory payment) the quality of the air box isn't great.

clearly the item i purchased had not seen much use but the paint on the air box is flaking around the edges and a bit of rust had set in (i am being picky!), i have treated the rust and will repaint the air box prior to installation, i would suspect though that the product is not designed with a UK winter in mind.

can't comment on the effectiveness yet - as it's still part being painted part being rethreaded...

i'll let you know the difference in sound when i get it fitted...on the 3.0 engine of course.

 

[daz05]

Don't CA Auto sell one.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

I bought mine (for M54 2.5) from a US seller on eBay - it didn't work out too expensive, I forget how much, but it was a lot cheaper than buying from a UK supplier - and was determined I was not using CA, after a previous experience with something they were bringing in.

JaEdBa, surprised by your comment on the quality, I was impressed with mine, although there is not a lot too it, but the billeted filter / MAF connector is quality. Although I know the kit is different for the facelift. I've only taken mine off as the extra air flow really seems to have accentuated the "ghost whistle" that affects from M54 engines.

Sounds great

Take into account a) Eisenmann exhaust and b) poor recording equipment
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11703726/100_0116.MOV

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11703726/100_0117.MOV

Although the clips aren't great you'll see it doesn't really sound like what you expect a 2.5 would sound like.

Damn... half tempted to pop it back on the car now 8)


EDIT: Apologies - just released I'm trespassing in the "M" Specific section with my 2.5 content

 

[JaEdBa]

JaEdBa, surprised by your comment on the quality, I was impressed with mine, although there is not a lot too it, but the billeted filter / MAF connector is quality. Although I know the kit is different for the facelift. I've only taken mine off as the extra air flow really seems to have accentuated the "ghost whistle" that affects from M54 engines.

sounds like yours is different, there's no billetting anywhere to be seen...kind of composite pipe with brass inserts to screw the MAF on, the filter assembly itself and the air box, pressed and spot welded steel sprayed with a sort of strange black paint and then a cover that is powder coated. i was going to smoothrite it, but i had some matt black paint that appears quite durable so i'll use that.

it's very utilarian, hopefully a case of function over form..

 

[Beedub]

i read alot of these rust??? that would put me off....... 4/5th time ive read this now.... not good enough imo...

 

[JaEdBa]

just been onto the engineers who are looking at the pipe on my afe.

unfortunately the combination of materials (plastic/brass) means that a fix is not possible, appears that a half a drill has been left in the thread.

just sent an e mail to afe directly to try and obtain the part i require, suspect that this will push the price up considerably.

just be careful if you do go for one of these second hand - the geezer i bought it off, when challenged, claimed his 'alternative installation' slipped his mind in the advertisment. went on to say that as it was under the bonnet he didn't think it was an issue. it is an issue to me and it's not an alternative installation, it's a bodge!

looking at the kit in general, there's not a lot in it for the asking price and i'm guessing that if you do have issues regarding parts etc you will be in the same boat i am - if getting hold of the kit itself is an issue, then when/if it goes wrong it's a right pita..

 

[pilchardthecat]

Bollocks!

So the Afe rusts, Simota aren't going to make one and the Gruppe m costs a fortune and has an oiled filter which breaks the MAF.

The only back boxes suitable for a daily driver (remus) just put their prices up by 50% overnight.

Balls, balls balls.

 

[mmm-five]

So the Afe rusts, Simota aren't going to make one and the Gruppe m costs a fortune and has an oiled filter which breaks the MAF.

So, we're back to drilling 1" holes in the air-box for a Swiss-cheese effect

 

[pilchardthecat]

Playing cards on the wheels?

 

[w1phil]

Playing cards on the wheels?

:rofl:

seriously though has anyone bought an AFE intake from a UK supplier? i've been looking at this on the Turner Motorsport website but dont want to get spanked with the import vat...

 

[JaEdBa]

Playing cards on the wheels?

raleigh grifter anyone?

i'll keep you posted on the customer service offered up by afe.

it's calfornian based, they don't give a monkey's toss about rust prevention in fairness. it's nothing a can of smoothrite won't fix, but in all honesty, do you want to pay out £300-400 for something and have to repaint it yourself...

 

[pilchardthecat]

I must admit even with the rust issues i'm still considering the AFE..... maybe i'll paint the casing (i'm assuming it's this that rusts?) with heat-reflective paint

Unless Simota or someone else enters the market, or Gruppe m drop their prices by 50%, or Remus withdraw their 50% price increase...... there isn't any other option for me.

 

[daz05]

Why don't you just hold out for a used gruppe m you do see them from time to time.

 

[JaEdBa]

i was in your boat pilchard, wasn't prepared to pay the prices of gruppe m (you'd have to be proper lucky on the 2nd hand option as there's clear demand that'll push the prices up) so gave the afe a bash.

hopefully i'll get the pipe sorted and get it on... :headbang:

 

[Aliv6]

Why don't you just leave the car std...lol...

Gruppe M sounds nice but doesn't give a performance gain & isn't worth the money

AFE looks cheap...because it is cheap

All exhausts sound worse than std...

Now where is my pipe and slippers!

 

[Paza3]

So the Afe rusts, Simota aren't going to make one and the Gruppe m costs a fortune and has an oiled filter which breaks the MAF.

So, we're back to drilling 1" holes in the air-box for a Swiss-cheese effect

:rofl: :rofl: am on it!!! going to keep an eye out for a second hand airbox as a project and buy some vent piping to cover the holes to avoid the heat soak

 

[Booner]

I have owned the aFe for nearly a year. No sign of rust at all..took 25 mins to fit and I'm useless with a spanner.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=36719

[youtube]04EmuUprpTA&hd=1[/youtube]

^^ videos and discussion in there.

With taxes I paid about £440 ish from memory including shipping and taxes (paid on collection). These guys below sorted me out - very quick and very good an communications. First time I've imported anything.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI. ... OC:GB:1123

DO IT

 

[dubsesd]

I have one and the sound is amazing. Quality is excellent and the aluminum velocity stack the MAF connects to is dead sexy. No rust issues at all. But if you really want to play it safe just spray over it with rubberized plastic.