Air Filter... NEED QUICK ADVICE

[oo7ml]

Hi, i got my car serviced a couple of weeks ago and the mechanic told me that i'd need to change the air filter soon...

I find my car very sluggish the last week. It lacks serious power.

1. Could this be due to the fact that i need to change the air filter

2. I've ordered a new air filter from BMW and they won't have it until next week. I was just thinking today, do i really have to stick to a BMW air filter. I was thinking that i could get something in halfords (or some other motor factor). What do you guys think, should i just wait or is there a better air filter that i could get. If so i need to get today so a quick reply would be most welcome, thanks guys

 

[un1eash]

Any motorfactor can supply an air filter for a Z4 which will be just as good as the bmw one and i bet alot cheaper. Think i'll go for a k&n replacement panel filter when i need to change mine.

 

[oo7ml]

Ok cool, thanks, i'l get one today then... just like to stick to BMW original parts whenever i need to change any

 

[mmm-five]

Why wasn't the filter replaced during the service? What else did they not bother doing during the service?

 

[cj10jeeper]

The air filter would have to be in a terrible state to itself make the car 'very sluggish'

I echo the comments as to why in a service it was not changed, but that aside if it does feel poor then you may have to look elsewhere than just an airfilter.

 

[Philosophico]

£12 filter from local motor factor.

Better fuel economy, seat of the pants better acceleration and you can hear a nice bit of "ffffffhhhhhhhp" as you blip the throttle.

 

[oo7ml]

He said that it didn't need to be changed but he would recommend changing it in a few months... he's very particular. I was just out for a Sunday drive, i don't know if it's me or if the car does feel slower, maybe i am just very use to it now as anyone else that gets in the car thinks i'm goin mad. Has anyone got a K&N filter fitted to their car?

 

[Wondermike]

oo7ml, put some decent 98/99 octane fuel in it and take it for a big thrash

 

[cj10jeeper]

He said that it didn't need to be changed but he would recommend changing it in a few months... he's very particular. I was just out for a Sunday drive, i don't know if it's me or if the car does feel slower, maybe i am just very use to it now as anyone else that gets in the car thinks i'm goin mad. Has anyone got a K&N filter fitted to their car?

Yes - dropped a K&N in a week ago. Not noticed a jot of diffeence and it sounds exactly the same as the OEM version

 

[oo7ml]

Cool, i just ordered one of ebay, will fit it during the week... i was a little worried that it might make a bit of a boy racer sound but as you said cj10jeeper, it sounds the exact same yeah

 

[Sticks]

There was an alternative filter marketed a few years back, I think it was SE Engineerin, not sure. I bought one and maybe there was a little more mid range sharpness, but as the car got more run in that made more difference tbh. As you have to tell your insurance co and the online firms didn't want to know if there was any 'modifications' I binned it.

 

[oo7ml]

Can anyone tell me if here is even a slight difference in noise once the K&N filter is fitted and does increase performance, even 0.5 bhp increase

 

[cj10jeeper]

oo7ml - Sorry - missed your follow up post.

IMHO there is no difference in sound at all and I cannot tell any difference in performance (not that I'm sure I would feel even a 5hp increase, let alone 0.5) . I was lucky enough to have a former owner sell me a K&N and had a kit at home to clean and re-oil, else I'd have stuck with my OEM.

I know K&N guarantee a HP increase, but they seem very careful not to specify anything about it.

 

[mmm-five]

Can anyone tell me if here is even a slight difference in noise once the K&N filter is fitted and does increase performance, even 0.5 bhp increase

You probably won't notice any more intake noise with a K&N panel filter over an OEM panel filter.

And as most dynos will have a tolerance of more than ±0.5bhp, there is no way you'd ever know for sure.

 

[oo7ml]

Ok cool, thanks guys, i will have a new OEM filter along with the K&N filter at the weekend, which should i go with then... is there any difference, maybe the K&N was just a waste of money