Hi guys, i have a bit of a noob question. I am looking to put k&n filters on my 2006 4.3 vantage. I have the standard airboxes, I know performance air filters may increase performance slightly but I was wondering can you actually hear the noise from the filters despite being in airboxes??

 

I removed my airboxes and put on performance filters and there was a very noticeable increase in intake noise. Kind of a low growl. Don't know with boxes on if you'd get same.

 

I have K&N filters in the airboxes of my 4.3 Vantage and they don't sound any different than the stock filters.

 

BMC filters in standard air box, cannot tell a difference.

 

did you have any issues with water??

 

I can't think of a possible reason why water would be a problem with removing the boxes. I would, however, go for a filter that doesn't use an oil to avoid fouling the MAF sensors.

 

You might have a problem with water being ingested into the engine while going through puddles since the air intakes are right in front of the front wheels behind the bumper at ground level.

I wouldn't worry about oil-fouled MAFs unless you re-oil the filter yourself and put too much on. A brand-new out of the box K&N oiled filter isn't going to foul your sensors, there is barely any oil on it.

 

For that to be a problem, the car would need to be submerged up to the top of the air filter. In which case, the stock box would have the same problem. Think about trying to pull water through a straw where the end of the straw is only partially in the water. What do you get through the straw?

So, it's fine until you need to oil the filter? That's reassuring, isn't it? There are plenty of other options that don't carry this downside. Why bother?

 

I've seen more than one hydro locked BMW and their intake is a foot higher off the ground than our Astons. The intake doesn't need to be submerged - a good slosh of water and BOOM! How much liquid water do you think needs to be ingested to destroy your engine?

If you are not handy enough to spray oil on a filter yourself, you could always just buy new filters. They cost 50% less than the OEM units anyway.

 

You edited while I was typing.

I think you are not worrying about a major potential catastrophe (hydro lock) while getting all worried about what would at most be a minor inconvenience (having to clean your MAFs).

 

Got any examples?

 

The oil fouls the MAF requiring replacement.

 

You mean like pictures? Owner's names? Court documents? Sworn affidavits?

Just Google BMW hydrolocked engine, it will take you 2 days to read through all the tales of woe.

There's a DIY thread on this site for cleaning your MAfs.

I guess we can just agree to disagree, the original question was about noise and we are sufficiently off track on that topic.

 

So, no then.


Not sure that a diy on cleaning the MAF shows how the oil in a filter effects it.

 

LOL, thanks I needed a chuckle tonight. Hope you have a nice evening!