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Turner Intake Upgrade Guide
BMW Cold Air Intake Upgrades
If you have ever thought about modifying your BMW, then you have undoubtedly considered a performance intake if you do not already have one. The benefits, design, and even the definition of the term "cold air intake" are all widely debated on the internet. A cursory search of "how do cold air intakes work" or "are cold air intakes worth it" will reveal hundreds, if not thousands, of articles and videos from enthusiasts to experts weighing in on the issue. As is the case with all research, evidence and experience will show through eventually, no matter how much misinformation exists. Today, we are going to look at what an intake does, what a cold air intake is, how it can help your engine's performance, and examine the different options available for your BMW.
The intake is a simple concept. Engines are eerily alive, in that they inhale oxygen and fuel and exhale carbon monoxide and water just like organic respiration. Engines need roughly 14 parts of oxygen to 1 part of gasoline, using standard measurements. At wide-open throttle, engines need a considerable amount of air to operate at their peak performance. Cars with electronic fuel injection will monitor the amount of induction air and supply the appropriate amount of fuel needed to keep the desired 14.7:1 ratio that makes engines happy.
BMW engineers do an excellent job in developing the original intakes in our cars to be as quiet, yet unrestrictive, as possible. Unfortunately, due to efforts to reduce costs as well as overall noise and comfort requirements, the factory intakes can be less than ideal when it comes to improving the performance of your BMW. It is important to note the use of the word performance rather than horsepower in this instance, which we will discuss further in a moment.
Cold Air Intakes are defined one of two ways. The first definition describes a cold air intake as a less restrictive filter and piping that increases the volume of air inducted by the engine. The second is an intake that offers decreased resistance and relocates the filter and piping away from the engine to reduce intake air temperatures.
With the focus on OEM intakes being that of providing enough air to meet engine requirements without being too noisy or expensive to make, the purpose of an aftermarket intake is to focus solely on performance. Well designed aftermarket intakes are designed to resist heat soak, provide a smoother, less restrictive, and better flowing channel to your throttle body. The biggest difference you will notice with the addition of a cold air intake is the induction noise that becomes audible since performance intakes have no sound baffling. The next thing you will notice is a smoother air temperature across the throttle body during the entire rev range. Lastly, you will most likely notice almost no change to your horsepower output.
While some manufacturers offer dyno sheets showing "20%" horsepower increases or "instant 5 to 20 horsepower", the reality is that the biggest improvements are seen when other modifications are present. The more aggressive tuning, which will advance timing and allow for earlier detonation and more power, benefits heavily from an unrestricted intake. The cold, dense, smooth air is able to take more fuel without running "rich", or above that 14.7:1 air/fuel ratio.
Now that we know what intakes really do we can take a peek at which ones we have found to be worth the investment in your BMW. All intakes are not created equal, but a $10 piece of hose and a pod filter will not be able to provide you with the fitment, looks, and durability of a well crafted aftermarket intake. In order to maintain the quality expectations BMW drivers generally hold, your intake should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
aFe Power Intakes:
aFe Power produces some of the most well-known induction products and has dedicated engineers whose directives are to design performance intake solutions that are improvements over their factory counterparts as well as perfect fitment for each application.
DINAN Intakes:
DINAN is a world-renowned manufacturer of performance components for European vehicles, primarily focused on BMWs. Their attention to detail and quality come from years of experience in producing top-shelf products that perform well and look good doing so.
GruppeM Carbon Intakes:
GruppeM Carbon Fiber Ram Air Intake Systems are an incredibly attractive intake systems that are hand-crafted to meet the stringent quality expectations of discerning BMW owners. These intakes are designed to provide a large volume of airflow directly to the throttle body with as little restriction as possible while being one of the most visually striking systems available.
Eventuri Carbon Intakes:
Eventuri Cold Air Intakes are the cream of the crop in terms of show cars. While their price tags are significantly higher than competitive systems that offer the same performance benefits, Eventuri intake systems can only be described as pure automotive art. If dropping jaws when you open the hood is your goal, Eventuri are the only solution we suggest.
So what do cold air intakes do? They provide your engine with air at a higher density, higher volume, lower temperature, and with less restriction than the factory airbox. More importantly, these intakes offer a cleaner look, isolate the intake from the rest of the engine bay with a heat shield, and can give you more room to work around under the hood for other modifications. By themselves, cold air intakes are not what we would call a solution for big power, but they are definitely a piece of the puzzle that is performance tuning. Make sure your engine is breathing properly by replacing your next engine air filter with a cold air intake system for improved performance.
SHOP BMW Cold Air Intake Upgrades
