Controversial, but any thoughts on the BMC Carbon Dynamics Airbox or Apollo?

[elky]

In theory it seems like a perfect much for a Z3, the tube like design of the BMC CDA seems to fit perfectly on our air duct behind the headlight. This combined with the closed-type carbon design should provide some CAI characteristics. A guy on YouTube tests a similar K&N Apollo and gets better temperature than stock

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8hJkc_nQKc&list=PL1SQgNh5DN8KfuEPyxjxuu3wHr0kkd1uo&index=46


Has anyone here tried the BMC CDA or even better dynoed them? I am considering upgrading from my 57i K&N ram intake and like the BMC design better than the Apollo, also the fact that they have a kit for Z3 3.0i.

 

[Sajk]

I have data logged the stock intake and a heat shielded open pod CAI. Underway there is not much difference with the stock intake providing air a couple of degrees cooler. The big difference is under heat soak conditions. The stock intake recovers much more quickly than the CAI. After this I removed the CAI and now run stock with an AEM dryflow filter. Don't know if this helps at all.

 

[elky]

I have data logged the stock intake and a heat shielded open pod CAI. Underway there is not much difference with the stock intake providing air a couple of degrees cooler. The big difference is under heat soak conditions. The stock intake recovers much more quickly than the CAI. After this I removed the CAI and now run stock with an AEM dryflow filter. Don't know if this helps at all.

Very interesting to hear about your experiment. What type of CAI did you try?

 

[Sajk]

An old ECIS intake but it's pretty much the same as and pod filter on a pipe with a heat shield. In addition I added thick heat shielding, that fluffy stick on silver stuff, about 1cm thick on the hot sides of the heat shield near the engine. That helped a lot. It sounded OK but the stick I take is better. BMW don't leave cheap power on the table.

The rumors of better fuel economy are counter intuitive also. If the intake flows more air, as they are supposed to, then the DME will inject more fuel to meet its AFR targets. More fuel /= better economy unless we are supposed to believe that the small difference in restriction has a big impact on pumping losses.

 

[elky]

An old ECIS intake but it's pretty much the same as and pod filter on a pipe with a heat shield. In addition I added thick heat shielding, that fluffy stick on silver stuff, about 1cm thick on the hot sides of the heat shield near the engine. That helped a lot. It sounded OK but the stick I take is better. BMW don't leave cheap power on the table.

The rumors of better fuel economy are counter intuitive also. If the intake flows more air, as they are supposed to, then the DME will inject more fuel to meet its AFR targets. More fuel /= better economy unless we are supposed to believe that the small difference in restriction has a big impact on pumping losses.

Yeah, I wouldn't give any value to fuel economy rumours, as you say it is counterintuitive! On the other hand, more fuel + more air = more power, but again, as you said, it's doubtful that BMW left a lot of power on the table. That being said, I think with a more free-flowing exhaust & intake then perhaps there is some HP to gain ~= 10.

It would be nice if more BMW owners with aftermarket setups posted their dynos... then we could get a better view of the myths & truths.

This is my current ghetto setup that I am planning to upgrade:

 

[Zephyr]

I am still not convinced these cai setups actually do anything than a throaty roaring of the intake.
had installed a Turner motorsport on my E46 and had absolutely no difference in hp, nor any change to the dyno curves.
it sounded pretty cool though.
i do not have the dyno charts to post, did that back in 00’s.
on the other hand I live in a very hot climate and probably keeping the original setup under a sizzling bonnet was a better idea.

 

[Sajk]

I think it's all about intake noise. Which is fine.

 

[elky]

Agreed that its about noise, I do not expect magic gains. The discussion is more to narrow down to the best of these CAI systems in a way that makes sense relative to heat/air.

That being said, I thing what is shown by Kludge in the video could be a slightly better/colder solution than the stock, but one would have to sacrifice one fog light which I am not up for.

My current setup is just getting hot air, but the BMC CDA seems like it could fit very efficiently in the engine bay, that is why I am trying to get some second opinions.