[ArpeeB]

Is the afe dry air filter better than paper?





https://www.amazon.com/aFe-Power-31-...me=2013+BMW+X3

[malicem3]

Whether or not it produces or enhances air flow doesn't matter.

I like how I can clean the drop in filters like K&N and AFE. That alone makes them worth it. Sustainability is something I try to acknowledge with my vehicles.

[AnOldBiker]

I'm trying to get one for my car. I have one for my truck the last 6 years and very happy with it. Couple years ago on a cross country trip, there was a lot of dirt blowing across the highway and I had yo clean it. The hotel had a vacuum with a hose for spot cleaning. In a couple minutes I had a clean filter to go. Worth every penny for them.

[ArpeeB]

Originally Posted by AnOldBiker

I'm trying to get one for my car. I have one for my truck the last 6 years and very happy with it. Couple years ago on a cross country trip, there was a lot of dirt blowing across the highway and I had yo clean it. The hotel had a vacuum with a hose for spot cleaning. In a couple minutes I had a clean filter to go. Worth every penny for them.

Which one do you have? afe dry filter?

[doodlebro]

Here's a log on my setup, just installed the AFe tonight: http://www.bootmod3.net/log?id=5c78d182ae729b79a8ca4f3c

TL;DR: The AFe filter flows fine. I swapped over to it from the BMS intake, and I like that it uses the OE cold air duct system. Actually impressed that duct can flow so much.

[AnOldBiker]

My Dodge truck has the S&B housing. Instead of their paper replacement, I got the aFe dry filter. We travel a lot and the first time I went through Texas and Arizona while they were plowing to put in crops, this filter was getting plugged. At the hotel er stayed at, their vacuum had a hose to get in tight places and I cleaned the filter. Rest of the trip was without mishap. I vacuum it every 20k normally.

Just my food for thought. I've used oiled filters in the past, but even though I was 'extremely careful' with putting on oil, I still noticed overtime, oil was slowly getting on the turbo blades. Too much could unbalance the blades and ruin the bearing, throwing the internals. I use dry ever since.

My X3 does not have a aFe replacement yet, I'm looking into something that will do instead from Burger Motors so I can change to one. If aFe has a replacement for you, you're lucky.

[tracer bullet]

I'd tend to argue that, unless the afe has more surface area (i.e. more or deeper pleats), higher airflow means worse filtration.

However, if it does have more surface area then the additional airflow should only be a good thing. Re-usability is pretty sweet as well.

[ArpeeB]

Here it is...

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

I'd tend to argue that, unless the afe has more surface area (i.e. more or deeper pleats), higher airflow means worse filtration.

However, if it does have more surface area then the additional airflow should only be a good thing. Re-usability is pretty sweet as well.

also x3 seems to have a tendency to get a lot of dust around the filter intake. In fact, the engine bay get dirty way faster than any car I've owned.
Air filter get also dirty way faster.

On that particular design, I would get a high quality filter, and vacuum it often, but water clean it not so often so it get a better filtration efficiency.

my audi get the air from the fender, filter ''looks'' clean even after 4 years.
no dust, no sand no leaves. and it gets cold fresh air.

[TheCoolX3]

The oiled filter would provide better results in regards to flow/HP, Correct?

[doodlebro]

Originally Posted by TheCoolX3

The oiled filter would provide better results in regards to flow/HP, Correct?

Yeah, but it's likely not going to make a difference unless you're pushing 450whp.

[AnOldBiker]

I've had oil filters in the past, and they performed good. But over time I've noticed even though you follow directions of applying the oil, in time it collects on the turbo fan blades. If enough collects on them, the balance can be off, thus wearing out the bearing and destroying the turbo. The repair cost is huge. I've even weighed the filter dry and after oiling making sure the amount of oil was within recommended amount.

I have used the aFe dry for years and have yet found debris in the air tube to the turbo or on the turbo blades of past vehicles. So I swear by them.

On my diesel truck I have a S&B after market unit and the aFe cleanable dry filter and very much like it.

My concern is the access to my X3 filter. On a trip or normal service, if it gets dirty, its a pain to remove and clean. So I'm trying to find something like the BMS air filter unit that will fit. It is easy to remove, clean and replace. So far they have nothing to fit my car, but when the do I will be ordering one.

[FSociety]

Originally Posted by TheCoolX3

The oiled filter would provide better results in regards to flow/HP, Correct?

Dry is much better

Originally Posted by AnOldBiker

I've had oil filters in the past, and they performed good. But over time I've noticed even though you follow directions of applying the oil, in time it collects on the turbo fan blades. If enough collects on them, the balance can be off, thus wearing out the bearing and destroying the turbo. The repair cost is huge. I've even weighed the filter dry and after oiling making sure the amount of oil was within recommended amount.

I have used the aFe dry for years and have yet found debris in the air tube to the turbo or on the turbo blades of past vehicles. So I swear by them.

On my diesel truck I have a S&B after market unit and the aFe cleanable dry filter and very much like it.

My concern is the access to my X3 filter. On a trip or normal service, if it gets dirty, its a pain to remove and clean. So I'm trying to find something like the BMS air filter unit that will fit. It is easy to remove, clean and replace. So far they have nothing to fit my car, but when the do I will be ordering one.

I stopped buying anything BMS, i had the N55 intake which was open air and my IAT temps were much higher (for a year)
I went back to stock intake box with AFE Dry and IAT temps went back to normal

[Wgosma]

Looks like that BMS would suck air from under the hood. Stock unit pulls in cooler air by design.

[AnOldBiker]

And how high did the IAT get ?

[AnOldBiker]

i've never used an open to the engine compartment filter system on a gasser.

But on my diesel truck, I have an S&B system the pulls from the stock fender hole and a snout extension from under the bumper. Always believed in all the cold air I can get the better. Then on one trip I removed the cover from the filter housing and let engine compartment air in. The IAT increased by average of 30 degrees and after a 500 mile trip, my mpg's increased by 3 mpg and nothing changed on the rest of the engine performance. Seems the electronics used it to its advantage. Since then, I've been getting on average of 2 mpg's in town driving.

If anyone has information on this engine compartment air set up effects the gas engine with todays electronic, please .. I would like to know your results.

[ArpeeB]

Just saw this about afe dry filter.


https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...mission+filter

[MetaX]

Doesn't look like afe makes a drop-in dry filter for the 35i?