Air filter position again ( sorry)!

Air filter position again ( sorry)!

Author
Discussion

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
So now the Maser has gone, and I've finally decided the M400 is staying with me for ever ( apologies Macky17!)to provoke some new Darth Vadery noise, I'm thinking of going down the move air filters to the bulkhead route. I've still got the bracketry from when I had it done on my previous 3R.This brought back memories...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD7Ovaq5YwA
Now two things...
1: The old chestnut of heat. Did anyone eventually come up with a definitive answer to whether there was a performance loss, and if so what has anyone done to compensate,within a reasonable budget. I've trawled various threads that seemed to go back and forth ( and seen wind tunnels data/heat shields etc so would rather not open a massive debate, but for instance, why do we think Noble moved them to the rear for the GT0-3 onwards, when it was such an inherent character of the car? If it is going to cause a big performance loss then I'll be having second thoughts.
2:What would any of you consider is the best improvement ( unlikely or otherwise you've made to you car for relatively small dosh? This can be cosmetic, mechanical ,noise, interior trim etc ( but lets not go down the obvious driver training route with it!)


Edited by sjc on Wednesday 16th April 08:37

Blu3R

2,365 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Andy what's the spec of your car now?

Hollowpockets

5,908 posts

216 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
The only facts I can give you from my experience.

Noise is louder up front.
Filters get dirtier up front.

Performance wise I doubt there's any real difference, most arguments are theoretical not proven.

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Blu3R said:
Andy what's the spec of your car now?
M400 standard power,Hard pipe kit,Forge BOV,Faulkes FP intercooler.

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Hollowpockets said:
The only facts I can give you from my experience.

Noise is louder up front.
Filters get dirtier up front.

Performance wise I doubt there's any real difference, most arguments are theoretical not proven.
Performance wise, I'm certainly not looking to gain, just not lose either. At the moment, all I can hear if the BOV, so after 7 years I'd thought we'd have change around. On my previous 3R,if anything the filters on the bulkhead AND the BOV was too much.
Whats the thoughts on moving just one filter?

andygtt

8,344 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
regarding the air filter... mine is at the front, I also have logging from my ECU so I know the exact air temp at all times.... My air temp never gets high and certainly never gets to a stage were the ECU will back out power.

I do accept that I have a different setup, but my engine bay does get very hot (recently found pipes on the inlet manifold had melted due to heat) so cool air must be coming in the side vent by the window and into my air filter... probably being sucked in by it smile

andygtt

8,344 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
swop to track tyres was the cheapest significant improvement I made... Mitch Cups is what I run now, had 048's before and loved them but they were twice the Cups cost and lasted/gripped the same.

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
andygtt said:
swop to track tyres was the cheapest significant improvement I made... Mitch Cups is what I run now, had 048's before and loved them but they were twice the Cups cost and lasted/gripped the same.
Although I'm due tyres soon, I don't track the car. I actually went from Corsa's to Rosso's as I'm a wimp driver!
At risk of going off topic a tad, what's the concensus now for a good road tyre for the M400?

andygtt

8,344 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
I am meaning for the road... I won't use normal road tyres on the road anymore after I used a set to go to lemans it was a major step back in the cars capability on the road.

of cause they also help on track and are rubbish in the wet / really cold conditions but I have driven in the snow in them lol

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
andygtt said:
I am meaning for the road... I won't use normal road tyres on the road anymore after I used a set to go to lemans it was a major step back in the cars capability on the road.

of cause they also help on track and are rubbish in the wet / really cold conditions but I have driven in the snow in them lol
At risk of going off topic, what are they like for road noise compared with others!

Blu3R

2,365 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
sjc said:
Blu3R said:
Andy what's the spec of your car now?
M400 standard power,Hard pipe kit,Forge BOV,Faulkes FP intercooler.
Fuel pump wiring, oil separator, move your filters, remap, step away from the wallet.
All in that order.

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Blu3R said:
sjc said:
Blu3R said:
Andy what's the spec of your car now?
M400 standard power,Hard pipe kit,Forge BOV,Faulkes FP intercooler.
Fuel pump wiring, oil separator, move your filters, remap, step away from the wallet.
All in that order.
Fuel pump wiring done years ago, already have a catch tank ( is that a separator), will it need a remap just for the filters being moved?

Blu3R

2,365 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
sjc said:
Blu3R said:
sjc said:
Blu3R said:
Andy what's the spec of your car now?
M400 standard power,Hard pipe kit,Forge BOV,Faulkes FP intercooler.
Fuel pump wiring, oil separator, move your filters, remap, step away from the wallet.
All in that order.
Fuel pump wiring done years ago, already have a catch tank ( is that a separator), will it need a remap just for the filters being moved?
No, but if you're worried about potentially losing a few horses you can have TJ put a load more in.

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Blu3R said:
sjc said:
Blu3R said:
sjc said:
Blu3R said:
Andy what's the spec of your car now?
M400 standard power,Hard pipe kit,Forge BOV,Faulkes FP intercooler.
Fuel pump wiring, oil separator, move your filters, remap, step away from the wallet.
All in that order.
Fuel pump wiring done years ago, already have a catch tank ( is that a separator), will it need a remap just for the filters being moved?
No, but if you're worried about potentially losing a few horses you can have TJ put a load more in.
Won't that only be worth it with an exhaust as well? Otherwise the map just improves driveablityI believe, which I've never had a problem with anyway. Not concerned about more power, just don't want to lose any. Touch-wood the car has been so reliable over its 9 years/37K miles I don't want to mess with it too much engine/power wise.
Hence the air filters being an easy cheap way to make it feel/sound a bit different!

mgbond

6,749 posts

232 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Chuck some carbon at it

Blu3R

2,365 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
I have a standard exhaust and my 3R made 375/408. It's a mild increase but makes a lot of difference to the overall experience.

sjc

Original Poster:

13,937 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Blu3R said:
I have a standard exhaust and my 3R made 375/408. It's a mild increase but makes a lot of difference to the overall experience.
Interesting,do you mean it was already running 23BHP over standard at 375 and went to 408 or is that the BHP and torque figure?


Blu3R

2,365 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Sorry that's 375bhp & 408lbft with 044, PA IC and Forge actuators, nothing else power wise.

stevegto3

428 posts

137 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
I have moved my filters in the last few months for this very reason. I think when they moved the filters to the box, they lost some of the cars personality. I heard there were some that thought the noise would tire or sound too boy racer, hence moving them.

Ive not noticed any difference in power for fast road use.

Just do it as it uses all the original pipework without any cutting, so you can always swap it back if you want.

V1DL3R

560 posts

129 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
When moving there will be no difference. When stationary for long periods of time there may be susceptible to some heat soak, but it's filters they don't hold any soaked heat unlike say; the stock intercooler. When you start moving again the heat clears. Even with an external cold air intake you would not see any noticeable gain in HP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCi2yo4UqPI). I've move the filters, one of the best things I have done. It make driving the car even more pleasurable and you can always move them back.