Air Intake for bmw 1997 318is

[Cams318is]

I got an exhaust for my car last summer and now wanna put an intake on. But i cant seem to find one to fit my model of car. I mean there are lots out there, but since mine is OBD II, and build in 1997 i have the new Seconday air injection system. Is there anyone on here who might know where i could find one. Thanks

[PhilipWOT]

Two days, zero replies to CAI thread.

BimmerFest E36: 1
Lazy n00b: 0


:bustingup

[98bimmer318]

hahaha.hold on i gotta find it again..i had a site with 318 **** on it.

[98bimmer318]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-99-BMW-E36-318-318i-318is-318ti-Z3-1.9-Intake-97-f_W0QQitemZ200340613961QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ200905 10?IMSfp=TL0905101010004r16802

[PhilipWOT]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-99-bmw-e36-318-318i-318is-318ti-z3-1.9-intake-97-f_w0qqitemz200340613961qqcmdzviewitemqqimsxz200905 10?imsfp=tl0905101010004r16802

fail.

[98bimmer318]

fail.

**** you.

[foremiilk]

go with a dinan cai

[E36youngster]

make you're own. its cheaper and just as efficient. thats what i did

[Cuahtemoc1]

lol dont make your own..dont listen to this cheap guy ^.....Get a confronti or dinan..if your looking for a reasonable price go with the ebay air intake.i hear it works well with half the price...Im pretty sure that a company like dinan that been around for a really long time has developed the best performing intake for your e36...

[bimmerblack]

lol dont make your own..dont listen to this cheap guy ^.....Get a confronti or dinan..if your looking for a reasonable price go with the ebay air intake.i hear it works well with half the price...Im pretty sure that a company like dinan that been around for a really long time has developed the best performing intake for your e36...

Ummm. NO. :thumbdwn:

He drives a 318. There is really NO performance gain to be had from any form of intake on a 318. As taken off of Understeer.com and Original Poster read Jim Conforti's quote:

How do I get more power out of my 318?
There's only one easy way to significantly improve the HP output of your 318, a Downing Atlanta supercharger. An aftermarket intake and exhaust will gain you less than 10hp on the 318. Yes it sucks, but it's true. You can spend $1500 or more on intakes, exhausts, chip/software, etc and only end up with a 15hp gain or you can spend $3500 on the DASC and end up with a 70hp gain. Have you noticed that the well-known cold air intake companies don't make a 318 intake? It's not because they don't like you, it's because CAIs don't make any power on a 318 and they flat out don't sound good. BMW's I6 motors make a nice growl with a CAI, the M42/M44 I4 motors do not. Jim Conforti described it best when he said that a 318 with a cone filter "sounds like a wheezing donkey". Just save your money for a DASC, it's WELL worth it. If you insist on taking the cheap route and want to attempt an intake mod, your best bet is "Fogging" your stock air box.

De-baffle your stock air box and get a high flow filter and you'll get a slight growl from the motor at higher rpm...

[cmy_bimmer]

"Wheezing Donkey" :bustingup

[E36youngster]

dont listen to this cheap guy ^


this cheap guy didnt waste a ridiculous amount of money on something so trivial as a CAI. plus, i can say "hey, i made that and it works and looks good" rather than "hey, i just forfeited this months rent to buy something that i could have made for less than $50 and half a brain"

[E36 Phantom]

I'm only responding to this cuz of Cuah. OP, learn to search.

Cuah, making your own is a great solution. It's what I did and many others did. We're talking about a f*cking plastic tube. You're not getting any extra gain in your special Dinan tube. $30 in black ABS piping and $50-60 for a good filter like an Apexi Power Intake or AEM Dryflow is a lot better than $400 for a Dinan CAI.

[PhilipWOT]

I'm only responding to this cuz of Cuah. OP, learn to search.

Cuah, making your own is a great solution. It's what I did and many others did. We're talking about a f*cking plastic tube. You're not getting any extra gain in your special Dinan tube. $30 in black ABS piping and $50-60 for a good filter like an Apexi Power Intake or AEM Dryflow is a lot better than $400 for a Dinan CAI.

If you have the time and desire to f*ck around in your garage for 6 hours cutting and making it fit. I took my Dinan CAI out of the box and it fit to a factory perfect finish without any aggravation. It also cam with all necessary hardware so that saved me a few trips to Lowes. Not to mention the "wow factor" every time you pop the hood at a BMW meet.
It all depends on what your budget is and your goals.

[bimmerblack]

Ding!

[E36 Phantom]

If you have the time and desire to f*ck around in your garage for 6 hours cutting and making it fit. I took my Dinan CAI out of the box and it fit to a factory perfect finish without any aggravation. It also cam with all necessary hardware so that saved me a few trips to Lowes. Not to mention the "wow factor" every time you pop the hood at a BMW meet.
It all depends on what your budget is and your goals.

6 hours? 1/2 hour to measure, run to store, have pipe cut at hardware store, go home, remove airbox, get sprayed in face with coolant, attach, and done. It's not a 6 hour job at all.

[PhilipWOT]

6 hours? 1/2 hour to measure, run to store, have pipe cut at hardware store, go home, remove airbox, get sprayed in face with coolant, attach, and done. It's not a 6 hour job at all.

You clearly have done this before. :rofl:

I missed out on the coolant spray during my install though. My over-priced Dinan CAI that's just the same as an ebay tube came pre-drilled with a mount for the factory coolant temp sensor in the airbox, using the factory hardware. :dunno:
Damn.

[E36 Phantom]

You clearly have done this before. :rofl:

I missed out on the coolant spray during my install though. My over-priced Dinan CAI that's just the same as an ebay tube came pre-drilled with a mount for the factory coolant temp sensor in the airbox, using the factory hardware. :dunno:
Damn.
:lmao:

No, the problem was the double-sided bolt that I couldn't figure out how to get out of the stock airbox. It was dark and I was tired, so I said f*ck it, I'll just pull off the little hoses and leave the sensor in the airbox. Bad idea.

[PhilipWOT]

:lmao:

No, the problem was the double-sided bolt that I couldn't figure out how to get out of the stock airbox. It was dark and I was tired, so I said f*ck it, I'll just pull off the little hoses and leave the sensor in the airbox. Bad idea.

:bustingup

Don't feel bad. When I did my FDM I got a face-full of fairly hot coolant when I unscrewed the temp sensor to replace it.

[Nline6]

A tube is more a less a tube, the filter is where you should not be cheap, I built my own, built my own heat shield and got a good filter all for around 60.00, a nice afternoon and some beer.

[miles_trail]

to quote bimmerblack post #10
"How do I get more power out of my 318?
There's only one easy way to significantly improve the HP output of your 318, a Downing Atlanta supercharger. An aftermarket intake and exhaust will gain you less than 10hp on the 318. Yes it sucks, but it's true. You can spend $1500 or more on intakes, exhausts, chip/software, etc and only end up with a 15hp gain or you can spend $3500 on the DASC and end up with a 70hp gain. Have you noticed that the well-known cold air intake companies don't make a 318 intake? It's not because they don't like you, it's because CAIs don't make any power on a 318 and they flat out don't sound good. BMW's I6 motors make a nice growl with a CAI, the M42/M44 I4 motors do not. Jim Conforti described it best when he said that a 318 with a cone filter "sounds like a wheezing donkey". Just save your money for a DASC, it's WELL worth it. If you insist on taking the cheap route and want to attempt an intake mod, your best bet is "Fogging" your stock air box."



There are a couple statements in this post with which I take issue.
First. it was said that CAIs on E36s sound like "a wheezing donkey" I have one on my 318IS and I have had a lot of compliments on its sound.
Second. why in the hell would you spend $3500 on a turbo kit for a 70 HP gain when you could get the engine out of an E36 M3 and shove that in your car for a 100+ HP and 100+ ft lbs gain and probably for less money, this would also probably hurt your fuel economy less (if you care about that).

[mksu19]

...it was said that CAIs on E36s sound like "a wheezing donkey" I have one on my 318IS and I have had a lot of compliments on its sound...

I guess it's safe to say that most Virginians love the way wheezing donkeys sound! :D

[E36youngster]

"Second. why in the hell would you spend $3500 on a turbo kit for a 70 HP gain when you could get the engine out of an E36 M3 and shove that in your car for a 100+ HP and 100+ ft lbs gain and probably for less money, this would also probably hurt your fuel economy less (if you care about that).

because some people dont have the capabilities of doing a motor swap. some people prefer to drop the 3500 and have a direct bolt on. that is, if their engine is built to handle the SUPERcharger.

[bimmerblack]

to quote bimmerblack post #10
"How do I get more power out of my 318?
There's only one easy way to significantly improve the HP output of your 318, a Downing Atlanta supercharger. An aftermarket intake and exhaust will gain you less than 10hp on the 318. Yes it sucks, but it's true. You can spend $1500 or more on intakes, exhausts, chip/software, etc and only end up with a 15hp gain or you can spend $3500 on the DASC and end up with a 70hp gain. Have you noticed that the well-known cold air intake companies don't make a 318 intake? It's not because they don't like you, it's because CAIs don't make any power on a 318 and they flat out don't sound good. BMW's I6 motors make a nice growl with a CAI, the M42/M44 I4 motors do not. Jim Conforti described it best when he said that a 318 with a cone filter "sounds like a wheezing donkey". Just save your money for a DASC, it's WELL worth it. If you insist on taking the cheap route and want to attempt an intake mod, your best bet is "Fogging" your stock air box."



There are a couple statements in this post with which I take issue.
First. it was said that CAIs on E36s sound like "a wheezing donkey" I have one on my 318IS and I have had a lot of compliments on its sound.
Second. why in the hell would you spend $3500 on a turbo kit for a 70 HP gain when you could get the engine out of an E36 M3 and shove that in your car for a 100+ HP and 100+ ft lbs gain and probably for less money, this would also probably hurt your fuel economy less (if you care about that).

Jim Confortis quote. NOT mine as the post is prefaced. Understeer.com's insight into the M42. Not mine. As prefaced.

[Mr. Crow]

Ummm. NO. :thumbdwn:

He drives a 318. There is really NO performance gain to be had from any form of intake on a 318. As taken off of Understeer.com and Original Poster read Jim Conforti's quote:

How do I get more power out of my 318?
There's only one easy way to significantly improve the HP output of your 318, a Downing Atlanta supercharger. An aftermarket intake and exhaust will gain you less than 10hp on the 318. Yes it sucks, but it's true. You can spend $1500 or more on intakes, exhausts, chip/software, etc and only end up with a 15hp gain or you can spend $3500 on the DASC and end up with a 70hp gain. Have you noticed that the well-known cold air intake companies don't make a 318 intake? It's not because they don't like you, it's because CAIs don't make any power on a 318 and they flat out don't sound good. BMW's I6 motors make a nice growl with a CAI, the M42/M44 I4 motors do not. Jim Conforti described it best when he said that a 318 with a cone filter "sounds like a wheezing donkey". Just save your money for a DASC, it's WELL worth it. If you insist on taking the cheap route and want to attempt an intake mod, your best bet is "Fogging" your stock air box.

De-baffle your stock air box and get a high flow filter and you'll get a slight growl from the motor at higher rpm...


:rofl: :thumbdwn:

It is a well known fact you cannot dramatically increase HP with a cold air intake manifold and cone. ON ANY CAR!

My car is far from sounding like an wheezing ass.
+1 with DINAN, I lOVE MINE!

Original Poster,
If you want a I6....get one and build one. You dont need to make your air box growl like a 6 cylinder.

You might as well slap a ///M3 badge on the trunk lid.

Secondly, do your hm work on which CAI is right for you and is within your budget.

Good luck.

[98bimmer318]

"You might as well slap a ///M3 badge on the trunk lid."


i really hope your kidding :confused:

[Mr. Crow]

:supdude: yes, I was kidding.

[PhilipWOT]

Stop turd burglarizing my Fest.

[Boab]

I have a K&N 57i kit on my motor, and I can definately say that there is greater torque, and the car feels to rev alot easier in the higher ranges, in comparison to the standard air box.

It certainly doesnt hurt the engine to get more air in freely.


What Im unclear about is if a CAI is simply what we would call an Induction kit...

Who gives a Feck anyways. Its sunny and im off work for a week :rofl:

[ChristopherJLee]

anyone have suggestions to which intake SOUNDS better? The short ones or the ones that go all the way down to the fender well?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190313983217&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1992-1993-1995-BMW-318-i-is-318i-318is-318ti-AIR-INTAKE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a12Q7c66Q3a 2Q7c39Q3a1Q7c72Q3a1171Q7c293Q3a3Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trks idZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem5633138479QQitemZ370 224104569QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcces sories

[HyphE36]

the ones that run the filter to your trunk. gets the mostest of the colder airs up in the down there.















why the **** did you bring this back out of hiding?

jk, but not really, just like the other 50% of just kiddings out there that just aren't kidding....

[ChristopherJLee]

lol i brought it up because i did a search to see what i could find and still had questions. i hope you're joking about running the CAI to the trunk. Anyway, I'm about to throw in the towel and get the cheapo $45 one because I can't justify 80 for a k and n filter, or 120 fo the one that goes down to the fender well. It's just for fun and giving it a better sound.

[Boab]

Dont do it - your MAF is not worth (financially or the PITA factor) destroying by using a **** filter. Also this is the equivelent of giving your car a "Life"time supply of red Marlies...

[N:CR41G]

318s don't breath enough to have an aftermarket air filter (we call them pod filters).

...and I learned that 318s sound sh*t with aftermarket exhausts.... I actually much prefered the sound/peice of a standard more quiet exhaust.

[HyphE36]

did russian buy your muffler craig?

[N:CR41G]

Nope... I sold it to a dude with a ford laser turbo. Piece of crap.

He said "Oohh this is gunna sound fully siik" haha.

His car looked like this:

[russian318is]

angry angry thread

[the_brouhaha]

It seems as if the n00bs are trying to gang up and outsmart the veterans (i.e. phil, chad, steve, etc.) not just in this thread, but in the e36 section... :confused: This isn't good, I think you might need to pull out the monologue to these guys... or refer them to the sticky.

To the new guys,

Respect the guys who have an a$$load of posts, and listen to them, they have plenty of experience, or if a reputable website says something, I would probably believe them too.


But I'm feeling the tension lately, anyone else? :dunno: