Legal Cold Air Intakes in California for 540i e39

Ok guys so I am looking for a Cold Air Intake (CAI) that is CARB legal and yea.
I've seen some threads saying that DINAN CAI & ECIS CAI are the only CARB legal ones? does any one know any other CAIs that are legal for my 540i e39?

This isn't the specific answer you're looking for but it may have hints for you:
- How the E39 already has a cold air intake (CAI) & hydro lock problems (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Bluebee knows what he is talking about.

Originally Posted by franka

Bluebee knows what she is talking about.

Fixed

Originally Posted by bmw_n00b13

Fixed

Cute.

Back on hydrolock.... the factory CAI that is out in front of the radiator is, in my opinion, too vulnerable to hydrolock. The Dinan system puts the filter even lower and makes the potential for hydrolock even worse.

One can block off the factory CAI duct that leads to the underside of the OEM flat filter and install one of the many conical air filters inside the engine compartment but w/o the 'box' that surrounds it, and draw air from the engine compartment and thereby functionally eliminate the hydrolock problem.

Its no longer a CAI but the difference in power is negligable and the potential for a wrecked hydrolocked engine is eliminated. This may not sound exciting or exotic but a hydrolocked engine is much worse.

AEM offers an air bypass valve to prevent hydro lock.

http://www.aemintakes.com/air_bypass_valve.htm

Originally Posted by franka

Back on hydrolock.... the factory CAI that is out in front of the radiator is, in my opinion, too vulnerable to hydrolock.

This statement would be valid if you used your E39 to forge rivers for fun, but most of us try our best not to.

The factory air box has a bypass built in to reduce the chances of hydro-locking.

And to suggest that a cone-type air filter that sucks in heated engine air is somehow better than the factory CAI is just plain silly.

Silly I tells ya.

Originally Posted by AnotherGeezer

This statement would be valid if you used your E39 to forge rivers for fun, but most of us try our best not to.

The factory air box has a bypass built in to reduce the chances of hydro-locking.

And to suggest that a cone-type air filter that sucks in heated engine air is somehow better than the factory CAI is just plain silly.

Silly I tells ya.

1) I hydrolocked mine once in very shallow water where the front spoiler (lowered car) formed a wake and the OEM intake sucked it in, bypass be damned. Fortunately I was idling and no damage other than water in the oil, towed to indy's shop, followed quickly by both us doing 4 oil changes in maybe an hour.

Hydrolock your engine and live to tell about it and you get religion.

2) You didn't read, or you mis-read, what I said about the cone filter. I think you were too busy planning your criticism. Try reading it again.

Originally Posted by five.two.five

AEM offers an air bypass valve to prevent hydro lock.

http://www.aemintakes.com/air_bypass_valve.htm

Very interesting find. Good work. Thanks for posting it.

Originally Posted by franka

Very interesting find. Good work. Thanks for posting it.

So that useful information is never lost, I added this to the bestlinks:
- Which is better, stock or aftermarket cold air intake (1) (2) & a home-made CAI (1) & the general consensus on the effectiveness of an aftermarket CAI versus the stock BMW CAI (1) (2) (3) (4) and of the K&N oiled air filter over the stock air filter (1) & how to reduce the risk of hydro lock (1) (2)

Originally Posted by franka

1) I hydrolocked mine once in very shallow water where the front spoiler (lowered car) formed a wake and the OEM intake sucked it in.

As I said, most of us aren't brave enough to ford rivers. Apparently you were and you paid for it dearly.

Pre '98 cars don't have the OEM increased fording capability. Perhaps this caused the problem.

The best legal cold air intake for your car is installed. You will not gain horsepower by installing some filtration bypass kit (most CAIs don't filter worth ****) and certainly won't gain horsepower by installing some hot air intake.

Originally Posted by bmw_n00b13

Pre '98 cars don't have the OEM increased fording capability. Perhaps this caused the problem.

~Slaps forehead

Well then. There you have it.

Originally Posted by AnotherGeezer

As I said, most of us aren't brave enough to forge rivers. Apparently you were and you paid for it dearly.

Wait till it happens to you or a friend, then you will not be so quick to exaggerate a condition that you did not witness.

Also there was no "dearly" to it. No engine damage. Again you are not reading.

I posted my hydrolock event to help others despite knowing that there would be those that would use it to criticise. But I didn't expect it to come from you.

Some readers will benefit, as I intended.

Originally Posted by bluebee

So that useful information is never lost, I added this to the bestlinks:

Thanks for doing that.

Originally Posted by bmw_n00b13

Pre '98 cars don't have the OEM increased fording capability. Perhaps this caused the problem.

Mine is a 97 with lots on miles and a hydrolock surviver.

To address the OP inquiry:

Aftermarket Parts Database of Executive Orders

Exempted parts are add-on or modified parts that have undergone an ARB engineering evaluation. If the part or modification is shown to not increase vehicle emissions, it is granted an exemption to emission control system anti-tampering laws. This exemption is called an Executive Order (EO) and allows the modification to be installed on specific emission controlled vehicles. Every Executive Order part or modification has an assigned number that can be verified by Smog Check stations, BAR Referee stations, or by the ARB.

Please view our Products in Progress List which contains add-on and modified parts for diesel vehicles that have pending exemption applications with ARB. Products on the list will not be cause for a vehicle failing Smog Check even in the absence of an EO.

Also, please view our current list of aftermarket catalytic converters that are compliant with new regulations that became effective January 1, 2009. If you have any questions, please call (800) 242-4450.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Personal experience: Although it may have a CARB exemption sticker and paperwork, it still might fail the visual inspection of the smog check.

Originally Posted by franka

Wait till it happens to you.

That's not a club membership I will be seeking out anytime soon.

Edit: oh and try lightening up a bit frankie and put on your sense of humor hat once in a while. You seem to take things way too seriously sometimes.

Originally Posted by AnotherGeezer

That's not a club membership I will be seeking out anytime soon.

Edit: oh and try lightening up a bit frankie and put on your sense of humor hat once in a while. You seem to take things way too seriously sometimes.

Your original criticisms were not humorous nor as light as the tune you are singing now. A tune that many sing poorly when caught with their foot in their mouth. Or both feet where your criticisms were twice incorrect. (There's a humourous image for you )

There is no connection between humor and non-constructive, incorrect criticism.

Sorry, but I didn't start this.

The next thing you'll be doing is screaming at me to get off your lawn.

Originally Posted by AnotherGeezer

The next thing you'll be doing is screaming at me to get off your lawn.

Not until it gets a bit warmer outside and the grass begins to grow. Then I will come flying and screaming out my front door.

Similiar to what my dad did to train the neighborhood dogs to pass by our house on the other side of the street. Funny thing is it worked. It cracked us all up every time, seeing a dog pause then cross to the other side.