Home made M271 intake... Still a prototype
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Lumberton, TX
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2009 ML350, 2007 GL450, 1963 GMC, BMW 325i
Home made M271 intake... Still a prototype
After seeing some ideas on here, and after removing and installing the goofy fabric intake tube, seeing the dust that flies when you touch it, and ripping it. I figured I would try something myself.
So I cut up the two connector pieces, and tried to eyeball how they would eventually line up.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air1.jpg)
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air2.jpg)
Next I mocked up how the new tube would lie, with foam and masking tape.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air3.jpg)
Then I made a little support to hold it so that I could rotate the piece around when fiberglassing.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air4.jpg)
Almost done, fiberglass and body filler, and a lot of sanding.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air5.jpg)
Here it is installed. The fit is super tight and really ugly. I originally couldn't fit it due to the SC pipe behind it. So I had to cut out a section of the tube and re-glass a channel for it. It wasn't quite enough, because it still hits it, as you can see the tube isn't set all the way into the air filter housing.
I Plasti-dipped the outside hoping it would cover some of the flaws, but I'm planning on doing more sanding and a carbon fiber wrap once I get the fit right.
I just wish there was an easy way to pull off the air filter housing box.
So I cut up the two connector pieces, and tried to eyeball how they would eventually line up.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air1.jpg)
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air2.jpg)
Next I mocked up how the new tube would lie, with foam and masking tape.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air3.jpg)
Then I made a little support to hold it so that I could rotate the piece around when fiberglassing.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air4.jpg)
Almost done, fiberglass and body filler, and a lot of sanding.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air5.jpg)
Here it is installed. The fit is super tight and really ugly. I originally couldn't fit it due to the SC pipe behind it. So I had to cut out a section of the tube and re-glass a channel for it. It wasn't quite enough, because it still hits it, as you can see the tube isn't set all the way into the air filter housing.
I Plasti-dipped the outside hoping it would cover some of the flaws, but I'm planning on doing more sanding and a carbon fiber wrap once I get the fit right.
I just wish there was an easy way to pull off the air filter housing box.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/HoggerRC/air6.jpg)
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Not bad, it has great potential.
Have you ever thought about replacing the box?
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-canister.html
![](http://www.bmcairfilters.com/cgi-bin/Images/CDA/03H-BMW_M3_3.2E36.JPG)
![](http://www.autoelaborate.com/foto2/01069/vn2_01069_BMC%20dinamic%20air%20filter%20%28Leon%20TDi%29.jpg)
I was thinking about removing my airbox and having a setup like these.
http://www.bmcairfilters.com/carbon-...pr733_4_5.aspx
Have you ever thought about replacing the box?
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-canister.html
![](http://www.autoelaborate.com/foto2/01069/vn2_01069_BMC%20dinamic%20air%20filter%20%28Leon%20TDi%29.jpg)
I was thinking about removing my airbox and having a setup like these.
http://www.bmcairfilters.com/carbon-...pr733_4_5.aspx
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
This is an old post, but it should be noted that no gains are to be had from intakes on the W203. Also, I would be afraid that having such a short air intake prominently in the grille would make the car prone to water ingestion. I don't know if there is any truth to that, but I do see that the fabric intake tubing on the M271 is clearly not going to support water passing through it. Benz had to have their reasons for designing it the way they did.
#5
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2009 ML350, 2007 GL450, 1963 GMC, BMW 325i
^^ Abslutely agree about the water ingestion. Fortunately we only get about 8" of rain per year, but when it does rain I wonder about it.
Haven't done the wrap on it. Kinda put working on the 203 on the back burner for a while. Picked up a Porsche 914 project I'm slowly working on.
Haven't done the wrap on it. Kinda put working on the 203 on the back burner for a while. Picked up a Porsche 914 project I'm slowly working on.