LowRydeR

I got my K&N Cone Air Filter installed today, it make my car sound even meaner with the muffler.

-Bruce

linh

Did you ask Ben what he think about your mod? He think that the factory Clk 430 air intake system is a bad design by Mercedes because it lay on top of the engine cause heat soak. I wonder what he think about your mod of sucking in hot air? Personally, i know your mod do work.

LowRydeR

I'm probably ganna make some adjustments on the filter in the feature to help sucking cold air. The muffler sounds even louder now because it's sucking more air from the filter, so I guess it's working.

-Bruce

x15jq

NICE BRUCE!

Sorta like what I got in my 320, really helps the sound alot dont it??

Its got a good roar over 4000 rpm. Keep the bottom of the stock box in, it keeps the cone filter sorta chilling in there nicely.

I tried the car with teh inlet tube from the outside in, and without. I found that because of the underhood heat, its best to let in the most amount of cold(er) air as possible..

Looks nice!

LowRydeR

Thanks =) I got the biggest cone air filter from K&N, they're huge but doesn't look too big from the picture I took. I'll try some other way to get more cold air soon.

-Bruce

Babak

How much did it cost you?

Petie

looks good Bruce, i plan on waiting for the EvoSport Intake, considered doing exactly what you did, figured id wait to see what Ben has and then make my decision...looks awesome though, wish i could hear it with that magnaflow i bet it sounds mean....

Eric

LowRydeR

Total around $70.

To Petie:
I'm going for a video shoot tommorrow, I'll let you guys hear what my car sounds like w/ the intake and muffler. Evosport's intake will be really nice, I can't wait to see it.

-Bruce

BroadSt Bully

Congrads Bruce,

Now make me for my 430. LOL

Petie

i just looked at the picture again, that cone filter is freakin HUGE!!!

Babak

Where did you get the filter from?

does pepboys sell it?

LowRydeR

Yeah I got it from Pepboys, look for the biggest box from K&N, it should be $60. You can get your piping from any hardware store.

-Bruce

Babak

Hey Lowryder,

I just got mine installed. sounds pretty good! mine looks a little diffrent than yours since I added on a stand that keeps the piping up and inplace so the filter doesnt move at all.

I live in LA area (Encino), maybe we could meetup someday and check out eachothers rides!

- Babak

LowRydeR

Yeah dude, I might to up to Hollywood again to lower my car more. We can arrange a time to meet up. Or you can come to F1 Motorsport with me.

-Bruce

Babak

sounds cool to me! F1 might also be able to raise my car a little bit (I'm also running #1 pads all around), since the negative camber is start to annoy me a lot :\

either way, its cool with me. its been a long time since ive been to the laguna beach area

LowRydeR

I'm running #1 spring pads all around, H&R sport and Koni Shocks, I feel like cutting my springs to tuck my tires in the fenders.

-Bruce

Richard Galing

....Keep me posted when you plan to stop by @ F1 I'm only 15 min. away (Woodland Hills) and I would really like to check out your(s) custom air intake system. Unfortunately my custom CAI & ram air system provided a +20 hp loss on Evosport dyno...so I resorted back to the stock air box as recommeded by Vadim @Evosport.


Regards
Richard

mmgrad

I'm still quite unclear on how 'increasing air flow' to the engine would 'reduce' horsepower.... in specific, our individual attempts at making intakes/CAIs

Can someone shed some light on this? Ben?

LowRydeR

Ok, I probably ganna go this or next month during the weekend. My friend just went there yesterday to cut his rear springs on his big 740iL, looks tyte.

-Bruce

Mach430

If the intake increases air flowing to the engine, than HP should increase. Limiting factors include heat, which can reduce airflow and whether the MAF sensor can handle the air (usually can).

mmgrad

So why would HP be reduced in the case of Richard and his custom CAI? Assuming he used the proper materials and filters, why would his power decrease?

What are you opinion for Bruce's mod?

Richard Galing

The cold air intake system on my E430 consists of 3" aluminum mandrel bend tubing; 6" K&N cone filter (housed behind the front spoiler mesh grill) & an AEM air bypass valve fabricated and installed by ES Technical Roadsport & later added Thermo Tec wraps by Gourmet Garage. My take is it really depends on how piping is worked out if they are actually designed in a CAD or simply tried to duct a CAI anyway they could - my system design being the latter.

Prior to installing the wraps, a big problem I encountered was the aluminum piping was picking up heat quickly - the air intake temperature readings varied from 146 to well over 170 degrees (using an infrared pyrometer by Ralph @ RBTech) & depending what areas he took the readings from. Also the engine compartment on the E430 seem to be very well sealed - that their was not enough cooling medium. Carbon fiber tubing would have been favorable for its heat conduction qualities

Hot air increases your chances of detonation which means if the DME senses detonation it will retard timing accordingly - Perhaps this would be one of the culprits for the HP & TQ loss, even with the Thermo Tec wraps the car still ran hot only a slight improvement - also since the piping was too long and the bends weren't at optimum design, this may have increased turbulence. I'm no expert just my thoughts...

The car has been dyno'd at R&D dyno and Evosport both locations indicating loss of HP & TQ with the use of the CAI, however Vadim @ Evosport recommended going back to the stock air box which I did, Darren @ R&D Dyno didn't have a clue to what the cause of the problem was.

I wonder if using a dynojet would provide accurate results??? My UpSolute chip didn't show any gains on the dynojet but yet the car pulls faster - perhaps the timing advance is only at part throttle and not at WOT. Does anyone have an opinion on this??? Simluating conditions with fans blowing into air inlets is interesting however does it really simulate ram air conditions. Does anyone know if you really get real world airflow being blasted through the front of the car to the airbox??? Or would local fans may even create an increase of turbulence of high pressure frontal condition.

I'm anxiously awaiting Evosport's air box upgrade, but for now I'm certainly enjoying the underdrive pulley & High flow intake manifold. BTW: thanks to Vadim & Josh @ Evosport for discovering back the +20 HP

Regards
Richard

mmgrad

Richard- you definitely sound like you know your stuff... and that clarifies a lot of thoughts wondering around in my head....

given all that, i think i might just wait for something from evosport, something that will actually work without giving myself a heacache.

Thanks again!

btw, don't let my ignorance in this topic upset you.... i'm young, still learning about cars as i go

Babak

Lowryder?? what are these guys talking about?! Our filters seem to big to be decreasing the HP!

you think we could come up with anyways to measure how much HP we're losing (if any at all)?

- Babak

x15jq

Well, his intake issue was on a V8 430. I have one on my 320 too, and just have noticed increased fuel economy a KILLER sound, and it seems to have better throttle response. Havent dyno'ed it yet tho.

Also on our 320's intake is not right over the hot engine head like on a 430. Ours if off to the side.