55k Air Filter Options

[Cyclone1]

Hi All,

Ok so not exactly high performance enhancers, but just wondered which air filters you have fitted to your E/S/SL/CL/CLS etc 55k?

What are your opinions, do you have any negative feedback on build quality, fitment issues etc?

I have done bit of Forum digging and found the following filters available;

K&N
Green Cotton
Pipercross
ITG
OEM Paper
Aftermarket Paper
AFE
???????
BMC

I have read up on flow rates and filtration capabilities, but do not want this to turn into another discussion on why paper is the best because it filters "dust" the most effectively, I already appreciate this, but am more interested in what owners have fitted, why and experiences.

Cheers
Jules

 

[SavMan]

BMC drop ins for the standard air box
K&N Race Cones for my Needswings CAI

 

[Alps]

ive got K&Ns for mine, had them for the last 3 years, do the job nicely

 

[Simon_M]

I have BMCs on my 63. Nicely made items but notice no difference whatsoever in terms of performance/noise.

S

 

[Cyclone1]

Guys thanks for the replies, so 2 for BMC and 1 for K&N so far....

Keep them coming....

Jules.

 

[BlackC55]

The BMCfilters are very well made.

 

[m2287]

K&n on my cl55, uses a bit more petrol with them but not sure about anything else lol

 

[John]

Mine had K&N in it already.

My inde casually recommended I swap to paper but he wasn't overly concerned with them and to be honest, I've had no running issue in the two years I've owned it and may well have had them a while, so I've not been inclined to change them.

There are a few drama queens who make a big song and dance about it but as long as they are cleaned and oiled when they should be fine...

 

[Cyclone1]

Mine had K&N in it already.

My inde casually recommended I swap to paper but he wasn't overly concerned with them and to be honest, I've had no running issue in the two years I've owned it and may well have had them a while, so I've not been inclined to change them.

There are a few drama queens who make a big song and dance about it but as long as they are cleaned and oiled when they should be fine...

Agreed. I am not overly fussed, but intersted to know what owners have fitted and their thoughts on quality, fitment and issues if any.

Jules

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Fitted K/N's on my E55K, a few weeks after i bought the car....no issues

 

[Cyclone1]

Cheers Guys,

That's;
K&N x4
BMC x2

Keep them coming.....

 

[Rashman]

Installed K&N's as soon as I got my 63.

No issues.

I know you are wanting "55" feedback, but thought the more input the better.

 

[Koolvin]

Not a 55k I know but,

I had 2 x K&N on my mosselman turbo conversion (you can see both in the picture)

 

[lopes80]

I had K&N then changed to Green as they came in the RT Air box, all do the same job me thinks, i I had a stock car i would use the AMG filters to be honest.

 

[John]

Agreed. I am not overly fussed, but intersted to know what owners have fitted and their thoughts on quality, fitment and issues if any.

Jules

No, I mean there are those who make a big song and dance about those who fit K&N filters... rather than making a song and dance about fitting them yourself.

 

[BlackC55]

I've fitted all manner of performance filters. The best are BMC and Green cotton.

 

[Y8cel]

I fitted a pair of K&N's to mine as soon as I got it.

 

[Cyclone1]

No, I mean there are those who make a big song and dance about those who fit K&N filters... rather than making a song and dance about fitting them yourself.

Hi John,

I know you meant and totally agree, hence my comment about not being overly fussed (aimed at people bickering). The K&N filter arguments are always there regardless of car type, but primarily because of the effect it can have on MAF's, if the car has no MAF then not really an issue, it then comes down to build quality, value for money and marginal if any performance / noise gain.

I've done a silly amount of testing of filters on one of my previous cars and even developed a filter as an output, however this was only comparing different types of foam filters against each other with one cotton thrown in, a paper filter was not available for this model (TVR Cerbera). The upshot was no more than a 5bhp difference on a circa 400bhp engine, the most impacting factor was keeping the filters clean as a dirty clogged one could sap up to 10bhp and in worse scenario 15bhp, this was often as a result of the filters being over oiled and not being cleaned. The end result was a single ply foam filter with the same rating (ppi) as the standard OEM but with and egg box effect air facing surface area, which theoretically increased the surface area over standard. Cheap to make and gained 5bhp!!!

All good info,

Jules.

 

[simon1966]

Jules

What filters did you go for in the end? I think I should change mine as looked at them the other day and they look a bit crushed up. Mine are standard paper OEM ones currently. I was thinking of BMC or Green Cotton as Olly has suggested, looking online the BMC seem much more expensive though!?

 

[Billy-cls55]

Fitted K&N after a few weeks went back to oem paper, still pulled good figures on the dyno, with the paper