K&N Panel Filter

The Running Man · 19 Oct 2007 at 10:36

i think the cost new is like £40~ depending on the vehicle.

i bought mine 2nd hand through the owners club so got it cheap.

the apexi on the other hand was imported from Cox Imports USA and proably cost me £60-70 as i got stung by the tax man.

Matt82 said:
i just dont see the point in compromising something as crucial as air filtering for the sake of maybe gaining 1bhp

cars of yesteryear didnt even have filters! i have not had any adverse problems, as long as you look after your motor and change oil regularly etc then i dont think it would b a prob.

Matt82 · 19 Oct 2007 at 10:37

http://www.bolhuijo.com/airflowtest/

this is a good test. the Mahle BMW OEM filter flowed better than the K&N anyway lol

Matt82 · 19 Oct 2007 at 10:42

Nickg said:
cars of yesteryear didnt even have filters! i have not had any adverse problems, as long as you look after your motor and change oil regularly etc then i dont think it would b a prob.

i cant think of one car from the 70s onwards that didnt have an airfilter, can you think of an example? (would be really interested to know what cars of yesteryear youve run without a filter without problems)

Dogbreath · 19 Oct 2007 at 11:11

Matt82 said:
http://www.bolhuijo.com/airflowtest/

this is a good test. the Mahle BMW OEM filter flowed better than the K&N anyway lol

That's an interesting test, and yes, in this particular case the OEM filter does flow better, and it's not hard to see why from the vast area it has.

K&N have been making performance filters for a long time, and their reputation undoubtedly comes from an era when OEM filter systems where fairly poor. Note that if you have an engine running on an aftermarket induction system, e.g. DCOE carbs or throttle bodies, you rarely have the option of using a paper filter. However if you are keeping the stock airbox then IMO there isn't much point in putting an aftermarket filter in it unless the OEM one is known to be restrictive. The payback in terms of being able to clean a cotton or foam filter rather than replacing takes a ridiculous amount of mileage anyway.

Greg · 19 Oct 2007 at 11:13

I've got a K&N Panel filter in my tractor (2.2 TDCi Mondeo). It gives much more throttle responce, the lag between when I press the throttle and the engine actually doing somthing is drastically reduced.

Fuel economy - Not too sure about this, I don't think its made too much of a difference to be honest!

I bought mine from eBay for about £40, came quickly and was dead easy to install!

Thanks

Tom|Nbk · 19 Oct 2007 at 12:54

They are 30 quid delivered on Ebay atm, If your interested Connscript

. Im debating getting a cone filter tbfh. I've read a lot of people not having heatsoak issues and then some having a little. So in that sense im a little undecided

1CE · 19 Oct 2007 at 13:06

To be fair a 1600 will get a lot less heatsoak then an 1800, the differance in the amount of heat they gave off, I found quite supprising

. Test it, the only way you will be happy is if you try it your self, then decide which is better for you.

The Running Man · 19 Oct 2007 at 13:10

Matt82 said:
i cant think of one car from the 70s onwards that didnt have an airfilter, can you think of an example? (would be really interested to know what cars of yesteryear youve run without a filter without problems)

well thats what my dad told me, with be being born in '82 i dont have never owned a car without an airfilter myself..

Duke · 19 Oct 2007 at 13:32

They are slightly noiser than a stock filter, but no where near as different as a cone (which sound good but are useless without cold feed).

Tom|Nbk · 19 Oct 2007 at 14:57

Duke said:
(which sound good but are useless without cold feed).

I wouldn't go that far?

As far as I can gather 1600 engine bay should not be as toasty as a 1800. Heard this on here and various other places.

agw_01 · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:02

I took the resonator off and drilled the standard air box on my old 214, just had a standard panel filter though.

It sounded very nice but without being OTT like a cone filter.

Tom|Nbk · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:07

Just found out that Direct Line noobs won't insure any modifications on a car to anyone under the age of 25, not even small modifications.

So basically the K+N is a no go

, thanks for the help anyway guys.

Dup · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:07

The best setup with be a short duct from the nost of the car directly to the airbox. The airbox would be free of any restriction and would have a panel filter.

Noise wise, you get a little roar but nothing obscene like a full induction kit but you get nice cooler air straight to the airbox.

This is what I've done with my CTR following another guide who recorded temp drops of 10-15c which is great. I just need a drop-in filter.

Tom|Nbk · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:09

agw_01 said:
I took the resonator off and drilled the standard air box on my old 214, just had a standard panel filter though.

It sounded very nice but without being OTT like a cone filter.

My car doesn't even have a resonator box. :confused:

, I believe only 1.8's and above have them, with a few 1.6's which also have them.

agw_01 · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:14

Then your only option for more noise is to drill the airbox

Just make sure you drill the part BEFORE the filter. I know someone who drilled the box AFTER the filter. I LOL'd

Both of my 214's had resonator boxes with a T piece in the intake pipe, whereas the 220 and 420 didn't. Just a pipe direct from the airbox to an opening under the headlight.

Tom|Nbk · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:15

agw_01 said:
Just make sure you drill the part BEFORE the filter. I know someone who drilled the box AFTER the filter. I LOL'd .

..

PMKeates · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:24

Tom|Nbk said:
Just found out that Direct Line noobs won't insure any modifications on a car to anyone under the age of 25, not even small modifications.

So basically the K+N is a no go , thanks for the help anyway guys.

It would be the most interesting court battle in insurance history if Direct Line attempted to invalidate any claim based on the fact you have a K&N replacement panel air filter. It'd be like refusing a claim as you have non-standard oil.

GreenMint · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:28

Was actually contemplating either a cone or panel filter for my 1600 Civic sport soon, I know a lot of people said before, don't do it, its a 1600, its not worth spending the money on, but i do disagree, its a great car, i love how it feels, and i think 30-150 spent on something like this, would be fine, i plan to keep the car a few years at least!

A bit more of a roar whilst acceleratin would be nice, but at the same time i don't want anything deafening/chavvy, just a bit more noticable grunt, so i'm really in 2 minds as to what to go for!

The Running Man · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:28

PMKeates said:
It would be the most interesting court battle in insurance history if Direct Line attempted to invalidate any claim based on the fact you have a K&N replacement panel air filter. It'd be like refusing a claim as you have non-standard oil.

yes i dont think it would even be an issue.

besides my mate wrote off a Focus riding on 17" OZ Superlegga's which werent declared and he still got a payout (minus the value of the wheels, which were subsequently knicked before my mate could recover them from the car at the yard...)

Tom|Nbk · 19 Oct 2007 at 15:30

PMKeates said:
It would be the most interesting court battle in insurance history if Direct Line attempted to invalidate any claim based on the fact you have a K&N replacement panel air filter. It'd be like refusing a claim as you have non-standard oil.

LOL. My thoughts exactly I know they will not insure me on the cone though as that's an obvious induction kit