BMC drop-in panel filters.

[Ayham]

Well, just installed mine 2 days ago and it's given me some minnute gains on the throttle response. The credit goes for a thinner-than-OEM design with less folds than OEM, but apprantely using a better filtering material than OEM. Fitting it was a bit handful, but nothing an extra friend can't aid with (thx Bruno)...

Now the bad news! Aftermarket filters come oiled; oil destroys MAF sensor. It's been 2 days and the car is VERY bouncy on parking maneuvers and VERY hesitant on lifting off at around 3K RPM and keeping it there. It also "breathes" when idling and you could feel continuous cutoffs while revving it slowly up to 3K RPM while idling. Finally, and to confirm the evidence above, the EML light (Electrical-Mechanical failure Light) is now my companion on the dashboard. (The EML puts the car on limp mode and you lose the engine's peak power).

It's just not pleasant driving the M3 anymore. There must be a way to dry out the oil, I'm all ears. I'll clean the MAF tomorrow and revert back to OEM filter to preserve it!

Just thought I'd share my experience...

[RAFiK]

R u sayin that our BMC filters are crap ?!

[Ayham]

No, I'm saying that our cars don't handle oiled filters too well. In fairness, the BMC is oiled less than the other brands (Naj's MAF was destroyed in 2 hours after installing TMS intake). Our weather is too hot it liquifies the filter oil and thus it splatters on the MAF.

[Nabil]

My BMC filter works just fine, strange BMWs cant handle them, but I have always suggested to everyone not use Afte market airfilters in summer cause all it does is suck in more hot air ino the our cars there more its better to use them in winter, thats when u can really feel the difference

[RAFiK]

mine is installed already ...... hope it doesnt destroy my MAF sensor !! btw ....its about 1100 Dhs LOL

[SewerSideUp]

I'm not sure of this, but keeping the filter aired out in the sun for a little while ?
Or, running it under the heat of a hair dryer for an hour to rid it of oil ?

[Bruno]

Drop-in filters come oiled by default to make particles stick on it. some of them are soaked in oil while others have little, BMC filters have the least oil.

when you mess you with your induction system you highly risk messing up your MAF. it depends on how lucky you are and to make things worse gulf countries' weather doesn't help in the process and acts as a negative issue. oh well i'm happy with my filter.

[RAFiK]

is it ur filter or supercharger ?? HAHAH ....kiddin man :P:P

[Ayham]

Well, after an unpleasant experience that hit twice yday I have removed the BMC filter and reverted back to OEM filter.

The car hit "Limp Mode" twice yday and the RPM wouldn't go beyond 3K RPM. Think of it, the BMC filter is TOO thin, I removed it and looked at its lower shoulder and it was full of all sorts of crap and sand; THAT was hitting my MAF! In a nuttshell, the filter only filters HALF of the air going in. That's bad news...

Restored my OEM filter and the EML disappeared and the car pulls as hard as it used to.

[RAFiK]

wierd man ....!!