Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

[jaskin]

Hi all,

Finally got down and dirty and installed my Conforti CAI. Overall the installation was pretty straightforward. Afterall how hard can installing a heashield and foam intake be?
The answer: Pretty ok. Overall the hardest part was getting the shield in place. Followed by getting the foam filter installed, this required about 2 people in this case. One person to hold the rubber tube and the MAF sensor together tightly and another to screw it in. Took me about 2 hours to get it done.

Brought it out for a ride after installation. Overall verdict is that the car is more responsive and feels more powerful. The car has a low growl upon acceleration that is not too loud, just nice.

Here are the pictures.

This is the part that was a 2 man job

Casualties of the installation.
- Stock intake
- 4mm Allen socket and 1 adapter

Questions

1. Any idea what part are they referring to in the instructions below? Am I suppose to stick the part arrowed in the heat shield too?

2. With the weather rubber strip my hood is level the passenger side, where the intake is, is higher than the driver's side. However, when I removed the weather strip the problem is gone. Is the weather strip essential for the intake?
The other option would be to play around with the hood adjustment settings. But I lose my 4mm allen socket.
Maybe Tanzy or some other members who have done a DIY can comment.

With weather strip

Without weather strip

You might be able to tell that there is a slight elevation of about

 

[gabey]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

the weather strip is essential to give it an air tight seal. if it is too high, use sandpaper or file to reduce the height but check first where the high parts are. take a look at the indentations made on the foam on the bonnet. Another pointer: watch out for the clips that attach the carbon fibre pipe to the MAF meter. It has been known to drop off. For safety reasons, you can either use a long cable tie around the clips or find a large circlip and tighten it around the clips. hope this helps

 

[jaskin]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

You're talking about the 2 metal clips at the other end of the CF tube? They're so tight I couldn't even remove them.
Should I file the high parts of just play around with the settings of the hood?

 

[marklee]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Hey Jason, that looks really sweeet..coool

 

[gabey]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Exactly. They are tight but under stress, they can pop out. If that happens, you know what will happen next. Well, it happened on mine which is why I am telling you to watch out for it. Hopefully, it doesn't happen on yours. I think it's better to file off the high parts rather than play with the hood settings. Advice: do it slowly or you might damage the heat shield. good luck

 

[ryan]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Beautiful work Jason, stickied this thread for future newbies to view.

BTW, what happened to you?

 

[jaskin]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Hi Gabey,

Thanks for the tips. Now have to go look for a file and a circlip. BTW does the filter look properly installed into the CF tube? I pushed it as deep as I could.

Ryan: Went for a op on my knee. So now can't walk for the next few weeks

Marklee: thanks

Any inputs about the questions above about the supplement intake instructions?

 

[Whisky_Tango]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Jason,

The instruction manual refers to the top air duct, which u already have installed.

The flat air duct(arrowed) which is still attached to ur stock airbox, if possible install it back. If you could show us a pix of the area between the headlight and the radiator expansion tank without the foam filter install. Then we will be able to see if the heatshield has blocked the passage for the incoming flat airduct.

 

[jaskin]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Wah take out the foam filter again... I'll see what I can do tomorrow. I actually peeked but didn't see alot of space

 

[jaskin]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Another question, just took the car out for a spin. There was a high pitch whine everytime I stepped on the accelerator. Is this due to poor installation or normal?

 

[Shaun]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Nice work.

hahah you cannot walk, but you can drive

 

[jaskin]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Err... I never said anything about me doing the driving
BTW Shaun, any explainations for the high pitch whine?

 

[Shaun]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

All I can is it almost certainly is not a leak in the tract since it does not pull enough vacuum to whistle/whine across a small orifice. Likelyhood is it's just something inherent in the design or some production variance that is causing it. I used to run a cone filter CAI that would whistle at about 60% throttle opening in any gear. Tried cleaning, sanding, re-clamping, nothing fixed it.

 

[Azrielsc]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Love that CF!! Nice shield too!

 

[L0neW0lf]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

jaskin, can i ask a silly question knowing your ride is a 325Ci and the installation manual clearly says that the CAI is meant for 323 and above.....can it fit and be used for 318i ?? tks

 

[jaskin]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Hi,

Sorry but I not sure as the 318 engine bay is different from a 6 potter. Maybe some more knowledgable forumer could help.

 

[gabey]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Hi Gabey,

Thanks for the tips. Now have to go look for a file and a circlip. BTW does the filter look properly installed into the CF tube? I pushed it as deep as I could.

Ryan: Went for a op on my knee. So now can't walk for the next few weeks

Marklee: thanks

Any inputs about the questions above about the supplement intake instructions?

If you pushed it as far as it can go, then it should be a proper fit. Advice: Do not over-tighten because the circlip is clipping on the CF air intake side and not on the filter. Too tight and you may crack the CF tube. From here on, you can have a choice of cone filters to play with eg. Apexi, Blitz, K&N, Simota, etc...as long as the diameter fits the CF tube. If the intake pipe of the cone filter is too big (by a few mm), you can always bring it to a shop and lathe it to fit the CF tube. You will end up like me having many cone filters in the store room!! Have fun.

 

[wilman2772]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

jaskin, can i ask a silly question knowing your ride is a 325Ci and the installation manual clearly says that the CAI is meant for 323 and above.....can it fit and be used for 318i ?? tks

Valvetronic?? No way!

'The Great White'

 

[B_73_M]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Cool mod bro.. Now you got aeroplane sound liao!! hahaha..

 

[jaskin]

Re: Conforti CAI Installed + Questions & Review

Yeah man, Like the F5s I hear at the PLAB.