K&N Replacement Air Filter or Cold Air Kit?

[M4T5]

I will be replacing my 07' M45's air filter in the next 1,500mi. I was wanting to know which would be the better way to go? K&N direct replacement air filter or a complete cold air kit? If the Cold air kit then which one? Is anyone seeing any performance or MPG gains from any of these over the other?

J
Modified by M4T5 at 12:15 PM 1/5/2009

[tigerclaws1318]

an aftermarket cold air intake isnt recommended if you wanna see performance gains. the stock intake is already good considering it has a variable flow rate. i have K&N filter on mine lol

[maxnix]

Neither is a K&N filter a worthwhile addition as it may be noisier, but it doesn't filter as well as OEM and an oiled intake filter is slow (or sometimes fast) death to a hot wire MAF.

Save you money and spend it on better tires, DOT4, an ATF mechanical exchange and ATF cooler, BG44K, Redline Water Wetter with OAT coolant and distilled water, ISO-Heet, or something else that is actually beneficial like some preventative maintenance.

[M4T5]

How about something to make it go faster.... The maintenance is up to date! A K&N air filter is $45.00. Get over is OEM lover!You must be an anti-aftermarket liberalist or something. I have run K&N air filters in all of my vehicles. Never had a MAF sensor malfunction from a K&N air filter. The oil only ruins a MAF sensor when someone cant lay off from using excessive amounts of oil.

J

[exbmwdude]

Get the 3.55 rear gears from an M35 if you really want to go faster. As others have tried to tell you, simply putting a K&N or a CAI on isn't going to help and may actually hurt. One of our members did some real instrumented tests with a G-Tech after he did a CAI install. You can find the results if you search the forum. His results were disappointing...

exbmwdude2006 M35S

[M4T5]

Get the 3.55 rear gears from an M35 if you really want to go faster. As others have tried to tell you, simply putting a K&N or a CAI on isn't going to help and may actually hurt. One of our members did some real instrumented tests with a G-Tech after he did a CAI install. You can find the results if you search the forum. His results were disappointing...

exbmwdude2006 M35S

The gear stuff is not interesting. The trans in this car is geared improperly as it is. I cant see how Infiniti would mate a transmission to a luxury car and have the engine winding up to almost 3000K at a measly 75 mph. That would place your suggestion in the worthless department.I have yet to see a direct replacement K&N air filter not outperform an OEM air filter.You own a 2006 M35"S"????? what is that??? I hope it isn't the Red S emblem they now put on the new sport edition cars. That Emblem looks like a borrowed Toyota Corolla S emblem!!!!! They have been using that emblem way before Infiniti. Why would you put it on??? More less, why did Infiniti borrow that emblem???

J

[szh]

A K&N air filter is $45.00. Get over is OEM lover!You must be an anti-aftermarket liberalist or something. I have run K&N air filters in all of my vehicles. Never had a MAF sensor malfunction from a K&N air filter. The oil only ruins a MAF sensor when someone cant lay off from using excessive amounts of oil.

Unfortunately, our experience is definitely to the contrary! We have numerous old posts at NISO of problems with oiled K&N filters messing up the Nissan and Infiniti MAF's. Regardless of how gentle you are with the oiling, micro-droplets of oil will get introduced into the air stream, and onto the MAF over time and [eventually] mess them up to the point where the engine misbehaves badly.

Finally, on our higher powered cars, the nominal gain in HP from the K&N filter is relatively imperceptible in most driving conditions.

Of course, you can do what you want, but the bottom line: you are, indeed, better off using the stock air filter, and just replacing it often!

Z

[M4T5]

Thanks Exbmwowner! The search results stated an increase from a direct drop in K&N air filter!!The cold air kit worked on the M35, but no results for the M45. The M35 seemed to gain performance from the cold air kit. The only issues known are from over oiling the K&N filters and the oil building up on the MAF wire sensors.Enjuku offers a Cold air kit, but I have not seen any results on it.So far, the K&N drop in filter is winning.

J

[M4T5]

Unfortunately, our experience is definitely to the contrary! We have numerous old posts at NISO of problems with oiled K&N filters messing up the Nissan and Infiniti MAF's. Regardless of how gentle you are with the oiling, micro-droplets of oil will get introduced into the air stream, and onto the MAF over time and [eventually] mess them up to the point where the engine misbehaves badly.

Z

Though, this pretty much applies to almost all auto manufacturers. I would think if you sprayed MAF cleaner on the MAF sensor everytime you reoiled your K&N, then you should be fine. Though, who would actually do that other than me??Is there anyone else that make aftermarket drop in air filters?? I could have sworn there was someone producing aftermarket air filters that are oil less type.Anyone?

J

[saeedakobiakov]

most members on this forum are anti-aftermarket people.you didnt get it yet?k&n new only and dont reoild yourself. caug.

[saeedakobiakov]

Please never use G-tech to do any kind of test.it's a joke.

[saeedakobiakov]

bmc air filter.(italy) i use to run it in mod. 02 wrx. top speed was 160 on this baby.i got better torqe numbers over k&n, but they did not make it for 03 m45.may be for your car?let me know if you find somthing other them k&n.caug.

[szh]

most members on this forum are anti-aftermarket people.

Yes, true ... but really only for items that affect the longevity of the car/engine/mechanicals etc.

It is difficult enough keeping the cars running like new - after years of normal and hard use.

Z

[mcrews]

thought I would add the following links found from the SEARCH button:

zer...91315

zer...41975

zer...age=1 dyno and mulitple 1/4 mile tests.

What 'most' fail to understand it that 95% of all air coming into the M or Q is already as "cold" as it is going to get. When some 'parts guy" says there 'should be an improvement, he is speaking in general of all cars, old and new..Second, any improvement is at the top of the rpm/torgue curve. Think about. In Tony's very well documented thread, he is running 1/4 miles. hummm......he's got the dXXX thing floored!!! how many of us really drive that way more the 1% of the time.third is the "butt dyno". we tend to drive more aggressively when we 1. hear it or 2. want it!from a personal experience, I am much more aggressive in my Q45 (no rear muffler - straight pipes to chrome tips) than in my XJ8 (bone stock exhaust -very quite). hell, I still grin when I feather the Q's gas petal while in park

And why would you 'dog' exbmwdude's M????? ""You own a 2006 M35"S"????? what is that??? I hope it isn't the Red S emblem they now put on the new sport edition cars. That Emblem looks like a borrowed Toyota Corolla S emblem!!!!! They have been using that emblem way before Infiniti. Why would you put it on??? More less, why did Infiniti borrow that emblem??? """

you not liking the emblem is ok, but your sentence structure specificlly singles out "YOU" referring back to exbmwdude. THe 35Ms package adds active rear steering and upgrade 19 rims along w other items.

[M4T5]

Didnt really mean to single him out. The S emblem caught my attention and I just went from there. They should have kept the S emblem in chrome or at least a different style than Toyotas if they had to use red.

J

[M4T5]

most members on this forum are anti-aftermarket people.you didnt get it yet?k&n new only and dont reoild yourself. caug.

Sorry, but I didn't see a clause here that stated this forum is for the sappy old farts only!There are still plenty of people here looking for quality performance upgrades over OEM. There is always room for improvement. Infiniti isn't perfect.Is there another forum for M owners who like to do more than just sit in their car?? If so, please let me know!

J

[mcrews]

Sorry, but I didn't see a clause here that stated this forum is for the sappy old farts only!There are still plenty of people here looking for quality performance upgrades over OEM. There is always room for improvement. Infiniti isn't perfect.Is there another forum for M owners who like to do more than just sit in their car?? If so, please let me know!

J

j,you really don't get do you? 1. old or young, we would all like to have some nice aftermarket parts that ACTUALLY do increase perormance. period. end of discussion.2. take ford mustang for example. They have entire monthly mags on bolt-ons that work. the reason is: 1. a CRAP LOAD of mustangs ouit there. (creating a marketing opprotunity to justify research) 2. the motors are under-engineered from the factory. this results in decent priced upgrades that actually produce results.3.How about BMW you might ask? A finely engineered motor AND alot of BMWs uot there. So the aftermarket parts are expensive, but they work.4. Infiniti was two different issues. a. the 3.5 motors are well engineered, and since Nissan uses that motor across 2 brands and atleast 4 different models, there are enough motors out there the R&D is justified for an aftermarket company to develope bolt-ons that actually work.b. 4.5 motor. VERY well engineered and not enough of them to justify the R&D to tweak a little extra for the price.I was at the Mercedes Dealer the other day. The must have 15 different models for 2008. Hell, every model seems to come as a base, then an upgrade, then 2 AMG options!!!!! Hell everytime I looked there was a 5.5 or 6.3 dropped into another model.So yeah, there is certainly a market for old farts that want fast cars. But there has to be the VOLUME to make it happen.Nissan/Infiniti TOTALLY screwed up the lanch of the Infiniti brand and more specificly the branding of the flagship Q45. To their credit, the are trying to recover with the focus on the 3.5 to 3.7 engine and the M brand.

But you really have to back off on the stereo typing those of us who are hear trying to help. It would be one thing if you were posting 6 different aftermarket options ---- that worked. But your doggin us like we are hidding the good stuff and making you stay bone stock till you earn your stripes!!!

When some says try the rear end ratio and you say " totally worthless"????Well, Infiniti bumped the 03 Q rearend ratio from the 02 was. And several posters have successfully done so.

But, if you really want to step to the line and be a badboy here are two options......1. go to the IMPUL site (kinda the AMG of Infiniti) they have some internal engine parts that will add about 75 REAL hp for about $15,000.2. Do a rear exhaust turbo.

[saeedakobiakov]

speaking of differenet gears.i am runing shoter tires on my 03 m45 by 9 0r 10 mm.25.6 mm vs. 26.6 stock hight.My rpm higher car felt more responsive. what would be shoter tire equal to higher rear gear number?is there way to figure out?remember i got the best numbers in 1/4 with these tires.Thanks,caug.

[exbmwdude]

Sorry, but I didn't see a clause here that stated this forum is for the sappy old farts only!There are still plenty of people here looking for quality performance upgrades over OEM. There is always room for improvement. Infiniti isn't perfect.Is there another forum for M owners who like to do more than just sit in their car?? If so, please let me know!

J

You have a lot to learn there sport. Do you expect help from people after you insult them ? Some of us may be older that's true, but to discount age and experience while you shout your ignorance tells me you aren't really looking for anything other than an outlet for your immaturity. I was making cars go faster when you were still putting baseball cards in your bicycle spokes and making vroom-vroom noises in the bathtub.

If you want to make your M faster, step up and get your motor built by a race shop or have a blower installed. Then come back here with photos, timeslips and a good story. Talking about adding a K&N under the pretense of "going faster" is laughable. I tried to help you by suggesting a realtively easy and inexpensive mod that I've actually done on other cars - because it WORKS.

These cars a very fast right out of the gate there just aren't many quick/easy/inexpensive ways to get much more out of them. It's not a 5.0 Mustang with catalogs full of parts or an F-body that GM handicapped on purpose to protect the Vette at the top of the heap.

And the "S" is short for "Sport", as in Sport Package. Maybe you should invest in some driving school time to see what you and your car are really capable of before wasting any more of anyone's time talking about air filters. Except for a no-talent straight line acceleration run, I expect you have no idea what this car can do.

As in handling....

exbmwdude2006 M35S

[mcrews]

nicely said. exbmw

...and I though I was just oversensitive.

He really is clueless.

[M4T5]

Look, I just want more power without the sacrifice of raising the rpm. The gear methods were done in the past....but like you said....on under developed vehicles that have a lot of room for improvement.Though the rpms on this car are too high when in its final 5th gear as it is. I would have to call out upgrading to a lower gear ratio a waste of time without a final 6th gear on the transmission.I just want a more refined M45, not a drag car. Obviously it wasn't intended for that. You say take it out on a road course....my M45 is not a sport model. It doesn't have the suspension to handle tight fast turns. The suspension is too soft to hit corners too fast. When you dive into a turn fast, the suspension compresses too much and unsettles the rest of the corners of the car. No matter which tires are placed on it, there isn't going to be a drastic improvement unless the entire suspension is replaced. Therefor, I do not see this car as an adequate candidate for a road course machine in its form from Infiniti.Plus, I don't want a car that beats you to death on an every day commute like the sport models exercise.No, I just want more power! Thats all! I'm not clueless, I now understand the car will more than likely never outperform many BMW's or Mercedez in its class. Why don't you tell those owners to leave their cars stock. They place aftermarket parts and tunes on their rides quite often. The BMWs must be more engineered than the M cars, since a simple tune, an air filter, and an exhaust upgrade can shaves more than a second off their 1/4 mi times. I've seen this done on a 2007 BMW 330i. How can such a car turn a 12.89 in the 1/4mi with those simple mods?? I only say this because all of you here say the M45's engine doesn't have much more left in it. I would have to say you don't have a clue for stating those comments unless you have past experience backing up that theory. The only person that could tell me other wise would be the person who has already has had hands on experience tuning this cars with a custom tune/ laptop.It's a little hard not to lash out to others who belittle someone trying to get more power from their car. What I have been pretty much told is, that the OEM filter is only better because it will not expell oil onto the MAF sensor, but the K&N filter will still give more HP/TQ figues over the stock unit. Be it just a 1 or 5 HP increase, thats better than no increase. The cold air kits do not show to have given anyone any gains to vouch for removal of the stock air box assembly. Not for $300+ that is. I don't want a stock M45, so I will continue to look for ways to increase performance. I am just not content with its performance as it is. No need to bash me for thinking that way. That would be the same as me bashing you for wanting to keep your car in bone stock factory form trim. Good for you...just not for me.

J

[M4T5]

[QUOTE=exbmwdude]

You have a lot to learn there sport. Do you expect help from people after you insult them ?



What do you have to teach me?? How to properly maintain my M45? That's all you want to do with "your M45". I already know how to maintain it. I want "my M45" to be faster at the same time.Who did I directly insult? If you took the "old sappy farts" comment to heart, then I'm sorry, but it was just a statement, not directed at anyone in particular. Maybe you took it personal because that is how you see yourself. [QUOTE=exbmwdude]

And the "S" is short for "Sport", as in Sport Package. Maybe you should invest in some driving school time to see what you and your car are really capable of before wasting any more of anyone's time talking about air filters. Except for a no-talent straight line acceleration run, I expect you have no idea what this car can do.

As in handling....

Oh....really??? I thought the "S" emblem stood for "Slow"....or no wait..."Supercharged".Driving school time?? Yeah, so I can find out my M45 wasn't designed to cut corners. It's no road course car by any means....But, maybe I could glue an "S" emblem on the back of it and start pretending......

J

Modified by M4T5 at 6:44 AM 1/5/2009
Modified by M4T5 at 6:45 AM 1/5/2009

[mcrews]

1. either you cant read, or you cant understand. so I gonna give you credit for the first one.2.You said in reference to gearing "....but like you said....on under developed vehicles that have a lot of room for improvement."ok here's where understanding steps in......I specificly refrerred to the 03 Q45 having a higher gear ratio than the 03. now how was that referencing an"underdeveloped" vehicle???????3. yes, you are clueless and a WHINER.pay attention now because here it comes....the POINT you so clearly missed.you just said "I'm not clueless, I now understand the car will more than likely never outperform many BMW's or Mercedez in its class. Why don't you tell those owners to leave their cars stock. They place aftermarket parts and tunes on their rides quite often. The BMWs must be more engineered than the M cars, since a simple tune, an air filter, and an exhaust upgrade can shaves more than a second off their 1/4 mi times. I've seen this done on a 2007 BMW 330i. How can such a car turn a 12.89 in the 1/4mi with those simple mods?? I only say this because all of you here say the M45's engine doesn't have much more left in it. I would have to say you don't have a clue for stating those comments unless you have past experience backing up that theory. Let's pretend that you own an aftermarket parts company (i know that's a stretch, but play along) and your financial backer says you need to start making money fast. And you can only make parts for 1 car and you can pick between a BMW 3 series or an M45. Just from a marketing opprotunity....ie raw number of owners, you would have to pick the bmw. because there are more potential sales. Have I lost you yet? Companies dont do R&D and then make parts for cars that dont enough potential buyers.Of course, I already tried to explain this and you came back whining.

So let me bottom line this for you: GET OFF YOUR FXXXXXX LAZY AXX AND TRY GOOGLING ALL THOSE HOT BOLT_ON PARTS THAT WE SEEM TO BE HIDING FROM YOU!!!!4. your clueless, again.you said "That would be the same as me bashing you for wanting to keep your car in bone stock factory form trim."

No really pay attention, cause words have meaning. Who, name them, said they are purists and WANT to keep their care bone stock??? who???OR did we try to explain that it has been proven that most "bolt-ons" dont work. There is a diference, really there is.

You dont live in the counrty where there are only backwoods mechanics. You live near houston Texas. get off your lazy axx and go into town and prove us wrong!!!or better yet...READ the past posts!!!! and then use your little brain cells to realize there just arent a lot of hotrod parts out there!!!

[saeedakobiakov]

o.k.you guys need to stop this.

answer to all of this is:"buy a different car".

anybody can answer my question ABOUT shoter tire by 10mm would equalls to what higher gear, Please?

thanks again,caug.

[M4T5]

Most responses to my ECU Programmer post state that there isn't much left in the 4.5 engine for more power. Who has proof of this? Ok, were past the Cold air kit dilemma. The cold air kits out on the market currently do not work. This was tested by a member. The exhaust by Element 114 seems to give great results by shaving off 2/10ths off a 1/4 mile run. This modification would be worth the effort.As of so far, there are no worthy programmers or tunes out on the market. Though I don't know where to get real time results from owners who have tried the Impul ECU upgrade. Thanks for the Impul web info BTW.I'm not whining, the others are just whining about me trying to make my M45 faster. If you look back at others comments, there are some that stress the car performs good enough as is, and to just enjoy how it is in stock form. The car does perform nicely, but not enough to satisfy my taste for wanting more and no way of getting it.

It just seems to since, there are not any options, that others will try and knock you down because there really isn't much out there. So what if I didn't know, there is no need for a rash response over it. I'm just guessing Impul is probably very expensive. I don't see anyone here ever talking about their products. Your the only one that suggested them.

I'm not even worried about the gearing. If you were to install a lower gear ratio in the 06' & up M45 you will be sacrificing highway drive ability due to an increase in the already high rpms in 5th gear. The under developed statement was more directed towards a Mustang or Camaro.

Yes I get the aftermarket situation about producing aftermarket BMW 330i parts over parts for the M45. That wasn't what I was getting at. I was stating that situation over the issue that everyone seems to "think" there is no more power to be had in the tuning on a M45. I don't want to destroy the car. I just try to get it to produce a little more power to get past the thought that it isn't any faster or slower than the other guys M45. Also, to try and match the power of the new Hyundai Genesis that has 40 more hp over the M45. That could be big competition for the M45 in the near future. Though I still prefer the styling of the M45 over the Genesis.

I'm not saying that any of you are trying to hide any aftermarket parts from me either. Therefor, I really don't know why you keep stating that.

Not trying to make enemies, but seems like I've already done so. Some may get over it and some may not. I'm over it.This is just more of a shock to me than anything that there are no easy upgrades for this car. Does anyone see an aftermarket parts future for this car, or is it pretty much a dead subject from the beginning to its end of the VK45DE? I will be ordering a Impul oil less serviceable air filter if it is available. Even if it doesn't out flow the K&N, at least I can say it's not OEM and it doesn't have oil on it the could interfere with the MAF meter.

J

[mcrews]

ok, you seem to be catching on.

The second part of the "you own an aftermarket company" is:Some engines just cant be tweaked enough even if there was a small martket who would buy.

Come on, think about, if you could make the perfect bolt-on part, you'd be the first. Everybody would buy from you. You'd be a hero. Heck, look how everybody jumped on the Element 114 banwagon. Don't you think that the people who do this for a living haven't atleast taken a look?????

And just maybe, they found out that you are wrong and the rest of us who have lived w/ this motor for 5-6 years are right.

come on, your a newbie to the 4.5 and yet if you will reread all your posts, you'll see you treated us like we were cornpone off the farm and you had ALL this unbelievable experience on aftermarket tuning.ShXX. go over to the Q45 site (you haven't yet, even though I told you to)there is a NICO ECU PROGRAMABLE CHIP!!!!! for the early Q45S!!!!!!! yeah, a chip with the brand name of the WEBSITE!!! that means that some poster, yrs ago, got off his axx, did a heck of a lot of research and developed a chip for the members.

You should be raggin on us for not trying to get those guys to make a chip for the newer 4.5.

this is why you look bad.(of course, we know why the chip thing doesnt work for the 4.5L but that secret is held closely by the BROTHERHOOD)

we have all been down the same road as you (as I said before)but one other thought and I'll wrap up.bmw and mercedes sell so may cars that the appeal to a broad section of buyers. fro example. the C class comes in a base model, a sport model, a kompressor model, a 5.5 amg and a 6.3 amg. do you GET IT???? they hace more model in one body stlye the infiniti has for all it's cars!!!Infiniti is trying to apeal to a broad range but only has a few choices. So some people who own a M are not trying to hotrod it. You come in, mouth off, and dont have a clue. so take a deep breath.

You say one thing and then turn around and say you dont mean it that way

[exbmwdude]

I'm still rolling on the floor with laughter over this incredble 330i that does 12's with a "tune, intake and exhaust" mods ! Wow, what a bunch of idiots BMW are! They didn't need to put that v8 in the new M3 after all to get into the 12's. Those slacker engineers just needed to develop better breathing for that (non-turbo) 6 and suddenly they've got a Vette chaser.

Hilarious....

As an aside, I got to ride in a new v8 M3 over the holidays. Now THAT is some motor! It'll be some time before we see a Nissan V8 turning 8k rpms....

exbmwdude2006 M35S

[M4T5]

I'm still rolling on the floor with laughter over this incredble 330i that does 12's with a "tune, intake and exhaust" mods ! Wow, what a bunch of idiots BMW are! They didn't need to put that v8 in the new M3 after all to get into the 12's. Those slacker engineers just needed to develop better breathing for that (non-turbo) 6 and suddenly they've got a Vette chaser.

Hilarious....

As an aside, I got to ride in a new v8 M3 over the holidays. Now THAT is some motor! It'll be some time before we see a Nissan V8 turning 8k rpms.... exbmwdude2006 M35S

Maybe it was the 335i. The turbo version. It wasn't really specified other than I heard 33x something. More than likely was the twin turbo 3.0L to turn out those kind of numbers.At Houston Raceway Park I just recall him stating it was relatively a stock everyday driver, other than having a tune, exhaust, and diff. air intake. I wasn't thinking about it being a turbo model at the time because the car was all too quiet. A Mustang owner actually bet money against him and lost. Everyone was expecting a low 14 to high 13 second pass. Everyone was in shock at his run down the track. I must have had my info incorrect on the type of engine he had in it. None the less, it was still pretty impressive.More than likely I was wrong. It had to have been the turbo model.

J
Modified by M4T5 at 3:54 PM 1/5/2009

[notacarlo]

Let the kid do what he wants. We have already tried to explain longevity is more important with these cars. An M45 was a bad choice if you want to go fast....or faster. (although it's a quick car as is)

From what I have read there are no ECM tuners....reputable ones that work on this car. Get mad, get defensinve, whatever. Develop some software, prove to us that there's more in these mills.

This isn't a Chevy site, so no need to go flaming others.

[notacarlo]

OK just got back from a freeway run....

Using an SD3

Ambient air 32 degrees

IAT at 65 mph 37 degrees!

I'm not buying a cold air kit.

i also found this stuff.....http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/2003/I ... nce-Chips/