BMC air filter and carbon fiber air-box cover?
05-06-2003, 06:46 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
BMC air filter and carbon fiber air-box cover?
Sometimes, I get the itch to do SOMETHING to my turbo. I've heard that the BMC air filter and the carbon fiber air-box cover is worth about 10HP. Anybody know if this is so? Fabspeed sells these units. Can a doofus install this? Is the airbox cover for cosmetics, or does it do something useful?
Anybody try this?
Anybody try this?
05-06-2003, 07:14 PM
#2
Your ECU is setup for the stock airbox and filter. I would be wary to try something that the software is not setup to use.
Ruf uses the BMC filter, but tunes his ECU to accommodate the greater airflow.
Ruf uses the BMC filter, but tunes his ECU to accommodate the greater airflow.
05-06-2003, 07:38 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Bill,
You bring up a point that I've never even thought of. Are you familiar with the Gemballa program? I bought it used, and know nothing about it. Anything you can share... how it differs from other programs? I would have thought that ECUs generally could handle a huge variation in air-flow, to compensate for dirty filters, hi/low barometric pressure, temp and humidity.
It sounds like there IS some potential for improvement, if you are concerned about the program. Interesting. What about that airbox cover thingee? Is that cosmetics, or does that also aid in the airflow?
Please excuse my naive questions.
You bring up a point that I've never even thought of. Are you familiar with the Gemballa program? I bought it used, and know nothing about it. Anything you can share... how it differs from other programs? I would have thought that ECUs generally could handle a huge variation in air-flow, to compensate for dirty filters, hi/low barometric pressure, temp and humidity.
It sounds like there IS some potential for improvement, if you are concerned about the program. Interesting. What about that airbox cover thingee? Is that cosmetics, or does that also aid in the airflow?
Please excuse my naive questions.
05-06-2003, 07:41 PM
#4
My first instinct would be to pass on this one.
Can they prove 10HP gain? And besides, 10HP gain on a 400 HP car is around 5%. There are tons of other factors that can affect your HP by 5% ( octane, temperature, compression, etc )
Heck, even my transmission oil claims a 5% increase in fuel economy!
If you want to get it for looks or because you are "itching" to do something to your car, then go for it. But as far as for HP gains, I'd be weary.
How about doing some other DIY's?? ie, corner lights, euro tail lights, turbo s fog lights, aux oil cooler, replacing hood shocks, sway bars, oil cooler fan switch, rear fog light, etc???
Can they prove 10HP gain? And besides, 10HP gain on a 400 HP car is around 5%. There are tons of other factors that can affect your HP by 5% ( octane, temperature, compression, etc )
Heck, even my transmission oil claims a 5% increase in fuel economy!
If you want to get it for looks or because you are "itching" to do something to your car, then go for it. But as far as for HP gains, I'd be weary.
How about doing some other DIY's?? ie, corner lights, euro tail lights, turbo s fog lights, aux oil cooler, replacing hood shocks, sway bars, oil cooler fan switch, rear fog light, etc???
05-06-2003, 07:50 PM
#5
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Jeff,
You're right of course. It's just that old, hard to control itch, to keep dicking with a perfectly wonderful car. Got the new hood shocks, got the euro tail lights (previous owner). Got an early car with the 21mm rear bar. Car has ROW springs, and handles pretty good, even on whatever shocks are under it. High on my list are 3-piece wheels (but why replace those nice, light aerodynamic wheels Porsche designed for the car?) and some bigger turbos (with all the grief that is likely to bring to my domestic life, not to mention the cooler and FPR I'll need). No, if I can I can some temporary "itch" relief for $90 (filter) and $175 (airbox), that sounds pretty cheap, even if I can't actually measure or feel the gains. Crazy, I know. But sanity was never my strong suit.
You're right of course. It's just that old, hard to control itch, to keep dicking with a perfectly wonderful car. Got the new hood shocks, got the euro tail lights (previous owner). Got an early car with the 21mm rear bar. Car has ROW springs, and handles pretty good, even on whatever shocks are under it. High on my list are 3-piece wheels (but why replace those nice, light aerodynamic wheels Porsche designed for the car?) and some bigger turbos (with all the grief that is likely to bring to my domestic life, not to mention the cooler and FPR I'll need). No, if I can I can some temporary "itch" relief for $90 (filter) and $175 (airbox), that sounds pretty cheap, even if I can't actually measure or feel the gains. Crazy, I know. But sanity was never my strong suit.
05-06-2003, 08:10 PM
#6
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Steve,
Your Turbo has limited cold airflow under the intercooler. You may actually loose power as you will be sucking in much warmer air under the hood. That is why the turbos have the vent snorkel from the airfilter box to the fresh air on the intercooler tray. It is mostly the 993 NAs that they use the open airbox approach.
As far as the BMC is concerned, if your getting a new airfilter, why not.
Just my opinion.
Your Turbo has limited cold airflow under the intercooler. You may actually loose power as you will be sucking in much warmer air under the hood. That is why the turbos have the vent snorkel from the airfilter box to the fresh air on the intercooler tray. It is mostly the 993 NAs that they use the open airbox approach.
As far as the BMC is concerned, if your getting a new airfilter, why not.
Just my opinion.
05-06-2003, 09:11 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
Bob,
Crapola. You guys are such party poopers. Come to think of it, my air filter is probably fairly fresh... changed by the previous owner in the 45,000 mile service (I think... gotta check the records). So rats, no air box, no BMC filter. Humbug. Maybe I'll wax the inside of the hood.
OK... lets say that my shocks (possibly original equipment but cut down in height for the springs?) are really crappy, although the car feels pretty goos to me and other TT owners that have driven it. Can I just change shocks? Is the labor on that so big, that I might as well go for PSS9s? Restated: is the labor for changing just the shocks big enough that you might as well go first class? My wife is gonna kill me...
Crapola. You guys are such party poopers. Come to think of it, my air filter is probably fairly fresh... changed by the previous owner in the 45,000 mile service (I think... gotta check the records). So rats, no air box, no BMC filter. Humbug. Maybe I'll wax the inside of the hood.
OK... lets say that my shocks (possibly original equipment but cut down in height for the springs?) are really crappy, although the car feels pretty goos to me and other TT owners that have driven it. Can I just change shocks? Is the labor on that so big, that I might as well go for PSS9s? Restated: is the labor for changing just the shocks big enough that you might as well go first class? My wife is gonna kill me...
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05-06-2003, 10:19 PM
#8
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by ca993twin:
<strong>OK... lets say that my shocks (possibly original equipment but cut down in height for the springs?) are really crappy, although the car feels pretty goos to me and other TT owners that have driven it. Can I just change shocks? Is the labor on that so big, that I might as well go for PSS9s? Restated: is the labor for changing just the shocks big enough that you might as well go first class? My wife is gonna kill me...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">If you upgrade your suspension, do the whole thing right the first time. It costs about $1000 to change the shocks ( including the alignment, corner balencing, etc ), so you don't want to do that too often.
I think that this upgrade "madness" has got to stop!! Go out and drive your car, sheesh! There are some great tracks in so cal. Have you been to Willow Springs???
<strong>OK... lets say that my shocks (possibly original equipment but cut down in height for the springs?) are really crappy, although the car feels pretty goos to me and other TT owners that have driven it. Can I just change shocks? Is the labor on that so big, that I might as well go for PSS9s? Restated: is the labor for changing just the shocks big enough that you might as well go first class? My wife is gonna kill me...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">If you upgrade your suspension, do the whole thing right the first time. It costs about $1000 to change the shocks ( including the alignment, corner balencing, etc ), so you don't want to do that too often.
I think that this upgrade "madness" has got to stop!! Go out and drive your car, sheesh! There are some great tracks in so cal. Have you been to Willow Springs???
05-06-2003, 10:49 PM
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Steve,
I am the last person to rain on a fellow Porsche persons upgrade parade. A few thoughts. Since you have a Gemballa ECU, a rebuild / hybrid upgrade of the turbos by Kevin could be a nice performance enhancement at a reasonable cost. With care of the oil lines, taking off the turbos is not too difficult and is a reasonable DIY.
I agree with Jeff that rebuilding what you have will almost be as expensive as the PSS9s. I would go with Jeff's thoughts here as I am a nut on the suspension stuff and had a complete PSS9 setup with 22mm rear and 25 mm front sway bars along with a complete monoball setup in my garage BEFORE I ever saw my car.
I can come up with LOTS of ideas.....
I am the last person to rain on a fellow Porsche persons upgrade parade. A few thoughts. Since you have a Gemballa ECU, a rebuild / hybrid upgrade of the turbos by Kevin could be a nice performance enhancement at a reasonable cost. With care of the oil lines, taking off the turbos is not too difficult and is a reasonable DIY.
I agree with Jeff that rebuilding what you have will almost be as expensive as the PSS9s. I would go with Jeff's thoughts here as I am a nut on the suspension stuff and had a complete PSS9 setup with 22mm rear and 25 mm front sway bars along with a complete monoball setup in my garage BEFORE I ever saw my car.
I can come up with LOTS of ideas.....
05-07-2003, 12:45 AM
#10
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Jeff,
Well, the Cobra is my ex-track car, and yes I've driven Willow on many occasions, none in the turbo, however. I'm insisting that I'm NOT going to track this Porsche, but I still go to a bunch of events to spectate and help out. I used to race the IMSA Porsche at SCCA events at Willow back in the old days (leather helmets and so on).
As far as the suspension goes, I think I'll wait until I sense something is not right with the car, and then do the PSS9 setup... maybe with the adjustable rear bar.
Bob,
I surrender my title of lunatic of the year. Holy Moley, man, you are very hard core. Cool, but in a sick sort of way. Yes, bigger turbos have crossed my feeble mind a few times (I've been offered some fresh hybrids for $2k). Here again, I'll wait for something to go bad with my k16s. I mean hells bells, the car has 52,000 miles on it... how long are those puppies gonna last? What can I do to hasten that day, if you get my drift?
I just checked the service records... air filter was changed at 47,700 miles. Now I have no rationalization to do anything to the car. Hand me the wax.
Well, the Cobra is my ex-track car, and yes I've driven Willow on many occasions, none in the turbo, however. I'm insisting that I'm NOT going to track this Porsche, but I still go to a bunch of events to spectate and help out. I used to race the IMSA Porsche at SCCA events at Willow back in the old days (leather helmets and so on).
As far as the suspension goes, I think I'll wait until I sense something is not right with the car, and then do the PSS9 setup... maybe with the adjustable rear bar.
Bob,
I surrender my title of lunatic of the year. Holy Moley, man, you are very hard core. Cool, but in a sick sort of way.
Yes, bigger turbos have crossed my feeble mind a few times (I've been offered some fresh hybrids for $2k). Here again, I'll wait for something to go bad with my k16s. I mean hells bells, the car has 52,000 miles on it... how long are those puppies gonna last? What can I do to hasten that day, if you get my drift? I just checked the service records... air filter was changed at 47,700 miles. Now I have no rationalization to do anything to the car. Hand me the wax.
05-07-2003, 11:02 AM
#11
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Steve,
The factory turbos really start showing signs of wear after 30K miles (or at least that's what I am told). You can modify / freshen your existing turbos to make them a hybrid for around $700 each. And you get to work on your car!!!!
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Step away from the wax and pick up a wrench....
The factory turbos really start showing signs of wear after 30K miles (or at least that's what I am told). You can modify / freshen your existing turbos to make them a hybrid for around $700 each. And you get to work on your car!!!!
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Step away from the wax and pick up a wrench....
05-07-2003, 09:08 PM
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OK Steve. I am installing a Carbon Fiber heater tube bypass pipe this weekend... 
<a href="http://vintagebus.com/rstube/" target="_blank">More CARBON FIBER</a>.
Do I get the torch back? <img border="0" alt="[king]" title="" src="graemlins/r.gif" />
<a href="http://vintagebus.com/rstube/" target="_blank">More CARBON FIBER</a>.
Do I get the torch back? <img border="0" alt="[king]" title="" src="graemlins/r.gif" />
