▀▄ eas | DIY: S55 M3/M4 BMC Filter Installation

[M4GTS]

Is it true that EU spec. cars don't have the Charcoal filters installed?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by e92V8

Is it true that EU spec. cars don't have the Charcoal filters installed?

ETK says no charcoal liner on EU models. If you can follow up to verify, that would be great!

[M4GTS]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

ETK says no charcoal liner on EU models. If you can follow up to verify, that would be great!

Will do, I plan to fit my BMC filters tomorrow.

[M4GTS]

Finally got round to doing this and can confirm there are no charcoal filters on my UK spec. car.

One point, the DIY guide suggests just 7NM/16NM for the Strut brace bolts. This seems a little low as that's barely hand tight.

[Who's on first]

Great T.O. !

Definitely second the advice of a long T-handle for the T25. Also are the 10 mm screw is shorter than the others so be aware of that you can easily be dropped.

21 minutes, hood open to hood closed.

[335iFFM]

Tried to delete charcoal filters on EU-spec model. They aren't there. Seems like they are deleted from factory. Bought car brand new.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by e92V8

Finally got round to doing this and can confirm there are no charcoal filters on my UK spec. car.

One point, the DIY guide suggests just 7NM/16NM for the Strut brace bolts. This seems a little low as that's barely hand tight.

Originally Posted by I hate picking user names

Great T.O. !

Definitely second the advice of a long T-handle for the T25. Also are the 10 mm screw is shorter than the others so be aware of that you can easily be dropped.

21 minutes, hood open to hood closed.

Originally Posted by 335iFFM

Tried to delete charcoal filters on EU-spec model. They aren't there. Seems like they are deleted from factory. Bought car brand new.

Bolts are 6mm and 8mm shank, they don't need to be torqued much.

Thanks for the feedback on the EU side, appears the charcoal liners are a US thing only.

[C-Mu]

I'm in CA and for emissions purposes and to keep the car as stock as possible, I'd like to keep the charcoal filters but would love to hear the turbos a bit more. Can anyone comment if there is an audible difference by installing the BMC and keeping the charcoal? Thanks.

[Who's on first]

I hear zero difference, even with the charcoal filters removed.

[SSIMPS]

Great write up , install was super easy and I actually thought it was kind of fun removing the strut brace and feeling how light it is! I can hear a slight increase in spool sound in the higher gears as others have said. Not sure if the new filters or removing the charcoal though. Excited to hear how it sounds with the JB4 when it comes in.

[sh55]

tom @ eas Just want to say thanks for the great guide! I just used it to remove my charcoal filters

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by sh55

tom @ eas Just want to say thanks for the great guide! I just used it to remove my charcoal filters

Originally Posted by 135iSB

Great write up , install was super easy and I actually thought it was kind of fun removing the strut brace and feeling how light it is! I can hear a slight increase in spool sound in the higher gears as others have said. Not sure if the new filters or removing the charcoal though. Excited to hear how it sounds with the JB4 when it comes in.

Glad to help guys!

[AlphaOmega4]

Originally Posted by Who's on first

I hear zero difference, even with the charcoal filters removed.

did you add BMC or K&N filters as well ....

or just remove your charcoal filters and kept the stock air filters?

[M4GTS]

Originally Posted by AlphaOmega4

did you add BMC or K&N filters as well ....

or just remove your charcoal filters and kept the stock air filters?

I didn't have any charcoal filters, but I did hear a marked difference when I installed the BMC ones. It was amplified much further with the addition of JB4.

[Who's on first]

Originally Posted by AlphaOmega4

did you add BMC or K&N filters as well ....

or just remove your charcoal filters and kept the stock air filters?

Added BMC as well.

[Xerxes480]

Thanks for these excellent instructions. Just removed my charcoal filters and put in BMC filters. Strangely enough the only difficult step was step 1. The head popped off one of the compression rivet pins - was a pain in the ass to get out! The rest was smooth sailing.

I skipped steps 5 and 13.

-X-

[F30MSport]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

A panel air filter is commonly referred to as a replacement air filter. It is installed in the vehicle's original airbox to replace the OEM air filter. It is made of high performance materials that allow for an increase in air flow along with more efficient filtration. These BMC filters guarantee containment of all impurities from as small as 7 microns, as compared to the OEM's 10 microns.



BMC air filters are produced using a full molding system that enables the characteristic red filter to be realized from a single mold with no welded joints, thus avoiding easy breakage. The rubber used in BMC air filtering systems has a long life, is very durable and has optimum adhesion characteristics to all shapes of airboxes. BMC filters are made of a multi-layered cotton gauze soaked with low viscosity oil covered with an epoxy coated alloy mesh to ensure protection from petrol fumes and oxidization due to air humidity. All BMC air filters are pre-oiled, and they can be washed and regenerated by using an appropriate regeneration kit.

Installation

BMC High Performance Replacement Air Filter (set of 2)
http://europeanautosource.com/bmc-hi...nt-air-filters

Tools needed
T25 Torx driver
Pocket screwdriver
10mm & 13mm Wrench (socket)
Trim Removal Tool

Installation

1. Remove compression rivet from trim cover


2. Remove plastic nuts from right bank cowl cover, note these are twist-lock design (90-degree twist)


3. Remove compression rivet from trim cover


4. Remove plastic nuts from left bank cowl cover, note these are twist-lock design (90-degree twist)


5. Remove compression rivet from strut tower brace trim cover


6. Remove Bolts securing strut tower brace (13mm), nut on coolant reservoir is 10mm.


7. Carefully remove strut tower brace and admire BMW's craftsmanship.


8. Remove bolts on right airbox with T25 torx driver to reveal filter


9. Remove filter lid


10. Remove charcoal liner with small pocket screwdriver to release tabs


11. Drop new BMC oiled filter in place. filter comes pre-oiled from factory. Reinstall filter lid


12. Pinch plastic securing mount and lift on right filter housing to move out of place


13. Pinch/remove PCV hose and remove. Remember to reinstall after filter is installed.


14. Remove bolts on left airbox with T25 torx driver to reveal filter


15. Remove filter lid


16. Remove filter lid


17. Reinstall left filter lid

Torque Specs

Airbox: Snug to fit/hand tighten

Strut tower brace
13mm: 10-12lb-ft.
10mm: 3-5lb-ft

Enjoy! Feel free to respond to the thread with any questions.

When re-installing the carbon brace can you hand tighten? Is the torque wrench truly necessary? Also did the lb/ft you reference OEM spec?

Thanks!

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by F30MSport

When re-installing the carbon brace can you hand tighten? Is the torque wrench truly necessary? Also did the lb/ft you reference OEM spec?

Thanks!

Hand tighten to snug will be fine, most shops (including ours) will verify with torque wrench.

Basic torque wrench is about ~$75 at your local Sears/Craftsman, always a good investment.

[j09333]

Thank you for this guide

[Arnold_Powers]

The vehicle does need to be in the air on the lift correct ?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Arnold_Powers

The vehicle does need to be in the air on the lift correct ?

A lift isn't required for filter swap. Very simple DIY.

[Arnold_Powers]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

A lift isn't required for filter swap. Very simple DIY.

Someone was telling me that I should not remove or reinstall the strut bar when car is on the floor... I told him he is wrong and he argued that "it should be on a lift with wheels off the ground" ... This is why