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      07-12-2010, 02:03 PM   #1
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Cleaned the air filter yesterday

After 11,000 miles, I felt the car just didn't have the same pickup it used to have when it was new. While looking things over under the hood, I decided to inspect the air filter. Turns out it was jam packed with leaves, bugs, and brake dust. Isn't the dealer supposed to check this during any of the scheduled maintenance? Anyway, shook it all out and blew it with some air and put it back. It made a noticeable difference in the throttle response and get-up-and-go Stupid bugs.
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      07-12-2010, 02:20 PM   #2
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They do when your intake silencer is due. (intake filter)
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      07-12-2010, 02:44 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by fullrev View Post
They do when your intake silencer is due. (intake filter)
Replacing is not the same as cleaning. It should be cleaned way before 11,000 miles. Not sure when replacement is scheduled, but I'm sure it should be cleaned several times well before then.
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      07-12-2010, 02:49 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3V8Driver View Post
After 11,000 miles, I felt the car just didn't have the same pickup it used to have when it was new. While looking things over under the hood, I decided to inspect the air filter. Turns out it was jam packed with leaves, bugs, and brake dust. Isn't the dealer supposed to check this during any of the scheduled maintenance? Anyway, shook it all out and blew it with some air and put it back. It made a noticeable difference in the throttle response and get-up-and-go Stupid bugs.
That's all that's needed with the MS filters, they even work better a little dirty
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      07-12-2010, 03:24 PM   #5
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What's an "MS filter"?
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      07-12-2010, 03:48 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3V8Driver View Post
Replacing is not the same as cleaning. It should be cleaned way before 11,000 miles. Not sure when replacement is scheduled, but I'm sure it should be cleaned several times well before then.
The OEM filters aren't really considered serviceable. Its not something that they remove, clean and replace. There is a scheduled replacement and that's when they look at it. Otherwise, they won't touch it unless you tell them something is wrong with it.
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      07-12-2010, 03:56 PM   #7
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Ok, then consider my OP something to consider trying if BMW won't do it until it's time to replace. That's rediculous. My filter was absolutely clogged, and I was missing out on performance. I'm surprised BMW wouldn't provide the service to keep up the performance of their customers' cars, after all, it only takes a few minutes.
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      07-12-2010, 04:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3V8Driver View Post
What's an "MS filter"?
MS = Macht Schnell.
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      07-12-2010, 04:41 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3V8Driver View Post
Ok, then consider my OP something to consider trying if BMW won't do it until it's time to replace. That's rediculous. My filter was absolutely clogged, and I was missing out on performance. I'm surprised BMW wouldn't provide the service to keep up the performance of their customers' cars, after all, it only takes a few minutes.
You are at 11k miles so you haven't even had a scheduled service yet. Isn't the scheduled service at 15k? The only service you should have had is the 1200 mile and I don't think they would even bother to check it at 1200 miles. I'm sure if you told them at your 15k to check it they would check it. They might not replace it unless its really bad or it had a hole in it though.

BTW, if you get an MS filter, you can clean it whenever you want. Problem solved!
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      07-12-2010, 06:57 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 808MGuy View Post
You are at 11k miles so you haven't even had a scheduled service yet. Isn't the scheduled service at 15k? The only service you should have had is the 1200 mile and I don't think they would even bother to check it at 1200 miles.
I consider the 1200 mile visit a scheduled service. Plus, it was in several other times for various things (500 mile oil change, DCT reprogramming, tires and brake pads at 6700 miles, and broken trim piece). So that's five visits total. All I'm saying is, it's such a simple thing for them to check that I'm surpriosed they don't do it as a courtesy. Plus, it's made enough of a difference that I could feel it.
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      07-12-2010, 07:50 PM   #11
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I don't know why but when I had the 1200 mile service done, my dealer installed a new engine air filter. The original one couldn't have been dirty.
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      07-13-2010, 02:38 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3V8Driver View Post
I consider the 1200 mile visit a scheduled service. Plus, it was in several other times for various things (500 mile oil change, DCT reprogramming, tires and brake pads at 6700 miles, and broken trim piece). So that's five visits total. All I'm saying is, it's such a simple thing for them to check that I'm surpriosed they don't do it as a courtesy. Plus, it's made enough of a difference that I could feel it.
I think what you have to understand is what may seem like a simple thing that takes 2 minutes to you is a big deal to a dealer. If it not something that they would regularly do and you don't specifically ask them to do it, they are not going to go out of their way to do it. Let's say they did take the extra 2 minutes to do it. Now if they take the extra 2 minutes to do it for you, they have to do it for the other 25-30 cars in for service that day with you. So now your 2 minutes has just turned into an hour of extra work for the dealership. They are not going to make money doing that.

Bottom line, if you want them to do something, just ask for it. Most techs are more than willing if you just ask politely. Don't take it for granted that it will be done because that's what you would do because as much as they would like to help you, they are busy people too and in the end, they wanna go home on time to see their families just like you and me.
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      07-13-2010, 05:18 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 808MGuy View Post
I think what you have to understand is what may seem like a simple thing that takes 2 minutes to you is a big deal to a dealer. If it not something that they would regularly do and you don't specifically ask them to do it, they are not going to go out of their way to do it. Let's say they did take the extra 2 minutes to do it. Now if they take the extra 2 minutes to do it for you, they have to do it for the other 25-30 cars in for service that day with you. So now your 2 minutes has just turned into an hour of extra work for the dealership. They are not going to make money doing that.

Bottom line, if you want them to do something, just ask for it. Most techs are more than willing if you just ask politely. Don't take it for granted that it will be done because that's what you would do because as much as they would like to help you, they are busy people too and in the end, they wanna go home on time to see their families just like you and me.
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      07-13-2010, 09:15 PM   #14
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We have a big ole air scoop below and ahead of the front left wheel. All sorts of things get sucked in there. I clean mine out (just take it out and shake it, no air blowing) when cleaning up the engine compartment on average about every month or little more often. It seems there's always leaves, plastic and what not. So far, nothing very interesting like dead cats.

It only takes a couple minutes so it's no problem, and yes, you can feel a, albeit slight, difference when it's clean. Unless you have a totally have a "hands off" attitude about working on your car, I recommend this. A little work putting the cover back on, but still very easy. I'm thinking about getting an oiled filter since I'll be coming to the end of free maintenance soon.


Cheers.
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      07-14-2010, 05:15 PM   #15
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Oh for Pete's sake.
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      12-29-2010, 06:55 PM   #16
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BMW performs same at every oil change per the maintenance guide they did mine at the 1200/2000km change too

It's a filter it depends on environment dusty environments being more frequent than non.
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      12-30-2010, 11:27 AM   #17
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BMW doesn't touch the air filter until 30K miles. And that's exactly what my '08 service booklet calls for. And yes, with a straight big opening in the bumper, it's nuts to wait that long IMO, especially if you live in the dusty desert.
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      02-19-2018, 10:14 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ersin View Post
We have a big ole air scoop below and ahead of the front left wheel. All sorts of things get sucked in there... and yes, you can feel a, albeit slight, difference when it's clean.
Cheers.
I'm glad someone else has noticed this too.

I'm running a stock intake and filter set up. Every time my car starts to feel a little sluggish, I take out the air filter and tap the dirt out of it, and every time my throttle response is noticeably improved.

Even as little as 3000 miles seems to get the filter a little clogged. I then replace the filter every 10k miles.

If you've never tried tapping the dirt out of your air filter, do it.

Old thread, I know.
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      02-20-2018, 12:05 AM   #19
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if you're going to go through the trouble of opening the box and removing a filter to knock the bugs out of it, just replace it.
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      02-23-2018, 10:19 AM   #20
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Quote:
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if you're going to go through the trouble of opening the box and removing a filter to knock the bugs out of it, just replace it.
Honestly, that would mean a 50 dollar air filter at least every 3000 miles. It only takes 5-10 minutes to remove/reinstall the filter.

I'm looking into aftermarket filters but am very skeptical of their filtration capabilities.
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      02-23-2018, 10:52 AM   #21
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Maybe use a pre-filter on your paper filter. Might be an ok solution.
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