AFE Momentum Air Filter intake Box Review

[Blewx5m]

Correction: I have the blue filters and had a cel then I installed a Dinan stage 2 no cel and passed NY inspection.. Also my service advisor recommended that they do this driving test where they plug the car into a computer to set the correct parameters.. I think that helped me too.. Sorry for the confusion

[Bee m]

Originally Posted by EuroCarFan

I don't believe it's the tune. And sounds like member Bee m doesn't have a tune yet but he has a CEL also.

That is correct. I'm waiting to hear back from vrsf for the downpipes and purchasing the bm3 today.

[EuroCarFan]

Originally Posted by Blewx5m

I have the blue filters and a Dinan stage 2...no cel and passed NY inspection

Originally Posted by Bee m

That is correct. I'm waiting to hear back from vrsf for the downpipes and purchasing the bm3 today.

It seems so random with no apparent trend to point to a possible cause.

[Bee m]

Originally Posted by EuroCarFan

It seems so random with no apparent trend to point to a possible cause.

Honestly, i think its just due to increased airflow from the norm, and a tune will solve it. Same thing that happens when you swap to catless down pipes.. most of the time you need to tune the car after.

[EuroCarFan]

Originally Posted by Bee m

Honestly, i think its just due to increased airflow from the norm, and a tune will solve it. Same thing that happens when you swap to catless down pipes.. most of the time you need to tune the car after.

I already have the BM3 tune though.

But here's something else and I'm not sure if it could be the actual problem. I have a crankcase breather oil cap from Vargas Turbocharger Technologies that's been installed for about 5 months and the attached pic is the actual fault code. My shop thinks it's this oil cap and not the intake but I got the CEL a couple hundred miles after installing the intake recently. If it's the oil cap then I should have gotten the error code a while ago?

Anyway, put back the stock cap and will drive around a few days to see if the CEL comes back.

[KCTiger]

I had BM3 Stage 1 when the AFE unit threw a code. Removed AFE and no issues. No issues with RK intakes either fwiw.

[EuroCarFan]

Originally Posted by KCTiger

I had BM3 Stage 1 when the AFE unit threw a code. Removed AFE and no issues. No issues with RK intakes either fwiw.

Yeah I think this is the only intake that's causing CELs. Haven't heard anyone with the Dinan intake complain about this either. I'll most like switch to Dinan if I can find someone parting out.

[EuroCarFan]

I replaced my breather oil cap with the stock one but the same fault code popped back up the next day. I searched for the code and found the below thread. Some of the posters on there think it's cause the intake moves around too much and triggering the code. Not sure if that's true but I removed and reinstalled the intake again and tightened everything so we'll see. I also checked the installation instructions on aFe's website and it mentioned that grommets were provided with the intake. They're supposed to be installed in grooves underneath the intake box and then you press the box down on the car's mounting pegs. I bought this system used and didn't get the grommets so I emailed aFe to see if they sell them separately. Maybe the grommets will restrict the movements of the intake?

Chances are though, that maybe it's just the higher airflow making the computer think something's loose/disconnected. If code comes back again then I'll switch back to the stock intake.

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...mkq8jTNEsnNPM4

[Bee m]

So I left the cel on and didn’t erase the CCV code to see if the car would learn the increased airflow and the cel went away on its own today. Hopefully it stays that way.

[EuroCarFan]

Originally Posted by Bee m

So I left the cel on and didn’t erase the CCV code to see if the car would learn the increased airflow and the cel went away on its own today. Hopefully it stays that way.

Interesting. How long did it take?

[Bee m]

Roughly 5 to 6 days.

[EuroCarFan]

Originally Posted by Bee m

Roughly 5 to 6 days.

Thanks. If the CEL comes back, I'll just leave it for about a week and see what happens.

[EuroCarFan]

CEL's back. Guess I'll leave it and drive around for a week. Then again, the CEL has been coming back ever since I installed the intake about 3.5 weeks ago. Figure the computer would have adapted by now (if that's what it's supposed to happen) even if I cleared the code?

[1badttx5m]

Make sure your vent tubes aren’t hitting the metal pieces around the intake to turbo pipe. May be resting on there and causing a vibration issue thats triggering the cel

[EuroCarFan]

Originally Posted by 1badttx5m

Make sure your vent tubes aren’t hitting the metal pieces around the intake to turbo pipe. May be resting on there and causing a vibration issue thats triggering the cel

Which ones are the vent tubes or are you referring to the elbows? aFe asked for pics and I sent them the three below. The second pic shows the left elbow almost touching some metal tubing and I can picture them rubbing against each other during driving. Not sure if that's what you're referring to though.

[1badttx5m]

Originally Posted by EuroCarFan

Which ones are the vent tubes or are you referring to the elbows? aFe asked for pics and I sent them the three below. The second pic shows the left elbow almost touching some metal tubing and I can picture them rubbing against each other during driving. Not sure if that's what you're referring to though.

Sorry I should have been more specific, the crankcase vent tubes. If you take the engine cover off you can see them going to the intake. Sometimes they tend to hit the metal heat shield near the turbos. Or they could have come lose over time and build up oil residue. If they aren’t sealed 100% or are hitting you might be getting that code. I’ve had the afe intake for almost a year now and haven’t had a cel but I noticed that those vent tubes were slightly leaking on mine and replaced them. But be extremely careful as the tabs are fragile and might break if you try to remove them. Sometimes the flaps inside get stuck shut or open.

[EuroCarFan]

Are they the two small house in the middle of this pic that look like a Y? I don't see anything loose or any oil residue. Might not be looking at the right thing.

[1badttx5m]

Originally Posted by EuroCarFan

Are they the two small house in the middle of this pic that look like a Y? I don't see anything loose or any oil residue. Might not be looking at the right thing.

These right here

[EuroCarFan]

Thanks. The one on the left was about a millimeter from the heat shield so I pushed the heat shield away a bit. Can't visually notice anything wrong with them. I also don't see how installing this intake would all of a sudden make those things move more than normal to be rubbing against anything. That part of the intake tube is pretty stable and barely moves.

I think my process is going to be 1) drive around for about a week to see if the computer adapts, 2) if CEL is still there then swap back stock intake and 3) if CEL is still there with stock intake then maybe one of those venting tubes did in fact go bad then I'll try replacing them.

[X5M_RoOkIE]

My check Engine light came on and this Afe intake was fine for about 2500 miles. I bought it brand new Afe better do the right thing and give me my money back. Now I'm thinking about buying the Rk intake but I heard it can be a problem with water going in the filters especially in the car wash?

[KCTiger]

Originally Posted by X5M_RoOkIE

My check Engine light came on and this Afe intake was fine for about 2500 miles. I bought it brand new Afe better do the right thing and give me my money back. Now I'm thinking about buying the Rk intake but I heard it can be a problem with water going in the filters especially in the car wash?

I have had zero problems with RK intakes and it's been through a car wash numerous times.

[NikNala]

Originally Posted by KCTiger

I have had zero problems with RK intakes and it's been through a car wash numerous times.

Same here. I've been through a touch less car wash over 50 times with no issues.