» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | | 08-17-2009, 01:16 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 6 | Non-Rubber Intake Bellows/Boot? I recently purchased a 1996 318ti Non ASC+T that had been sitting for a year. Among radiator issues, the stock rubber intake bellows had developed a huge tear. The previous owner also removed the airbox and installed some aftermarket cone air filter. Currently the whole thing (MAF, cone, etc.) dangles from this rubber bellows with no bracing whatsoever. I've been searching for a solid bellows replacement to avoid future damaged rubber but am open to a full intake kit since I need to replace the filter as well. Any suggestions? My research has not lead me to an obvious answer. I would greatly appreciate some help from anyone who has experience with aftermarket intake kits/parts. So far I've found the following: - K&N Cold Air Intake Kit: http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk...rivetrain#desc That appears to be a complete kit with boot, hosing, and brackets - but I'm not sure it's actually compatible. - Cosmo Short Ram System: http://cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=124&pid=263 I don't quite understand where the MAF comes into play with this system or if the kit even includes the intake boot that I am concerned about. And I've also read that a short system can potentially decrease performance because it is too close to the hot air from the engine. - Cosmo CAI Cold Air System: http://cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=165&pid=559 I am not at all interested in possibility of sucking water into my engine when I hit a puddle so this doesn't seem like a possibility. This is the original part I am talking about, but mine has duct tape. Quote: Originally Posted by jladdm3 hey, i need to get a new intake boot for my 95 318ti. what is the other hose that connects to the boot? whats it called? because i need to get a new one of those too. thanks alot | BTW I'm new here, this is my first post/thread and I searched my hardest before posting. Thanks, tippy | | | 08-17-2009, 01:28 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elizabeth City, NC Posts: 3,877 | The part is made out of rubber so that it can absorb some of the vibrations of the engine. Since the airbox is mounted and generally shouldn't move, if you were to make the rubber solid it wouldn't allow enough flex and could potentially crack even faster. I mean, your car is 13 years old and it has lasted most of that time, why not just replace it with the rubber and get at least another 10 years out of it? __________________ ~Dave~ 98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop 11 128i space gray slicktop 13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry Search | RealOEM Last edited by spidertri; 08-17-2009 at 04:12 PM. Reason: i'm dumb | | | 08-17-2009, 01:30 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulfport, Florida Posts: 3,208 | http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/cata..._pg2.htm#item3 Hope this helps, third one down in the link. Replace with original. They are good quality and will last for 5+ years even without support. Welcome to the board... | | | 08-17-2009, 01:35 PM | #4 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 6 | Quote: Originally Posted by spidertri The part is made out of rubber so that it can absorb some of the vibrations of the engine. Since the airbox is mounted and generally shouldn't move if you were to make the rubber solid it would allow enough flex and could potentially crack even faster. | My airbox was removed so this whole thing bounces around freely, that's why I'm interested in a solid replacement. You have a good point of course, I was just hoping to avoid tearing through another rubber boot - without the airbox to support it there seems to be more stress on the boot. Should I just get a factory airbox or let it dangle? Quote: Originally Posted by xxxJohnBoyxxx | Thanks, not a bad price either. | | | 08-17-2009, 01:38 PM | #5 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 6 | If they don't need support then I guess I've got nothing to worry about. Thanks guys. | | | 08-17-2009, 01:57 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 152 | I had two boots that I recently replaced...just get the part and replace it---as Dave said there is a reason why the parts were engineered how they are, although they aren't indestructible, they are resilient. | | | 08-17-2009, 02:24 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulfport, Florida Posts: 3,208 | Quote: Originally Posted by tippythecow If they don't need support then I guess I've got nothing to worry about. Thanks guys. | Make a support out of aluminum and bolt that to the engine bay somewhere then zip tie the MAF or something to the support... | | | 08-17-2009, 02:24 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: MD/PA/DC Posts: 1,629 | Get the stock setup, someone here has to have one they'd sell. __________________ No more ti. | | | 08-17-2009, 03:03 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 890 | I do.. I have the airbox & plumbing sitting at home.. PM me if interested. __________________ SOLD!!! 1999 332ti //M Sport Titanium Silver M3 S52 3.2 I-6 Engine, M3 Clutch w/ ti Getrag Trans, Z3 3.15 LSD medium case diff and half shafts, OEM Hatch Spoiler, Eurosport HP Underdrive Pulleys, FDM, 17" DS1 rims, M3 Front Struts & Springs, M3 Instrument Cluster, 3-spoke //M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, SSK, CCFL Angels in Depo projectors with 5k HIDs | | | 08-18-2009, 12:19 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 | the Cosmo Racing CAI has a metal brace that keeps it fixed in place, I've run one since last year, no problems with sucking water in | | | 08-18-2009, 12:50 AM | #11 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | | | | 08-18-2009, 04:24 AM | #12 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 6 | From what I understand pretty much any intake modifications won't produce any noticeable power improvements. Looks like I might as well just replace my boot and throw together my own support bracket just so it doesn't bounce around too much. | | | 08-18-2009, 04:26 AM | #13 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 6 | Quote: Originally Posted by tiFreak the Cosmo Racing CAI has a metal brace that keeps it fixed in place, I've run one since last year, no problems with sucking water in | How much rain you get over there, 'cause frankly the idea scares me living in the moist pacific northwest. | | | 08-18-2009, 04:33 AM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 | Quote: Originally Posted by tippythecow How much rain you get over there, 'cause frankly the idea scares me living in the moist pacific northwest. | well this summer it's been raining more than it's been dry, we've had some pretty bad storms I've had to drive through too | | | 07-09-2014, 08:11 AM | #15 | Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: India Posts: 1 | Air Intake System with bellows I recently studied some people change bellows for fixed silicone hoses in the belief that it improves air flow into the engine. These hoses may indeed provide a smoother path for the air to flow along but the bellows perform a vital function in allowing the distance between the engine and the air intake to vary. The engine moves around on its mounts, especially under hard acceleration, whereas the air intake enclosure is fixed to the chassis. Without the bellows something has got to give and will end up breaking in time – if you’re lucky it’ll be the silicone hoses but could just as easily be the very expensive throttle bodies. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |