Problem with aFe air intake for E90 330i

MattF407 · 04-26-2019, 04:32 PM

Interesting... When I got mine, I installed it with green o ring and afes provided screws cus I misplaced the foam gasket. It sat higher up but I could still get the screws in and tightened a bit. Worked fine til I tracked down the foam gasket a few days later. As others stated, foam gasket only is the intended installation. Alternatively a thin rubber gasket material would also work well if you don't like the idea of using a foam gasket.

Best of luck completing your install!

lukaszewski · 04-26-2019, 05:53 PM

you want to tell me that you later removed the green O-ring and installed it without it? With the foam seal alone supplied by AFE? Did the MAF all hide in the intake tube? Was it a bit higher - the same as in my pictures?

Dpc2u · 04-26-2019, 06:04 PM

Lukasz, you are over thinking this. Take the o-ring off, put the foam gasket on, tighten it down with the 2 black screws until it is sealed well and go enjoy driving your car.

No need to keep beating your head against the wall.

lukaszewski · 04-26-2019, 06:28 PM

I am worried because the instruction says nothing about taking off the green oring

in the morning I will try, because now in Poland is the middle of the night :-D

Dpc2u · 04-26-2019, 06:43 PM

While I understand your concern, it will be fine.

6ixSpd · 04-26-2019, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukaszewski

I am worried because the instruction says nothing about taking off the green oring

in the morning I will try, because now in Poland is the middle of the night :-D

Dude... you do not need that green o-ring, that is your problem. The instructions also DO NOT say to use it.

You're not the first person to install this intake.

lukaszewski · 05-01-2019, 06:03 PM

unfortunately I tried every method .. still the same - the fuel mixture is too lean. I have to send the air intake to the seller .. for $ 560 + shipping + customs fee, about $ 700 total, this air intake is a piece of garbage for me ..

Biginboca · 05-01-2019, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukaszewski

unfortunately I tried every method .. still the same - the fuel mixture is too lean. I have to send the air intake to the seller .. for $ 560 + shipping + customs fee, about $ 700 total, this air intake is a piece of garbage for me ..

Do you have aftermarket headers or other mods on your car besides this intake?

I had problems with this intake throwing lean codes also on my car. Later I heard it doesn't play well with headers which I have. When I measured the section of the AFE where the maf sits it is larger in diameter than the factory intake and that will affect the metering by the ecu and make it run lean.

Here’s some info you might want to read...

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1572617

Eagle1oh7 · 05-01-2019, 08:08 PM

The foam gasket deteriorates when you remove the MAF enough times during cleaning intervals. I haven't installed mine in a long time since I'm working on a ramair mod and intend to dremel the hole so I can install without that stupid foam gasket even though AFE will replace it for free, their customer service is good and they're local-ish to me so I receive cleaners or replacements next day.

Eagle1oh7 · 05-01-2019, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukaszewski

unfortunately I tried every method .. still the same - the fuel mixture is too lean. I have to send the air intake to the seller .. for $ 560 + shipping + customs fee, about $ 700 total, this air intake is a piece of garbage for me ..

Do you have aftermarket headers or other mods on your car besides this intake?

I had problems with this intake throwing lean codes also on my car. Later I heard it doesn't play well with headers which I have. When I measured the section of the AFE where the maf sits it is larger in diameter than the factory intake and that will affect the metering by the ecu and make it run lean.

Here's some info you might want to read...

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1572617

Interesting. I started throwing codes(before headers) due to the gasket failing. Gave me rough idle and CEL.

lukaszewski · 05-02-2019, 03:00 AM

yes, I have catless headers, but this should not affect MAF readings, on stock intake - 3.4g / s, on aFe - 2.6g / s .. on the aFe website it's written - "BMW 3-Series (E9X) 06 -13 L6-3.0L (Non Turbo) N52 / N53 "after sending an email to technical support aFe I received a reply that it is not intended for N53 ... they do not know what they write, for me this company is a misunderstanding, and their air intake is a piece of shit

04-26-2019, 04:32 PM	#23
MattF407 Enlisted Member 39 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 2013 Mineral Grey 128i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	Problem with aFe air intake for E90 330i Interesting... When I got mine, I installed it with green o ring and afes provided screws cus I misplaced the foam gasket. It sat higher up but I could still get the screws in and tightened a bit. Worked fine til I tracked down the foam gasket a few days later. As others stated, foam gasket only is the intended installation. Alternatively a thin rubber gasket material would also work well if you don't like the idea of using a foam gasket. Best of luck completing your install!
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04-26-2019, 05:53 PM	#24
lukaszewski New Member 7 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 330i 2012 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Poland iTrader: (0)	you want to tell me that you later removed the green O-ring and installed it without it? With the foam seal alone supplied by AFE? Did the MAF all hide in the intake tube? Was it a bit higher - the same as in my pictures?
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04-26-2019, 06:04 PM	#25
Dpc2u Major 11288 Rep 1,065 Posts Drives: E93 M3, E60 M5, F15 X5, E46 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Middle Tennessee iTrader: (0)	Lukasz, you are over thinking this. Take the o-ring off, put the foam gasket on, tighten it down with the 2 black screws until it is sealed well and go enjoy driving your car. No need to keep beating your head against the wall. __________________ E46, E60 M5, E93 M3, F15 X5 IG - @thebimmerhaus
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04-26-2019, 06:28 PM	#26
lukaszewski New Member 7 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 330i 2012 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Poland iTrader: (0)	I am worried because the instruction says nothing about taking off the green oring in the morning I will try, because now in Poland is the middle of the night :-D
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04-26-2019, 06:43 PM	#27
Dpc2u Major 11288 Rep 1,065 Posts Drives: E93 M3, E60 M5, F15 X5, E46 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Middle Tennessee iTrader: (0)	While I understand your concern, it will be fine. __________________ E46, E60 M5, E93 M3, F15 X5 IG - @thebimmerhaus
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05-01-2019, 06:03 PM	#29
lukaszewski New Member 7 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 330i 2012 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Poland iTrader: (0)	unfortunately I tried every method .. still the same - the fuel mixture is too lean. I have to send the air intake to the seller .. for $ 560 + shipping + customs fee, about $ 700 total, this air intake is a piece of garbage for me ..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-01-2019, 08:08 PM	#31
Eagle1oh7 Lieutenant Colonel 289 Rep 1,710 Posts Drives: '11 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Chula Vista CA iTrader: (0)	The foam gasket deteriorates when you remove the MAF enough times during cleaning intervals. I haven't installed mine in a long time since I'm working on a ramair mod and intend to dremel the hole so I can install without that stupid foam gasket even though AFE will replace it for free, their customer service is good and they're local-ish to me so I receive cleaners or replacements next day. __________________ DONE: Seibon CF Hood, M3 Rep, MSport rear w/DD CF Diffuser, M3 Rep Skirts, Seibon CSL trunklid, Forgestar F14 18s w/Michelin PSS, Eisenmann catback, AA Headers, BPC Stage 2, Charcoal Delete+revMotor+AFE Drop In filter FUTURE MODS: LED headlights, CF rooftop, M3 Suspension Conversion, Dinan CAI Mod
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05-02-2019, 03:00 AM	#33
lukaszewski New Member 7 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 330i 2012 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Poland iTrader: (0)	yes, I have catless headers, but this should not affect MAF readings, on stock intake - 3.4g / s, on aFe - 2.6g / s .. on the aFe website it's written - "BMW 3-Series (E9X) 06 -13 L6-3.0L (Non Turbo) N52 / N53 "after sending an email to technical support aFe I received a reply that it is not intended for N53 ... they do not know what they write, for me this company is a misunderstanding, and their air intake is a piece of shit
	Appreciate 0 Quote