[cgm1978]

I have always wanted to buy an intake since I bought my vehicle three years ago but wanted something exotic that would sound and look good. The N52B30 sounds awesome the higher the revs climb and figured a solid intake would allow me to here it more in the cabin.


I visited Arma's website, saw the high quality intakes they had for other BMW's and noticed they had one for the E90 N52(sedan). They had a listing for a non-variable intake on eBay for the sedan, but I have an E92 328i coupe and assumed it would work. This intake is meant for the sedan only, not the coupe.


Arma shipped the intake quickly and I had it in five days from Taiwan. I was very impressed with how everything was packaged and the quality of the finish. It is more of a matte carbon fiber and looks stunning under the hood.


As I was installing it I realized that the E92 coupe has a small strut brace that the sedan doesn't have and I did not have enough clearance to close the hood even after I removed the brace. I thought about returning it, since it is for the sedan only but I really loved the look and found a solution. I had a body shop cut a section of the bottom part of the intake and reattach it like it came from Arma, to give me enough clearance to close the hood. They did an excellent job modifying it except for scratching the metal edges on the top of the box, as seen in the pictures. A friend was able to install it and with the strut brace off, everything lined up.


I started the vehicle inside the shop and as I revved it, I could hear a sucking sound with the hood open. The BMW performance exhaust that I have, sounds even better with the Arma intake.


Every day I take pleasure in driving my car in our underground garage, just to hear the symphony of the intake and exhaust. When I'm on regular streets with the windows down I hear the intake sucking in air but as the revs climb I hear the exhaust more. I hear the intake more on my morning commute when it's cold outside. My co-worker tell me that it sounds even better from outside when I arrive at work, but I will have to get my brother to drive my car, so I can verify it.


Throttle response is much better than before and I hear the engine more in the cabin than before. Gas mileage is better by 2 mpg(highway and city combined).


The air filter is easier to check and replace versus the stock box, as it has a removable lid. The Arma intake lid is carbon fiber on both sides but the inside of the air box and the rest of the parts are black. I'm glad I don't have to deal with the original stock box anymore, as it is a hassle removing it. The other benefit is that it's a closed box and keeps the hot air from the engine. It also has an opening on front side, as seen in the picture, which I believe allows sound and excess cold air to go through.


I have had it on for a week and can't stop opening my hood to look at it. I highly recommend it and have no regrets. To reiterate again, this Arma intake is only for the N52 E90 325i/328i/330i sedan and not E92 coupe like I have.


The link for my purchase from Arma on eBay, pictures and videos:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261790180293...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Mike.]

hopefully it doesnt explode like their superchargers

[Volasko]

Looks nice but that seems pretty expensive. For that cash I would go BMW PI to keep it fitting OEM.

[JDane07]

$900+..........

[bimmerquick43321]

wouldn't buy anything made by arma, their supercharger failed as well as what I've seen in the dyno thread so do their headers.....

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by mecbain

wouldn't buy anything made by arma, their supercharger failed as well as what I've seen in the dyno thread so do their headers.....

Well...the headers are on a crippled 125i. Hard to say just yet

[cgm1978]

I installed a green filter and saving the Arma filter for use when it's time to clean or replace the green one. E9x M3 forum members seem to enjoy it on their cars and figured I would try it on my Arma intake.

[E91 M Sport]

Originally Posted by Mike.

hopefully it doesnt explode like their superchargers

LOL! Wouldn't that be something

I agree that setup looks trick though

[cgm1978]

Thanks!

[likebmw]

Saw one on the M4 post as well

Double side carbon finish looks quite nice though!

[330xtrai]

would rather get the bmw performance intake for that price . seems nice though

[TheSt|G]

2 MPG - Bullshit
Throttle response - Bullshit

That drone that you can hear even in free reving, priceless.

[Three_thirty_I]

It's difficult to judge precisely based on the recording of course compared to physically being there, but it sounds very similar to the normal Euro intake, but a bit more hollow if that makes sense. Almost as if the air box is made from very thin material and is actually producing its own sound, and if this is the case, it is then prone to certain resonance I would think, maybe would affect the intake behaviour to a certain extent, not sure. As long as you are happy with it at the end of the day.

[chris82]

Looks like a quality piece

[cgm1978]

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

It's difficult to judge precisely based on the recording of course compared to physically being there, but it sounds very similar to the normal Euro intake, but a bit more hollow if that makes sense. Almost as if the air box is made from very thin material and is actually producing its own sound, and if this is the case, it is then prone to certain resonance I would think, maybe would affect the intake behaviour to a certain extent, not sure. As long as you are happy with it at the end of the day.

Thanks!

[cgm1978]

Originally Posted by chris82

Looks like a quality piece

Thanks!

[cgm1978]

Originally Posted by 330xtrai

would rather get the bmw performance intake for that price . seems nice though

Thanks, I almost got the performance intake but I didn't want to have to keep paying someone to disassemble it just to replace the filter. I can remove the Arma intake lid bolts easily and clean or replace the air filter. The other benefit is you get more carbon fiber than the BMW one and are not limited to using one brand of filter.

[Yangorang]

Is it just the air box that's geniune carbon fiber or are the duct pieces carbon fiber as well?
In this kit does anyone know what the valvetronic filter does?
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-arma-par...bm.005g-v~arm/

[Taskmaster]

I would not buy an intake at that price. Period.

[FlaPatsFan]

$930.00!!!!! That’s insane! So many other things you could do with that money.

If you want CF you going to pay for it!

[Wally_84]

Originally Posted by FlaPatsFan

$930.00!!!!! That’s insane! So many other things you could do with that money.

If you want CF you going to pay for it!

I got mine PI used for 220$. Sometimes these hours in front of Computer while looking for stuff pays out .

[FlaPatsFan]

Originally Posted by Wally_84

I got mine PI used for 220$. Sometimes these hours in front of Computer while looking for stuff pays out .

Yes it does, great find on that! I just picked up a Euro intake with K&N filter for 350. Searching pays off.