New Air Filter

[TKO]

Hi all

My 06 Golf GTI is coming up to the 90,000km service soon...and as part of the 90K service, I think the air filter will need to be refresh/ replace....

Just wondering should i replace it with OEM or drop a K&N replacement filter in there. Has anyone have any comments on the K&N drop in filter...has anyone try it before and how it feels?

I have used a K&N filter in my old EG Civic before and the car felt no difference, just with a very little bit of noise increase....will it be the same case here?

What is the price of a OEM air filter in MELB?

Thank alot.

[zz2]

yep theres next to no difference in performance with a squidge more noise (if you listen really really carefully).

but hey think of the plus side.. youre paying about $600 odd less than you would for a Craponio intake which is really just a new panel filter anyway

[ChrisR32]

I would go the OEM filter again, no question. If there is no performance difference and no more sound then stick with what the factory designed for it.

[bazzle]

I would go the OEM filter again, no question. If there is no performance difference and no more sound then stick with what the factory designed for it.

Agree, stay with original.

Bazzle

[White Fang]

I've got a K&N replacement filter, just to save on the future costs of changing the OEM. It runs pretty similar to the OEM one and there's a bit more of a pleasant intake sound.

However, I did come across this thread weeks ago which may be helpful:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4225360

[Dub_Star_V6]

That Vortex thread ^^^^ offers some good advice. But you'll find that this has been done to death: the main restriction is provided by the intake and airbox, not the filter.

Easy Upgrades for my new A4
Paper filter Vs K&N
K&N air filters 1
K&N air filters 2

Here's another tip:




Alles schön, die 'Search' funzionen ist sehr gut, ja?

[mikinoz]

How about a ModShack?

[Big Yellow]

How about a ModShack?

modshack +1

sounds on my .:R hehehe!!

[White Fang]

Na ja, die "Search" Funktionen funktioniert ok!

So, I've got an APR/Carbonio CAI with a K&N replacement filter put into it. Might mean that I don't have restrictions at all then???

[Jettinabout]

Stay with the original.....Volkswagen spent gazillions on trial and research to work out the best characteristics for their air filters....and people tell us that the cheaper ones (that they readily admit they put on their car because they work out cheaper ) are better...rubbish.!! If they were cheaper and better than the ones VW has developed then they would already be on the car...

[Paul_OH]

Stay with the original.....Volkswagen spent gazillions on trial and research to work out the best characteristics for their air filters....and people tell us that the cheaper ones (that they readily admit they put on their car because they work out cheaper ) are better...rubbish.!! If they were cheaper and better than the ones VW has developed then they would already be on the car...

No sorry, I don't agree with this at all. Car manufacturers work to a business model and using the air filter as an example:
1. they will specify (and purchase) the cheapest product possible suitable to do the job and sell it as a spare part for the highest markup figure they can achieve.
2. It has to be suitable for 99% of the population. If they specified a re-usable/washable part for the 1% of the enthusiasts who want more power or induction noise would the other 99% regularly maintain it like we would? No way, they would probably lose sales due to higher maintenance requirements.
3. They could specify a better part part but if they sell a re-usable item they wouldn't get the sale of spares.
4. They have to specify a part to suit every market whether it's the winters of Norway, the sandy desert in Dubai or the humidity of the tropics.

You could use the same way of thinking on an exhaust for example, most people want a quiet car that gets them from A to B. Manufacturers want the cheapest system possible. Enthusiasts want the most power with some noise and unfortunately the 3 requirements never see eye to eye.

Just something to bear in mind when choosing what's best for you vs what's best for the other 99%

[Jettinabout]

Paul...you are entitled to have your own opinion and I respect that but VW have worked out what is required for the car and the price with markup(as is the case with after market gear...otherwise Supercheap and Autopro would not exist..complete with their marketing wizardry). VW also use the Dakar Rally to test exactly what is required ....their turbos' come to mind ...they never won it until they got the mix right...I am sure their air filters are exactly what is right for the vehicle. If you want to put anything else on your vehicle then all power to you....then we have the issue if something goes wrong with aftermarket gear and VW won't back up warranty. I am yet to understand why people buy a specific brand of vehicle ..namely VW, because of their love for the brand and then go an put other non brand equipment on the vehicle and then try to convince me it is better...I wonder if that works for Ferrari, Bugatti, Lamborghini etc ....same applies for VW ....In my opinion it is not.

[TKO]

VW will only build a car than suit most people...because they are a mass production car marker company.

Aftermarket products suppose to explore the boundary of a standard issued item to allow it to over-perform what the manufacturer specified.

I guess the psychology of modifying cars is like overclocking a computer CPU. The fun is not in getting a faster computer....but is in the process of beating the manufacturer's restriction and over-preform what the item was suppose to do. And knowing you have done so.

So in my opinion, the same in motor vehicles. A good modification need research preformed and tests done to resulted in a car than would over preform the manufacturer's specification without shorten its lifespan or driveablitity. Furthermore, the feeling of my Car is difference to all other cars is very very satisfy.

Do not in a moment think that only general mass production cars have aftermarket tuners. Even Ferrari have tuner such as Novitec; Lamborghini have tuner such as HAMANN; Porsche have tuner such as Gemballa...etc.

However, with me not having not much cash...that why me is just looking at getting the best value for my money. If i can save a bit of cash by using a re-usable filter and that it will not do much harm to my engine...why not? Out-preforming VW specification is just a bonus.

[Maverick]

However, with me not having not much cash...that why me is just looking at getting the best value for my money. If i can save a bit of cash by using a re-usable filter and that it will not do much harm to my engine...why not? Out-preforming VW specification is just a bonus.

Because there is plenty of evidence out there that re-usable filters do nothing other then not filter as well and increase fuel consumption.

http://www.tyresmoke.net/forum/audi-a3-s3-cabrio/59673-k-n-filter-bad-results-against-audi-oem-filter.html

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

[Golf Houso]

Because there is plenty of evidence out there that re-usable filters do nothing other then not filter as well and increase fuel consumption.

http://www.tyresmoke.net/forum/audi-a3-s3-cabrio/59673-k-n-filter-bad-results-against-audi-oem-filter.html

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

Errrrggghh not this again, they wouldn't make a product and sell 10's of millions of them with no real benefits and contributing nothing to a vehicle.

Heck, even Coke tastes good at least it covers that much...