Early 325e Guys - Need Some Help

[bmwman91]

I have a custom built motor coming soon, and it needs a larger air filter. The early 325e shared the large filter element form the M3, which has about 75% more surface area than the filter used on the M20B25 & M42. So far, an M30 air box is looking like a real chore to fit in there (need to chop the shit out of it) and the M3 box would also need chopping since the inlet is right in the stupif M42 radiator's integral expansion tank! So, the early M20B27 that used the aluminum filter housing might be my next best place to look.

- If you have one, can you snap some pictures for me? I am trying to get an idea of how the housing sits and if it would clear my ABS unit and alternator.
- What are the width & length of this box?
- Also, could someone pull the air filter element and tell me the L x W x H of it (and if you are really awesome, count the number of pleats)?

This would help me out tremendously. Thanks a bunch!

Aaaaand if the dimensions look like they may work, and you have a spare one to sell in clean condition, I would take it off of your hands!

[reelizmpro]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-BMW-E30-325e-intake-air-filter-housing-airbox-84-/360367866582

It gets air from behind the drivers side headlight.

[bmwman91]

Haha yeah I was looking at that earlier. I was hoping to get some clear shots of this air box installed in an E30 so that I could evaluate the space requirements. I believe that the alternator sits further to the driver's side on the M42 than it does on the M20, which gives me a little concern. That, and I am not sure if any of the early 325e cars had an ABS module taking up space in the front corner.

[reelizmpro]

No ABS pump on those early ETA's.

[bmwman91]

Hmm. I may just need to shell out $40 for this experiment. That eBay one is sort of rusty...I guess I could get it sand blasted & powder coated if it fits. I am not 100% ready to give up on the M30 air box though lol. I'll if I can work some magic with a hole saw & a bit of custom machining. The old M20B27 air box does loot a bit restrictive in how it gets all narrow around the filter element. Then again, it doesn't require me to move my PS reservoir lol.