HELP with air box Question

[E9]

I need some HELP figuring out if an air box out of an '89 325i will fit with out any problems into an '86 es. This is probably a very basic question for somone just not me. Can someone plaese help me out with this. I'm in a jam time wise to get this figured out. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!!

[mikeedler]

from my experience, some of the airboxes are not interchangable, and some arent. I alway keep the computer and the airboxes together. if you swap both it will work.
Ive had some that wont even idle, and in 1 case drove great till i hit over 5000rpm, then it would sputter out.

[Rich V]

from my experience, some of the airboxes are not interchangable, and some arent. I alway keep the computer and the airboxes together. if you swap both it will work.
Ive had some that wont even idle, and in 1 case drove great till i hit over 5000rpm, then it would sputter out.

I do not see how the air boxes and the computer have any compatibility issues whatsoever. Maybe the AFM, but not the air box. There is not even a single electronic component in the airbox.

IIRC, the earlier model E30's have an AFM that uses a different style of inlet than the later models.

[mikeedler]

thats what i meant smart guy. air its all part of the airbox assy.

[rs4pro3]

I believe there are three main non m e30 airboxes, the 318i metal one, early 325e metal box, and the later plastic box.
If you have a metal 325e airbox you need a metal airbox(you can make a plastic one work just fine)
basicaly all three airboxes are interchangable. the metal ones have a round inlet, so you just unbolt the afm and slid it off, where as the plastic boxes the afm has a rect. inlet so you have to unbolt the inlet it self directly from the afm.

[E9]

That's what I needed to know. Thanks