Now, i've had circa 1,543 PMs about this. (ok, maybe 5 or 6)
when I've gone to forward the PM to the next person, the pictures don't work so i think its easier to make a thread.
now i didn't take pictures when i did it, maybe one or two on my phone, so I'm going to use some online images for this as well. this is BRIEF, as its self explanatory when you start doing it.
Quick brief of what i have done, and my results / personal findings.
(at no point will i take responsibility if you do this and 1, don't like it. 2, don't feel you have gained the same results as me, 3, **** it up and require new trim or parts due to damage caused, 4, void any warranty. this ISNT a noticeable modification, they would have to open the inlet tube on the slam panel to see that its been cut, and they have no need to do this during servicing! and most people wouldn't notice the resonator missing when changing the air filter at service. BUT i will not state its warranty safe on any trim, or the intake system.)
So, there are a few restrictions on the standard intake - from grill to air box. (I've not changed my inlet pipe or elbow in anyway, but i plan to in due course.)
There is a restriction on the actual grill itself - its blocked.
there in a restriction on the the inlet piping on the slam panel - its blocked.
and also one inside the box - a resonator / grill.
I opened up the two blocked restrictions and removed the resonator / grill.
I have found, (no other mods at this time) smoother and stronger pick up from 2k, induction noise - very noticeable, sounds like i have an open cone CAI, a very nice sucking noise, and turbo noise which is absolutely stunning. a nice dump on lift off. Will i get an induction kit now. simply no. i plan on a performance foam filter! that it is. I am very VERY happy with what i have done.
( i will stick the go pro in the air box at some point and record it)
so we start by popping the bonnet and removing a few torx screws.
the top two, is just a cover, this will tilt/rock/fold/pivot towards you, and then lift up.
the next two down, will release the next section (shown next)
the bottom three, will then allow you to pull the grill towards you approx 1 inch. this will give you enough room to get behind it, when we need to.
the section you are going to remove here, is held in place by the 2nd set of screws. it will simply pull out, BUT it is clipped into the air box, so wiggle it from there and take note when re fitting.
when it pulls out, you will see that the left hand side is open, and the right hand side is blocked off.
i don't care how you do it, but id advise a dremel if you have one. i used a small jigsaw which did it in about 2 minutes.
then it'll look like this. i went around it with a small die grinder and smoothed it out after, post picture.
perfect huh. i then put this back in, and put the cover back on. as i left it like this for a few days before continuing.
so, you've removed the three screws on the grill trim.
you want to remove the trim that sits behind the rings, along the top row of slats.
You can see why, it blocks the nice new hole you've opened up! not so much of a direct / ram air getting through is there!
this is the trim we are removing.
the clips you can see long the bottom are also on top. they are simply that, clips! if you have a nosey through the grill you can see the bottom ones, push them up and push the trim and it comes loose. The top ones are slightly more difficult to get to, as you need to get to it from the top, so pull the top of the grill towards you and put your hand in behind it.
i found this difficult, so i put a screw driver through the grill, from the front, and pushed the trim backwards, whilst trying to release the clips. it soon fell out of place.
getting it out, is a bit of a pig but it does come out. keep pulling the top of the grill towards you, and you want this trim to be at the backwards slash angle \ <--- and then pull it up and out of the left hand side corner.
it looks and sounds more difficult than it really is.
this took me approx 5 minutes from start to finish, so I'm sure you can do it!
your grill has now gone from this - note the top row.
to this
here is mine
put the 3 screws back in and thats the hardest parts done.
not so hard huh.
so, next part, which is super was, and what helps aid towards the noise that you're going to become addicted to is, open the air box approx 8 torn screws and remove the filter.
remove this - its tight, give it a good tug! its under the filter, you cant miss it.
so your box now looks like this
Put the filter back in
put the top of the box back on
make sure you've put all the trims back together as they should be ( on the inlet pipe)
make sure your tools are out of the way
shut the bonnet
get in the drivers seat, start engine and go for a drive, and admire you're free yet beneficial mod.
yay.
Sorry that its a brief write up / how to, but as said, its very straight forward and when you start, you will think - pfft, RO65ERS didn't even need to post pictures with it.
Hope it helps you guys out though! ill be interested in hearing how you find it
P.s. the grill trim removal and trim cutting, is worth while if you are fitting aftermarket intakes as they don't change this, so you're spending £300+ on an intake and its still restricted!
when I've gone to forward the PM to the next person, the pictures don't work so i think its easier to make a thread.
now i didn't take pictures when i did it, maybe one or two on my phone, so I'm going to use some online images for this as well. this is BRIEF, as its self explanatory when you start doing it.
Quick brief of what i have done, and my results / personal findings.
(at no point will i take responsibility if you do this and 1, don't like it. 2, don't feel you have gained the same results as me, 3, **** it up and require new trim or parts due to damage caused, 4, void any warranty. this ISNT a noticeable modification, they would have to open the inlet tube on the slam panel to see that its been cut, and they have no need to do this during servicing! and most people wouldn't notice the resonator missing when changing the air filter at service. BUT i will not state its warranty safe on any trim, or the intake system.)
So, there are a few restrictions on the standard intake - from grill to air box. (I've not changed my inlet pipe or elbow in anyway, but i plan to in due course.)
There is a restriction on the actual grill itself - its blocked.
there in a restriction on the the inlet piping on the slam panel - its blocked.
and also one inside the box - a resonator / grill.
I opened up the two blocked restrictions and removed the resonator / grill.
I have found, (no other mods at this time) smoother and stronger pick up from 2k, induction noise - very noticeable, sounds like i have an open cone CAI, a very nice sucking noise, and turbo noise which is absolutely stunning. a nice dump on lift off. Will i get an induction kit now. simply no. i plan on a performance foam filter! that it is. I am very VERY happy with what i have done.
( i will stick the go pro in the air box at some point and record it)
so we start by popping the bonnet and removing a few torx screws.
the top two, is just a cover, this will tilt/rock/fold/pivot towards you, and then lift up.
the next two down, will release the next section (shown next)
the bottom three, will then allow you to pull the grill towards you approx 1 inch. this will give you enough room to get behind it, when we need to.
the section you are going to remove here, is held in place by the 2nd set of screws. it will simply pull out, BUT it is clipped into the air box, so wiggle it from there and take note when re fitting.
when it pulls out, you will see that the left hand side is open, and the right hand side is blocked off.
i don't care how you do it, but id advise a dremel if you have one. i used a small jigsaw which did it in about 2 minutes.
then it'll look like this. i went around it with a small die grinder and smoothed it out after, post picture.
perfect huh. i then put this back in, and put the cover back on. as i left it like this for a few days before continuing.
so, you've removed the three screws on the grill trim.
you want to remove the trim that sits behind the rings, along the top row of slats.
You can see why, it blocks the nice new hole you've opened up! not so much of a direct / ram air getting through is there!
this is the trim we are removing.
the clips you can see long the bottom are also on top. they are simply that, clips! if you have a nosey through the grill you can see the bottom ones, push them up and push the trim and it comes loose. The top ones are slightly more difficult to get to, as you need to get to it from the top, so pull the top of the grill towards you and put your hand in behind it.
i found this difficult, so i put a screw driver through the grill, from the front, and pushed the trim backwards, whilst trying to release the clips. it soon fell out of place.
getting it out, is a bit of a pig but it does come out. keep pulling the top of the grill towards you, and you want this trim to be at the backwards slash angle \ <--- and then pull it up and out of the left hand side corner.
it looks and sounds more difficult than it really is.
this took me approx 5 minutes from start to finish, so I'm sure you can do it!
your grill has now gone from this - note the top row.
to this
here is mine
put the 3 screws back in and thats the hardest parts done.
not so hard huh.
so, next part, which is super was, and what helps aid towards the noise that you're going to become addicted to is, open the air box approx 8 torn screws and remove the filter.
remove this - its tight, give it a good tug! its under the filter, you cant miss it.
so your box now looks like this
Put the filter back in
put the top of the box back on
make sure you've put all the trims back together as they should be ( on the inlet pipe)
make sure your tools are out of the way
shut the bonnet
get in the drivers seat, start engine and go for a drive, and admire you're free yet beneficial mod.
yay.
Sorry that its a brief write up / how to, but as said, its very straight forward and when you start, you will think - pfft, RO65ERS didn't even need to post pictures with it.
Hope it helps you guys out though! ill be interested in hearing how you find it
P.s. the grill trim removal and trim cutting, is worth while if you are fitting aftermarket intakes as they don't change this, so you're spending £300+ on an intake and its still restricted!