Ramair vs K&N filter ?

[CanadaA3wales]

Do these really make a difference?

You can either pay £45.00 for a K&N or the Ramair/Pipercross for £32.00

Lots of people saying the throttle response feels better, and also its washable so I never have to buy another filter again.

Anyone used these?

Seems good value if you buy the Ramair one as you dont have to buy a filter every year.

I am not expecting a +40bhp, but every little helps.

 

[Gazwould]

Dirt Vs Dirt .

 

[Bigjase88]

Don’t bother.

all these performance filters do is let more crapp through right into the turbo.

more air = less filtration

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Even the proper cold air filters that attach to the MAF ?
The proper cold air ones are 180.00 which seems like a bargain for the kit.

 

[Flowrider99]

Do these really make a difference?

You can either pay £45.00 for a K&N or the Ramair/Pipercross for £32.00

Lots of people saying the throttle response feels better, and also its washable so I never have to buy another filter again.

Anyone used these?

Seems good value if you buy the Ramair one as you dont have to buy a filter every year.

I am not expecting a +40bhp, but every little helps.

No difference other than noisier intake and less filtration.

 

[Gazwould]

The most remarkable car performance marketing scam...

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Well it seems they dont really do cold air intake for TDI's as it seems they tend to let more air in than petrols.

I think I will just stick with a APR or Revo map and leave it at that, well until the clutch goes LOL then buy a Sachs

 

[Bigjase88]

Well it seems they dont really do cold air intake for TDI's as it seems they tend to let more air in than petrols.

I think I will just stick with a APR or Revo map and leave it at that, well until the clutch goes LOL then buy a Sachs

Diesels run on excess air anyways. Just change stock panel filter regularly, its the best for your engine and the cheapest option

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Diesels run on excess air anyways. Just change stock panel filter regularly, its the best for your engine and the cheapest option

Are all the panel filters the same?
I have only used Mann or Mahle, I assume I am not going to get anything better than those for more air?

 

[John Pilkington]

Had them all over the years cone panel you name it loads of induction noise but no performance gain

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Had them all over the years cone panel you name it loads of induction noise but no performance gain

So a bit pointless then.
Spend an extra £250.00 for no gains and more noise

Thanks all.

Going to get the car mapped in the new year and will just leave it at that. I cant see any other way of improving HP.

I think my next car is going to be a RWD or Quattro as you cannot do a lot with a FWD car due to the torque and wheel spin.

 

[Gazwould]

Funny thing is you can get the same induction noise by putting not many holes in the airbox .

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Funny thing is you can get the same induction noise by putting not many holes in the airbox .

Holes in a Airbox?
That sounds risky isnt it?

How do you do that without the potential of crud build up ?

 

[Gazwould]

There's holes already in the bottom of my VW airbox to prevent hydrolock .

 

[Gazwould]

You drill several 5mm holes pre air filter on a cooler wing and front sides .

Unlike what this idiot has done , lol .

 

[desertstorm]

Stick with a stock air filter. Mann are ghood. OE air filter solutions are pretty good these days. Unless you are making substantial increases in power the stock filter is good. One thing I wouldn't worry about going for a performance air filter on a diesel is the extra dirt that may find it's way in.
With the amount of EGR recycling that is done in modern diesels there is a significant amount of sooty exhaust gas taken in by the engine.

 

[Retroman]

The more expensive (traditional paper filters) might have more folds meaning that the air is sucked in across a bigger surface area. I looked at a lot over the years and in my view Mann or Mahle are the best. Ferrari use traditional paper filters!

 

[Retroman]

Ferrari

 

[Gazwould]

Lambo

 

[CanadaA3wales]

If they are good enough for +250,000 super cars then they are good enough for my Audi LOL

Thanks all, really appreciate the advice, will stick with the OEM ones

 

[Dubjam]

On a diesel engine - no, on a petrol engine, they do, but on a very minimal level and will probably require a custom map or a map tweak (if you have an existing map) to make use of the tiny little bit of increased airflow. Its hardly worth it tbh.

I got around 4bhp increase on my Impreza swapping from an OEM paper filter to a Ramair one..and tbh those sorts of gains can be had or lost on a sunny day over a cold moist day. Still, ever little helps when you are chasing numbers.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Yeah I dont think its going to help much really. I was maybe just hoping for a little throatier sound than a typical diesel, not boy racer type, just a little better sound.
I dont think I would be able to go above 200bhp on a FWD anyway due to the front spinning due to torque.

 

[Dubjam]

Yeah I dont think its going to help much really. I was maybe just hoping for a little throatier sound than a typical diesel, not boy racer type, just a little better sound.
I dont think I would be able to go above 200bhp on a FWD anyway due to the front spinning due to torque.

Have you thought about just getting a new car?

 

[CanadaA3wales]

I would but can't justify a 3-4k increase from a A3 FWD to quattro.
Got my 2014 A3 2.0 for a steal, 5k, but the cheapest quattro was nearly 9k for the same year.

 

[Dubjam]

I would but can't justify a 3-4k increase from a A3 FWD to quattro.
Got my 2014 A3 2.0 for a steal, 5k, but the cheapest quattro was nearly 9k for the same year.

I meant it more that you post lots of questions about changing lots of stuff and bits that are missing from yours...I thought maybe just buying a different car might solve it all!

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Lol it would indeed,
I am just adding as I go as couldn't afford like 9k in one go. I only had 5.5k from my golf write off and it was a 2012, so I was happy when I got a more powerful and newer audi for the same price.
Im just customising it to my taste.