K&N vs BMC Air Filter

I just wanted to make a PSA: DO NOT buy the K&N air filter for the 987. It does not fit. I fiddled with that stupid thing after installing my GT3 plenum for about an hour and there was no way to install it. I returned it and ordered a BMC air filter . The BMC came in and popped right into place in a matter of minutes. The build quality of the BMC is much nicer as well. Very impressed. I will be a BMC customer from now on after using K&N for years.

Or EVOMS.......I had one on my 08 CS and one on my Cayman R. Synthamax dry filter......no oiling. Just another option for you. Non of these do much for hp or torque but of the three, EVOMS might provide a tad bit more.

generally the aftermarket filters can be a bit fiddly compared to the paper one and take a little more manoeuvring. i like the sound of the BMC filter that gives it more induction character at lower revs and mixed with exhaust , the sound is really nice. how is it combined with your plenum upgrade?

EVOMS is also another option. I wasn't convinced it was worth the extra money. It may be but I didn't go that route. The BMC is a perfect fit, just like stock. Its great I love it! I have the desnork, filter and 80mm GT3 plenum and throttle body from Softronics. I would recommend it to anyone.

Uh oh, I just went round and round on this over the weekend, with all the reports from "these aftermarket filters let in grit and will ruin your engine" to "love the sound." I've installed K&N filter panels and cone intakes on my cars for about 25 years now, so I don't fear them. I don't care about power gains, I just want to enjoy the enhanced intake sound. The K&N is on sale for $58 at Suncoast , so I placed my order. See how it goes. Oh snap, I just got cold feet after reading this thread: http://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman-...987-cayman-and-boxster-modifications/55567-k-n-air-filter-fitting-question.html Guess its on to a dry media filter... or staying stock

The K&N seriously is just not a quality piece. They didn't take the time to design the filter properly for this car. I have run K&N on most of my previous cars and they have been great. My advice to you is to just get the BMC and be done with it. Its a great quality filter and slips right on just like stock.

This is good to know. BMC is going on the IPD plenum /82mm TB in a few days. I'll see how it is. I hate paper air filters. Looks like a piece of garbage used to crush flies and dirt after a few thousand miles.

You will be happy with it. I am planning to do and exhaust and tune to round it all out.

Agraner, have you heard any difference in intake sound? The cone intake on my old Miata howled as loud as the exhaust at WOT, and the K&N on my E30 made a killer warbling whistle. If there's no difference in sound or power and the only people who unbolt the engine cover see it, I'll stay stock

It would be hard for me to say because I did the GT3 plenum at the same time. From everything I have read the BMC filter does make a slight improvement in intake noise. If you're really looking for more intake noise you probably want the EVOMS

Just rehashing this.. I'm on the stock paper filter which my mech cleaned out at the last service in Dec. So come the next service this Dec, it'll be 2 years old. Mech said at time of service, it was just a little dirty but reusable. So..... since I have to change filters and from what I've read in so many threads, if I'm not expecting any power increase and only induction noise, I'm thinking of BMC, Evoms or AFE Pro Dry S which looks just like the BMC but with sort of metal mesh on the outside. I'm gathering all are dry filters which is good. I'm staying away from K&N. So those that have tried any of the BMC, EVOMS or AFE , are you still on them or and if not, why and what have you switched to? Thanks.

BMC is oiled, so not dry. I used one for about 10000 mi until I started getting codes due to a polluted MAF. After removing and cleaning the MAF I went back to the OEM filter. Problem solved.

Ahh.. ok... Thanks.. no BMC for me then. I'm reading now that the Evoms needs some drilling for install? Don;t know if I want that too lol... So... by process of elimination....anyone tried the AFE Pro Dry S?

EVOMS does require drilling. One or maybe two small holes in the plastic airbox. Install was very simple. Can't say it made any difference beyond sound. May have changed by now but at one time the EVOMS filters were available in both wet (oiled) or dry. As an aside everything I've ever seen on it says that cleaning a paper filter is a feel good thing. Removes the surface dirt but does nothing about the dirt lodged in the filter.

Thanks for chiming in. Yeah, not doing this for power increase although I THINK one of the mods here has mentioned that dyno has shown the claimed 6 to 8 bhp increase. Question,, the 2 holes, if you go back to original Porsche paper filter, do the 2 holes create an issue in that it allows potential "crap" in at a location which the filter can't trap?

Or... for about the same cost as the Evoms V-Flow, maybe this is better? Porsche 987.1 / 987.2 Cayman / Boxster PCS Innovations High Flow Intake - Soul Performance Products Upgrade your Porsche with a direct, drop in performance air filter designed to safely increase air flow to the engine for increased response and power. soulpp.com I wonder if the claimed increase is dynoed and due solely to the intake alone or its with header and muffler change and maybe a tune? Hmmmm.... I'm digging a hole for myself....

I did the install about 12 years ago so I may not recall correctly. From what I remember there's not a path into the intake after the filter. Just a leak before the filter into the airbox. There used to be a dyno test forum. Hopefully still there. A few HP sounds right. At least if that's all you do. Not sure if it's that much with other intake mods.

All of these oiled filters are terrible. Used both K&N and BMC and had MAF CEL problems with both. You can love the sound all you want but I'll never buy or recommend them again Is AFE Pro Dry S actual dry ?

That's what I read. They have another model which is the oiled version.

I may still try the AFE dry... my next servicing is not till Dec so its a long while to go. I may go silly and try the Evoms V-flow by then as well.

Definitely do the AFE dry filter - not K&N or BMC

the BMCs are fine.... just make sure not to over oil them... cleaning is approx 10-15k kms or once a year - so do it with an oil change. (depending on your driving/ambient dust/dirt)

Only used k&n and never had good results with them a specially the way they tell you to oil them but even the out of the box problems

My BMC caused problems before I even needed to clean and re-oil. So it came over-oiled from the factory. This thread reminded me that I still had it on a shelf in garage for about 2 yrs. I just threw it in the trash today. I thought about giving it away but didn't want to feel responsible for fouling someone else's MAF.

Sorry you had same problems but glad it wasn’t just me

I may still try the AFE dry... my next servicing is not till Dec so its a long while to go. I may go silly and try the Evoms V-flow by then. Yeah.. my mech says BMC is ok as well but really doesn;t do much about from intake noise. I'll have to change my filter at the next service end of this year and at this point, I'm thinking if I do play outside of stock filters, I'll try either the AFE Pro Dry S or the Evoms V-Flow which I understand is dry as well. Leaning more towards AFE as the Evoms requires drilling 2 additional holes.... that just puts a bit of hesitation for me.

Yeah.. I've read of too many with K&N issues. Defo wont consider K&N.

Hmmm.. thanks for the share. I've heard of some having issues with BMC.. but not half as many faced with K&N. Yeah... if I do change to an aftermarket filter, I'll go dry.

Got a decent deal off the bay for the AFE Pro Dry for the next service. Lets see how it goes.

AFE Pro Dry sounds like worth a try; is it a better flow rate yet still protects the engine ?

Just installed BMC on my 2012 cayman base,no problem.

Just went to this, fits perfect. Porsche aFe Power Pro Dry S OE Replacement Filter AFE.11.10106 AFE 11 10106 AFE1110106 | Pelican Parts

I'm waiting for mine to arrive. What's your first impression compared to stock sound wise and other?

I guess you answered my question which 36 37 38 ignored. I would expect a filter made for your car would actually fit - no surprise in that was there. But fitting the space and starting assumedly without a CEL doesn't make it good or in anyway better. I decided over 20 years ago that oiled filters were garbage and would create more problems than they are worth. I still have bottles of K&N cleaner and oil. Maybe that filter will last a lifetime but will probably be a shorter one. Was told BMC was better. I believe it is still oiled but more lightly. I have no idea about the aFe .