Air filters

Author
Discussion

juicetin

Original Poster:

32 posts

260 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
I'm thinking of fitting a different air filter to my 97 Elise and would like to know what difference to noise and performance if any this will make. I have a Janspeed exhaust on it. I was thinking of either a wire mesh type element filter or a K&N cone filter. Thanks a lot.

bogie

16,611 posts

279 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
I would have a look at www.race-speed.com or www.eliseparts.com and go for either a Hurricane (£150) or ITG filter (£350 - similar but carbonfibre)

you will get more noise (low deep sound on full throttle) and approx 3 or 4 bhp

waterboy

20 posts

257 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
my dealer recommended the ITG filter and said that the manufacturers guarantee an extra 8bhp. however that was based on it being fitted to an S2 111s.

has anyone who has had an airfilter and exhaust fitted had the bhp checked on a rolling road?

Davey S1

13,140 posts

261 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
Depends how much you want to spend I suppose.

I have an S1 with a Janspeed and I had the K&N 57i fitted last week and cannot recommend it enough. Under accelaration the car sounds fantastic,really meaty and noisy without being OTT. It is also a little noisier while cruising but not droney or enough to get on your nerves.

Can't say I've noticed an increase in power though.

They are about £60 from Race Speed.

juicetin

Original Poster:

32 posts

260 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
Thanks Davey S1, could you tell me whether any alteration to mixture settings etc is required with the K&N or do you just fit and go ?

Bonce

4,339 posts

286 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
All air filters are plug and play. The ECU compensates automatically.

Davey S1

13,140 posts

261 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
As Bonce said you just plug them in and drive away.

I didnt install mine myself as I have a habit of bu99ering up anything remotely connected with DIY but after watching it being fitted (I had the eliseparts gear linkage upgrade done at the same time) I could have done it myself no problem.

The fiddly part is getting to the screws which hold the original airbox in place. Once this is out the K&N filter is just connected to a pipe and secured with the jubilee clips supplied.

Looking forward to giving mine another ragging after work tonight!

dragstar

3,924 posts

257 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
noise...OTT...um are we talking about the same car here?

i have the ITG filter and the lotus sport exhaust system and the noise is fantastic. i had a k&n system on my old car and think that on an elise its time to move up a gear!!

go on try it. and btw, is the lotus sport exhaust better/worse than the janspeed system? (in every department)

bogie

16,611 posts

279 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
the Lotus sport exhaust is the Janspeed on the S1 and early S2 - later S2 sports exhaust is Magnex - nothing in it really apart from sound.

I have the ITG on my S2 - dont believe the hype about 8bhp for air filters - do a back to back RR run and then ask for your money back when it dont deliver!

A more realistic claim would be 3 or 4bhp - most 'std' cars dyno around 131bhp with exhaust/filter, maybe 135bhp with CRP/sports cat too ...why do you think PTP sell there 140ps (not bhp) kit which is a 135 spec head, but then say you will only get 140ps (138bhpish) if you fit their (Janspeed) exhaust and ITG filter too - so I guess they are saying that the exhaust+filter combined give the additional 5bhp.

If you really want to notice a difference in power then youve got to put some cams in there - Piper 270s or 633s work fine on the std ECU/plenum combo and will give a real 15bhp or so gain

dragstar

3,924 posts

257 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
quotequote all
yes but how much do those cams cost? and to fit? where from?

got my elise 111s (1999) for £16100 but had a momo removable wheel, lotus suspension, exhaust and ITG/PTP filter, mats, Sport 160 wheels, fully armourfended, all usual 111s extras, clear indicators and clear rear lights and a private plate: T5 VVC.

do you think i got a good deal? i think so, but not sure!

bogie

16,611 posts

279 months

Wednesday 25th June 2003
quotequote all
cams are around £275 then you need some verniers so you can time them properly - about £390 + £250 fitting ish

goto www.dvapower.com for the best VFM, quality, no bull upgrades for the K series IMHO

juicetin

Original Poster:

32 posts

260 months

Wednesday 25th June 2003
quotequote all
Useful info about airfilters etc. One final question please..what sort of affect on insurance can i expect just to change the airbox ?

bogie

16,611 posts

279 months

Wednesday 25th June 2003
quotequote all
depends on insurer - some like Frizzells dont care about mods

Tescos (who Im with at the moment) charge in bands e.g. +10% BHP, +20%bhp . I pay about £140 a year on a £900 base price for +20% band ...basically if you just do the filter (4bhp say) then its a lot..but then you dont pay any more for extra mods until you go over the next band.

Most insurers are different - some are mod friendly - some not - best give yours a ring first