Please share experiences with BPP/K&N air filters

[tbone28]

I read a few posts where previous users of the K&N felt the filter was on the smaller side. I found this K&N made for the Smart:

33-2417 - K&N Replacement Filters, Replacement Air Filter

Is this the filer you all used? Or is this newly made for the Smart?

If this is the same K&N you used, and you have also used the BPP, would you please share your experiences?

Thanks

[cablvr]

New filter for the smart. EZ install - less than 10 minutes.

[NeWave]

Yeah, that's the newer filter made especially for smart.
I got that KN, easy to pop in. It I noticed is sounded different and was a bit more peppy after putting it in.

[VinceLA]

tbone, check out afefilters.com as well. They recently released one for the smart car. Should be on the front page. Scroll down a bit.

I use afe exclusively for a race car and a track car.

[mvaldes]

I've used the "old" K&N (before they specifically made one for the Smart) and currently use the BPP. There was an immediate positive change (by butt accelerometer) that felt the same with both. The BPP seems a bit better made but otherwise, no differences that I noted.

[tbone28]

Originally Posted by VinceLA

tbone, check out afefilters.com as well. They recently released one for the smart car. Should be on the front page. Scroll down a bit.

I use afe exclusively for a race car and a track car.

Vince - do you use one in your Smart? Which gives better performance - the dry filter or oiled filter? Have you compared it to the BPP or K&N?

[mendo]

Originally Posted by mvaldes

I've used the "old" K&N (before they specifically made one for the Smart) and currently use the BPP. There was an immediate positive change (by butt accelerometer) that felt the same with both. The BPP seems a bit better made but otherwise, no differences that I noted.

Similar experience here, the BPP is deeper, more filter area, it may flow more air if tested with super sensitive equipment capable of metering that.

I have taken it out to clean it a couple of times and it goes in and out easily.

I am very happy with the BPP and the service of Ernie.

[Smart_Dude]

Back in my younger days, when I was riding 500cc off-road bikes, I used a K&N oil-impregnated filter - incrediably similar to today's automobile K&N methodology. Now after each ride (couple hours in duration), I would dutifully wash and re-oil the filter. Then I began seeing 'dust' in the carb throat... and after about 60 hours of riding, the engine needed new rings.

Now I didn't mind spending an evening in the garage with a couple beers, rebuilding a 500cc 2-stroke motorcycle engine every 60-80 running hours, especially one that drops out after removing only 3 bolts. But I'm not too sure how I would react to having to install new rings in my 1-liter Smart/Mitsubishi engine, say, every 50,000 miles because the K&N Filter passes fine particles.

My direct experience with using K&N Filters on a dirt bike taught me that they're great filters, IF (and this is a huge 'if') you don't mind the added maintenance because they do *not* trap fine particles. For applications like off-roading, they're quite good. But you must be ready for the damage caused by them passing fine particles.

It doesn't matter how heavily you 'load up' the cleaned filter with lube - once you run the engine at high speed/RPM, the oil gets sucked out of the filter. What makes K&N Filters a great free-flowing filter is the larger mean-free-path through the filter for air and... well... stuff, like particles.

Would I use K&N Filters? Yes, but only on off-road vehicles that I don't mind rebuilding every so often. Or a true show car that sees very low mileage. Arguably, off-roading is far more torturous than street. But in the heat of the summer, when it's dusty, street conditions get closer than you think to off-road. For what it's worth. I respect the opinions of others, and this one's mine.

Cheers,
Jeff

[NeWave]

Then you better tell it to the one fellow who put a K&N drop-in in his truck when it was fairly new, broke the KN million mile warranty.. original trans and engine. Kept it very well maintained. They gave him a new truck...
The video is on their website...

Warranty:
ENGINE PROTECTION LIMITED WARRANTY
Unlike many companies, our warranty for O/E replacement air filters and intake systems does extend beyond the replacement of a defective K&N part. For the original purchaser of the product, our warranty covers any engine damage or related costs incurred as a direct result of the use of a properly installed and maintained K&N O/E replacement air filter or intake system on the specific vehicle for which the product was designed to be used by K&N. This includes reasonable vehicle repair costs, sensor replacements, car rental fees or other incidental expenses directly related to an engine problem caused by the failure of a K&N product. Furthermore, we warrant that using our product will not result in a vehicle warranty denial. K&N will not be responsible for any indirect, consequential, special, contingent, or other damages not listed above.

[2smartArizona]

Originally Posted by Smart_Dude

Back in my younger days, when I was riding 500cc off-road bikes, I used a K&N oil-impregnated filter - incrediably similar to today's automobile K&N methodology. Now after each ride (couple hours in duration), I would dutifully wash and re-oil the filter. Then I began seeing 'dust' in the carb throat... and after about 60 hours of riding, the engine needed new rings.

Now I didn't mind spending an evening in the garage with a couple beers, rebuilding a 500cc 2-stroke motorcycle engine every 60-80 running hours, especially one that drops out after removing only 3 bolts. But I'm not too sure how I would react to having to install new rings in my 1-liter Smart/Mitsubishi engine, say, every 50,000 miles because the K&N Filter passes fine particles.

My direct experience with using K&N Filters on a dirt bike taught me that they're great filters, IF (and this is a huge 'if') you don't mind the added maintenance because they do *not* trap fine particles. For applications like off-roading, they're quite good. But you must be ready for the damage caused by them passing fine particles.

It doesn't matter how heavily you 'load up' the cleaned filter with lube - once you run the engine at high speed/RPM, the oil gets sucked out of the filter. What makes K&N Filters a great free-flowing filter is the larger mean-free-path through the filter for air and... well... stuff, like particles.

Would I use K&N Filters? Yes, but only on off-road vehicles that I don't mind rebuilding every so often. Or a true show car that sees very low mileage. Arguably, off-roading is far more torturous than street. But in the heat of the summer, when it's dusty, street conditions get closer than you think to off-road. For what it's worth. I respect the opinions of others, and this one's mine.

Cheers,
Jeff

Same experience here....I want a filter that captures more dirt not less, and living in Arizona especially. I don't care if some guy in Louisiana got a million miles out of it....never saw a GM motor go so long, but I know that out here in Arizona I would be doing a ring job a lot sooner, just like on my bikes. I don't even really know if it gave me any edge on the competition. But now....I just say sorry, don't need the power increase or to save money on filters, I just want my motor to last. If you want a K & N go right ahead, but you'll never convince me. There was no economy in it for me, but your results may vary.