User Manual

PERFORMANCE AIR INTAKE FOR BMW M3 E90 E92 E92 2007 TO 2013 – ALL MODEL

MATERIAL: PREMIUM CARBON FIBER

INSTALL NOTES

COMPATIBLE AIR FILTER MODELS: 6-inch inlet air filters

Notice: This installation requires you to remove a small plastic trim in step 7, otherwise your air filter might not sit in the airbox correctly

Professional Installation Recommended. After Install, go for a gentle test drive and double-check and tighten the clamps as needed. Vortex air intake mid-pipe works with any cone air filter with matching inlet size. Check your state/regional laws to see if air intake modifications are allowed, aftermarket parts are designed for off-road/track use only.

Install Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Pipe Fits directly into your OEM Air Intake Elbow pipe | Features extra large high-flow performance mid-pipe | Compatible with matching inlet size Cone Air Filters

NOTE – Air Filter is designed to fit TIGHT against the mouth of the mid-pipe

– Put the tip of the mid pipe against the rubber air filter mouth at an angle (not pushing it all the way in) and apply force to pop the mid pipe onto the air filter rubber mouth.
– If you are in a cold environment, use a blow dryer/heat gun/other sources of heat to gently warm up the air filter rubber mouth before use.

INSTALLATION STEPS:

1. Use a 10mm socket wrench to remove the two intake muffler mounting bolts as seen on the right

2. Use a 6mm socket wrench to loosen the hose clamp attaching the intake muffler to the rubber boot

3. Using a T20 torx bit or T-handle, remove the eight torx screws securing the lid on the intake muffler. Remove the lid from the vehicle

4. To remove the air filter, grab it on the rubber boot side and pull straight back. The filter is on a spring mechanism that compresses when you pull back allowing you to remove the filter (see image below)
BMW E90 M3 tune up – pull air filter away from rubber bootBMW E90 M3 tune up – pulling the air filter will compress the spring behind it

5. Remove the air filter and the rubber boot adapter from the vehicle

Remove the air filter from the vehicle

6. Now, you can unplug and remove the original adaptor as seen below
BMW E90 M3 tune up – remove the boot adapter

7. Inside the airbox container on the bottom right corner, there is a little plastic piece that was originally used to hold the OEM air filter in place – this piece can be removed in order to provide more space for the NEW air filter to sit lower if needed.
– Depending on the air filter you are using, this piece may need to be removed.
– It is easy to remove this plastic piece with the right technique.

– This piece is being held in place by a spring from the OUTSIDE of the box behind it

– From behind the airbox (completely bring out airbox to do this task), simply use pliers to shimmy the spring out as you twist the spring. It will crawl out as you twist and the plastic piece will come off.

8. Next, for easier assembly, first plug in the air filter into the carbon fiber mid pipe outside separately and tighten the air filter clamp onto the carbon fiber mid pipe.

Note that the air filter mouth will fit tightly against the carbon fiber mid pipe. 

– Put the tip of the mid pipe against the rubber air filter mouth at an angle (not pushing it all the way in) and apply force to pop the mid pipe onto the air filter rubber mouth.
– If you are in a cold environment, use a blow dryer/heat gun/other sources of heat to gently warm up the air filter rubber mouth before use.
Apply some force and the mid pipe will pop into the rubber mouth of the air filter. Try different angles and rotate while applying pressure. 
Once its on, make sure the air filter is pushed all the way into the mid-pipe. 

Now, you are ready to plug in your “mid-pipe + air filter” assembly into the OEM intake elbow.

Be sure to push the mid pipe all the way into the intake elbow as there is little space around the air filter.

Alignment against the container:

Note, make sure to align the OEM intake elbow against the airbox container based on below alignment shown here:

View from the rear:

With the above alignment guide – the assembly should sit into place as needed. You can always fiddle around with this setup to get this best fitment possible.

Use the original metal clamp to tighten the new mid-pipe into its place.

10. There is no need to put the original airbox cover back on as this kit is designed to be used without the original airbox cover. 

Put this cover inside a large plastic bag, and store it for future use if you ever need to switch back to OEM setup.

Completed Installation: Make sure all the clamps have been tightened to secure the air filter and the mid pipe to the OEM intake elbow.