Aftermarket cowl filter covers

martymil

Major General
Sep 6, 2017
3,331
1,906
0
Down Under
Ride
S65 1m
So I hate the look of the BMW cowl filters and they really look out of place.

I had these covers made up and they will be wrinkle finished in black.

The finish will look fantastic just like oem.

They are not cheap to make around 350 aud or 250 usd powder coated in black wrinkle finish.

Here is a raw version for now

It would take no more than 2 to 4 weeks to make and shipped to your door.

111771117811179

and the finished product

1121211213
 
Last edited:

martymil

Major General
Sep 6, 2017
3,331
1,906
0
Down Under
Ride
S65 1m
Btw these covers also stop water getting in when you wash your car.

That was the main reason for me.
 

buster84

Corporal
Mar 24, 2018
240
91
0
Ride
335 bmw xdrive
For that kind of money you can buy the M3 cowl setup for your and retain the cooler non engine heat which is the main purpose of the cowl system. Those small filters are decent but your sucking in hot heat that reeks of engine smells.
 

martymil

Major General
Sep 6, 2017
3,331
1,906
0
Down Under
Ride
S65 1m
The m3 filters dont fit without modifying the window washers or the bonnet

The m3 cowls dont seal against the bonnet so your still sucking the smells from the engine bay

If you have the factory alarm switch on the m3 cowls it doesnt line up with the boonet to tell it its closed

And no the m3 cowls and filters are almost double that with filters and you still have to modify the washers and bonnet holes and alarm switch which works out to well over 1k and closer to 2k once painting and welding is involved

Ive done both and prefer this way as it can be returned to stock easily if wanted
 

The Convert

Captain
Jun 4, 2017
1,487
1,052
0
Ride
335
I have the M3 cowel pieces and filters and it cost me ~$300 or so. If you use Mann filters and just put a black silicon hose nipple on the alarm switch you're talking about and you're done. There is no issue with washer nozzles, but you are correct that the upper seal doesn't make full contact everywhere. I'm in an e92 in case an e90 is different for some reason.
 

buster84

Corporal
Mar 24, 2018
240
91
0
Ride
335 bmw xdrive
The m3 filters dont fit without modifying the window washers or the bonnet

The m3 cowls dont seal against the bonnet so your still sucking the smells from the engine bay

If you have the factory alarm switch on the m3 cowls it doesnt line up with the boonet to tell it its closed

And no the m3 cowls and filters are almost double that with filters and you still have to modify the washers and bonnet holes and alarm switch which works out to well over 1k and closer to 2k once painting and welding is involved

Ive done both and prefer this way as it can be returned to stock easily if wanted

Dont fit 135 either

I should have made it clear e82 chassis

Not true.

E90
https://bmw.spoolstreet.com/documents/m3-cowl-conversion-for-e9x.48/

135
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1156251

attachment.png


attachment.jpg


attachment.jpg
 

martymil

Major General
Sep 6, 2017
3,331
1,906
0
Down Under
Ride
S65 1m
Doesn't show you what he done with his washer
But you have to relocate them or modify the cowls other wise you will damage the bonnet when you close it

They actually discuss this on the first page on the 135i thread

And it doesnt seal against the bonnet properly so the smell still comes in through the vents
 
Last edited:

megaman416

Lurker
Jan 25, 2018
12
1
0
Ride
335i
Did you guys lose your front window vent function with the bms filters? Mine would barely blow air when I did... added the stock cowl back and it worked again.
 

FRNTHVY

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
84
24
0
I can confirm that on my 1M the stock washer nozzles hit the M3 cowel and it did Flex the hood.

I used the mini washers and all is good.
 

doublespaces

Administrator
Oct 18, 2016
9,303
4,331
0
AZ
Ride
2009 E93 335i
That looks real nice for the people who went that route. The weather strip sealing on your modified cowl also looks good.
 

martymil

Major General
Sep 6, 2017
3,331
1,906
0
Down Under
Ride
S65 1m
Thanks i thought of doing something different than everybody else

The seal is original e92 m3 from my m3 cowl kit
that i have sitting around on the shelf

If you have leaking rocker cover gasket the oil smell

Mine doesn't leak and i prefer if i could smell it if it did as i would know something is wrong

The only one that totally seals of the engine bay is the original factory
 

Xm-n54

Private
May 8, 2017
49
16
0
Ride
2008 BMW 335xi
Who is running just the BMS cowl filter? Are people experiencing problems with water coming in the filters?