question about rain and intakes - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

phillym5 · 28th July 2003, 07:23

i havent been driving in the rain, but am wondering..........
i have tubing going from the fog lights up to the airboxes. if i get caught in the rain on the highway, could that be bad news, or is it pretty mellow. i understand i wouldnt want to drive througha deep puddle. just wondering if the motor would suck more water up through the intakes driving through a shower.

ps. i took some old filters and blasted a hose right into it. no water came through. but how hard does the motor suck?

thanks,

josh.

atomic80 · 28th July 2003, 08:03

I have the Dinan CAI setup which is fairly similiar to yours. Living in Seattle where we get a fair bit of rain every year, I haven't noticed any problems with water getting into the engine as a result. I think you'd be fine as long as you have the filters set up properly.

Need4Spd · 28th July 2003, 08:29

Just don't go fording through deep puddles.

28th July 2003, 08:44

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80
I have the Dinan CAI setup which is fairly similiar to yours. Living in Seattle where we get a fair bit of rain every year, I haven't noticed any problems with water getting into the engine as a result. I think you'd be fine as long as you have the filters set up properly.

Jason,
Do you have the Diann socks? I just added them with a set of new filters, and they look like they really do add another barrier of protection from water. I think the socks are $17 each directly from Dinan.

phillym5,
I also added tubing from the front to the Dinan filters, and have since removed it for fear of inadvertant water ingestion. If I were you, I would remove the tubing, as its benefits are unqualified, but the potential downside of water ingestion is pretty severe.

Cheers.

atomic80 · 28th July 2003, 08:57

Daniel,

Yes, I've had the Dinan "socks" since day one. They do a good job of deflecting the water.

BoringFamilySedan · 28th July 2003, 12:49

The new Dinan ram air upgrade has water boxes preventing water coming from fog light openings. I think they would work.

phillym5 · 28th July 2003, 20:41

mmm.
the upgrade feels so good matched up with the PC. i would hate to take it out. i did get caught in a huge downpour i mean i could hardly see out the window. i wasnt on the highway, just 35 mile an hour roads. probably about 15 miles. i got home poped out the filters, and there wasnt a drop on them. my theory is they shouldnt get soaked as long as your steady throttle. i could understand some serious sucking issues under hard throttle. but maybe it wont suck up hard under a steady throttle. i look at ferrari and porcshe. they have intakes on the hood and side vents. both go to the motor. escpecially the marenello's. it cant be that crazy, can it?

josh.

XrayMD · 29th July 2003, 02:41

I have the Active Autowerke's CAI and it has baffles that prevent the water from getting into the engine. However, if you inadvertently "submarine" the vehicle (as another board member unfortunately had happen recently) you will get water in the engine. Let's just say that water definitely should not be in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine.

Bottom line is, if you're driving and you see high water...if you even think that there is a chance that it is high enough to get into the intakes like this...look for another way to go where it is you're going.

phillym5 · 29th July 2003, 07:50

thanks.
what exactly is a "baffle" and could i incorporate it into my system?

josh.

29th July 2003, 21:28

Dinan's CAI upgrade is pretty smart, as it has a little collecting cup where water droplets get trapped. They direct the air coming into the fog-covers down into the collecting cup, before directing the dry air up to the sock-covered filters.

I am curious why the M5 is so sensitive to water, as so many cars have open engine compartments (Ferrari, Lotus, etc. - as previously mentioned in this thread), and cars like the Discovery and Range Rover can go completely underwater if needed.

Cheers.