Newbie here, just picked up a K&N air filter for my A3. Couple questions, 1. Is it even worth installing or was I mis-informed? 2. Any special tools needed to install it?

thanks a lot,
Mark

Click the link below for additional problems you may have.<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/42451.phtml">Taking engine cover off</a></li></ul>

The definitely have worse filtration than stock and less dust-holding capacity than stock.

Dave

Is the A3 limited by the filter? Anyone ever dyno one with no filter? NA and NB Miatas cannot pull any more air through with no filter, thus K&amp;N is not a performance mod.

/bill

I just installed a K&amp;N filter in mine (after I finally got the got@#@% engine cover up). I think the K&amp;N filter will provide better air flow to the engine. The spacing between the channels on the stock filter is much narrower than the channels on the K&amp;N filter. As far as performance enhancement goes, I'm not sure; its too early for me to tell.

Note: It was a GREAT pain in the ass to change out the air filter in this car compared to the Honda Civic Cpe I once owned.

Story Time: When I picked up the K&amp;N filter from the parts store I was somewhat taken aback by the size of it. The clerk said to me, "Man, if there is one thing on a car that a person should easily know how to change out, its the air filter". After changing the air filter in the Audi A3, I wanted to go back to the parts store and smack that clerk in his mouth!

You're sacrificing a lot for a very small improvement in flow.<ul><li><a href="http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm">http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm</a</li></ul>

Ok please tell me how this would happen, just want to know for the future..

There are alot of cars that will run worse without a filter than with a filter even though you can get more air the turbulance without a filter will hurt performance. A good filter will not only filter air it will straighten it for better flow and performance. And for the MAF sensor if the K&amp;N is oiled correctly (not over oiled) there should be no damage to the MAF not the filters fault, over oil puts film on the heated wires, that is the only way it can hurt MAF. I'm sure someone will state other wise. And if you think about it the only way you can get better flow is with bigger holes for the air(and dirt) to get in thats where the oil is suppost to trap the dirt on K&amp;N. It is really a choice for each person to make.

Not that i'm trying to say KN filters are responsible for saving mafs from going bad though :) cheers! Mike

It is not worth risking, stock is as good. The benefit is too small...

none of which had anything more then a stock filter..

I"ve done maybe 5 on cars with aftermarket filters.

the MAFs are defective thats a FACT not an opinion.

in fitting a K&amp;N filter...Not worth the money and no benefits.
My A4 was running perfectly, after fitting a K&amp;N filter my MAF went bad a few months later. The K&amp;N was oiled correctly and dried, but it happened, that is a fact...
I reverted back to a stock filter after that and had no further issue.

You keep saying there is no benefits, could you please explain why you think I say think there is no benefit in a K&amp;N, The only reason I ask is I have been a cycle tech for a number of years and for some reason when the stock filter is replaced on cycles, yes even fuel injected bikes they run much leaner than with stock air cleaner and must have the jets changed and needle moved and fuel inrichment screw turned to make the bikes run with the extra air that is supplied with the K&amp;N over stock, and the fuel injected bikes I usually remap as a favore to the customer if they have a power commmander or a teca or yosh box for the extra air, they do not have MAF to make the changes like the cars do to adjust for the extra air intake. The fuel injected bikes could run without the enrichment but would lean out slightly top end.

I checked with the K&amp;N filter guys, they assured me that their product does not cause the MAF sensor to fail in vehicles. They also told me that it is illegal to void a car warranty just because you replace the stock air filter with another air filter that meet or exceeds the specs of the stock air filter(just don't over-oil the K&amp;N air filter when you recharge it).

I have had the K&amp;N air filter in my car for a few miles now; so far, I have not had any problems with the MAF,yet.

The K&amp;N air filter will allow the engine to breathe more air versus the stock air filter based simply on the design. The channels on the stock air filter is much narrower than the channels on the K&amp;N filter. More air will flow through the K&amp;N filter than the stock filter (period, end of story).

As far as performance, you will mainly notice the difference at FULL THROTTLE when the engine is sucking maximum air.