M3 Intake Install
Tech Facts:
GruppeM carbon Kevlar ram charger intake system
MSRP:
$1,388.20
Additional Info:
GruppeM is the official distributor for K&N in Japan. The company is notorious for making the most insane carbon-fiber andKevlar fabrications on earth. The installation of the GruppeM carbon Kevlar intake is fairly straightforward despite the instructions being in Japanese. The installation guide provides good diagrams of how the various items come together.
Shameless Plugs:
GruppeM, www.gruppem.co.jp
TuningWerks.com (www.tuningwerks.com)
Installation Time
1 hour
When it comes to modding your new M3, the way a part looks is as important as the way it performs. Suppose you like the 300-plus ponies your M already has; you just want a little better performance, snappier throttle response, and a little growl to scare the neighborhood children. Well, GruppeM has come up with a solution for the spare-no-expense group of enthusiasts. The new carbon Kevlar ram charger intake system is a beautiful piece that fits nicely into the engine bay and complements the already gorgeous M inline-six powerplant.
This just so happens to be the first intake kit from GruppeM to go on an E46 M3 stateside. If you are at all familiar with the Japanese tuning scene, then you know that GruppeM is the official importer of K&N in Japan. GruppeM is also notorious for fabricating just about everything out of carbon and Kevlar composites. These guys make parts for everything from NSX replacement panels to Ferrari intake systems. You can be sure that if people are putting these products on Ferraris, then these are high-quality products. It is a rumor, but some even say the GruppeM guys have carbon-fiber kitchen sinks-talk about extremists.
The one problem we saw was that the instructions were in Japanese, but lucky for us, they included pictures. The pictures were detailed enough so that it took just over an hour to install. The tools needed are also usually found lying around the house: a Dremel tool, a flat-blade screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, and a metric socket set. With these tools, you'll be on your way to installing your own carbon/Kevlar intake. Special thanks goes out to TuningWerks.com for obtaining the intake, taking the pictures, and letting us use its M3 for the installation.