BMW's 3-Series Sedan Gets More Power and Class From AEM's New Molded Intake System

Jun 28, 2017

A large 21-1015DK AEM air filter seals axially to the molded air box for added airflow into your BMW

With the ever-increasing popularity of European sport sedans, BMW has always seemed to reign supreme. The BMW 3-series sedan has become the quintessential “gentleman’s sports car” and remains the best-selling BMW offering. Available in many different configurations, the 320i and 328i, equipped with their 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engines, offer a perfect blend of luxury, performance, and speed. With driving modes that are adjustable on the fly, drivers can commute in luxury and briskly race around a track in the same vehicle, all while maintaining the great fuel economy that is required in today’s cars. The heavily engineered vehicles require more sophisticated products when it comes to modification and tuning and AEM Induction Systems left no stone unturned in their latest offering.

The engineers at AEM Induction Systems utilized 3D scanning technology to create the AEM 21-785DS, a molded air box intake kit that is designed to match the quality and class that BMW owners expect. Designed as two integral pieces, the lower half of the air box is designed to interface with the factory high pressure air feed, directing the air efficiently towards the AEM DryFlow axial-seal filter. The large AEM 21-1015DK air filter eliminates the need for a hose clamp, using a steel retention ring to seal the filter against the surface of the air box. Using this mounting style allows the filter area to be maximized within the tight constraints of the box, while still allowing the proper space for uniform airflow around the filter element itself.

The intake kit fits nicely with the rest of the components in the engine bay

The filter interface feeds directly through the tuned Mass Air Flow sensor section of the lower air box, which is designed to work with the factory ECU tuning, before entering the factory turbo coupler. This design shortens the air flow path and reduces restriction caused by the tight passages within the factory air box design. The lower half the air box also includes a molded auxiliary air feed designed to accept a standard intake coupler that may be drilled out by the end users for a custom solution as more power adders are installed. The top half of the air box seals the cold intake air from the hot underhood environment while adding air volume around the filter and serving as the mounting points for the air intake system.

The system’s organically shaped design mimics the look of the factory air box but offers refined styling and creates a more appealing symmetric look under the hood. While the air box is a sealed design, a clear AEM name badge window allows the air filter to be visible for added styling. These design elements combined help make the estimated 14 horsepower increase in horsepower and torque, with power and torque gains verified across the entire powerband.

The AEM 21-785DS intake kit comes complete with all the necessary hardware and components required for installation, requires no permanent modifications to any factory components, and requires only regular hand tools. The AEM 21-785DS kit is available for the following vehicles:

2015 BMW 328I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2015 BMW 320I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2014 BMW 328I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2014 BMW 320I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2013 BMW 328I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2013 BMW 320I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2012 BMW 328I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2012 BMW 320I 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models