So I'm considering changing the air intake filter

What difference does it really make
Noise improvement?
Bhp increase?

And will it effect my engine in any way?

Do you mean aftermarket ones like K&N or so-called performance ones made of foam? Or do you mean another standard paper one but new?

Depending on what sort of engine you have, I wouldn't expect to see any discernible power improvement. My daughter's 1.2 has about 80 bhp, I think. another 8 bhp would be a 10% power increase. I work in the car industry. Engine designers would sell their mothers to get another 8 horses! If your air filter is absolutely choked full of muck, you might be down on power. If you fit a new (completely standard) one, it will be able to flow all the air the engine can eat PLUS a lot more besides. Car manufacturers won't give away power for the sake of a bit of filter surface area. Remember this will have been designed to cope with the dusty roads of Southern Europe, so you'd have to try really hard to get it choked-up in the UK.

Thanks
I live in Germany and travel mostly on the autobahn to and from work
It's a 1.4 sport I have and sits currently at 95hp
It's not K&N I have looked at but from a garage that specializes in car upgrades and tuning.
So no,it's not another standard factory issue I plan to change over.
Would it change the tone of the motor much also?
I'm expecting a baby so I have to watch what I'm spending in the car that my partner am doesn't notice too much money going into it ?

Hi mate

this is just my opinion....but stick with the paper one. ive had itg, pipercross, bmc, induction and non of them feel as responsive and as smooth as the standard paper....ill say it again, its just my opinion.

It MIGHT change the tone of the induction noise a bit. Whether it will do anything else, I'm not so sure. Some of the aftermarket ones are quite good, others are absolute rubbish and quite a lot of dirt will go into your engine which won't do it any good in the long term. I can't think of ANY that would give you any appreciable power increase, let alone 8hp!

I think there have been various "mythbuster" type programmes on this topic. Here's the first one I came acrosss:

MCM! ^^ and is this the sort of layout you had in mind?
It's just a universal twin cone. I've mounted it at the end of the factories cold pipe, and cut off the air restrictor that was on it also. As sound goes it does give a nice grunt as you gun it but that's just the open suction of the cone.

IMO it's not really worth it but I had one spare so stuck it on when I got the car just make sure you take the panel filter off! You don't want to filters blocking air haha

Thanks for all the Feedback Guys
Yes that blue cone was what I had in mind
I just wanted to hear the engine a bit more grunting as I rev up
I suppose I should save and get a decent exhaust system installed for that

Anyone any tips on improving the hp though greatly appreciated
It's pretty nippy in first three gears
(6 speed gearbox) and anytime over 3000 revs it pulls ok
But I feel it struggling with short inclines on a highway and also not soooo responsive when I put my foot down in any gear upwards of the 3rd
Thanks again

Recent styling done

-Debadged the front upper grill
-Carbon foil on door as the old black foil was peeling and completely scratched
-Painted calipers red to match bodywork

All slow and easy jobs to start
Will drop it a few mm end of the year and stick in some nice new rims next summer
I'm in the planning for a new head unit and new speakers/wiring etc also over the winter

Something under the bonnet needs to be done soon though!