Does anyone know what difference adding a K&N 57i Filter Kit to the 1.6 Stilo will do? i've been reading posts in forums where peeps have them etc... but whats the story with them?

Collecting my new Stilo any day now!

Apart from a better induction noise you won't really notice any benefit performance wise. Is the car new Paul? If so I'd say leave it, it may affect your warranty.

I know TC has a 57i on his, whereas I have a BMC CDA on mine [but I have a 2.4].

Basically, an induction kit that thrusts more air into the engine, lol. No idea what the 1.6 feels without it, coz only ever driven TCs with it.

My dealership knows I have lowered Eibach springs AND a CDA on [it was only picked up by them last week] - it has had warranty work done on it since, plus I have a new headlight on order with them.

So, in my case, the mods have NOT affected the warranty. Best advice is to speak to your dealership and see how MOD friendly they are.

Steve C said:

Apart from a better induction noise you won't really notice any benefit performance wise. Is the car new Paul? If so I'd say leave it, it may affect your warranty.

Click to expand...

Its a 2003 model Steve...

Any induction kits I've used have been K&N. If you're into noise you can't beat them. It also looks good when you lift the bonnet. They replace the standard airbox, like so;

My dealership...............................

fitted my K & N for me. They fitted it for free because it wasn't an original part and they couldn't issue a reciept. However, it does effect the warranty, what they said is if any problems occur and they feel the K & N was a contributory factor to that problem arising, they would not make the repairs under warranty. Other areas of the warranty and car remain unaffected.

TC.

How far are they likely to be able to stretch the comment about likely to be responsible. It seems that they could use it as a licence to avoid doing certain warranty work.

They can and do. I know of several cases where cars have had certain parts of the warranty voided. Albeit these cars are mostly "boy racer" cars which Pauls wouldn't be. It does offer a get out clause for the dealer. Even a 2003 model Stilo will have the balance of the warranty left on it. It's a risk...

Boy Racer Cars?

Hope you aren't insinuating???

Its interesting to note that most so called 'performance' filters dont live up to their claims http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm.

I remember fitting a Pipercross filter to an XR3 I was once unfortunate enough to earn. It claimed to deliver up to 30% power increase, but it didn't do anything noticeable. The problem is that, if a manufacturer can theoretically get a 30% power increase in a specific situation on a specific car, even as part of other modifications, they can get away with saying up to 30% increase. It's a little like selling a set of 15W RMS speakers and advertising them as 600W based on PMPO.

So it would seem that perhaps it really aint worth the extra money?!

Not necessarily. The noise is nice.

My personal opinion would be to save the cash and use it for something else.
I have tried many different filters and can honestly say the improvement if any was barely noticeable,more of a 'placebo' effect than anything else.

I have a CDA on mine, and I can say that the improvement is definitely noticeable! However, the CDA is a slightly different beast to your normal K&N.

And don't just take my word for it, speak to Alfanige, who drove it before and after fitting it.

A performance car needs lots of air in quickly, and needs to get rid of it quickly, hence air filters and a big bore exhaust are usually used together. Firms like K&N who specialise can produce better equipment than the manufacturer. Improving air in and air out is usually needed to make the most of other engine mods, and on their own would make a barely noticable difference.
In theory, a K&N filter is by far superior to the standard equipment, so should not affect the warranty (you would be improving filtration etc) however all the dealers I have come across are scum and will go out of their way to deny you genuine warranty claims. Modding your car just gives them an excuse to fob you off even more than usual.

On the K&N website it says the 57i kit does not void the car's warranty