K&N panel filter worth it?

[Rustybear]

Just wanted to ask if a K&N panel filter is worth getting for my mk5 gti 2006 98k? Had a tt before and on that forum they didn't make a a lot  of difference and some members mentioned they are oily which could be a problem. Same with gti?

[Ree]

Can't speak for the GTi, however maybe the same principle applies.

With my R32 I did notice a change when I upgraded to a ITG Panel filter, the car revved much easier and it did pull a bit better.

However since then I upgraded to a Neuspeed induction kit, I prefer then panel for performance but the Neuspeed for noise.

I may go down the forge kit route soon !

[MC71]

Have recently gone back to a panel filter after a CAI and am sticking with an OEM one. I don't think they are worth the extra money. Just get an OEM fitted along with the next service and save some money for a CAI if that's the way you want to go. If you do go for an aftermarket one, I hear a lot about either ITG Panel filters (about £50 ish) or Pipercross Panel filters (about £35 ish) being the filters of choice.

 

[Tortaruga]

No.

[Andy]

Sure a there was a test between oem and after market panel filters and the oem one was better

[GrayMK5GTI]

In a back to back test against a standard car, mine made 7bhp more with a K&N panel. I know cars BHP figures vary a little anyway but there was a definite increase in performance when it was fitted. Increase in throttle response also.

Now for the best evidence. When R-Tech mapped my car they said it was clear that the K&N was flowing more air than stock.   hence why mine made a very decent figure for a stage 1 car without an induction kit. Coming from a tuner that maps cars all day long with various specs. . .

Good enough for me  

[MC71]

^^^^ 7bhp seems a lot. Nick knows his Onions but that seems decidedly optimistic.  Was that 2 runs, 1 after the other with the only difference being the new Panel Filter?

 

[Nodz]

It was compared with my car the 1st time we went to a JKM RR day, mines completely standard on 99Ron and got 197.2 iirc and gray's got 7bhp more with the only difference being the panel filter

[GrayMK5GTI]

^^^^ 7bhp seems a lot. Nick knows his Onions but that seems decidedly optimistic.  Was that 2 runs, 1 after the other with the only difference being the new Panel Filter?

 

As I said in my post, engines can differ so mine could have been a few BHP up on Nodz's anyway as I'd never done a dyno run before fitting. I may have only got 3bhp from the panel at stock.

The gains are better when the car is mapped to the mods, Nick mapped my car to take into account the extra flow from the filter.

Turbo cars draw a lot of air through the filter so even a small increase in flow will make a decent difference 

[MC71]

^^^^ Didn't gain a load more than that with my ITG Maxogen on my Eddy!