Anyone Remove MS CAI Filter yet?

[HAVOC]

I have 12,500 miles on my MS3 and need to remove the filter for the CAI soon and it does not look like it will be easy to reach. Just curious if anyone has tackled this yet and has the best method. It seems like you can not just remove the filter from the engine compartment and that you would have to jack the car up and remove the plastics shield from under the car to best get to just the filter. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[cosmic_spd3]

wish i was able to help you out on this one..but i have a SRI,which makes changing or cleaning my filter a piece of cake..loll

 

[PLM_Man]

I just removed mine about a week ago to clean it. I don't know of a trick way to get at it without removing the front left wheel and inbolting a few bolts and popping a few clips inside the fender towards the front of the car, and also three bolts under the front bumper facing upwards. Removing enough of these bolts/plastic clips should grant you enough access to reach the filter clamp. Then you'll have to pop the nipple off the splash guard and wiggle it out carefully. Its not a difficult process, just time consuming.

 

[Haltech]

Just open up the foglight access flap, 3 bolts/screws and remove it. Piece of cake.

 

[HAVOC]

Thanks will try the foglight access, if not then remove a tire.

 

[itzl0l]

u dont have to remove the tire....it does give u a little more room if u turn it all the way left tho.....jack up the car....then remove the 3 screws in the little flap under the bumper....easy

 

[khaydin]

I turned my MS CAI into an SRI today and had to get the filter/water shield out. I did it without taking a wheel off or going through the wheel well. You just take the intake apart pretty much. Take off the intake temp sensor thingy first, then unbolt the CAI's support on the second pipe. Then after that undo the hose clamps that keep the first and second pipe together. After that you need to undo the hose clamps for the first pipe, after that's undone just move the first pipe out of the way a little, you don't even need to unhook anything from it except for the MAF connection. Now that the second pipe is free to move around just move it around enough so that you can put a ratchet or wrench on the two bolts that hold the water shield on. After they're out push the water shield off and pull the 2nd pipe out. That should be it for getting it out without taking off the wheel or going through the wheel well.

It took me about 10 minutes to figure out the best way to get it out since I stupidly didn't install it myself. I'm pissed at myself for letting the dealer do it when it's so easy. I'm pretty confident that I could convert it back to a CAI in less than 15 minutes. It's pretty damn easy to do once you figure it out. So if you do it this way it may take a little bit longer to remove it the first time but putting it all back together after cleaning the filter should be a piece of cake.