Drop in filter?

**MikeWolverine** · 09-12-2018 10:21 PM

Anyone have any experience with drop in filters for the RS3? I ultimately would go the CAI route, but that will come after warranty ends and real tuning begins. In the interim I'm looking for something that increases throttle response, provides a small power gain, and improves sound. I understand all these will be small increases, but I'll take it for now. Recommendations?
Thanks!

**comingabriel** · 09-13-2018 05:49 AM

Drop in won't do anything for noticiable, maybe placebo effect, with throttle response.

**jl87** · 09-13-2018 06:19 AM

Think most probably just use K&N (33-3036). aFe doesn't have one out yet.

**comingabriel** · 09-13-2018 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by jl87

Think most probably just use K&N (33-3036). aFe doesn't have one out yet.

X2, been waiting and submitting requests for one to be made. But a clean OEM filter still breaths just as much air as any drop in, esp stock tuned.

**tegxsi** · 09-13-2018 06:54 AM

I noticed a slight MPG bump with the K&N. I'm sure it flows better... I also see more 18psi spikes on the P3 gauge than with the stock filter.

**comingabriel** · 09-13-2018 07:02 AM

I got a huge mpg jump (150-160 mpt to 250+ miles per tank), like after 1500 miles of kicking it's butt, guess car broke in finally.
Zero mods, just tune. Have stuff sitting here, waiting for a tuner to get me pumped up to more power on E85.
But, want to go BT.

**Nardo_RS3** · 09-13-2018 11:30 AM

I installed one a week or 2 after I bought the car and I felt zero difference...but really, who is gonna feel like 3 or 4 HP on a car this powerful anyway.

Just looking at the stock filter, the K&N drop in HAS to flow better. The stock filter has that cloth layer at the bottom which looks pretty restrictive. It doesn't look like the RS3 box has that snow screen that the S3/Golf-R/GTI guys usually remove. In fact, when you remove the stock filter to drop in a K&N the airbox actually looks pretty direct from the snorkel up to the throttle pipe.

The real value of the K&N is that it is reusable AND you know you're getting a bit more flow at the expense of some added dirt but I assume frequent oil changes should mitigate that.

**r26372** · 09-13-2018 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Nardo_RS3

I installed one a week or 2 after I bought the car and I felt zero difference...but really, who is gonna feel like 3 or 4 HP on a car this powerful anyway.

Just looking at the stock filter, the K&N drop in HAS to flow better. The stock filter has that cloth layer at the bottom which looks pretty restrictive. It doesn't look like the RS3 box has that snow screen that the S3/Golf-R/GTI guys usually remove. In fact, when you remove the stock filter to drop in a K&N the airbox actually looks pretty direct from the snorkel up to the throttle pipe.

The real value of the K&N is that it is reusable AND you know you're getting a bit more flow at the expense of some added dirt but I assume frequent oil changes should mitigate that.

The RS3 box does have the snow valve in the box. I noticed when I swapped out the stock filter that about 1/3 of it was completely clean (basically no air was going through that side of it. Not sure if it makes any difference taking out that snow valve as I've never had a single issue with snow clogging the entire box, but I've also never felt a single difference with an aftermarket intake or filter either.