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MG MGF Technical - Thinking of a K&N

I'm seriously considering fitting a K&N 57i from a power and fuel economy point of view, but have concerns around the induction roar that everyone seems to be so enthusiastic about. Does the car sound much louder than the standard? Is it hugely noticeable to the man in the street?
I don't want to sound like one of those Novas and Saxos that hang around the local retail park every night.
Subtle more refined burble I can cope with, but am not prepared to make my beautiful MGF sound like it should have a Kenwood sticker in the back window and an E17 lookalike behind the wheel!

Any opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Duncan

Under normal driving conditions the sound really isn't that different. The real change is only when the throttle is wide open and the revs above 3000.

Problem is, the sound is quite addictive so normal driving conditions tend to get a lot closer to the conditions described above.

I've got a feeling that my fuel consumption has increased since fitting the K&N, purely becuase of the change in driving style...

Have I become a boy-racer? I hope not, but airfield days and track days are now sprouting up on my calendar.
John Pickup

The roar only comes when pushing the car through the revs but as John says, it's addictive. When cruising it cannot be heard

After fitting the K&N to my 97 VVC I got over 40MPG on a 600 mile round trip, with and without the roar.
Brian

Duncan

I only fitted my K&N last week and it is louder, but dont know how much louder it is to pedestrians.

I reacon fuel economy has increased and regularly achieve 400+ miles of a tank of fuel. (It will have paid for itself by the end of the year!)

I am serious unconvinced that the car goes any faster. For me at least its main advantage is a more beefy noise.

The noise of K&N is ALWAYS there, at start up it makes a sucking sound and at 70mph at motorway is slightly louder - but increase in fuel economy makes up for this.

In certain situations, I want the car to make a boy racer noise, since in standard guise it is a silent sportcar.

Something you dont want, so I would recommend you buy an enclosed filter system - Maxogen or Viper.

Brian you can rest assured you will not become a boy racer, since the MGF lacks the boy racer attribute - no where to put your Kenwood sticker (rear window too small)!


Ian
Ian

(Repeat Post...well, SIMILar to my earlier post(s))

Has anyone any experience of fitting a K&N replacement filter element to a TF160 and, if so, what's the part number?? I noticed some confusion over their part numbers from an earlier thread.
SimonKE

I would definitely not say the noise is 'boy racer' - it is very much 'British Sports Car' in my opinion. It's a sort of purring/growling noise, rather than a screaming noise - even at maximum revs.

Basically, if the engine has to do any real work, it makes a lovely noise when it does it. It is NOT like a sports exhaust which is noisy even at idle.

I think my car (VVC) is much more responsive with the K&N, and climbing from 3000 to 7000 rpm is a wonderfully smooth experience.

Get one! I want to put one on our ZS now!
David Bainbridge

As a long term fan of the K&N, I'd say get one. Yes the car is noiser when the throttle is opened, but at constant throttle positions is little noiser than the standard car. Is this noise audible to pedastrians? Yes, as a burbly bark, but not offensive (if you want offensive, buy a Trevor Taylor Fxtreme exhaust - eh Hanah? ;oD )

If this is still going to be a problem, then buying an enclosed filter system is an option. More power and quieter. Options range from the Rover 820 airbox mod on the K&N - as discussed in the thread of that name on this board, to the ITG Maxogen and the Pipercross Viper kit that Mike Satur sells.

Hope this helps
Rob Bell

The noise from the K&N cannot be heard from outside the car and you only hear it when accelerating from inside the car because the air filter is right behind the passengers head (or drivers head with a LHD car).

I would say it is one of the best upgrades to an MGF for the price. If you really want the people outside the car to hear I would suggest getting a really noisy exhaust :-).

The K&N can be fitted easily by you (if I can do it anyone can) and will give around 8bhp increase on an MPi and 15bhp increase on a VVC.
Tony Escort Driver

Agree with everyone. :-)

K&N is produces a very subtle and refined bark. Even my dad heard it thought that it should have been there in the first place! (I was very surprised as he is not too keen on modifying cars).

And TT exhaust... and now that's a different story in the noise level. :-)
Hanah Kim

Hi Duncan
When I fit my K&N with Valter help, I was very afraid about the exactly same thing, after fitting the K&N you are anxious to turn the key, first reaction is nothing new really happen, then when you go for a ride the difference is obvious, the car has a much better torque and response and the roar noise you only feel it inside the car, I ask my father to drive the car and accelerate with me outside, and you wont’ note the difference , except that the engine noise seams more powerful but not more loud, in fact it sounds great.
Go through with it, you won’t regret
Bye Joao
Joao Barros Gomes

where is the best place I can get one from? (in the UK, East Anglia).
MD

The cheapest place I know of is still Kinnor at http://www.kandnairfilters.co.uk if I remember correctly otherwise check ou the links page on http://www.theflow.demon.nl/fab/links/ which should have the address somewhere. You can order online if you wish.
Tony Escort Driver

oops, try http://www.filterpower.com
Tony Escort Driver

It is strange how the noise is directed inside the car! Drop the roof and the K&N fades into the background against the wind and tyre noise...
David Bainbridge

I had a K&N box type filter on my Golf GTi, and a cone type filter on my V8 roadster.

I changed them both for PiperCross filters, on advice from the local rally preparation specialist and noticed a slight improvement in both performance and fuel economy, but with rather more induction noise.

Switching between the filters on the MGV8 (it's just a push on fit) I noticed the tickover was faster with the PiperCross than K&N, I assume because it is flowing more air ?

Mike
Michael barnfather

I put off buying the K&N for 2 years and now regret it big time, just thinking about the fact that I could have been enjoying that noise 2 years ago makes me kick myself! I took the easy option and had MG Mecca (www.mgmecca.co.uk) fit it and it still cost about the same as most places would charge just to supply it.
James King

>>It is strange how the noise is directed inside the car! Drop the roof and the K&N fades into the background against the wind and tyre noise... <<

I think that the noise path is straight through the engine inspection plate and the surrounding body work. The OE sound deadening material does its job - to an extent - but can be further isolated (if you so wish) by applying a sheet or two of 'Brown Bread' material to this area.

James, I've not heard of MG Mecca before - who, where and what are they ? (okay, I'll have at the link!)
Rob Bell

>>>The OE sound deadening material does its job

Unfortunately. It's really got to go, then!
David Bainbridge

MG Mecca are specialists not too far from Thetford, I've been taking my car there for a couple years now ever since the local Rover dealers (who are now out of business!) irritated the sh*t out of me.
James King

Shortly after fitting the filter (which I agree to all comments above), I fitted the Miltek Supersport Silencer exhaust to my 99F VVC.

Now the exhaust tends to overpower the sweet rasping noise of the filter, and turns the whole thing into a cacophony of noise when opening the throttle wide! Certainly turns heads, but probably for the wrong reasons!

Recommend the filter for subtle sweet change, or the exhaust for standard driving sound enhancement, but not both.
Tony White

Or an enclosed filter with an exhaust - currently enjoying the combo of an MSD plus K&N in an 820 'box... sweet indeed :o)
Rob Bell

Well,
finaly gave in to the dark side and fitted the K&N this morning. Started it up on the drive and tought "It's not at all noisy - there's only a slight blip when you hit the gas". Then went for a spin with the top down - pulled out of our road and wow! What's that behind me? Checked the mirror - no TVR there, it must be me making that noise. A bit further up the road & came to the dual carriageway, opened it up and.....Big grin!

I could get used to this - thinking about it, it's almost the kinda noise I was expecting when I first drove an F and was a bit dissapointed that you couldn't really tell that it was mid-engined. Now you really can tell where the motor is!

Quite what the missus thinks about it remains to be seen - bit of luck she won't even notice, after all, the whole F experience is a little different to a 1.2 Clio sport anyway.

Thaks for all your advice

Duncan
T9 DAC
Duncan

Forgot to add - the first impression was that this is in the same flavour as the 'noise' that the novas and Saxos make, but there again, you can tell that there's a significantly bigger engine behind it - the result being something much more throaty. Not to mention of course that if anyone does look round - they see a sexy two seater sports car and think "Oh that'll be right then".

Thanks again
Duncan

This thread was discussed between 15/09/2002 and 21/09/2002

MG MGF Technical index

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