If you have the AEM or Injen CAI (or were thinking of getting one) and are worried about how difficult it might be to inspect or change the filter (which sits in the space behind the passenger side faux air vent), have no fear -- it's a piece of cake.

While I had my car up on the lift for the Pinnacle Brake System install, I decide to see how hard it would be to get to the filter. I removed two screws holding the black plastic piece under the space to the adjoining black plastic piece under the front of the radiator, then removed the two screws hold the same plastic piece to the bumper underside. With these four screws removed, you can peel the plastic back out of the way (it's very flexible) to expose the filter. Once open, it's easy to get to the filter.

This is what it looks like. My filter has been on the car for about 5,000 miles. I've cut open the faux vent and installed Coastal Metal's grille over the opening, so the filter is open to the elements. It's a little dirty, but not much more than it would have been sitting in the stock air box.

 

I haven't seen any instructions on how to clean the AEM filter. Anyone know? Compressed air, maybe?

Thanks,
Tanq

 

Good question, since I don't know either.

 

its just a K&N filter. you can either clean it by the K&N Filtercharger kit, which comes with a spray cleaner and oil to re oil the filter, or you can use detergent. Its a cotton filter (from what I remember).

 

It explicitly says in the directions with the filter kit not to use compressed air.

 

It should would be nice to have a lift.