Eventuri air scoop fitment

[6speedS54]

I was installing my Eventuri which I had from the destroyed 2004 M3, It seems the 2006 has a bigger opening in the brake duct for the air snorkel by a milimeter or 2. So the air scoop fitting is too small, it falls out.

Does anyone know if later production M3s had a different air intake configuration? I know my manifold has carbon fiber trumpets where the 2004 had plastic/nylon.

[Slideways]

I was installing my Eventuri which I had from the destroyed 2004 M3, It seems the 2006 has a bigger opening in the brake duct for the air snorkel by a milimeter or 2. So the air scoop fitting is too small, it falls out.

Does anyone know if later production M3s had a different air intake configuration? I know my manifold has carbon fiber trumpets where the 2004 had plastic/nylon.

Brake ducts are all the same part number 2001-2006.

That scoop takes A LOT of force to fully clip in. There is a groove on the scoop where it clips in to the brake duct.

[6speedS54]

Brake ducts are all the same part number 2001-2006.

That scoop takes A LOT of force to fully clip in. There is a groove on the scoop where it clips in to the brake duct.

Yes I know, on my 2004 it was a tight fit, on the 2006 the opening is bigger. I don’t understand how that can be. The manufacture date on the car is mid Aug 2006.

[E46 M3]

On the flip side how the hell do you remove it?! I've tried wiggling it, i've tried putting my body weight on it trying to push down on it. Just feels like im going to brake the break duct? Any tips?

[6speedS54]

On the flip side how the hell do you remove it?! I've tried wiggling it, i've tried putting my body weight on it trying to push down on it. Just feels like im going to brake the break duct? Any tips?

Get into a car accident like I did 😂 jk. You can try squirting some silicone spray or soapy water and push from the inside. Or put one hand in the brake duct and one on top, pull/push at the same time.

[6speedS54]

Brake ducts are all the same part number 2001-2006.

That scoop takes A LOT of force to fully clip in. There is a groove on the scoop where it clips in to the brake duct.

Here is what chatGPT says:


a. Larger bumper duct geometry

BMW quietly started using the E46 330Ci (ZHP) front-bumper internal duct on late M3s when they consolidated supplier tooling.

• The outer bumper fascia still looks the same, but the internal brake-duct tube molded behind it has a larger circular opening (≈ 80–85 mm ID).
• Earlier M3s (your 2004) used a smaller oval port (≈ 70 mm × 60 mm).

b. Revised lower snorkel

To mate both, BMW used the ZHP/CSL-spec lower snorkel:

Early M3	small oval	Yes	13 71 7 831 488 / 13 71 7 894 325
ZHP / CSL	larger round (~85 mm)	Yes (same rubber coupler)	13 71 7 896 382

So your late-build 2006 car almost certainly has 13 71 7 896 382 — the ZHP/CSL version — which explains the round bumper opening but identical upper fit to the M3 airbox.

[Slideways]

Here is what chatGPT says:


a. Larger bumper duct geometry

BMW quietly started using the E46 330Ci (ZHP) front-bumper internal duct on late M3s when they consolidated supplier tooling.

• The outer bumper fascia still looks the same, but the internal brake-duct tube molded behind it has a larger circular opening (≈ 80–85 mm ID).
• Earlier M3s (your 2004) used a smaller oval port (≈ 70 mm × 60 mm).

b. Revised lower snorkel

To mate both, BMW used the ZHP/CSL-spec lower snorkel:

Early M3	small oval	Yes	13 71 7 831 488 / 13 71 7 894 325
ZHP / CSL	larger round (~85 mm)	Yes (same rubber coupler)	13 71 7 896 382

So your late-build 2006 car almost certainly has 13 71 7 896 382 — the ZHP/CSL version — which explains the round bumper opening but identical upper fit to the M3 airbox.

So far for really technical stuff like this, ChatGPT has gotten it really wrong. M3 brake ducts do not fit on a ZHP and a CSL is totally different. You'll want to verify what it is saying first before copy/pasting it.

As long as your brake duct has not been modified, grab a set of calipers and measure 2004 vs 2006.

[6speedS54]

So far for really technical stuff like this, ChatGPT has gotten it really wrong. M3 brake ducts do not fit on a ZHP and a CSL is totally different. You'll want to verify what it is saying first before copy/pasting it.

As long as your brake duct has not been modified, grab a set of calipers and measure 2004 vs 2006.

I don’t fully trust ChatGPT, I am saying what I saw, cannot measure 2004 as it’s long gone, I just know I had the scoop snapped into place since the scoop was released and on 2006 it’s loose, there is definitely a change. Part number maybe the same but underneath it a a different part. On top of it the snorkel I have is tight in the 2006 hole and the collar mates with the standard airbox. Whatever parts they used are different.

[Slideways]

I don’t fully trust ChatGPT, I am saying what I saw, cannot measure 2004 as it’s long gone, I just know I had the scoop snapped into place since the scoop was released and on 2006 it’s loose, there is definitely a change. Part number maybe the same but underneath it a a different part. On top of it the snorkel I have is tight in the 2006 hole and the collar mates with the standard airbox. Whatever parts they used are different.

What could have happened is BMW changed both the intake tube and the duct at some point in production. When you order the new part (same part number), you will have to get the tube as well.

[Cubieman]

On a side note, when did the plenums start having C.F trumpets as opposed to the yellow/white colored plastic trumpets?

[Slideways]

On a side note, when did the plenums start having C.F trumpets as opposed to the yellow/white colored plastic trumpets?

Roughly, pre-2003.5 is white/yellow plastic and post-2003.5 is black plastic, probably right around the same time BMW changed the diameter of the TB couplers and added the valve on the crankcase breather.

[6speedS54]

On a side note, when did the plenums start having C.F trumpets as opposed to the yellow/white colored plastic trumpets?

I’ve been trying to find the changeover but cannot, I just know when I replaced my starter the trumpets had “carbon weave” on them, but I don’t know for sure if they are carbon. Maybe just plastic with weave texture.

[powerbait]

No issues snapping the scoop into my 06 brake duct