BMW e46 M3 CSL Airbox comparison review - Karbonius vs Geoff Steel Racing - Part 1

In this video you join me unboxing my new Karbonius "Full carbon" CSL intake and removing the old GSR kit - The quality is exceptional!
Karbonius :
karbonius.net/producto/bmw-m3...
M3cutters details e46 CSL airbox install :
forums.m3cutters.co.uk/thread...
M3cutters OEM carbon airbox details :
forums.m3cutters.co.uk/thread...
Finally, The Stone Automotive e46 M3 full build blog :
forums.m3cutters.co.uk/thread...

[@Topazman]

I have one fitted since 2015 one of the first ones to be made by David in Karbonius when they had the M Power decal lacquered into the finish, its a sound that I love every time I take my e46 out. I have the original CSL piece fitted with the flap removed, best thing I ever bought for mt M3

[@jamesburchell4076]

Nice to see that old one coming out nicely….. ready for its new home!!

[@stoneautomotive]

😎

[@gp9112]

Reading some of the comments now I understand 😊 it’s a gem 💎 and needs to be incorporated

[@FordFiestaAX]

I have the Karbonius too including the CSL flap. It's absolutely mega! As you said, the sound is just from another world. 👌🏼🏁🚀 I'm going to add more Karbonius parts to the M3. The quality is superb!

[@stoneautomotive]

There website is full of further parts I want too 🤩🤑😅

[@matthewbarlow1306]

What’s the csl flap do??

[@FordFiestaAX]

@@matthewbarlow1306 reducing the noise at low rpm

[@leekindell9937]

only just got my m3 and your making me want this box as next mod.

[@stoneautomotive]

The way it makes the car feel/sound is worth it 👌👌👌 Keep your stock stuff and you can remove and sell it all back on pretty quickly if it’s not a forever car 😎

[@leekindell9937]

@@stoneautomotive it may or may not be long term weekend car. Not sure yet. So u say sell on oem box. I’m Trying to decide if I get a brake kit or this. I won’t track car.

[@stoneautomotive]

@@leekindell9937 brakes are pretty poor in stock form, managed to warp front discs on early morning Sunday drive.. If you keep the oem airbox you can refit & sell the carbon one once your done 👍 if you’ve seen my recent build cost break down there money pits but awesome fun 😅

[@joneldridge5513]

I fitted the Karbonius Carbon Airbox to my BMW Z4M Coupe, along with the OEM snorkel and other ancillaries. I also had the ECU re-mapped. The noise is absolutely amazing. The quality is off the scale! From low revs to the redline the build in noise has to be one of the finest induction sounds of any car. I bought the OEM snorkel as it had to be modified and I didn't want to have to cut into the Karbonius carbon version, compromising the integrity of the weave. I saw somewhere that the thickness of the GSR version is nowhere near that of the Karbonius and does flex under induction load. Is this true, Mr Stone? Get video and look forward to Part 2!

[@stoneautomotive]

The only flex I really noticed on the GSR was due to the lack of mounting points to the engine, neither have any noticeable “plenum flex” so to speak but you can see the quality of the build on the Karbonius is just next level 😎 Part 2 should be up Wednesday, been driving around in the car today as detailed in the podium cafe visit 😬

[@kip8790]

It looks like the smaller air filter has a higher surface area though. Great review thanks

[@_Chev_Chelios]

How did you figure that? The Karb is an ITG which is foam, not paper or gauze. How would you go about calculating the surface area of foam?

[@QasimHussain95]

I want one too 😍

[@stoneautomotive]

Do it 😎🤑🤑🤑

[@mpineda6]

Thanks for the video! I am part of the group buy the started the development of the OEM like Airbox. Is on my way, and I do have the CSL replica from Karbonius too, so I would be able to see how much louder the CSL execution is. I will pair the OE style with the Eventuri, this is for a Z4M, which does not have the ability to run a MAP setup, but looking forward to see how close the OE style items is when paired with the Eventuri, plus the sound generator from the Si 3.0 for more in Cabin noise

[@stoneautomotive]

Yea you Z4M guys have a rough time with getting the CSL intake to work like factory, I reviewed my friends Z4M with the full CSL style intake a few years ago and I could tell the drivability was much better on the M3 running the map sensor. Looking forward to hearing how they sound especially as you mention with carbon fibre induction kits

[@Leeholtom2911]

I think it’s a case of ‘if you know then you know’ I fitted a CSL air box a few months back and couldn’t decide over the karb or new GSR V2 box, ended up going for the GSR as couldn’t really justify the additional cost of the karb box , worth noting the new GSR box has carbon trumpets like the karb but is wet layer not auto claved like karb so the finish is absolutely great but not a clean and the weave isn’t as perfect as the karb which doesn’t bother me in the slightest. The GSR V2 is also louder which is a bonus. The karb quality is top notch but I think a lot of their stuff is over priced and didn’t think it’s was worth as much more as they are charging over the new GSR but each to their own

[@stoneautomotive]

I have heard the V2 is a big improvement over the V1 and like you say it really is personal preference (especially as the bonnet is closed most of the time) it is pricey for something that the GSR provides the same function ultimately.. but like over priced Apple products compared to android stuff I keep purchasing 😅 The Karbonius is a work of art and as stated in the video for me the GSR reflected well with the price of the car but now with e46’s climbing and there values increasing it’s nice to have the premium parts (for me any way) hope you still enjoyed the video though 👍

[@Leeholtom2911]

Loving the content and vids dude 👌🏻

[@joshthebavarian]

Would love to see a Karb v. Haimus video!

[@stoneautomotive]

I have no interest purchasing another intake 😅 I’ve read reports of the trumpets coming off/loose on the Haimus unit which is concerning.

[@rabmc]

As my Nana always says, you get what you pay for 📈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👏🏻

[@stoneautomotive]

She speaks the truth 👌😅

[@MrSpaz12]

Exterior my car looks identical, and I love it, but I sure wish I could find (and afford) all of the interior pieces. Without it mine just seems lame compared to yours 😔. Question though; are you not allowed to tint your windows in England? I live in Las Vegas where it's brutally hot in the summer and without tint, well, it'd suck ass. I also like it for its privacy, which I guess would pretty much be the only reason that you'd need it there.

[@stoneautomotive]

The interior wasn’t actually as expensive as you would think as most of its been done by myself as detailed in the interior/ steering wheel video (check it out in the e46 playlist if you need guidance 👍) The seats were the most expensive part but I got lucky and found a used set from a Lotus Evora MK1 😬 We’re allowed light tint on the front side windows and the rest can be fully black if desired, it will sound odd I’m sure but in the UK tints on classic cars is “deemed a certain look” and not in a good way so it’s never appealed to me on any of my cars over the years

[@Jblanko6]

Hello, what exhaust are you running please ?

[@stoneautomotive]

Completely standard BMW M3 (no changes at all from factory on any of the exhaust)

[@sja6894]

is the m3 kept outside?

[@stoneautomotive]

Yep, they all are currently since I lost my storage garage 😭

[@declanmceleney2263]

Would you sell the GS intake?

[@stoneautomotive]

It’s already provisionally sold

[@gp9112]

Any gains in hp other than sound? 1hp and beauty doesn’t make sense for me just for for beauty and looks, to be real

[@stoneautomotive]

The gains vs cost are minimal, but this transforms the way the car sounds/ feels which for me makes it a must have modification (so much so I have one on my e92 M3 too 😅) In a day and age where turbo and electric vehicles rule the streets hearing an e46 M3 coming down the road on full throttle with the Karbonius airbox fitted on full throttle is priceless 😎

[@simonelliott3791]

Apparently 30 hp if you get an Alpha tune but you're probably get that with a tune anyway, was hoping he was gonna dyno the 2

[@mgarage78]

Can fit In e36 m52 ?

[@stoneautomotive]

Best to check out there website to see if they have a suitable one 👍

[@idokwatcher2062]

You have to convert M52 to S5x engine individual throttle bodies first. Then you can get CSL style airbox for the E36.

[@Slinky511nx7]

Umm, it's KarbonIUs not karboNUS

[@stoneautomotive]

Yea I’ve been advised 😅 this is what happens when a dyslexic person does product reviews 🤦‍♂️