I was thinking of installing a cold air intake in my 2004 TL. As I researched it looks like installing may be a pain because the front bumper must be removed. I don't mind taking it to a mechanic for the installation, but what about cleaning the filter later on? I'm guessing the bumper would have to be removed to get at the filter to clean it? Is there a cold air intake system that rests where the old filter was? What have your experiences been?

 

Welcome to Acurazine! Here we have different sections for the different generations of your car. You have a 2004 TL and so the area to ask would be in the 3 Gen forum and being that this is a Performance mod there is a sub-section for that. You can click HERE to get there.

 

Moving to 3G.

Be nice to the

 

Front bumper removal is easy. Look here:


E-080: DIY VIDEO: Removing Your FRONT bumper
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169101

B-001: DIY VIDEO: Uninstalling OEM Intake & Installing Cold Air Intake
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169110


Regards filter cleaning: No. You can get it on and off through the wheel well. Pop a couple of clips and peel back the liner.

 

Bearcat was nice enough to link you to the DIY threads so you have all the info you need but removing the front bumper really isn't that difficult and you technically don't have to remove the bumper to install a cold air intake.

 

dont remove the bumper...COMPLETE waste of time

jack car up, take driver wheel off, take liner off and bam stock intake is right in your face. undo the airbox then the rest just pulls apart

 

or you could hydrolock your engine

 

Just don't drive in big ass puddles and keep the wheel well liner in place.

 

It's unlikely you will hydrolock your engine with a cold air intake unless you submerge the filter in water which requires driving through 2-3 ft of standing water.

 

I've hyrdolocked previous vehicles just driving down the highway in rainstorms...