The K&N 33-2449 is a panel-style replacement for the factory engine air filter on the 4.4L V8 in BMW X5 M and X6 M models. K&N's washable, reusable High-Flow Air Filters feature layered, oiled cotton media engineered to improve airflow and capture contaminants. A premium urethane frame is custom-designed to seal firmly into the stock airbox. The box contains two filters, so you can keep a spare or replace both sides' worth of intake media at once.
The case for this filter is lifecycle cost and drop-in fit, not a guaranteed power number. The manufacturer says each filter is engineered to last the lifespan of the vehicle and is backed by a No-Hassle Lifetime Limited Warranty. The manufacturer's cleaning interval is every 75,000 miles under normal highway driving conditions. Performance results are less settled. One owner on a user forum argues the gains are small at best and that particulate can pass through a high-flow filter, increasing engine wear. Owners who value intake sound and airflow on modified cars are more positive, so if you're after measurable horsepower, plan on a tune and verify the result on your own vehicle. Searchers looking for a K&N 33-2449 E70 X5M washable panel filter or an E71 X6M 4.4 V8 reusable air filter will want to confirm their exact model year first.
The manufacturer lists this filter for the BMW X5M and X6M with the V8-4.4L F/I engine for 2009 through 2014. Because the product name on some listings reads 09-12, check your model year against the manufacturer's application list before ordering.
The manufacturer packages it as two air filters per box, so the box includes two filters.
The manufacturer says the filter needs cleaning only about every 75,000 miles under normal highway driving, which it equates to roughly five years at 15,000 miles per year. Heavier dust or off-road use will shorten that interval.
Owners on user forums describe the X5M air filter as a moderate DIY job that mostly comes down to patience around the airbox. One E70 X5M owner reported that the top panel is secured by four screws and that the airbox has side ball-mount clips that need to be popped up with a flat-blade screwdriver or pry tool. Another said the simplest route is to loosen the two intake hose clamps, lift the housing, and slide it out slowly, because the rubber boots connect to fragile plastic vacuum lines that are costly to replace. Owners' descriptions vary on whether the top panel must come off, so verify on your vehicle. Clean the airbox and sealing surfaces before reinstalling, and confirm the filter seats fully so the housing closes evenly.
