I tried searching but couldn't find what I am looking for.

I bought a used 2005 350 which came with what I believe to be a Nismo CAI (at least the tubing says Nismo on it - pic 1) -- and I want to clean (recharge) the filter. I have the K&N recharge kit, but I cannot figure out how to get to the filter -- unless the black foam that you can see in pic 2 is the filter (seems too flimsy to be the actual filter).

I removed the two bands right before the elbow (pic 2) and also the nut in the lower left that secures the CAI. However, it appears that the tubing continues down into the wheel well, and won't lift out at this point.

First of all, can anyone confirm that this is an actual Nismo CAI (or maybe a modified version)? Second, do I need to go under the car and remove the black plastic to get to the filter?

Thanks for any help or links that anyone can provide.

 

the filter is sitting between the front bumper and the wheel liner. just jack up your car, remove the liner and then remove the filter.

 

going to be somewhat of a *****, but the steps mentioned above will do the job.

 

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this is definitly the NISMO, from looking at the picks. that black foam is the bipass valve for avoiding hydrolocking your engine. Just take the wheel off and the plastic in between the wheel well and the bumper. You will see the cone filter then. Use a socket to loosen the hose clamp on the filter and it should slide right off. Follow the instructions on the K&N filter cleaner box. (FYI the spary version is better than the squeze bottle). Put everything back on and your done. It should take about an hou or two to do everything because of the drying period for the cleaning process.

OR

You can try and loosen the and loosen the hose clamp that is right before the 90 deg bend and try and wiggle the entire bottom section out. Worst case senerio is, the filter falls off in the wheel weel and then you defenitly have to take teh wheel off.