[GB-335xiCoupe]

Ok, So I'm a budget-minded tinkerer. I'm slowly but surely adding minor mods to squeeze out more horsepower/torque on a shoestring.

I started looking at Cold Air Intakes (CAI), and first I'm noticing a big price range ($200-800). Really, how much different in performance could they really be?

The other question is, some of them tout an increase of as much as 25+ hp. I find this unlikely, since these are turbo engines, the turbo is designed to PULL the cold air in... but what do I know, I'm a noobie at this crap. One of the lower priced brands claim a lesser and more reasonable 10+ hp gain.
So realistically, what can I expect to gain out of say a double cone?

[BQTuning]

HP rating is at crank, not the wheels, so if you say 10+ is reasonable then technically your only putting down to the wheels 6 whp, which is not reasonable and you might as well keep your stock box

25 hp rating at the crank is about 12-15 whp .

[spxxx]

Higher flowing intakes are only going to give you any tangible results once you are tuned and start running boost of 13psi+ range. I think...

[GB-335xiCoupe]

Originally Posted by BuraQ

HP rating is at crank, not the wheels, so if you say 10+ is reasonable then technically your only putting down to the wheels 6 whp, which is not reasonable and you might as well keep your stock box

25 hp rating at the crank is about 12-15 whp .

My thought exactly. Might make an engine sound cooler, but... meh. And I am maxing out at about 14psi boost, with a stock engine/Vishnu Procede

[Miller335]

I view them as I do the chargepipe.
Just something you have to do to go FBO and take the boost.

Same with DV's/BOV's. Meh, but gotta do it.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by Miller335

I view them as I do the chargepipe.
Just something you have to do to go FBO and take the boost.

Same with DV's/BOV's. Meh, but gotta do it.

Yep… Def just get the 95 dollar dual cones!

[koches]

Buy one used off the forum. I see them for sale all the time for good prices.

[minifridge1138]

A cold air intake is supposed to help in 2 ways:
1) Increase volumetric efficiency by reducing restrictive air boxes/filters/etc
2) Increase horse power by feeding the engine cold air from outside the car instead of hot air from within the engine compartment. Colder air is denser and therefore contains more oxygen then hot air.

With a forced induction motor, a CAI will have less of an impact on (1) above.

As for (2), the basic guideline is you gain 1/10th of 1 horsepower for every 10 degree reduction in temperature. So if the CAI can get air that is 100 degrees colder, then you'd gain 10 horse power. YMMV.

Good luck.

[GB-335xiCoupe]

Originally Posted by minifridge1138

A cold air intake is supposed to help in 2 ways:
1) Increase volumetric efficiency by reducing restrictive air boxes/filters/etc
2) Increase horse power by feeding the engine cold air from outside the car instead of hot air from within the engine compartment. Colder air is denser and therefore contains more oxygen then hot air.

With a forced induction motor, a CAI will have less of an impact on (1) above.

As for (2), the basic guideline is you gain 1/10th of 1 horsepower for every 10 degree reduction in temperature. So if the CAI can get air that is 100 degrees colder, then you'd gain 10 horse power. YMMV.

Good luck.

Thus, ambient air has a bigger impact. No wonder my car is faster in winter...

[uniter]

The stock airbox is too restrictive. You'll be fine with a set of cone filters.

That is all, very well documented.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by uniter

The stock airbox is too restrictive. You'll be fine with a set of cone filters.

That is all, very well documented.

Cars have run in to the high 11's on the stock intake. You need to be making a lot of power before they are a bottle neck.

[uniter]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Cars have run in to the high 11's on the stock intake. You need to be making a lot of power before they are a bottle neck.

Disagree. :]

Originally Posted by uniter

Disagree. :]

Got any type of data to back that up? It certainly would be nice to see.

[nikitino25]

I wish I knew for sure what the absolute optimal configuration was....here's a little info from Dinan; please realize i am in no way endorsing or verifying any of these claims:
"As boost is increased through the use of performance software, the single factory intake becomes restrictive and the engine is lacking the air it needs to make maximum power. Our cold air intake force feeds the 3 liter turbocharged inline 6 with greater volumes of cool, oxygen rich air for substantial power gains by utilizing our secondary carbon fiber intake. The system is so effective that the carbon fiber inlet air temperature is a full 40 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the incoming air from the stock inlet. Due to the increased airflow from our intake, the power-curve is extended into the higher RPM’s for a noticeable change. The system is a direct replacement for the factory air box lid, employing a hand-crafted carbon fiber unit that also includes a secondary carbon fiber intake tube that captures cool air from the lower grill and includes the shielding for the conical filter to insulate it from power robbing engine compartment heat. Horsepower is increased by +14 Hp @ 6000 rpm and Torque is increased by +16ft-lbs @ 3400 rpm with Dinan® Stage 3 Software, DINAN® Intercooler and Free Flow Exhaust. Stage 2 software, Free Flow Exhaust produces 12 Hp and 13 ft-lb torque Stage 1 software, Free Flow Exhaust produces 9 Hp and 10 ft-lb torque Completely Stock car produces 5 Hp and 6 ft-lb torque Dinan Performance Software is highly recommended."
To me it makes since though that this would be the best way to do it....
In fact, I'm working on a ghetto version of this concept now with a 2.5" tube (see Mr5 intake).....I'll let u guys know how it turns out.

Or you can purchase a new Dinan intake for the bargain basement price of $1300......

[Brule]

No one can beat $95 cone filters

Hot air myth has been proven time and time again if you search.

What are the quickest N4 cars using?

[nikitino25]

Originally Posted by Brule

No one can beat $95 cone filters

Hot air myth has been proven time and time again if you search.

What are the quickest N4 cars using?

I wouldn't say the "hot air myth" as you call it has been proven one way or another.....DCI's are probably almost as good as a full cold air intake in most situations but I would think at low-medium speeds and for sure sitting still your ait's would be higher with DCI's. Does this matter? I couldn't really tell you...I do like the fact that the dinan method has two separate intakes though....

[nikitino25]

And why wouldn't a Dinan type intake flow more air than DCI's? The DCI's still use the factory intake spot and goes through the same duct whereas the Dinan uses this route and additionally has another intake near the bumper.....why wouldn't the two intake routes flow more than just the one? What am I missing here?

[Brule]

DCI's only have the air filters themselves to restrict any air flow.
Where as Dinan has a housing and a tube in the bumper increasing the length and restriction

[Gunzaro]

If hot air was such a myth then BMW and many other manufacturers would not bother to make their FACTORY intakes already COLD AIR INTAKES.

That is all. Case closed.

[Allen@MOTIV]

The factory airbox can become a fairly large restriction on a tuned car. The bigger the restriction on the cold side of the turbo the harder it will have to work to draw in the air. The cooler the intake air the better(obviously) however there comes a point where you just have to let the intercooler do it's job and feed the turbos some air.

[LMB335IS]

^^I'm thinking this guy knows what he's talking about.

[shmorgan77]

Originally Posted by LMB335IS

^^I'm thinking this guy knows what he's talking about.

Lol maybeeee