Cold air intake(does it matter what brand)

[328is_951]

does it matter what brand you buy whats the differnce?

[Jim Spence]

You're going to get a number of answers soon that say "search."

And you'll probably get a few legitimate answers, but in truth it doesn't matter what brand, because a CAI does very little for performance. They generate a nice sound, and they look good under the hood, but it doesn't matter what type you get.

You'll also hear both sides of the dry filter/oiled filter argument. I've had both; neither one is better than the other from my unscientific use.

And, you'll hear both sides of the CAI/short ram debate. One uses a heat shield, the other places the filter lower in the engine bay, away from engine heat. Personally I like the heat shield - it does keep heat away from the filter, but it also keeps the heat away from the tube going from the filter to the MAF. A true CAI has the tube directly in the engine bay, and that is affected by engine heat.

But, again, personal preference.

A lot of people recommend making your own, and there are some very nice examples here of homemade units. A lot of the people here are crafty.

In the end, it's a totally personal decision.

In my case, at the time I wanted a CAI I had more money than ability so I bought an aFe.

[HyphE36]

+1 Jim

Your CAI is basically a "ticking-time-mod"(that ones for you to dismantle "bombsquad"), you won't really notice much gain in performance - perhaps other than MPG - Until you get more mods to work in unison with the CAI. Ie. Exhaust, 3.5' MAF. After reworking other parts of your intake/exhaust system your CAIs' role in performance steps up dramatically and it actually does provide significant gains vs the stock set-up. Until then you are basically buying sound, which is actually worth it IMO :thumbup:

[Nline6]

I built my own with heat shield and all all for around 60 bucks. no performance gains really just a nice sound (which is what I wanted)

[motorwerks]

Jim pretty much hit the nail on the head. Just be sure that it either has a heat shield, or is out of the engine compartment unless you want a Hot Air Intake. Even then you'll only loose a couple HP, but why sacrifice HP for the wooshing sound?

[328is_951]

how did you make the heat shield

[Nline6]

I can post pics later if your interested. I just bent a piece of sheet metal and cut it out to the right size

[E36 Phantom]

Performance wise, you're not gonna see much of a difference. In terms of filtration quality, brand absolutely matters. Now that you know it's important, click the little search link cuz it's been answered by myself and others about 15,000 times.

[E36youngster]

i built my own as well.

[E36 Phantom]

^Me too.

And Andy tried to. Ask Andy for tips on what *not* to do, cuz I'm pretty sure he found every last mistake you could ever possibly make....:lmao:

[Nline6]

I used aa piece metal tubing, a filter, some 3" hose clamps some 3" hose cut into a 3" strip 1X2 foot piece of sheet metal and some OEM BMW hood/trunk gasket crap that I found on a car at the junk yard so it matches, painted everything black and voila.

[FadetoCrimson1]

^Me too.

And Andy tried to. Ask Andy for tips on what *not* to do, cuz I'm pretty sure he found every last mistake you could ever possibly make....:lmao:

lmaooo...

Making a CAI or Short Ram isnt really that hard. Im really inexperienced at mechanical stuff but honestly if i can do it then you can do it...

I shoulda put up a DIY but if i get a bunch of requests i'll go back and take pictures and do a full write up...

[FadetoCrimson1]

Oh and i forgot to add...

to be honest filters are all around the same price... even the ****ty Pepboys/Autozone brands are around 35-50 bucks..... AEM makes great filters and im really happy with mine so its all up to you...

DONT get K&N or else you'll fuk up your MAF AND Chad will kill you :D :D :D

[dinanm3atl]

Just as a side not on the long tube 'getting heated up'. Even if the tube is 200 degrees, the air coming into the filter(ambient temp) is moving so fast it will not get heated. It refreshes the air in the tube thousands of time when the RPMs are high.