Ive searched but i still couldnt find a specific thread that will help with my quandary. I can not decide on which intake kit to buy. I have a budget for under 200 but under 170 would be even better! I have a MCS with one ball at the moment.

im stuck between the helix the mini madness with the cowl or my personal top pick mini mania intake with the cowl

i have the K&N drop in filiter right now and its alright. I have no complaints but the mini madness filter does seem like it has more air intake velocity, but it is 230

I can do a DIY with a fairly good heatsheild(had one on my e36) but i dont want that DIY look lol...so which one do you guys say?

 

i just installed my helix cai, now my car sounds like a sirem when i go wot!!! i love it, you can hear the supercharger work soo good

 

Once you leave the stock box and panel filter they all function just about the same aside from heat-soak at stoplights, which is a factor gone @ 70MPH. The HP gains really come from doing a pulley, and CAI or HAI and lighter exhausts will help mpg base don your goals.

Knowing what I know now, if I were to do it all over again I'd have spent $40 on the K&N filter that goes right onto the throttle body and done an HAI. (search for HAI and there's a few posts with the part #)

Also you can cut out the cowl area (where the majority of the airflow come through) on the stock box (below the filter) and free up more air to your panel filter, and there may even be a how to floating around for swapping panel filter for a conical one that'll increase your filter's surface area.

 

Motor On- thanks for the insight!
I have a 15% pulley that i need to install. So the power gain will be achieved. I just want to hear the engine more, i like the sound. So i want to know which will be the best way to go. Best bang for my buck.
Best way to go is find a used one?

 

I would wait for another DDM CAI to come on the marketplace used. I just sold mine for $175. I wished I would have kept it though I don't like my new CAI as much.

 

I had the helix and loved it, now I'm running the DDM one and like it too. For the money you can't beat the Helix.

 

Dinan, its $179, and have a 15% rebate. Resists heat soak better than the metal box type, and looks nice.

 

gar23,

The Helix Intake does include a new cowl piece as shown (sorry its a small pic).



If you can find a used one, that's great. The filter is re-useable and easy to clean. Let us know if you opt for a new one

 

Heat soak on metal CAIs can be easily reduced by using heat reflective films that are inexpensive and easy to apply.

 

I have this one
http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NME2030/InvDetail.cfm

its the same as the one you mentioned but with out the modified panel its not hard to cut out that area your self! I am also running with the Alta inlet hose
http://altaperformance.com/products/...r-6-spd-Manual

great combo!