Would like to see what CAI the forum users are running, the way i see it, majority rules (most frequent brand of cai the better 1).

Me.. Stock airbox :(

Want to get CAI but theres so many to choose from!

SO what intake have you got??

 

I have a 2005 JCW so am using the JCW cai with a flapectomy and an ITG foam filter.

 

Alta V2.0 (everything but the boxtop) - if it matters red filter / black silicone / black 'box' - like the quality, love the soundtrack!

 

Dinan CAI
Louder than JCW, Quieter than ALTA, etc...perfect sound to listen too all day, and looks like it belongs under my hood!! Beautifully engineered, Simply ingenious....will never rust, corrode, or look like crap...no metal to discolor or paint to peel. Also is heat resistant....it does not conduct the heat from the engine bay to the intake like metal intakes can!!
No annoying whistle like many others!!
Less bling than some....more of a sleeper look.

 

JCW, have run it with and without flap

 

Alta with the back door cut out

 

Alta.....red filter, red silicone inlet hose.

 

JCW, no flap.

I have a used ALTA sitting on a shelf in the garage w/top.. should probably get rid of that. It had a nice sound, but I prefer the stock look of the JCW and somehow it being plastic instead of metal makes me feel better, placebo or not.

 

After multiple different set-ups I now have a DINAN.

1) Alta Mini Performance Version 2.0 Package:
Heat Shield
Foam Filter
Box Top
Silicone Hose

+Sounds Mean as Hell
+Fairly Simple Install
+High Quality Construction
+Comes with Silicone Tube

-The Sound Did Become Less Endearing After a While (but almost a year).
-It's Much More Bulky than the M7, JCW, DDM... pretty much any others.
-It's Heavy.
-It's Expensive, over $300 for the whole sha-bang.
-Even without the lid, it was too big to fit under my strut bar.

2) K&N Direct-Mounted Filter (#1406 - I think <<REALLY NOT POSITIVE)

+Cheap! <$40 plus $10 for tubing/fitting to attach the crank case breather
+EASY Install
+Good Part by a Very Reputable Company
+Good Sound, Not Over-Powering
+Although a Hot Air Take, I have seen duct-work made to create a pseudo
Ram-Air-Like setup utilizing the Intake funnel on the radiator shroud.
+Pretty Different
+Intakes Don't Really Make a Lot of Power. This one may preform worse
than others, but considering price, throttle response is improved
noticeably. There have been discussions arguing that the MINI benefits
more from additional air than necessarily cooler air. (Read on NAM, not
my claim)

-Without modification, not much cool air
-Crank case breather tube really NEEDS to be feeding into the
system. I drilled a hole into the top of the filter, added a brass 90 deg.
hose fitting and got a nut up inside to secure. Big pain but not difficult
-Doesn't really look that cool

3) DINAN CAI w/ Cowl "Snorkel"

+DINAN is pretty much the name in BMW Performance.
+Cheaper than the JCW with a similar look, and if you aren't running the
JCW "flap" (a RPM-Activated butterfly valve that opens more as you
climb the RPM scale, much like the throttle-body. Kit includes a wiring
harness, so you pay for it whether you use it or not), its pretty close.
+Price. Because the DINAN kit is only a filter and different OEM air box lid,
the cost is extremely low, especially for a product from a company with
a reputation like DINAN. Their website lists at $150, my local MINI dealer
had said $200 initially, but the partnership between MINI and DINAN has
ended, and my dealership ultimately gave me one just to get rid of it
(after I had my cylinder head replaced)
+OEM Look
+Awesome Sound. Clean. Crisp. Good Volume
+Unique design extends to pull air in more directly from the wiper cowl vent
+Heat dissipating composite
+Fits under my particularly low-profile strut brace with room to spare

-Lid and Filter Only
-Requires Modification to the Plastic panel behind the unit, and most do,
this is just a bit more precise, which makes it a bit more difficult.

__________________________________________________ __
Now thats what I've had. The other main options you have are:

John Cooper Works (JCW), which is pricey ($345), and if you aren't using the flap, you end up paying for something unnecessarily. Outstanding product and quality though. Straight Forward Install.

Then you have the DDM, CravenSpeed, and M7 CAIs. They are all pretty similar. They are also all around $250. They are enclosed, and made of metal, although CravenSpeed's lid is clear plexiglass. You get an air box, lid, and filter. They connect to the throttle body via original tubing. These look pretty slick. I had concerns about dealing with the clear air box lid, but I've never heard anything negative about any of them. Helix also offers a CAI in this sort of design, but much more scaled back and not enclosed. I have heard its quite good quality, but it seems pricey.

Finally you have the BMP, AFe, and K&N Typhoon into which I can't really offer any insight.

Ultimately, this will come down to your preference of looks and sounds. I have recently had issues with Alta's powdercoat failing on another product, and due to its bulkiness, I'm not really a fan of their intake. However, the silicone hose is a good choice. You can get an Alta one for $105 or Samco (available in every color from pink to urban camo) for $108. I run the Dinan today with an Alta silicone hose, and there is a foam filter made by ITG which is on my Christmas list, but what came with it is certainly good quality. I love it, it looks good, sounds good, and I would recommend it. You can get Alta for $305 (assuming you dont have a strut brace, oh and your ECU lid won't fit under the lid), any of the rest plus the tube for around $360, or the DINAN plus hose plus performance filter for $330 (or $250 with the included filter).

Hope this helps. Sorry they started me on Ritalin, and I'm a bit chatty. Happy Motoring!

 

Stock airbox with K&N drop in panel

 

Webb Motorsports CAI w/ RAF

 

We us the DDMworks Intake the most, they always fit, don't rust, don't rub on the wiring harness, and sound good.

As for your theory of just buying what the most people have. Isn't really the best idea. Just because alot of people have something doesn't mean it's the best. There are several products I can think of the alot of people have that they could have done better. The main reason alot of people will have a certain product will be because of marketing and/or price of the product. A bad product can be marketed really well and sell, but doesn't make it better. Just some food for thought.

 

I have to agree. I got the Alta because everyone was getting it. Aside from height clearance, the biggest issue was that unlike M7, DDM, and even Dinan and JCW, Alta's metal heat shield wraps all the way around the ECU. The others sit aside it. This actually doesn't look too good and it didn't sit right on mine. DDM is a great looking product, but that's all I have knowledge of. Look around, there is an infinite amount of data on intakes here.

 

Helix CAI

 

Does that web cai look a bit strange?

Dinan intake FTW!

 

Dinan indeed. I think that one is thermal treated. I've heard nothing but good things about Webb's CAI, and they utilize some ideas nobody else does. But I really thing it looks like it was made with tin snips and sheet metal. They brag it's the most industrial looking, but in the price range of a JCW (if you get the "ram air" addition, if you could be so bold as to call it that), I'd prefer something a bit more professional looking. I really think I could make that for $40 and a trip to home depot.

 

Great post. I have found that out the hard way. I have the Alta CAI with silicone hose. The hose doesnt fit snug on the throttle body and allows dirt in and that is only one of my gripes. The highly annoying "whistle" that most just ignore is just terrible. I WISH I had stuck with my DDM works CAI, not a single complaint, not sure why I switched

 

Not strange at all. The snorkel is to grab fresh air from the hood scoop and the gold is heat reflective material.

 

I agree w/ what Way said: "Just because alot of people have something doesn't mean it's the best." On the other hand, just because one person says so don't make it so (see control arm bushing thread - right, Way?) (p.s. - the powerflexs are working great, thx again)

As far as the Alta V2.0, it fit right, it looks right (to me) doesn't interfere w/ anything, true cowl induction without cutting anything, seems (to me) well made, no rust/corrosion/chipping - I bought it (A) after doing some 'comparison shopping', including various reviews and (2) having a 10% off card from another company who carried it at Alta's price (so I paid about $250)...
> Is the the very best? Haven't seen any independent dyno comparisons either way, so I don't know. It did noticably improve my MINI's throttle response, so it worked there...
> Did I have any issues with the install? Yup, but I've had issues w/ almost every single thing I've done to this special little car, so all's good there. Did not have any problem getting it to attach to throttle body, a slight issue getting crankcase vent tube into place (see previous sentence)...
> Is it too loud? Maybe, but I enjoy the sound (to each his own, as they say). That it screams at WOT helps keep me sane in populated areas ... (as a fellow club member - a mod. crx guy - told me, laughing, during a track-time w/end: "You have a very angry small man trying to get out from under your hood!")
> Heavy? I can't say, didn't weigh it (and what would we be talking, a couple of big macs heavy-er than stock?
> Back to fitment: everything fit the way I expected, if not better, though I wish the battery terminal thingie was tighter, but I can live w/ it - My strut brace didn't fit either, but ten minutes (tops) w/ the dremel took care of that (looks like it was made that way)...

I wish I had the time and budget to road and dyno test eleventy different intakes to shave a pound or gain 2 hp (someday) - My first priorities are devoted to continuing to buy and install other components until I can get to a level that warrants fretting about that...

Dunno - listen to the opinions, do your research, make your decision, and enjoy it

 

Like many, I've had a two different intakes my first was a Helix CAI, it sounded awesome and was very reasonably priced, however, in my opinion, I felt the filtration of the oiled cotten gaze style element left a bit to be desired. I now run a DDM CAI which I'm quite happy with. Down the line I'd like a JCW intake.

 

I have the DDM black powdercoated CAI. I like the sound, there's no drone or continuous whistling (with a 15% pulley and stock exhaust). Gave me better throttle response. Also, it looks stock because it's black and pretty well fitting piece under the hood. I think it clears almost all strut bars as well.

 

Just from experience I can tell you I've seen issues with several different intakes.
I've had all the MiniMania intakes rub on the Map sensor wiring.
Alta intakes after they are a year old the powder coat flakes off and rust in the corners. also had a few rub on the map wiring.
Intake hoses that don't seal on the throttle body.

The early DDM intakes had some of the welds break, but since been changed to not have that happen.

On the webb the way the scoop comes over to the intercooler Is NOT a good idea. Reason is air will go the path of least resistance, so this will end up stealing air from the intercooler. Which the intercooler is more important.

Then most of the other intakes don't enclose the filter so you get more hot air too it.

 

You have the DDM/M7, CravenSpeed, Webb and Alta. They are all pretty much the same. You will not get any more HP out of any of them, maybe 0 to 3 hp gain? Voltage, Dinan, JCW, too they are prettier? Get which ever one you want. I got the JCW with an ITG filter and did a flapectomy on it, cause that what the car came with.

 

5+ yrs on my Alta and still looking/working great. No rust, flaking, wiring problems.

 

Dinan, and happy.