I have 250 budget for a cold air intake. however, Im looking for an intake that has the best sound and HP gain. I read a post from a guy who just got his Dinan installed. That sounds like a good one. But if any of you have Alta, M7, K&N or Pipercross, can you share how you feel about these brands?

I appreciate your help! Gotta get a CAI by the end of this month for me R53 thanks a lot!!!

 

I have the BMP designs CAI. It was about $170. Made a nice improvement in acceleration and sounds great.
I got mine from Promini.
If you plan on adding a tower brace under the hood, check to see if the CAI you choose will allow you to install a brace down the road (clearance issue). This is why I chose this intake over some of the "pretty " ones.

 

Chose the Dinan based on the recommendations of several posters here and also it's on sale for $149.

Mio

 

The Dinan is only a different cover for the stock airbox with an opening at the end for air to come in via the cowl. Oh and you get a filter. (I have one and its ok) Dont get me wrong it is really a nice piece if you want more air and still look stock.

The DDM is IMO one of the best you can buy and you will not have any strut tower brace issues I can assure you. ( I have it on my car now with an M7 strut bar) It comes in black with a lid and is very well made. The back wall part (by cowl) is wide open and the sound is a little louder than the Dinan. Not Honda racer loud just louder than stock or the Dinan. I had mine installed at Helix when I have my 15% pully installed. It may be a little more than you want to spend but cheap is not always better in the end.

http://www.helix13.com/mini/products/engine-intake#top

DDMWorks Mini Cooper S Cold Air Intake

HMS 2080 DDMWorks R53 2002-2006 Mini Cooper S Cold Air Intake $250.00

DDMWorks R53 Street Cold Air Intake
Power and efficiency are achieved by removing bottlenecks and inefficiencies. This is true for any system, and your S is no different. As a DDM Works original design, our intake strives to provide the most power through the highest efficiency of any intake on the market. Our UNI dual stage filter provides vastly more air flow with superior filtering over paper or cloth filters, and can be cleaned and re-oiled for a lifetime of service. Completely sealed from the engine bay and open to the pressurized region at the cowl, the DDM Cooper S intake force feeds your supercharger with more fresh, cool air than other intakes on the market. This also makes it the ideal intake for cars with a supercharger reduction pulley. Installation is quick and easy with simple hand tools, and since no parts need to be cut or destroyed, going back to stock is no problem.

Comes in black powder coated finish. Stainless steel finish also available.

 

DDM is nice, aside from the metal heat sink it uses as a housing. If you just want sound, get something like the Helix since it has no top to it.

You can clear strut bars with the Dinan and Helix CAIs. Not sure on the DDM, but I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

I recommend the DDM works as the number one choice. It always fits and makes good power and sound.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/ddm-int...per-s-r53.html
But if you want to go a little cheaper I have a couple Pipercross intakes for $150 each, just have to call the shop.

WAY
317.201.8670

 

Almost all aftermarkets sound about the same and probablly give a couple HP,however think about one that is completley sealed, to avoid engine heat.
Cheaper materials can let the heat penetrate the boxes too. After all you are looking for a "Cool" air intake. (and I dont mean Fonzie cool)

 

I recommend the Craven Speed CAI.
http://www.cravenspeed.com/index.php?productID=98

It is a almost completely sealed unit with a plexi top. The box itself does not hold heat like many other metal boxes. The ECU is housed inside the intake box as well. I love the sound, look and performance of this unit over Alta etc..plus you get a valve cover badge to replace the stock MINI. If you get the intake spring for the intake tube, much larger and less restrictive.

 

thank you guys for the replies! really helpful! so now i narrow down my choices to Alta, Pipercross, Craven and DDM works. Still having a dilemma on which one to get.

so definitely no K&N or JCW intake?

 

I've only tried one aftermarket intake, (my ALTA), so I'm very biased, but I love it. It sounds like there's a jet engine under the hood, with much more pronounced supercharger whine, especially in conjunction with my 15% smaller diameter supercharger pulley, (which is exactly how I like it). The two mods make an awesome combo for sound and performance.

 

I've heard jonnieoh's car and it does sound good. I have the Alta V2 15% pulley and the JCW CAI, I believe that the ALTA CIA is slightly louder.

 

Sounds like it was probably my thread that's just a little further down the page. It's a great intake making enough noise with a low-key appearance. It does get extra air from a 6"Lx1"W opening in the cowl, but also the factory inlet from the grille. Plus the composite it's made from is made to not absorb heat like other plastics and some metals. PLUS it's engineered to be efficient with pressure drops... or something haha.

 

I bought the Dinan one purely because I didn't have much $$ to spend at the time. I don't regret it though, looks low key and sounds great plus it was easy to fit, and it fits under my stut brace.

 

I have the Alta, but would honestly rather have the M7/DDM. As they all perform about the same, M7 stuff is droolworthy.

 

Had The DDM on my first Mini, the fit and finish was perfict, and they stand behind their products.
This is my only experience as I have the JCW CAI on the car now.

FWIW

 

wow! sounds good! well from all the information you guys provided.

Alta - 150
Dinan - 149
Pipercross - 150

so hard to decide. I love the way Pipercross looks, has anyone had a Pipercross on his car so far?! if there's no review for Pipercross, i will either get Alta or Dinan thanks guys! your opinions help a lot!

 

I have the ALTA on mine (lots of charger whine Expecialy when it is cold outside) I love it but, dont over oil the filter or think that you dont need to take care of it, they git DIRTY. But that just says it works properly. If I where in your position and had some extra cash I would like to try GTT's CAI, their parts are expencive shipping is more(normally happens when oceans get in ihe way) but it is an absolutly awsome design, who can argue with a tuned velocity stack.

 

yeah this one looks pretty sick! http://www.gtt.uk.com/parts1.asp Thanks for the suggestion about GTT! but damn it's like 250+ US dollars haha i will think about it!! thanks a lot!

 

Oh I forgot to mention it does not come with an intake tube replacement! You would be better off with ALTA's biggest bang(or whine) for the buck.

 

There are tons of threads on the subject. I'd do a search. There are pros / cons for each of the intakes.

My experience from Alta -

-PROS- Great performance, loud S/C whine, very cheap, decent build

-CONS- Some report throttle body whistle *very annoying*, hose is a horrible fit - Got rid of hose out of fear that it would come off while driving. Metal box provides little insulation.

 

I have an Alta, with the top, and I agree, cause I am swapping it out for an M7 tomorrow, anyone want to buy a very slightly used Alta?

 

M7s stuff is top notch I think. I was looking at the M7 intake but I was concerned with how long the foam filter was. I have the cowl scoop mods and I didnt want any water getting onto the end of the filter and have water or vapor sucked in.

 

Thanks for the comment "burley" I have always thought the hiss at part throttle was normal I've also had my clamps on the tube come loose but replaced them with some verry beefy ones I had on my EVO a while back, and wraped the box in self stick water heater insulation, Now everything works great and to tell you the truth I dont notice the Little whistle much my charger and exahust cover it up pretty good

 

I've heard of them coming loose, this is usually due to the clamp not being seated all the way down to the base of the hose. Push it down allll the way and you should be goood to go!

 

At this point just pick and one of them and buy it. "The best" does not matter when you are putting a low price limit on your choices. Ya know what I mean??? They all do the same thing and each has its strong and weak points. I have a DDM and a Dinan. I like the DDM one better for function but the Dinan looks stock. Than again it is just a lid with a opening in the back.

My DDM works fine and clears my M7 Strut bar without any issues or rubbing. I have a 1/2 inch between the two parts. Heat from around the box is not such a big deal as people make it out to be. All the air is coming from the cowl area right through the filer into the motor. It not like we have our intakes behind or right beside the radiator.
(Insert Mustang or another car here) As long as the box is sealed off from the motor area and pulling air from outside the enging bay its fine.
If you are pulling air from inside the engine bay (Intake without a lid or not sealed) you have a WAI. (Warm are intake) That is why Injen and other companies make huge long tubes that put the air filter down and away from the engine bay and pull the air from behind the bumper for 300, 350, 370 Z's.
Aso because the air comes from so low they also had to designed a water lock for huge puddles. We do not have that issue.

Now the M7 strut bar with almost any intake, it is a nice part and it looks good and functions very well. I have one on my car now and have for 2 years, but it did hit the inside of the hoodliner and would hold the hood up a little (1/4 inch or less) when the hood was closed. Over time it has molded around the strut brace with a little assistance from me and a few tools.