I dropped by steve's auto clinic today and was really impressed, he knew a lot and was a really nice guy...

1st thanks for everyone who recommended him cause when i do get anything done to my car i'll be happy to know my mini is in good hands...

quick question, steve told me that if i bought the pulley/intake from him, it would be a K&N intake because that's smog legal? how often do u have to check for smog anyways? and would it be better to go with my original idea (pilo)? he says it's 650 all together for the pulley/intake and installation and some sort of extra thing he invented or designed, don't know what it does, but he said he'll do that for free (maybe he was joking). is that a good price? if i buy the pilo it'll be less because 400 for the pulley, 150 for th eintake, and whatever he wants to charge for install... that'll be less than 650, but is it really that much of a problem for smog, or is there a big difference about noise/performance with the KN over the pilo?

what do u guys think? and what can this secret invention be? said something about a blow-off valve or something that sounded like that...

 

any chance someone can give me a reply soon? cause i'm going in monday morning i think... and i'd like to know before hand, becuase if i can save 75$ by buying a pilo and the only problem is smog (maybe) then i'll do it...

any thoughts on the K&N?

 

That's in line with what others have paid. Market is somewhere between $350 and $400 for pulley + install. Intakes usually are a DIY install and run between $140 (Pilo) up to $250 (I think) for the Alta with the silicon hose.

I've never heard that the K&N is the only intake that's smog legal. How an intake would affect smog to begin with is beyond me.

HTH, Jeff

 

Cooper53,

I guess alot of people are off and out motoring for spring break.

When I used to live in California we did smog checks yearly or so. If you have an intake that can easily be taken off then you can return your MCS to stock before the test. Pilo intake is not CARB yet I think but you can talk to Dan at Piloracing to check on that. K&N is CARB and you need the sticker just in case you get stopped or you will risk getting a ticket from police.

About frequency of smog checks read this:
http://www.dui.com/oldwhatsnew/DMV/smog.html

Seems like the laws vary and are worse in Los Angeles and other bad air places.

About being charged $650 for pulley and intake installs, that is about right for those items. Yes you can save a bit but Pilo intake is not CARB (no sticker) so it may not be legal. Just contact Pilo to check on that.

Or you can do pulley install only and run stock intake and just change the filter to foam, K&N drop in filter or green filter to stay legal.

Is there much difference between K&N typhoon vs Pilo intake for the $100 difference? If one is CARB then that is the legal one. Performance wise I think Helix13 has dynoed the K&N typhoon and it does produce HP. I'd say for California owners it is better to be legal. Just less hassle. If you are budget minded then stick with a drop in filter.

Have fun.

 

I put a K&N Typhoon in my MCS. I don't have any track time or anything like that but it sure feels quicker As far as the smog thing ges: sorry, can't help you there.

 

you meant $400 for the pulley installed right? if you are paying $400 plus installation, i think you are getting ripped off for that pulley. if that price was installed, then that seems about right.

good luck - i'd like to hear what that "other special thing" is...

-ABT-

 

total is 650 installed for the k/n intake and the 15% pulley... is the k/n filter a cold-air intake?

 

I'm not sure how the K&N's sound and feel but maybe a search will reveal some reviews. I don't remember reading much about them, seems they weren't as popular maybe, but surely read what there is to be said about it from personal experiences. It takes 2 minutes to swap intakes from stock to the pilo so it's personally no biggie for smog checks.