Just purchased a 2012 CMS4 that came with a VIP CAI. I guess I'm happy with it after only three weeks but I keep seeing VIPs up for sale....please share your experience and knowledge....what's everybody running and why?

It's not a true "CAI", it's hot air intake. It's better to stay with the stock airbox. You'll lose your low end power to sacrifice the blow off sound. If you plan to tune your car, I'd recommend going back to your stock box, and slap a K&N panel filter. You'll get some increased noise.

It's just my 0.02, throwing it out there for other people.

I used to have the VIP intake but recently switched to the Defenders of Speed intake when it came out. The DoS is the only true aftermarket CAI available for the Countryman. Clint (the owner of DoS, Mini'mon on the forum) has promised some dyno numbers compared to the stock air box but has been on vacation for a few weeks now.

Thanks for the feedback...both great insight...the factory intake was not included in the sale, so it's the VIP for the near term.....

DoS... although I love the VIP DP-back exhaust coupled to an Akrapovic DP.

I bought my ddm street intake knowing full well it was not going to add any more power( and that I may actually lose power)....... I did it solely to add engine noise.

I'm not building a race car and I really don't track much, I dont need to squeeze every last bit if power out of it I can. My car is a ' performance daily driver'....

To me driving should be a full experience, and sound is a BIG part if that experience for me...and that is where minis are lacking big time. When I drive, I want to feel like I'm in a mechanical machine...not some toned down mouse box.so to me, the money I spent on a new intake and exhaust are well worth it, even if they don't do squat for power.

Hell, If I just wanted to get from A to B, I would have bought a Prius.

Agreed!

I have the ddmworks ris on my hardtop. Catback is next. My last turbo car was open intake and catless with a very free flowing exhaust. I miss the growl, pop, and sneeze!

+1 couldn't have said it better myself!

DOS CAI... You can feel it, you can hear it! It yodels!

Wouldn't the AEM system be the "best" real life application of a CAI for our cars? I mean it add's sound plus supposed HP and MPG gains making the scoop workable as well.

you know, ive seen a lot of people saying that the 'open element' CAIs like DDM, NM, ALTA, ect arent "true" CAI because they are open to the engine bay and therefore must suck in heat.....and that the only "true" CAIs are the stock, DOS, and hood scooped CAIs because they only pull air from the outside.


however ive never actually seen anyone post intake temperatures with the various intakes installed....for all we know, the open element filters have the same intake temps as the enclosed systems.....it all seems like everyone is just speculating and passing off their specualtions as fact.

as far as intakes go, the stock intake is honestly pretty free flowing.....so if you buy ANY intake system expecting to increase HP or MPG, i think you are going to be disapointed.

I don't agree with your statement on the open filters have the same intake temps as the enclosed systems such as the stock air box. I would know since my open filter I had higher temps in the summer time compared to my stock air box. Especially the loss of power I felt definitely dictated my decision to go back to the stock air box. I felt the power I once had with the OEM box, and I never turned back. For sh*t and giggles, I have YET to see DoS "CAI" dyno numbers to see if it truly works and some of the other open filters. If the open filter was placed where the coolant tank is, then I would be curious to test it out, kinda like the one from VIP.

If someone here has an actually dyno they did on there car with the OPEN filter, please post it, because everyone knows it's for noise and you will lose power as some independent MINI shops say it's not worth it the $200+. But if noise is what people want, then more power to them if that's all they want and they don't care if they lose that low end power.

I live in the great northwest where the air is cool…. I have the DOS CAI, not just for the noise factor, but because it's a very good air intake. I think what is more important, is the intercooler. I replaced the stock IC with an Alta FMIC. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the fitment, or how its sheer size, effected the boost.The Alta FMIC has become a very effective heat sink, for a DOS W2A IC. This is a very effective system. Turbo lag has all but been eliminated, and I have yet to experience the dreaded heat soak. It would be interesting to see the dyne numbers or the DOS CAI, but I'm very satisfied with DOS, and their products. It sucks hard, and my boost, all 18#'s is chill.

in case anyone was curious, i was finally able to take some CAI temp readings with my torque app the other day.

my intake temps were ~6-8F over ambient temperature.......which is approx. the same intake temps i was getting with my stock intake installed.

ambient temps were ~55F and i was doing mostly highway...

I haven't checked in the cooler air but when it was hot I was getting almost a 30° difference between my stock intake and my ddmworks ris.