For my recent acquisition; '11 R57.
I'm between the M7 configuration or VIP which is out of Arizona and so far I've seen on eBay only.
Both appear to be nice, I do like that VIP cai uses the stock supply tube bringing cold air in from behind the grille.
Thoughts and opinions on both?
I've ruled out AEM; the thought of driving through monsoon rain forcing water into the intake doesn't appeal to me. Even though it's possibly unlikely.
Thanks!
W-

 

I’ve done he heavy rains with my AEM and had no water issues. My second choice would be the NM intake, as it looks well designed too.

Regardless which intake you get, if you decide you need to have one, take the mesh out from the stock bonnet scoop to let as much airflow into the engine bay as possible. Otherwise, your “cold air” intake will be sucking hot air from the engine bay.

 

Well I'd save your money and not get the intake as they just loose torque sucking so much hot air from the engine. The AEM is nice with the duct and the concern of water isn't an issue as we've been selling them for years and no one has had an issue yet.
If you just want an intake for noise check out our DDM street as it is very cost effective.

the AEM strut bar is really nice and you can use it even if you aren't using the AEM intake.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/aem-st...7-r58-r59.html
For heat sheilds I would first no matter what just do the cheap hood one
https://www.waymotorworks.com/mini-c...5-r56-r57.html

Then I use the NM heatshield on the turbo. Never liked the way the M7 fit as it was not good at all and we've seen several of them rust on the edges.

 

Nice website... So many choices.
Could be dangerous for me; NM titanium heat shield 'kit' is appealing.
As you said; I have read that the engine bay heat does take a bite out of low end torque; maybe a drop in and call it a day.
Is the AEM a solid install? I've done several different intakes on my Fiat 500T and some had fitment issues.
W-

 

I have the AEM, driven through several torrential downpours here in the North East, no water issues. Plus it comes with a heat shield.

I would say if you're not going to get AEM, just do a drop-in. Just about every other "cold" air intake is just an open filter sucking hot engine bay air. It cools down once you start moving, but your intake air temps will shoot up once you're below 20 MPH. I had the NM intake before and that's exactly what I got. Took like 2 minutes in bumper to bumper traffic to get intake temps up to 100F.

Also worth considering your stock airbox already has a cold air tube that feeds air from the driver's side corner of the grill. It's not much but its something. Most open filter intakes don't take advantage of it. AEM does.