Acknowledging how easy it is to fall into the mod trap (spent over $3000 on my 2000 Dakota) and how addicting it is, I am wondering if any of you moders out there tend to get faked out like me.

Here's what I mean. One of my first mods is going to be an intake. In looking at all the so called "cold" air intakes, some of them use the air drawn from the grill and do nothing more than direct it in the general vicinity of the filter, others utilize the original plumbing and hook into a new box with or without a lid. So here's my question: If you take the typical $200 CAI (that use varying amounts of OEM parts) and compare it to a drop in K&N filter, there's around $165 that you're paying for a metal shield with (or maybe without a lid. Now granted the OEM airbox isn't much to look at so maybe some of the difference is the bling factor, but performance-wise it doesn't seem worth the $165.

So is it a situation that:
1) we are willing to pay extra for the hope of better performance (faking ourselves out)
2) because we are paying more we MUST be getting better performance (faking ourselves out)
3) #1 or #2 above plus they look cool (bling factor)
4) or are these intakes really that much better than the stock airbox with a drop in filter?

 

sound of the supercharger is much more noticable, power, well......people tend to talk about the butt dyno, but 3-4 hp is really not noticable. time of day and weather can change a car more than that

 

The key with any intake is getting more air to the engine. On the stock intake the biggest hindrance to this is the rear cowl partition. On the stock setup it gets air from the front "ram" scoop portion and a small (maybe 2 inches in diameter?) hole in the rear cowl partition. What most intakes try to do is modify or completely remove that partition to allow whatever filter you choose to use access to more air. Is it really colder air, I am not so sure. In terms of volumes of air though, it is much more readily available.

Really from one intake to another the power differences will be 1 or 2 hp, so most just go for which one they will appreciate to look at most in the engine. So some try to match the intake color to the body color, or go for a sleek black look, its all up to you.

I went with an Alta only because it was on sale at the time I got it. I am thinking about switching over to a Minspeed intake, lower profile in the engine bay is all.

The intakes without tops do have a "semi-top" When the bonnet is closed it seals off the intake from the engine air. I went with a boxed top only to hide the red filter.

So when it comes down to it, most intakes turn similar results, the real choice is how you feel it looks in the engine bay.

Hope this helped

 

A lot of these intakes claim such and such amounts of HP. You'll get a few due to getting rid of unnecessary bends.There's not much choice in intakes for the S in the design department. They all mimic each other. I'm guessing due to the design of the car, there's no way to route a tube down behind the bumper to get a true "cold air intake". I got the Ultrik for the price. I have no complaints. It's better than the stock one.

Another thought is, you can put X amount of HP in your car, but you won't see too much more go without redoing the gearing and ECU.

 

You're going to get alot of votes in favor of a CAI. The best bang for the buck is simply your favorite high flow drop-in filter and enlarging the hole in the bottom of the stock air box that connects to the cowl area.

 

I think it has been pretty much documented that you can gain 5 hp (+/-) from an aftermarket "freer flow" CAI. I have not seen numbers that confirm that a freer flow panel filter will generate like numbers.

It all boils down to price per pony and what you are willing to spend.

 

Actually, I disagree. It has been will documented that a freer flowing head is the corner stone to real HP development. Having said that there is value (be it small) all along the way with other mods - such as ECU, CAI, exhaust, pulley, ect......

basically there are two levels (level 1 - cai/pulley/exhaust) after which the financial expense is a considerable jump to make it to level two (often called the 10,000 dollars club).

 

CAI or HAI? Either way the throttle response is better.

HAI is less expence, just the filter ( you also need to think about a small filter for the crank case vent or a hose to connect to the intake ) see - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...69#post1022769

CAI more money & lots of debate about which 1 to get.

Best bang for the buck is as, Ignots, post 5 suggests.

 

You could always rotate the cone on a stick behind the left head lamp and remove the left head lamp for some really fresh air lol.

 

Yeah, and you said it best. Not EVERYBODY can afford big mods like heads and Palo Uber stuff. For the average Joe with a mortgage, wife, and kid (s), air intakes and exhausts are the way to go.

 

My first mod was a CAI. loved it and think it helped a great deal. now with all my mods it has really come together and a dyno run is soon to follow.

 

There is no such thing as a CAI on a Mini. Where is the engine pulling cold air from? My BMW pulls "cold air" from right at the bottom of the bumper line. That is a true cold air intake. Even how my old Mustang pulled from the fender isn't one. You might be able to see gains from an intake but I like the sound more than anything on the Mini. Oh...and BTW...if you look at the $250 intakes that the vendors sell and the $20 ebay specials...you will see they are the SAME. This is the only area that I would go cheap on. An intake is an intake is an intake I say. Again...on the Mini.

 

I don't think you see too much of a HP gain, but there are some nice factors about a CAI or HAI that I don't think you'll get from a drop-in. The sound is the most noticeable....I love the sound of my ALTA, and I can actually hear the TB sucking in the air. You will also notice that the SC whine is a LOT louder, and you can feel the better response from the intake...Other than that, I don't think you can feel the 3-4HP if any, but it also makes your engine bay look better imo (bling factor).

BTW: I had a HAI before my ALTA CAI.

-Cody

 

The air box is feed cold air from a scoop that is behind the grill and above the radiator.

[quote-uksuv;1570004] Oh...and BTW...if you look at the $250 intakes that the vendors sell and the $20 ebay specials...you will see they are the SAME. [/quote]

There are differences to consider such as does the aftermarket intake give you access to the window vent air, is it enclosed from the engine bay, how is it enclosed (seal against hood or enclosed box, if enclosed what material is used (thermal efficiency) and quality of filter. Do these factors sum to greater performance when it comes to CAI, I believe they do BUT that does necessarily justify the price to many.

When it comes to MODing and seeking gains a major component is what your wallet can bear. AND you have to appreciate that MODing is not just about gains - bling and coolness factors come into play.

 

I dont know why I said that... I knew where it is pulling air from..:impatient I think that was only supposed to be part of a comment...

 

Here's a thread I posted back in April of the solution I came up with to a CAI.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=97341

 

There definitely is a CAI for the S. The CAI's that remove the rear bulkhead are getting cold air from the window vent and from the intake in the grill. No hot air there.

There are huge differences in the quality of the filter itself. Foam is the way to go for long life and filtering capabilities.

 

I'm not sure how long you've had your car for, but eventually(if you haven't already) you'll notice that the MINI engine compartment in stock form gets pretty warm under there and holds that heat.
The CAI made from stainless steel won't do much to insulate from that heat, but will eventually recover once the car is moving and there is air flow.

The stock air box(which can be modified to accept a cone type filter)as well as the Dinan is a plastic composite that actually helps to insulate the filter area.

 

 

Don't drive through a deep puddle in a rain storm with a CAI with no shielded protection. You run the risk of sucking water into the engine and destroying it. Bad if you like driving through puddles.

 

Especially if you have a Mustang or BMW with air being sucked from below the bumper! With the Mini's high air filter, just make sure there's a way for the water to drain before being sucked in. The only concern I've had about the "window vent air" is when that truck in the opposing lane throws 10 gallons of water on your windshield and it heads "down the drain" at the bottom...

 

This is really not an issue on the MCS w/ a CAI open style.

 

I agree that there are quality differences.

While I run a Foam Filter there are non-foam filters that perform every bit as good as foam from a long life and filtering capabilities.

A difference does exist which you did not raise - typially foam filters can be reused (i.e. cleaned/oiled) and paper filters need to eventually be replaced.

 

Question... How much of a difference would it make by adding the intake scoops? Since it's directing more air to the intake I guess it helps somewhat. I'm currently using a pair of cf intake scoops together with the promini intake that comes with a heatshield paired with the Alta scilicone hose. The original 2" cowling hole was bored to a 6" plus an extension was also made to the intake shield so it extends back to the cowling area. How much hp should I expect to gain from this? Anyone?

 

Some have experimented directing more air to the CAI and claimed benefits. Examples -
1) Webb makes a CAI that directs scoop air to the CAi box as an example.
2) Some have added a scoop (drivers side) to direct more air to the CAI (carbonized).
3) intake scoops like orcini - look great but do very little.

Outside of accessing the cowel vent air (i.e. open up partition to the engine so it doesn't suck thru a straw at low speeds), i don't subscribe to "more air is needed". At speed i think it gets the air it needs. So I don't think you will see much more HP gain by doing more. Directing more air and pressurizing the CAI box is another matter in my opinion.

I think there are benefits of keeping that air its coldest possible adds value.
My self and others have played with trying to increase thermal efficieny - Partsman and DocPhil proabably the most in this area. I have simply wrapped my CAI box w/ a thermal barrier.