Which Intake is better in your opinion?

Stats from Webb Motorsports:

Alta Intake: 9 hp, $259

Mini Madness Intake: 7 hp, $240

Pilo Racing Intake: 6-7 hp, $145

Pipercross: 7 hp, $160

They should all take about the same time to install right?

Are the hp gains at the wheels or at the crank?

Are all of the intakes known to eliminate the stumble problem or just a few?

How much torque do the intakes add (don't forget to specify at the wheels or at the crank)?

:smile:

 

The ALTA sounds the best (IMO) and has the most power gain. The Pilo is perfect for the budget-minded MINIac. The ALTA is the most complex to install, since you have to also remove the cowl baffle (much more involved than taking off the top-half of the airbox)

HP gain is approx peak at the flywheel - and vaires according to mods and even per MINI.

The stumble is a software-related issue. Hardware engine mods will temporarily trick the ECU into not stumbling, however it will re-learn it's naughty ways in about a hundred miles. Obviously, this is only relevent to those MINI's with the stumble (mostly '03's); '04's don't seem to have the stumble anymore (new software versus '03's), so if you order one it's a non-issue.

Hope this helps, but do use the [search] function next time - there is tons of intake-related threads in here.

 

I have the Pilo intake and love it. Gonna pop on a new computer, alta or helix pulley and a magnaflow soon... the combo should be orgasmic.

 

I too have the Pilo, and I love it as well. Can't beat the price and the quality. Also came with a free cleaning kit. If you are on a budget, this is a no brainer. If not, a lot of people seem to like the Alta. :smile:

 

Take all of those power numbers you quoted with a very big grain of salt.

 

Why?

There shouldn't be any biases considering it's from the same company selling them.

 

One would think that should be the case, yet I haven't seen customers back up those numbers. Do some searching for actual customer results. For example, I found that the Magnaflow delivered about half of the quoted gains.

 

Very true, Andy. And don't expect to feel a heck of a lot of difference after installation. These may very well add 6-9 HP at your flywheel, but you shouldn't expect much from a 4-5% gain in your overall flywheel hp. They do look cool, and they certainly add to your overall engine sound, which is nice. Just don't go looking for breakneck acceleration after adding one...that's all!

FYI: I'm using the Pilo, which I think is the only one even worth considering. It's cheap, it produces roughly the same gains as the others, it's a breeze to install, and the green looks cool!

 

I just installed a Pilo on my MCS JCW last night with Randy's air box mod and took it out for spin an hr ago.There is a definite improvement in thottle response and seat of the pants power especially in 2nd and third gear...seems to come on stronger and faster,plus the whine of the SC.IMO worth every penny..even better I got it on sale last month for $126.00 from OutMotoring.

 

Those numbers all came from Randy's dyno testing so I would put faith in their accuracy. The only choice I really see there is between the Alta and the Pilo. The Madness intake and the Pilo are nearly identical in form and function, I have even been led to belive that the filter element on the Pilo is better. I choose the Pilo for the simple fact that it is a high quality product, tied for 2nd in power gains, and is by far the least expensive (notice the lack of the word cheap)

 

pilo intake rocks for the price
i have no regret getting it after using it for about 4months.
the green colour looks very special to me too.
plus there is a sticker that comes with the intake that should add another 10hp

 

Not to be an *** erichui... but it add's 15whp...
Get your facts straight before you post here buddy

 

Hahaha.... you boys....
whats 15hps

wait till you put on hair gel...

 

Without any real hp #'s, an intake can make a pretty significant increase in power (besides the great sound it makes . On our simple tests, the CAI was worth about .3 seconds 0-60 (we were testing at 5500 ft at 64 & 65 degrees with 91 octane gas...barometric pressure pretty consistent...so, of course, "your results may vary"

I prefer the Alta Intake because of the silicone inlet hose...yeah, I know it has the bling, bling factor (which I typically shun)...but smoothing out the flow (after the air passes through a cone filter) before the supercharger compresses the air makes the most sense to me.

Silicone intercooler hoses and turbo inlet hoses alone on WRXs (yes, I know this is not a WRX forum) are good for 6-9 hp and 5-10 hp respectively.

Smooth, laminar flow helps makes it easier for the ECU to control air/fuel mixtures and more consistent advances in timing.

Anyway, that is my $.02

 

The Outmotoring.com site says this about the blue hose on the Alta...

The ALTA hose does not gain any horsepower unless you are using an aftermarket throttle body. With an aftermarket throttle body there is a reported 2-4 hp gain.

 

2-4hp from the throttle body or the hose? Actually, probably neither. Helix just tested a 64mm (I think) throttle body and that only makes 1-2 HP on its own. And that's on a MINI with a pulley. I'm pretty sure a throttle body does nothing with a stock MCS. Then the throttle body is far from the limiting factor.