Howdy.

I'm mulling over the various intake options out there. I just did the usual search and read a few of the old threads on the issue. I didn't find anything comprehensive, really.

Anyone want to offer an opinion on the best intake for an MCS? I know the Alta is popular, but expensive. I hear the BMP is one of the louder ones, the K&N is decent, and the Pilo is less expensive and still effective.

Opinions?

I think we need an Intake reference thread, similar to the Exhaust reference thread that's got a sticky on here. It would be useful to have all of the info, along with some sound clips and pics, all in one place.

Or is it already out there somewhere, and I just missed it?

As a public service I'll link a couple of the more useful threads I turned up in my search.

Thread from April '04.
Thread from January '04 about intake sounds.
Thread in which Randy Webb offers opinions on different intakes.

Thanks!

 

You're missing the HAI thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=25654
My MC is running a similiar version, much cheaper than any of the other "CAI"s at $75.00

 

I think the pilo intake that i got serves enough purpose for my use...

I might change to a K&N type cone when the green filter dirties to see
if it makes any difference... but I think it was a well $165 spent. :smile:

The installation was a breeze too and Dan over at the Pilo is very good.

 

Good call. Thanks for adding that link. I guess that might be an option too, since I'm a cheap SOB. :smile:

 

the new RDR intake is advertised on the helix website with a 4.2 hp gain OVER the leading intake (probably ALTA or K&N, as I know they've seen real dyno-proven increases with those intakes). might be worth consideration, helix is a super outfit.

However, I am VERY happy with my Pilo intake and wouldn't hesitate to do business with those guys again.

Marty

 

Here's a great deal from me!

From the Marketplace:
FS: MINI-Madness intake. I have ~10k miles on it, however it is a lifetime filter.
Same as shown on their site:
http://www.mini-madness.com/index.a...EWPROD&ProdID=9

Mine has a red ring on the end of the filter instead of chrome...

Retail: $239.00 plus shipping
Your cost: $120.00 shipped
Savings: over $119.00!!!

 

Eric had told me that the only dyno measurable hp gains from any CAI he tested was the Pilo. But that was about a year ago.

 

As of mid-May Eric (Helix) had not dynoed the RDR CAI himself. The original dyno claims are from RDR. Don't know if anyone has since evaluated the RDR.

 

I went for the Pilo intake simply because the design is a rip from the Madness and Alta where people claim they feel a difference and the price is a lot more reasonable. I believe you save nearly $100 compared to the others. Oh yeah but Alta has the blue smooth hose which the Pilo doesn't have. I'm not sure if that's worth the extra money, especially since you got a simple HAI making a significant difference in flow just by a filter swap. I felt a very nice difference with mine, smoothens things out quite a bit and pulls a bit stronger on the high end, at least that's what I remember when I first got it as my first mod. Oh and the sound is sweet, not intrusive at all, you can just hear the whine when you dip a bit into the throttle.

 

countrym,
I think you summed it all up in your opening post. The most intriguing though is Andy's HAI.

 

He has since dynoed the Alta (3hp) and he also found the Typhoon makes 3hp as well.

 

options i've been mulling...

you can buy the alta hose seperately from outmotoring.com and probably other places also (at outmotoring.com, it is about $70), then buy a KN filter with the same opening from AJUSA.com for CHEAP (unlike $200 for just the heatshield and alta filter alone, no tube) for probably about $40-$80, or just buy the KN RU1520 like the HAI people are using, or even RDR-helix's KN filter. Pick your poison. They should all fit. result: a full "CAI" system with a cool looking hose for about $110-$150. hell, if you want a heatshield, just modify the ole' airbox. it is probably the best heatshield to date, except maybe BFP's long lost CAI (whatever happened to that? it's not on their website).

i would prefer a plastic tube that is polished on the inside (like the silicone tube by alta, just not silicone). Should be cheaper. any mfg want to get in on that one? Should be a great insulator, and i'm not sure how restricting/unrestricting the factory rubber hose is, but would look quite good.

maybe i'll look into procuring a ABS tube shaped like the kn typhoon. In fact, kn typhoon for MCS is $200 at ajusa.com.

 

I am keeping mine bone stock.......biggest eater of engines and biggest robber of performance is grit ingested through the filter. I trust K&N and would run one of their elements if I could trust myself to keep it oiled religiously. Other than that, show me the MINI P/N.

 

i have the alta and it is quite loud... not as loud as the bmp but it does make a loud whine when you step on it

people is right in saying that a cai doesn't necessarily add power... u might even lose some power down low and gain up top...

 

i just ordered the MaxVelocity CAI from Roman S. another copy of the original Rogue/Madness design. but i chose that one because of the K&N cone filter (same one used in the Typhoon kit-proven gains by RDR and Helix) but it also has a thermoformed plastic heatshield. plastic has proven to be better at dissipating heat than aluminum and stainless. it makes more sense to me too because of the fact that some of the best intakes out there for BMWs (eurosport, ECIS) all use plastic in their kits which are all proven to have the best gains, even the stock manifold and intake on these car are plastic! and for ~$170 shipped (with 15% NAM discount code) it's agreat deal! i may even experiment with an ITG foam filter element to see which produces more power, or just which sounds better. my albeit long two cents.

 

Call it a nickel then........
I refuse to part with 170 bucks to put my engine at risk......

 

The new Dinan intake looks very promising. Would be my first choice at the moment. . .

 

2nd that...i like the factory fit & finish look

 

For track/strip use, I don't think anything will beat the HAI setup with the driver's side headlight removed.

 

I have been using K&N in my goldwings for a cpl hundred thousand miles. So I should be recieving my typhoon today. Purchased for $169.99 from lildevilmotorsports.com and it is red and it was in stock for immediate shipping! When I called K&N they said that thier filters exceed all manfacturers specs. I believe the intake for the cooper is around $148, just to let everyone know, Tim

 

there are several threads here and on mini2 with links to the filtering ability of various media: foam, oiled cotton, paper/polymer paper.

my recollection is that the oiled cotton filters always passed much more dirt than the paper elements for an almost insignificantly lower pressure drop (giving something like 1 or 3 hp on a large displacement 400 hp engine...)

if you're running in clean air (on pavement) and change a paper element regularly, you get protection that can't be beaten. i'm so committed to them, that i've sourced a couple of cylindrical paper elements that could be used in a typhoon style setup with a hole in the cowl wall. i'll get to it later this summer and post pics.

 

Well you certainly don't have to worry about your warranty. Maybe you'd be better off in "Mini Talk".

 

dooohhhh!

 

Search MINI2 for K&N and read the rant about grit in the engine. It certainly scared me off looking at a CAI or HAI. But then i'm pretty gullible and really enjoy lurking in Mini talk

I'm waiting for a really BIG paper element, and that headlight Air Scoop has me thinking...

 

I thought the intake was one of the easiest and safest mods to do. I'd recommend it to anyone. Never even thought twice about it.

To each his own I guess.

Back on topic. I've had both Madness and Alta intakes. Loved them both, although the Alta was almost a little too over the top. If I had to choose between the two, I'd go with the Madness. Then again, if I were to buy now, I'd probably pick one of the new ones on the market like the RDR, Max Velocity, Dinan, etc for no reason other than they are newer and I've already had the other two.

The Pilo looks like a good deal as well, I just couldn't get over the green filter. Not my cup of "green" tea.