Hi, I am in the market for a new air filter. But after reading conflicting reports on CAI I don't know weather to keep the stock air box with a standard filter, stock air box with K&N filter or a CAI system like the K&N typhoon. Some are saying that you loose low end power, is this true? People are also saying that you loose MPG, is this true?

Thanks

 

Any CAI is better than the OEM. For the R53 there are many choices, most of them help provide you with that nice supercharger whine that we all crave and they actually do feed more air than the OEM setup. As far as performance enhancement goes it is minimal but again better than OEM and as far as one of the many brands available being better than another ? not going to be a measurable enough difference. Pick the one you like and be done with that mod, and on to the next.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you run a CAI? If so, which one?

Thanks

 

Joe 706, ACallahan's CAI is listed in his signature, it's a Dinan. I run the Alta. even if it does not produce a bunch more power it makes up for in sound.

 

Lots of opinions on this topic. Check the October/November issue of MC2 page 25 to see insight into how the aftermarket filters do not produce much, if any, additional power and may provide less actual filtering than OEM. Food for thought...

 

I had the MINI madness intake when I had my R53. Turbo sound I can honestly live without, but that supercharger whine sounds sooo good.

 

there will be a gain from a new CAI setup, only because there is so much more surface area for the filter, i didnt do it for the gains, i did it for the partial removal of the firewall which allows my filter to point directly at me to produce what some would call the best noise in the world

 

CAI installs are as much about sound and looks....
As a $$ per hp gsin, it is a bad deal....let's face it the best cai on a r53 might add about 1 hp...if done right...worst might loose a bit. But you get the sc whine........

 

CAI doesn't really do anything (except for the sound) unless you run a tune...

 

As long as it doesn't make the car loose power, I'm happy XD

 

Make sure you get a true CAI....but difference are so tiny, they are within the error range of a dyno....
many cone filters stuck on the intake are actually HAI...hot air intakes...these can be a simple diy...but may loose hp...can make throttle response better by some reports (on r50)...
A good sealed box( keeps filter from sucking in hot engine compartment air...even the stock does this, with the intake tube by the radiator) ...ddm, jcw, Dinian, or alta (with the top) are all options...but not over oiling the filter is more important.....

 

I can't speak for others but my experience with my MCSc running an Alta CAI has been good. I have the Alta box with a lid and get a nicer SC whine (I don't notice a performace improvement but I'm old) and a slight improvement on gas mileage.
Before the CAI I was consistently getting 29.0+ mpg (driving like an old man) after the CAI I get in the mid 30.3+ mpg not much of an improvement but at close to $4.00 a gallon for fuel I'll take it.

 

The most we've ever seen when isolating a R53 CAI on the dyno is 4whp. That was on a car with a 15% pulley. One thing to look for is a CAI without a metal or Silicone intake tube: the metal ones become passive heaters for your intake charge as they soak engine bay heat, and Silicone ones have fitment problems and tend to pop off the throttle body, causing dirty air to enter your engine.

 

Unless you plan extensive mods, or are after esthetics a CAI will provide little value because it have a neglibile effect on perfomance.

Internal combustion engines are like air pumps. Unless there is a restriction somewhere, in order to make real power gains, you have to increase the flow through the whole pathway: airbox, throttle body, SC, intercooler, intake manifold, heads, exhaust manifold, exhaust system, etc.

Some will claim that thre are such restrictions in a production car. However, if it were that simple and cost effective to improve the performance then the manufacturer would have likely already addressed it.

Engines with forced induction (superchargers, turbochargers, etc) have the option of just upping the boost to make more power (however at the expense of losing adiabatic efficiency.) However, once boost is increased the next best area for improvement is usually on the exhaust side (exhaust ports and downstream) since there is no 'forced exhaustion' to go along with the induction.

CAI popularity and marketability, IMO, come from the fact that they are at a favorable price point and are relatively easy to install.

 

On the R53 chassis you WILL gain power with an intake. We've seen up to 10 hp gain on the dyno with no mods except for the intake. Now that number doesn't add to the number you gain with the pulley as they all work together. We have also seen up to 5 hp with just a drop in filter and no other mods. The R53 needs more air no matter how it gets it. The R56 and newer S cars don't gain the same as they work different and the turbo induces more heat into the intake.
On the R53 go for the intake it is worth it and adds a great sound.

 

Well, isn't this interesting that two respected vendors, each wanting to sell CAIs (and each with a dyno) to have such different results and divergent points of view on the topic. I'd planned to buy one but I'm not so sure now. Since I like the OEM look I was looking at the JCW intake. It's the most expensive but looks right under the hood. However, if it only yields 4 hp (Helix) that's $100 + per horse. I'd like to believe Way's figures because I'll pick up 10 hp - 6 more than Helix and my cost per hp drops to about $40.

Do either of you have dyno sheets you could post or could you post a link?

 

i dont know that actual gains, but for sure i felt a complete difference in throttle response without resetting the ECU putting the alta CAI in. the stock intake was like breathing through a straw, and the alta CAI is like breathing with your mouth wide open, less restriction, makes it easier for the engine to pump, therefor an increase in power..... try it for your self.... how much those gain are? who knows

but the principle makes sense, more volume= less pressure

 

Keep in mind that both vendors stated that those numbers are the MAX observed. I would be more inclined to base a decision on an average.

 

I have a dinan intake now, and have had probably 5 diferent cai's over the years including my own modded OEM, and I feel no difference from the stock version (thinking of going back to stock). It may give you 1-2 hp gain and if you think you can feel that difference I have a bridge to sell you would love

 

Longboard, if you decide to sell the Dinan send me a PM.

 

On a r53, if you gain some hp with a Cai, great....say I got 5....I don't care...the gain in sound is better than a $600 cat back exhaust.... For a fraction of the cost...and about the SAME GAIN AS A CATBACK....
Key is a good intake...done right...with a clean, not overoiled filter...

 

Getting too serious over lil gains. A CAI should look good, sound great, breathe well & not use heat conductive materials. You can even DIY. Here's an example:


Not mine.:D

 

Guess I have a difference perspective; form should follow function. Spending hundreds of dollars (or days of time) on something that is a glorified noise maker or looks 'better' for the 10 minutes per month that the bonnet is up is just not a good investement IMO. Better returns could be had elsewhere.

 

Whichever way you slice it upgrading to a good CAI is going to help your car breath better, and more air equals more power. Like everyone says, it's not going to be a lot, but for me, it's worth it for the extra whine alone. I have the Dinan (similar to the JCW albeit less $'s) and love it. Make sure you get a pulley if you haven't already. For the money, that's the biggest bang for buck out there.

 

I'm not much of a modifier, but I no longer use higher flow third party drop ins because of the suspicion that flow is gained at the expense of filtration. All should be fine if greater flow results from greater surface area and/or magic materials.