I just ordered the Alta CAI and it appears there are 2 versions, 1 w/silicone inlet hose, and 1 without it. I got the one without.

So my question is, how important is the hose? What's the advantage of the hose?

 

The Alta hose is huge, much larger inside diameter.

 

The hose slips off if not trimmed and installed right....(usually where you cannot see it...letting dirty unfiltered air in)...
Basicly zero gain...it is 100% for looks. The OEM intake hose does crack with age at some point, so you might be able to justify it, but any gains they try to sell are about the same as inflating you tires right....or maybe cause you wallet is lighter...

 

Silicone hoses just look cool to some people. That's all.

 

My car came with it installed and I like it. To me it seems like the smooth walled hose would have less air turbulence than the OEM hose but maybe that's just in my head.

 

That's the theory. In reality, you will see no difference.

 

Wow, nice to know I don't have to spend another $100 for a hose that has no advantages! Thanks guys! ☺

 

I only hope for you the OEM hose will fit onto the intake. I have the DDM works intake - and despite all my persuasion there was no way the hose was gonna stretch enough to fit over the intake. In fact after I took it out it actually fit inside the intake "input." The install instructions say it fits but on my 2003 there was no shot. Ended up buying the $100 DDM works silicone hose - after HOURS of trying stock. Maybe 2003 had a smaller hose than later years... No idea...

 

The oem hose is smooth on the inside, no ribbing. Also had to get the Alta hose to fit, my venair didn't fit. The oem hose should though.

 

I had the Venair hose for a while, but never installed it, then noticed that the hose wasn't big enough for the DDM box. Oh well!

 

I'm confused, so does the OEM hose work with the ALTA CAI box?

I'm not sure what the venair hose is you guys are referring to?

 

Don't know until you try - some people have gotten it to work..in my experience it didn't it was too small. Venair is another brand of silicone hose.

 

Ah, now it's become a shot in the dark. As for Venair, all the searching I've been doing, I can't believe I haven't heard of it until this thread... Hmm.

Huge thanks for all the info guys!

 

Many brands have cone and gone....
Some might have been one shipment from Asia sold till gone, or one SPECFIC retailer that might have closed....
14+ years is a lifetime in retail car parts....
YPU will find that the older the car, the harder they are to work on...
Plastic gets brittle, screws rusts, bolts sieze...
Parts makers come and go, as do suppliers...and sometimes the best "go to" parts makers parts suddenly don't fit right....just be ready.

 

Preaching to the chior bro. Lol, I learned that last year when I replaced THEN had to rebuild my R50. It does suck...

Edit: A quick Google search yielded some results. ECS has the coolant hose kit and I found this vendor selling the intake hose for almost $90. What a jip. I'd rather pay for the ALTA name on the hose for a bit more...

 

The Alta hose is pricey now, I remember when it was around $85. 120 for a hose is a bit nutty. I bought mine used, which was nice because it was precut. Still a pain to get on the throttle body though, I used two hose clamps around the throttle body to be safe. It's one of those parts that I'm glad I bought until I have to install or remove and reinstall.

 

I installed the Alta Cai without the silicone hose in my r53 this week. I love it and recommend you do not buy the hose unless you want some engine bling

 

Thanks for the reassurance SmurfNinja!

 

Also my oem fit around the Alta box. It was a pain but I got it to work

 

I lubed mine (the intake) and took a very bulky pick like tool (L shaped) stuck it inside of the intake, ran it around as I pushed it on the bottom and it went on!! heres proof

 

Great. Should be here Wednesday, hopefully it goes on with no kinks.

Ha nice snap bro.

 

the hose is purely for looks, I have the venair, and it hit on the alta box. but only just and I had to trim nearly 2 inches off both sides to get it to fit. it was also like $40 and not $100 from alta.


and if I didn't get the deal I got with my alta products I prolly woulnt have them. but I love the noise that the cai makes