I've been looking around for intakes and am curious which ones everyone recommends. I wanted the AGS but i'm not willing to tear the car apart that much yet. I heard that the BMP sounded great but didn't have much power. I think I'm leaning towards the Alta with the silicone tube. Anyone have the Alta set up? How's the sound? I'm open to all suggestions.

 

Welcome. That being said, please search. I know you don't want to search...but there are COUNTLESS thread's on this. Go with whichever one YOU want, they are all pretty much equal.

WMS HDI
HAI
ALTA CAI
BMP CAI
AGS
VGS etc.

I'm personally planning on going with the HAI (Hot Air Intake) because all you do is buy a K&N Filter and attach it to the TB (Throttle Body) so it's a cheap $35 mod. And just to let you know now...there is no "true" CAI for the MINI's, so don't think the HAI is a bad idea. If your worried about cooling (I don't know if you are or not) I would go with a TMIC (Top Mount Inter-Cooler) and maybe a water sprayer.

Happy Motoring!
-Cody

 

I have had:

1)stock
2) Dinan
3) Alta
4) HDI

I like the HDI the best there even seems to be a little more low end as well as top and I think the sound is a bit more "sophisticated"
that being said I am putting an AGS on my car this month...it's on the way...

If you don't want to do the AGS install I really like the HDI.....

MSFITOY has had the HAI and really likes his AGS as well

 

stay away from the Alta. oil dripping mess down to the bottom of the tranny case.
Alta has poor quality control and blames customers for not wiping the cone before install.
unheard of! :impatient they can't oil correctly and they don't include this red warning
flyer they say they included in the box.

Outmotoring went out of their way and helped me out to make everything alright again.

so, go to www.outmotoring.com and get youself a Pilo intake. I had no issues
with that one, excellent craftsmanship and fitment and their store's got real customer
support.

 

And it's a matter of personal preference. But Kenchan is the only one who seems to be all bent over the Alta, lots and lots and lots of people have bought it and are happy.

Me, I'm an HAI guy...

But then, I'm just cheap!

Matt

 

I had the BMP and liked it a lot. I'm now running the HAI and love it. Can't beat the price, and the sound is fantastic.

 

AGS? There...I said it

 

I've had Alta CAI for a long time and no problem.

I've had the Monster-MINI intake before (ABT) and it was good, until I got the Alta... Alta provides better performance and the sound is much better!

Go for the Alta and enjoy it.

 

I have the HAI and love it! But, since I have an automatic, you cant mount it to the TB. I bought a 3'' silicone "collar." Its really nice, but your MPG will drop for a while...after about 200 miles, i am averaging 24.4

 

I guess that clears it up for you

 

Speaking of HAI...I'm going to put a thermocouple into the AGS's filter to get actual temp measurements and settle this "cold air/hot air" issue once and for all.

My contention has always been that the AGS is injesting ambient air directly from the front of the hood...in part due to my modifications to the entry at the grill and factory intake orifice (substantially enlarged)...as I often find whole bugs on my filter. If my theory is correct, the AGS is truely the only CAI on the market



Just received my VR intercooler in/out temp gauge...unfortunately, their threading is different that the NTP bungs on the DFIC Look like drilling time again...:impatient Then again...I have two extra bungs to inject something else

 

AGS truly the only cold air intake............LOL now that's funny !

Alta and the WMS intake take COLD AIR from the cowl area. The AGS is basically open to the engine compartment. Now how could it possibly be a cold air intake at idle?

 

I hate to burst your bubble but...the cowl area is in a negative pressure zone...your traditional cowl intake is fighting against this extraction...not only that, these designs have long exposed tubing INSIDE the heated motor bay

Also, I'm not concerned about my idle performance...as long as it doesn't stall

Contrary to your assertion, my M7 heat shield is also shrouded 270 degrees exposed only to the forward facing pressurized air stream...if you don't believe me, ask my caravan to the Dragon how many times I had to pull the team over the side of the freeway when it rained in order to insert a custom water shield for the filter...

Please just wait for my measurements?

I challenge you guys with cowl intake designs to take reading from inside the filter while running...

 

As I said at idle it takes its air from the engine compartment. It sits right behind the radiator, a nice cold area LOL. The ALTA and similiar ones DO take cold air from the cowl. It may not be a ram air intake like you are suggesting the AGS is, but it still is a cold air intake.

 

Hey there,

I am still kind of a newbie with the MINI ( owned mine since Jan. 06 ) - but I have been around cars a long time ( too long according to my wife ).

I upgraded form stock to the Dinan CAI - I like it so far. A little more power, I can hear the SC whine better ( not to loud ), and it looks fairly stock. It was also a very easy install ( about 30 min. ) .

I was also looking at the Webb HDI - very nice set-up. But I got the Dinan used for a great price - so I couldn't turn it down.

Next on the list is a 15 or 19% SC pulley -- I can't wait!!!

 

Wow, a lot of responses. I've done some checking around and I think i'm going to go with the Alta. They offer one specifically for the automatic so I know there shouldn't be any fitment issues, and I really wanted one that replaced the factory tube to the throttle body. I would like the AGS Pro package, a friend of mine has is with the 62mm throttle body and a pulley, and all you hear when he gets on the gas is his supercharger screaming. It sounds awesome but i'm just not comfortable with that much dismantling of the car to install it. But thanks for all the insight everyone.

 

it doesn't matter what happens at idle as long as it cools quickly when moving.......the AGS like the DFIC just make sense...... I can vouch for the DFIC...the design works.... I have a very good feeling about the AGS particularly with the ram air..... the nay sayers on the AGS never owned one or put one on their car......theory without empirical data is just that a hypothesis at best..... we have a saying in pro audio "F*** the specs, plug it in let's hear what it sounds like......" you can't tell radio shack from "you name it high end audio" from a spec sheet..... that being said there are many good choices out there for intakes.....

 

You call it cold air, I call it ambient

 

AMEN BOB!!! same goes for home audio as well....

Keep in mind the AGS is not really behind the radiator (I'm not saying it is completely in the open either).

Back to topic get whichever you feel comfortable with. I went from stock to the Alta to the AGS and love my AGS.

Not sure aboiut some of the others but the Alta was an easy install if you want a good 20 minute job to make some improvement then there you go!

If you want to spend 3 hours and learn more about the guts of your car then go for the AGS!

 

I love organ meat Tripe anyone?

 

Man....I got an AMEN......

 

1-easy way...do nothing
2-moderate...install "cowl" intake systems and enjoy the sound
3-difficult but worth the trip...install AGS and enjoy the performance