HID Cold Air Intake for $50

Krafty04

Krafty04

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MrElussive

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Krafty04, I did read your post and check out the air intake. Sorry I couldn't give advice. I am skeptical of the $50 price tag, but it looks like a very complete air intake. Maybe you should pickup a G-Tech Pro off of eBay ($40-$50) while you're at it to see if the air intake gives you any horsepower gains.
 
MrElussive

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Several different companies offer remapped ECU's for BMW's. ASE Chips, a company well-known in Europe, has a chip for the 325i. It boost power from 184hp to 197hp, and 175 torque to 187 torque, and the ECU does this without the need for air intake or exhaust...of course those two would probably help even more. Here is the web site:
http://www.asechips.com/
 
Krafty04

Krafty04

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Quick update... checked with several "chip tuning" companies... they all said the same thing.. re-tuned chips are non-beneficial for intake modifications... well they didn't really say that, when I asked them for specific proof of why I needed to buy their chip, they said they could not prove their chips would provide any additional gains from only performing an intake upgrade. They finally broke down and said a chip does not show significant performance gains until internal motor (ie. cam upgrade) or exhaust modifications (ie. high-flow cat and muffler upgrades) are accomplished. So I'm saving the chip money until then.

The AEM sytle kit I purchased for $48 was recently installed in an article for European Tuning Dec?03. The dyno showed gains of 9 rwhp and it also stated that the actual "road test" gains would be slightly higher, because the dyno could not duplicate the cooler air the car would experience on the road.. the dyno fan (box fan on ground 48" X 48") is the limiting factor.

Now for the install, I have to pull the headlight (driver side) and maybe the bumper. Man, what a pain... have not done it yet.... need to go buy more Corona's before I tackle this.

Krafty
 
J

JamieD22

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My advice (take it or leave it): Get your money back. [paranoid] You're looking at $2's worth of aluminum pipe, some rubber hosing, and an $8 filter. You can find this stuff all day long on eBay.

When shopping performance parts, look for reputable names - you're better off with one that doesn't end with "style." The day that system cools your airflow is the day BMW replaces their OEM system with it. As for the magazine; when advertising performance products, more often than not the item displayed is one of 5 other components needed to reach the listed numbers (i.e. headers, exhaust, ECU, cams, etc). Thinking that you're going to pull a 9+ rhwp gain from a $50 CAI probably means you've spent too much time sucking exhaust. [;)] I'm no expert, so take it for what it's worth.
 
Krafty04

Krafty04

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Let see..... Dinan for $449 or ARE for $49.... and I could have gotten the powdercoat to match it, but I chose the polished aluminum instead.

The article was in European Car Magazine, December 2003. It pointed out:
-bare bone stock 328i with 50k miles
-3 baseline runs
-temp scanning tool to ensure consistant engine (coolant) and ambient temps for test accuracy
-I re-read the article and I got my numbers backwards, it wasn't 9.6, it was 6.9.. still pretty good for no chip like everyone says you need.

Here, you check it out...
http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0312ec_exhaust/index.html
 
Section_8

Section_8

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Krafty how'd it go? I've been looking at some of those cold-air intakes on Ebay too, trying to figure out why the heck they are more than 100 bucks less than the air intakes I've seen on bavauto, and other shops (They generally run 159-179 from what I've seen). Did you say you had to take your bumper off?? That about kills it for me doing it myself, unless it just depends on the model, or the kit itself. Did it come with directions, or are you going by some other guide (Or are you the BMW garage king)? :)

A few extra hp's at a time, thats the way to go. I don't hold any high hopes that putting a air intake is gonna help me blister down the road, but it's 1 step in the process to adding noticable hp gain.

Hey can you take photos as you do it (If you haven't already)?
 
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sh328

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Intake

Ok guys, I recently installed a Benfer one piece intake and OMG it sound amazing and has increase, from what I have noticed, low end power. I also needed to take the bumper off and it was easy; the whole job took about 2hrs. If you need help with install, you can check www.bimmervibe.com or www.e46fanatics.com for DIY on install. Finally, I would not spend $50 on a multi-piece intake. I bought my intake for $220 used, but you can buy these new for $299. These comments are just my 2 cents.
 
Section_8

Section_8

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Re: Intake

sh328 said:
Ok guys, I recently installed a Benfer one piece intake and OMG it sound amazing and has increase, from what I have noticed, low end power. I also needed to take the bumper off and it was easy; the whole job took about 2hrs. If you need help with install, you can check www.bimmervibe.com or www.e46fanatics.com for DIY on install. Finally, I would not spend $50 on a multi-piece intake. I bought my intake for $220 used, but you can buy these new for $299. These comments are just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
I'd normally agree whole heartedly, but I've found over the years of modding other cars I've owned, (89 300Z, 92 Mustang), that the 'cheap' upgrade kits, generally are no different from the high priced high end pieces, it's just the name that causes the price to jump. (Really, whats different from a bavarian autosport cold air intake, and a HID one, if the parts are the same or comparible?) I know about 'style' kits (If it says style, then it usually means it just 'looks' the same as something else, but doesn't really 'do' whatever it's modelled after). And I certainly wouldn't look to buy 'style' moulding or high end pieces (suspension/shocks kit, brake kit, etc), but on a cold air intake, Pipe is pipe, and clamps are clamps, right? The only big deal is the filter itself (And those are not expensive at all for good ones, even if the kit came with a lousy one).

Just my .02 & change. Krafty I'm curious to hear how your upgrade went! [thumb]
 
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