cold air...

[polizei144]

scrounged enough money for my first mod to my 328ci. ive decided to go with a cold air intake. i am willing to spend $250 not counting shipping. just wondering which has the most bang for your buck... most hp gain and best sound. thanks in advance!

-Alex

first one ive been looking at
2nd ive been looking at
3rd one

[Manolito]

Bang for the buck? From what I have read on DIY sites, you will find that it sounds a bit louder and revs just a bit more freely if you simply remove the baffle from the air box. Total investment $0, and legal in all 50 states.

I suspect the claims made by the cold air intake kits, even the ones that appear to be intelligently designed.

I suggest that you not simply remove the air box and replace it with an oiled cloth or oiled foam filter. That is the worst of all possible intake options.

Afterthought - Oops, just realized that this is the e46 forum, not the e36 (I have both models and visit both forums). I am not sure there is a removable baffle in the e46 airbox, you will have to look.

[ASSAIL]

ive got a gruppe m c/f intake on my e46 328. its got more induction noise now but it didnt add much power if at all.
i even made a cold air intake up to it from a vent in the bumper.

anything short of forced inducion isnt going to reap u much power gain.

[JMDR]

i got a guy to custom make me a steel piped CAI and i couldn't be happier with it. sounds really nice once you hit 4k revs, just completely opens up. being in aus there are next to no local places i know you can pick up a CAI to fit a 318, so mine wasn't cheap at $400...stupid 4 pot heh

oh and power add...yeee, next to none on a 318 heh, prob 3hp haha. but the sound makes it feel like it has an extra 20. hell, i can keep up to and pass turbo saabs from rolling starts once the revs build (don't ask me how, i was shocked too)...starting from stopped is another thing tho heheh...no chance

[bmw528i]

I'm personally a fan of Conforti CAI's. They cost a little bit more than a typical intake, but they sound good, provide a noticeable performance upgrade, and they are also safe. I have one on my E39 and love it.



This is what it looks like installed in an E46. The intake it about $400 with shipping, but I felt it was worth the extra money based on the fact that it comes with a heat shield/splash shield as well as heat resistant materials. It's definitely made a difference for my E39.

[bmw528i]

Oh, almost forgot, here is the link to the Conforti CAI I showed in my earlier post

Conforti CAI