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View Full Version : Those of you with the Cold Air Intake addition


mj1701a
04-29-2009, 10:21 PM
How long did it take them to install it for you? Do they dealerships generally have it in stock?

I go to Fields BMW in Orlando, Fl
rdadhania
04-30-2009, 10:32 AM
BMW makes its own CAI mod? Cost of it?
easyshopnh
04-30-2009, 05:57 PM
Sorry for dumb question. I wanted to email privately but didn't see option. (new owner)

What is the Cold Air Intake? And why do you have one in FLA and I don't have one in NH? Is it related to cold air operations or AC?
mryakan
04-30-2009, 06:14 PM
Sorry for dumb question. I wanted to email privately but didn't see option. (new owner)

What is the Cold Air Intake? And why do you have one in FLA and I don't have one in NH? Is it related to cold air operations or AC?
Wikipedia is your friend ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_air_intake
scanboy
04-30-2009, 06:36 PM
Sorry for dumb question. I wanted to email privately but didn't see option. (new owner)

What is the Cold Air Intake? And why do you have one in FLA and I don't have one in NH? Is it related to cold air operations or AC?

The guy was just saying the dealership where he went to ask for CAI, has nothing to do with FL or NH or wherever you are.
Intake is simply where/how air goes into the engine, you've heard of air filter right? that's part of the Intake system. Air flow from outside of the car into some tubing that guides the air through air filter and into the engine. CAI refers to a different design/material of the intake system that claims to prevent heat from the engine from heating up the air going into the engine.
Cold air is better for the engine since hot air takes up more volume, i.e. less air in the same space (in this case the cylinders).
inteloffcr
05-04-2009, 06:30 PM
The guy was just saying the dealership where he went to ask for CAI, has nothing to do with FL or NH or wherever you are.
Intake is simply where/how air goes into the engine, you've heard of air filter right? that's part of the Intake system. Air flow from outside of the car into some tubing that guides the air through air filter and into the engine. CAI refers to a different design/material of the intake system that claims to prevent heat from the engine from heating up the air going into the engine.
Cold air is better for the engine since hot air takes up more volume, i.e. less air in the same space (in this case the cylinders).

Not so much that hot air takes up more volume but that cold air is denser and denser air increases volumetric efficiency. And please note that the word "cold" is relative. Ninety five degree air going into the engine is "colder" than the 120-150 underhood temp.
samsonevickis
05-04-2009, 08:22 PM
Sorry for dumb question. I wanted to email privately but didn't see option. (new owner)

What is the Cold Air Intake? And why do you have one in FLA and I don't have one in NH? Is it related to cold air operations or AC?

Ahhh, that's adorable. I was 16 once as well...
mryakan
05-04-2009, 10:05 PM
Not so much that hot air takes up more volume but that cold air is denser and denser air increases volumetric efficiency. And please note that the word "cold" is relative.
Not to be too picky, but those two are six of one, half a dozen of the other. I am not sure why you are correcting something that is already correct with another things that is the equivalent in different terms.
Density, as most probably already know from highschool, is defined as mass per unit of volume (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density) and air density is inversely proportional to temperature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_of_air). Thus the same mass cold air is denser and takes less volume (or alternately you can put more air mass into the same volume) which is what you said, while hotter air is less dense which means the same mass take more volume which is what he said. i.e. you are both correct, so I though I'd clarify.
teedub21
05-04-2009, 11:34 PM
Ahhh, that's adorable. I was 16 once as well...
I think all 16 year olds know what a "cold air intake" is. Its all of us 40 year olds that know they don't do any thing but make noise and mess up your mass air sensor.
finkbei
05-05-2009, 05:35 PM
No one really answered the question.
I checked with a dealer in my area and they said it is something they typically do not carry in stock, takes 2-3 days to get it. They said it was a 1.2 hour install by only would charge 1 hour.
acmaui
05-06-2009, 01:29 AM
The real question is why would you want one. I absolutely promise that if your honest you will not see any real world performanc gain. May look cool when you open your hood, but your wallet will look less cool when you open it. And the poster was right, most 16 year olds (males) will know what one is.
Takashi
05-06-2009, 10:39 AM
The intake system in the current BMW 3 series is very efficient compared to any of the cars I have seen. I don't think the installation of a CAI will drastically change performance.

Don't forget, most 16 year old rolls around in Civics and Sunfires. Whether CAI will improve performance of those cars is out of the scope.
ckranert
06-02-2009, 03:57 PM
According to BMW you get 3hp and 3fp of torque, not sure you'd ever feel that though. I had it installed and it took 3 days to get it and have it installed. Hopefully when I get around to changing the exhaust I will notice more of a difference.

After a few days of driving I would agree that it both looks good when the hood is opened and it didn't make much of a difference. It is the BMW Performance part.
goowatchi
06-03-2009, 03:19 PM
The intake system in the current BMW 3 series is very efficient compared to any of the cars I have seen. I don't think the installation of a CAI will drastically change performance.


I completely agree. I've driven a friend's 335i (with jb3) with a BMS DCI and at lower rpms, it just seems slugglish and jerky compared to the stock intake.