Uhhhh... Not so sure about Cosmos CAI...

[sac02]

Cosmos CAI guys...

Bought used out of classified section, install was straightforward, no probs. Good looking product, reasonable price, yada yada... Mounting is a little flimsy I'll say - if I keep it the mounting will definitely be reinforced.

What kind of sound does your CAI make? I'm not really liking what I'm hearing, personally. I'd heard about the scream that cames with high rpm's (you weren't kidding!) and I'm pretty much OK with that.

Down low is were I don't like it. At mid-to-heavy throttle & low rpm (2k-3.5k rpm) it makes a real funny, real loud honking noise. Not really like the sucking noise that I've heard from a few CAIs, but more like the car is blowing its nose! Or even a riceboy fartpipe. The sound mostly disapears above 3.5k, until the scream begins around 6k.

Is this some sort of weird resonance that anyone else has experienced?

Any experience with this / tips for getting rid of it? (Jerry, others?)

Or maybe at the ripe old age of 25 I just don't know what a "cool" car should sound like? Go buy myself a Taurus...

Mac

[Serious]

it will make that sound, (all cai intakes will).

your using to much throttle to low in teh rev band, hold you gears longer and it wont be as loud.

[sac02]

"If you don't like it, drive faster/at higher RPM"

I knew I would get that reply, I knew it! haha :D

I use the same response for
Q: "How do I cure brake squeal?"
A: "Brake later and harder." :D

But seriously, it's annoying sounding like a riceboy if I want to roll away from a stoplight semi-aggressively, or just make a highway pass without downshifting.

I know all intakes make more noise than stock, but I've heard plenty that aren't this obnoxious.

Mac

[SG_M3]

The heatshield style intakes won't make that noise. My Jim C. is pretty quiet.

[dohnelley]

i personally love the sound it makes when u get on the throttle at low rpms.

[Serious]

"If you don't like it, drive faster/at higher RPM"

I knew I would get that reply, I knew it! haha :D

I use the same response for
Q: "How do I cure brake squeal?"
A: "Brake later and harder." :D

But seriously, it's annoying sounding like a riceboy if I want to roll away from a stoplight semi-aggressively, or just make a highway pass without downshifting.

I know all intakes make more noise than stock, but I've heard plenty that aren't this obnoxious.

Mac


i didnt say drive faster i said shift later. besides if your intake is making that sound that loud you lugging the motor (using to much throttle to low in the rev band). less throttle wait another couple rpm to upshift.

[SG_M3]

why should he adapt to the intake? if he doesn't like, he doesn't like it. Oh and that sound doesn't mean its lugging. All those tube CAI make that horrible noise.

[sac02]

i didnt say drive faster i said shift later. I know, sorry, I wasn't quoting you directly. I just figured someone would make a reply like that, and you did. and I was just lol that I had kinda expected it.
besides if your intake is making that sound that loud you lugging the motor (using to much throttle to low in the rev band). less throttle wait another couple rpm to upshift.if you noticed, the noise I'm experiencing is from ~2k - 3.5k rpm. I don't call 75% throttle at 3 grand lugging the engine. Do you never drive below 3500 rpm?

Mac

[BuddaLun]

My ECIS doesn't make ANY noise like that. Anohter reaso to go non tube w/ heat sheild...

[cosmosm3]

Cosmos CAI guys...

Bought used out of classified section, install was straightforward, no probs. Good looking product, reasonable price, yada yada... Mounting is a little flimsy I'll say - if I keep it the mounting will definitely be reinforced.

What kind of sound does your CAI make? I'm not really liking what I'm hearing, personally. I'd heard about the scream that cames with high rpm's (you weren't kidding!) and I'm pretty much OK with that.

Down low is were I don't like it. At mid-to-heavy throttle & low rpm (2k-3.5k rpm) it makes a real funny, real loud honking noise. Not really like the sucking noise that I've heard from a few CAIs, but more like the car is blowing its nose! Or even a riceboy fartpipe. The sound mostly disapears above 3.5k, until the scream begins around 6k.

Is this some sort of weird resonance that anyone else has experienced?

Any experience with this / tips for getting rid of it? (Jerry, others?)

Or maybe at the ripe old age of 25 I just don't know what a "cool" car should sound like? Go buy myself a Taurus...

Mac


I can't say that I have had compliants about a "honking" sound around any point in the rev. range. Remember if you are coming from an air box, you are opening up the sounds of the engine. This could point to another problem. The intake does make a pleasureable inhaling sound when the throttle is let off heavily and will scream above 4K. Please PM me, I actually don't understand the "Honking" sound you describe.

Jerry (Cosmos Racing)

[John V]

Yep. It makes that noise. Mine only does it below 3000 RPM and under high load. I just live with it.

The mounting is pretty bad. I ended up making my own stronger bracket for the CAI at the horn mount and using zipties near the filter. Mine is rock solid now. Will try to get pics of what I have soon.

JV

[Robert]

The bracket is too flimsy.. My intake slipped down again, scraped up the powder coating underneath :(

I'm thinking about making a holder for it, like this:

[hellrot325]

Mounting is a little flimsy I'll say - if I keep it the mounting will definitely be reinforced. True, but if you modify the bracket that comes with it a little it's better. I will be posting what I did soon, maybe this will help.


Down low is were I don't like it. At mid-to-heavy throttle & low rpm (2k-3.5k rpm) it makes a real funny, real loud honking noise. Not really like the sucking noise that I've heard from a few CAIs, but more like the car is blowing its nose! Like Jerry, I have no idea what you are talking about.


...until the scream begins around 6k. This I know :D , although you get a very nice throaty note before that...maybe this is what you were describing before?

Clearly, I'm a big fan of the Cosmos. I like the sound, but more important is the improved throttle response and the way my car just pulls through to redline...eliminating that sluggishness that it had in mid rpm range. It also has a nice finished look. Have to do some tweaks (horns, bracket) for the best install, but that's okay, half the fun. And they only cost me $10 or so to do them. Even adding that to the $122 price, best bang for the buck in CAI! There is a lot of places you could put the savings over other CAI's and get a better return.

[DeeM3]

I actually don't hear my cosmos cai up until about 4k and that is if I'm driving aggresively other wise is pretty quiet.

[MJFX328]

I'm thinking about making a holder for it, like this:

I have that intake. And I dont think any tube is supposed to make such a loud sound at low rpms. I hear my exhaust below 4k then the intake comes in after 5k.

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNjk1OTgyNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

[endonuky]

I don't know, I have had a Dinan for 3 years now, and I don't get this noise you are describing, generally I hear the exhaust more than the intake until the rpm's really get up there. As for the flimsyness of the support with the Cosmos, just get a set of Ellipsoid headlights, and that filter will be wedged in there so tight you won't need much of a support bracket!!

My 2 cents. Phil

[beatniks325]

I'm not sure why people are looking for reasons to hate the cosmos CAI or dismiss it. It is a cheaper, bigger bang for your buck alternative to the dinan or benfer style CAI's. nothing more, nothing less. don't expect this thing to file your taxes or install itself! It suffers from the same 'cons' as any other tube or true CAI, so if you want get a shorter one with a heat shield do it. Do you think that heatshield takes any less time to install than the cosmos mounts?

In essense you are paying to take the extra couple of minutes to modify the mounts like hellrot325 said and you are golden.

to the original poster
I own one and don't have the sound you describe at any RPM. maybe the M50 engine can't muster up the honk. If anything I thought the complainers would be mentioning how loud the thing it as full-throttle. maybe no-one in their right mind can complain about that :devillook

if you're not happy with it, hopefully you can sell it here and buy one to your liking. this isn't communist russia, there the cosmos CAI drives you!

[John V]

I'm not sure why people are looking for reasons to hate the cosmos CAI or dismiss it.
There's nothing wrong with it. My Dinan CF intake made the same noise. I'm guessing it had something to do with the difference in valve timing on the S50 engines as compared to its M50 counterpart.

I'm also planning on bending up a sheetmetal mount for the area near the filter, but what I have now works fine.

JV

[fgraziano]

i have a custom 3.5" tube intake, similar to the cosmos and i can't hear it unless i go WOT and redline it.... you bought the kit used so maybe there's some damage to the filter or fittings or something.... unless your flooring the car at like 1500rpm in the wrong gear i don't see how it could make the noise you're describing.

[Inv3ctiv3]

WTH is this honking noise your talking about? Mine freakin' growls at lower RPMs and screams at higher RPMs..... Maybe your filter is dirty so it is making a wierd noise? This is honestly the best intake you can buy for the money, I like the tube CAIs over the short ram w/ heat shield, I take off my fog light delete on the drivers side and its nothing but cool air to the intake.

[hellrot325]

Maybe you sucked in a goose. ;)

[M3 Pete]

Maybe you sucked in a goose. ;) :lol

my ECIS is silent below 4000 rpm, then begins to scream. No geese here.

[sac02]

I can't say that I have had compliants about a "honking" sound around any point in the rev. range. Remember if you are coming from an air box, you are opening up the sounds of the engine. This could point to another problem. The intake does make a pleasureable inhaling sound when the throttle is let off heavily and will scream above 4K. Please PM me, I actually don't understand the "Honking" sound you describe.
Jerry (Cosmos Racing)Thanks for the reply Jerry,
I've noticed you're always right there with answers for us about your product. (that's good customer service there, folks) I don't have any means of capturing the sound, unfortunately. No camcorder, digi-cam w/ video, or video phone. Nothin'. Yes, I live in the stone age.

I'm surprised that no one's mentioned this before, I did a lot of searching and never heard mention of this until now. Seems like not everyone, but at least a few people share my thoughts. Just wondering if it was an issue you had ever heard of or had tackled in the past.

It really does kind of sound weird. The intake is *considerably* louder/raspy-er/honky-er/whatever from 2k to 3.5k rpm. Then it sounds (what I would define as) "normal" from 3.5k to 6k. Then the "scream" above 6k (expected, sounds kind of cool)

I dunno, like I said maybe I'm just too sensitive to the noise :dunno

Mac

[cosmosm3]

Thanks for the reply Jerry,
I've noticed you're always right there with answers for us about your product. (that's good customer service there, folks) I don't have any means of capturing the sound, unfortunately. No camcorder, digi-cam w/ video, or video phone. Nothin'. Yes, I live in the stone age.

I'm surprised that no one's mentioned this before, I did a lot of searching and never heard mention of this until now. Seems like not everyone, but at least a few people share my thoughts. Just wondering if it was an issue you had ever heard of or had tackled in the past.

It really does kind of sound weird. The intake is *considerably* louder/raspy-er/honky-er/whatever from 2k to 3.5k rpm. Then it sounds (what I would define as) "normal" from 3.5k to 6k. Then the "scream" above 6k (expected, sounds kind of cool)

I dunno, like I said maybe I'm just too sensitive to the noise :dunno

Mac

No problem. I would be interested in what the sound could be. (Goose :buttrock Maybe you sucked in a VW rabbit and missed it. :D ) If it is "louder" around 2K to 3.5K /then quiets alittle to 6K / then rips 6K plus, that sounds normal for a long tubed filter. PM me for my phone number and we can try to figure it out.

Jerry (Cosmos Racing)

[Robert]

I love the intake. Sounds like I got an exhaust on the front end of my car. It really gave my 328is some beefy sound. I still have the stock exhaust..

I don't know what you guys are talking about, this intake sounds great. Now I can rev the engine to turn some heads! lol. :devillook

The very first time I drove the car, the intake sounded weird, like a rattle. The second time I drove the next day, the intake sounded great. I guess it took time for the engine computer to adjust to the extra air or something. Still sounds great now.. I just need a fix for the bracket, as I am missing some powder coating..

You can't go wrong with this intake, only @ $124~..


Geese? Maybe you guys got the filter pushed on too far or something. That will make a nice big whisle.. It sounds deep, sounds like a expensive bavarian exhaust on the front when over 4k rpms..

[sac02]

Clearly, I'm a big fan of the Cosmos. Yes, along with others here. And for good reason - it's a good simple product that accomplishes basically the same thing as other "name brands" for less $$$.


I'm not sure why people are looking for reasons to hate the cosmos CAI or dismiss it. It is a cheaper, bigger bang for your buck alternative to the dinan or benfer style CAI's. nothing more, nothing less. don't expect this thing to file your taxes or install itself! It suffers from the same 'cons' as any other tube or true CAI, so if you want get a shorter one with a heat shield do it. Do you think that heatshield takes any less time to install than the cosmos mounts?HUH??? :confused

Nobody here is hating on the Cosmos CAI. I installed one on my car, and simply had a question about its operation, specifically I was surprised by the noise it made. So I posted a thread to ask others about their experiences, to see if anyone could help me fix it. And some people that had the same experience as me chipped in their $0.02. Just a discussion about a CAI - not hating or bashing on Jerry's product. Just because people don't share the same oppinion as you doesn't mean they're haters. :rolleyes

Mac

[John V]

If it is "louder" around 2K to 3.5K /then quiets alittle to 6K / then rips 6K plus, that sounds normal for a long tubed filter. PM me for my phone number and we can try to figure it out.

Jerry (Cosmos Racing)
And once you install a 3.5" HFM, it will rip from 5k all the way up to the rev limit. :)

If any of you want to test to see if your car "honks" go drive the car and floor it in fourth gear at ~ 35 MPH. Roll down the windows to really hear it.

JV

[hellrot325]

I just need a fix for the bracket, as I am missing some powder coating. This will keep the braket "clamp" from slipping and save the PC finish, just adhere some plumbing gasket material on the inside...it has the proper thickness and is soft so it grips

[beatniks325]

Yes, along with others here. And for good reason - it's a good simple product that accomplishes basically the same thing as other "name brands" for less $$$.

HUH??? :confused

Nobody here is hating on the Cosmos CAI. I installed one on my car, and simply had a question about its operation, specifically I was surprised by the noise it made. So I posted a thread to ask others about their experiences, to see if anyone could help me fix it. And some people that had the same experience as me chipped in their $0.02. Just a discussion about a CAI - not hating or bashing on Jerry's product. Just because people don't share the same oppinion as you doesn't mean they're haters. :rolleyes

Mac

I wasn't trying to say that you were hating. I was referring to SG_M3's and BuddaLun's posts. Sry for the confusion.

[sac02]

This will keep the braket "clamp" from slipping and save the PC finish, just adhere some plumbing gasket material on the inside...it has the proper thickness and is soft so it gripsYeah, I did almost the exact same thing. If I keep it I'll definitely add another brace near the HFM, it's still way too loose for my taste (and my driving).

Mac

[sac02]

I wasn't trying to say that you were hating. I was referring to SG_M3's and BuddaLun's posts. Sry for the confusion. :drink1

[sac02]

If it is "louder" around 2K to 3.5K /then quiets alittle to 6K / then rips 6K plus, that sounds normal for a long tubed filter.
Jerry (Cosmos Racing)
Cool. Well, there it is straight from the Horse's mouth. I just wasn't sure if what I was hearing was normal, or a strange resonance that could be removed by different mounting, or adjusting the filter, etc.

I guess I just didn't pick that up in my research. Heard a lot about the top-end noise, but nothing about the low-end noise.

I've only had about two or three hours of time with it so far, I'm going to keep it on the car for a couple weeks before making a final decision.

Thanks,

Mac

[mazur]

I don't use the bracket or anything to brace the CAI...it just sits there without too much moving and is pretty solid. Especially now that I have the Euro HFM.

If you don't have a 3.5'' HFM you'll know what I mean when you get one. ;)

[donoman]

My Cosmos (just installed last night) makes a hisss noise from 2-3000 rpm. I can't tell if it's the filter sucking that's making the hiss, or a leak somewhere in the tubing. The "one-size-fits-all" coupler is kinda chinsy... I would have prefered a reducer rather than tightening the 3.5" sleeve to fit.

Anyway, does anyone get a very faint HISSSSS when revving through 2-3000 rpm under load? It seems to have a certain load characteristic, meaning if I floor it more it goes away and if I let up it also disappears. Weird, weird, weird. I cannot duplicate the sound for a long time while revving in neutral. The only way to get it to make that sound in neutral is to really rev it hard, like 0-100% as fast as I can, and I can hear it his momentarily.

SSSSSS

[Dispatch20]

My Cosmos (just installed last night) makes a hisss noise from 2-3000 rpm. I can't tell if it's the filter sucking that's making the hiss, or a leak somewhere in the tubing. The "one-size-fits-all" coupler is kinda chinsy... I would have prefered a reducer rather than tightening the 3.5" sleeve to fit.

Anyway, does anyone get a very faint HISSSSS when revving through 2-3000 rpm under load? It seems to have a certain load characteristic, meaning if I floor it more it goes away and if I let up it also disappears. Weird, weird, weird. I cannot duplicate the sound for a long time while revving in neutral. The only way to get it to make that sound in neutral is to really rev it hard, like 0-100% as fast as I can, and I can hear it his momentarily.

SSSSSS

I just installed mine yesterday and it makes that hiss. I don't believe it's a leak, and I think it's normal. It's likely just the air being sucked into the filter at a point where you can hear it better. This sound is usually muffled in the stock aribox, and short tube intakes get muffled by the engine as well.

I get a sort of "honking" at 3-4k RPM at WOT, then it dies down and screams again at 5.5k RPM and up. I think it sounds pretty beefy though to be called a honk. I love it and I'm pretty surprised at the sound difference between my new Cosmos and the old short tube style intake. After the install, I took it for a drive with one of my friends and our jaws dropped when we heard the difference.

I'm completely happy with my Cosmos intake. Making a bracket for the horns like hellrot325 (or coolcarski first) wrote about on bimmerdiy.com was a great idea.

[EnzoXYZ]

Does anyone know the difference between tube intake vs. nontube intake? I have took off the air box and put on a filter without any extra tubes to see how it sounds. It seem to make more noise at higher rpm and not the "cool" sound everyone is talking about.

[hellrot325]

That hiss is the air rushing through the TB

[M3Alpine99]

why should he adapt to the intake? if he doesn't like, he doesn't like it. Oh and that sound doesn't mean its lugging. All those tube CAI make that horrible noise.
this is true but atleast they are cold air intakes...

[mobil1]

Yea, I was not impressed with my cosmos. I started a thread with my dislike for the 130 i spent, and basically got flammed. To each his own I guess. Should of spent the extra money for a quality short ram.

[mobil1]

This will keep the braket "clamp" from slipping and save the PC finish, just adhere some plumbing gasket material on the inside...it has the proper thickness and is soft so it grips


I thought about that before installing luckily, and I used black electrical tape on the inside of mine. Works perfect and you cant see it either since its black.

[donoman]

OK at least i feel a little bit better now. I think I saw some reducers at Home Depot... I noticed that the couplers say 3" but actually the inner diameter is 3.5"!!! What the heck is up with that? It says 3" to 3" on the outside unless I've been eating too many mushrooms on my pizza.

[donoman]

I might also speculate that the honking sound comes from the improper installation of the bracket? I don't have a honking sound but it has a low, booming roar if I'm on the throttle hard. I really like how it doesn't sound like I have anything in there if I'm just taking it easy and driving in the neighborhood.

Just for reference, I installed the cosmos with my Depo HID's. My ballasts are mounted on the rear of the Depo's on the 3 holes that look like they were perfectly made for ballasts. Needless to say, the 3.5" tube is definitely a tight fit. On top of this, when I relocated the horn, it look up a lot of slack on the wires so wiggling the ellipsoid back into place took me a good 5 minutes and about 50 swearwords to figure out what was going on.

[strayv]

My Dinan CAI doesn't make a noise like that. Oh it roars at WOT, but not not like you are describing. I love the sound actually, and I'm not into loud cars.