Does a CAI make a difference.

[Citizen328ci]

Im thinking of getting a CAI for my 99 328is, will it make a differnce or is it a waste of $250?

[leedawg]

Do birds fly ;)


Try the search button then ask this question.

[Jammmin528]

Definately worth it on the M52b28. Gains will less on your motor.

[skatewakesnosur]

i bought a ram air, then made my own heat sheild and there is two hoses, one from the kidney, and one from the brake duct going straight into the intake....i also have a custom exhuast job...honestly i cant tell much of a diffrence...maybe its just because i had that stuff done so soon after i got the car..who knows

[Tyrmeltr]

Im thinking of getting a CAI for my 99 328is, will it make a differnce or is it a waste of $250?

First off if you buy a Cosmos intake you'll save $100. Right off the bat. www.cosmosracing.com (http://www.cosmosracing.com) It pretty much works the same way and is set up like Dinan's $300+ carbon fiber intake. The newest version of the Cosmos uses a 4 ply silicone tube instead of a steel one, and it really does go a long way to eliminated heat soak.

You will really see the benefit from the intake once you remap the ECU with a shakr injector or similar.

My car actually ran a little rich with the stock airbox and a Dinan chip. That's not suprising, since Dinan reccomends an intake to be used with their software. I confirmed the difference the other day when I had my stock ecu and airbox in the car. The Dinan chip and Cosmos intake made a huge difference for me, not just in terms of power/torque, but in the throttle response, and willingness to rev.

[Citizen328ci]

thanks guys, the search was down.

[Citizen328ci]

does teh cosmos include a heat shieild? what about the k&n BMW CAI, anyone have expierence with that?

[Tyrmeltr]

You don't need a heat shield for the Cosmos. The filter ends up under the headlight tucked away from the engine bay proper, isolating it from the associated heat.

[SoonToBeM3]

I deff noticed throttle responce and its the only mod I had on my 325is (so far :D) but power wise not really much there. I like it for my rev matching :)

[qidm67]

you will lose low end torque, but will gain high end power.

[Revhard]

I deff noticed throttle responce and its the only mod I had on my 325is (so far :D) but power wise not really much there. I like it for my rev matching :)

My Dinan carbon fiber CAI and stage 2 ecu makes my car eat up 328s for lunch. Do it man, i've never lost yet to a 328, but hey, if you get the cai and some software, im stayin away from your car!!! haha, and if anyone didnt tell you, you basically HAVE to run premium gas once ur chipped, butttt! you get 27 mpg, and thats driving like a madman like myself (i.e. driving to work at certain points of the twisties thinking you're an IRL driver) lol... plus the sound it gives off when you're in third/fourth gear when your cars at like 4400rpms and you just WOT it. *splooooge* best of luck.

[Citizen328ci]

ok im gunna order it, hopefully soon.

[qidm67]

I have cosmos v2, i recently took it off. I will put it back once I have chip and m3 exhaust.

[redline effect]

cosmos v1 ftw.

[SebsBlackBimmer]

I have cosmos v2, i recently took it off. I will put it back once I have chip and m3 exhaust.

why did u take it off?

[kyle242gt]

I'm going to ghetto something up out of PVC just to piss you guys off.

[Jammmin528]

Why would you lose low end torque? Please explain.

[qidm67]

why did u take it off?
PRO AND CONS FOR COSMOS V2

pros: -high rpms go faster
-sounds pretty cool above 3K
-K&N air filter-you can clean and reuse
-Save engine bay space
-you think you are going faster

cons: -low end torque is lost due to less restriction, the filter is huge so there
is less restriction and the air goes through a bigger hole, the filter
also is more free flowing (Please research topic using search option,
this has been discussed numerous times)
-valvetrain sound between 2k and 3k is annoying for daily driving from
school and work.
-it draws hotter air (one experience was from when I was constantly
mashing the gas pedal for an hour or so on the highway, when I got
back and took it off and felt the tube inside it was hot as mofo)
-clueless on how much to adjust filter with tubing piece
-(I think, I think, I'm not sure, this is a variable, I think I use more gas
with the cosmos v2, (NO CEL or CODES))

only mod with cosmos was the cosmos
basically, I will put it back after chip (turner, coforti), exhaust and maybe pulleys.
cosmos v1 has had issues with rusting in the inside and experiencing hot temps.
By advice to you is to make you own cosmos/dinan at home with a K&N or foam filter.

[qidm67]

Why would you lose low end torque? Please explain.
please read above

[vwrado]

so you believe everything you read?

[qidm67]

so you believe everything you read?
who are you reffering to, me?
I believe everything I read on the internet, see on tv, and hear in school. Big brother is my ruler
war is peace
freedom is slavery
ignorance is strength

[camiloteram]

I deff noticed throttle responce and its the only mod I had on my 325is (so far :D) but power wise not really much there. I like it for my rev matching :)

ahh and the sound, its from gods.

[beem3]

You're not going to feel much of a difference. It gives a little more horsepower high end, and you lose a little power mid end torque. It's not gonna give you much power, but it sounds really cool when you go wot.

[Citizen328ci]

is waterlock an issue at all with theese kind of filters (that was kinda a noob question) but my car has 30k miles, i dont wanna mess it up its pretty much brand new.

[kyle242gt]

Not unless you drive into a lake. Then you have bigger problems.

[Slick Willi]

i think my thread needs to be stickied again

(for the love of bandwidth please search first)

[cosmosm3]

is waterlock an issue at all with theese kind of filters (that was kinda a noob question) but my car has 30k miles, i dont wanna mess it up its pretty much brand new.

The new Cosmos Racing CAI v2 now has options. You can pick your filter and if you want a hydroprotective filter wrap. Like a condom for your filter, except it still breaths.:D

Jerry (Cosmos Racing)

[Jammmin528]

I can only speak for my personal experience with the Eurosport High Performance CAI and matching software. No torque losses. Much better throttle response and drivability. More power at all rpm's. If you can't do both then go for the software first. The intake definately helps at high revs and sounds good. You start hearing it at 4k and a mean growl above 5k. The intake housing is well designed so you won't have heat soak issues. I would not expect a night and day difference, but definately noticable. IMHO well worth the investment.

[1996 328ti]

I can only speak for my personal experience with the Eurosport High Performance CAI and matching software.Same here.
One major problem people seem to have is in cleaning the filter. It's easy to suck in oil messing up the MAF if you don't do it right. Hard to say if it's the CAI or chip (flash) but I am very happy with both of them.:buttrock

[Citizen328ci]

i think my thread needs to be stickied again

(for the love of bandwidth please search first)

sorry, search didnt work, thanks again for all the info im going to do a Cosmos Cai and Shark injector i think. Is there something better than the shark injector to go with a CAI and exhaust.

[SpeedTheory]

I have always thought that dyno tests with an intake are always going to underrate their gains, due to the lack of air going into them, that would ordinarily be when the car is in motion, so keep that in mind when looking at dyno charts, as well