Hey all, finally Merry Christmased myself a CAI. Install took longer than it should have because of my lack of skills and a few tools. Since there are plenty of threads on this, I'll be brief. Overall an easy DIY. I would say the only difficult part is getting the engine cover off. If anyone has actually done this without cracking it - I defer to your greatness. Mine was in no less than 4 pieces before I was done. So much for going back to stock. I didn't get the Neuspeed cover, so I'm rockin' the naked engine look.

Driving impressions: When I first started the car, I had some warning lights, but since I had the battery undone I figured the system had to recalibrate. As I thought, a few minutes into the ride all lights were out. After all I had read, I had anticipated a lot of noise. As I rolled away, I really didn't hear much. It took getting the turbo spinning to hear it and I was pleasantly surprised that it is not obnoxiously loud. I guess that's subjective, because you can definitely hear it! It is a bit strange hearing the blowoff, but now I actually know when the valve is operating. Looking forward to opening it up in the next few days.

Happy holidays everyone~

 

Congrats!!! BTW, I have a stock engine cover in perfectly good shape. You just need to lift directly around the rubber grommet. If you torque the edge of the cover, it will surely break.





Cheers!

 

LIkewise...I have the stock engine cover in one piece still...its all about corner by corner! Congrats on the install!

 

Congrats i just wish someone would install the racing type that goes down towards the wheel well. Just wondering if it makes a difference in intake temps. (with a bypass valve to prevent sucking water) goodluck

 

The thing that makes me wary about the bypass valves is that they only work if the end of the intake is completely submerged. As low as the filter is positioned w/ a racing intake, I'd be worried about splashing through any puddles.

 

I thought about getting the extension piping. Im supposed to receive my NS CAI today actually. Not all that concearned with extension as I am with finding a heat wrap/blanket for the pipe. I have a feeling the extension pipe wont be THAT effective cause its daily use kind of car versus being a tracked car or antyhing.

I dont have to worry much about water as it doesnt rain much up here. Or anything severly that would make me highly concearned. I'd still switch to the shorter pipe for winter use, but again, I dont find the race pipe to be that much of a need... at least... not yet.