Injen CAI vs AEM CAI Review....hesitation etc.

[06SILVERSI]

SOO you HAVE to cut into the fender well, hmm, not sure if I like that, dont want any extra holes, Is theres no way to get past that? I'd like to get the black powdercoat version, where can I find these reasonably prices?

[TwofouroSi]

I'm almost 100% certain you can install the intake without cutting the fenderwell. It seemed to me that there was plenty of room, but I cut mine anyway just to go along with the directions. You can easily install the intake in 2-3 hours, even by yourself. Just be patient, and try not to get angry at it!

['06Siguy]

I din't have to cut any plastic to install my AEM. Are you sure you need to cut it?

[Sleepy]

well after reading this post, I will be ordering the injen CAI, I will be ordering that on Monday, thank god my buddy is back from China or I would have to wait to install it.

[atruhondagrl]

Dang it. Reading through here has me so amped up about getting the new intake!!!

[HAQER]

Now I almost wish I hadn't bought the AEM. Oh well, it IS just a little money. I will probably buy the Injen as soon as I can find someone to buy my AEM. What are all of you going to do with your AEM's now? Put them on eBay for like $100?

[atruhondagrl]

Originally Posted by HAQER

Now I almost wish I hadn't bought the AEM. Oh well, it IS just a little money. I will probably buy the Injen as soon as I can find someone to buy my AEM. What are all of you going to do with your AEM's now? Put them on eBay for like $100?

Thats pretty much what I had in mind.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by 06SILVERSI

SOO you HAVE to cut into the fender well, hmm, not sure if I like that, dont want any extra holes, Is theres no way to get past that? I'd like to get the black powdercoat version, where can I find these reasonably prices?

www.showstoppersusa.com $229.00 including shipping. Best deal out there.
Got mine in 5 days shipped from California.
I am installing it as we type. Just took a little break since the heat index is about 110 out there and in my garage the temps are probably closer to 150 with 100% humidity. I feel like I just jumped into a swimming pool full of sweat. YUCK!! Need to hydrate and get back out there and finish it up.
So far the installation wasn't bad. The bumper came off in about 10 Minutes.
I took my time since I never took it off before. On the bottom of mine were actually only 8 plastic plus 2 10mm bolts. Then the 2 screws from the fenders and the number 5 hex bolts on top and that's it. I couldn't believe how much crap there is to the stock intake. I mean I had several other cars and this little booger takes the cake. The intake hose leading to the primary airbox which leads to the lower and upper Air Resonator box which is bigger than the primary air box. It took me a good hour on my own to yank all that crap out of there. Now I will see if I have to cut the fenderwell or not.
I believe you do but I will let you guys know for sure in a couple of hours.

The Black Powdercoated version looks GREAT. Very nice workmanship by Injen. One Piece tube which is well made. Let's find out how it all fits in there. Wish me luck..

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by TwofouroSi

I'm almost 100% certain you can install the intake without cutting the fenderwell. It seemed to me that there was plenty of room, but I cut mine anyway just to go along with the directions. You can easily install the intake in 2-3 hours, even by yourself. Just be patient, and try not to get angry at it!

Yup, I got angry at my intake and now it's sitting in the corner for a time out

[TwofouroSi]

Originally Posted by Tom1222

Yup, I got angry at my intake and now it's sitting in the corner for a time out

Hahahahahahaha.

[coops_si]

I just checked showstoppersusa.com and they want $270 for the Injen CAI. How did you getit for $229?

[Tom1222]

WOW, they must have raised their prices. Last week when I checked it was still $229.00 shipped. I guess it's supply and demand. They probably checked around and saw that other people were asking more money for the same product and they adjusted their prices accordingly.

[Tom1222]

Got my Injen Cai installed and took it for a test drive. All I can say is WOW! At normal speed there is no difference but when you get on it and take her over 4500 rpms that baby growls as mean as a Raptor about to have a lion for lunch. I don't know what the difference is in performance but it sure feels like it freed up a few ponies from under the hood. Pain in the ass mod but once it's done it's well worth it.
No hesitation or engine lights. Just a mean ass growl from 4500 on up.
Also it seems the rpms seem to climb a lot faster. Might just be my imagination but my seat of the pants dyno tells me it kicks ass now.

[Sleepy]

Well I am unable to order my intake due to the 200 dollar vet bill on Sat. Doggy was rushed into vet for a foot injury. I want my intake damnert. Oh well my birthday is coming up, i will get it then...but i want it now....

[spincycle]

hey Tom1222 Did you have to cut the wheel fender in order to get the CAI in?

I am looking at getting a CAI but am worried about winter driving, as it gets pretty cold here in WI, also don't want to void my warranty. Am I just over reacting to both of those points? An extra bit of punch would deffinately be a blast, just don't really want to loose in the deal, it already has quite a bit of power...

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by spincycle

hey Tom1222 Did you have to cut the wheel fender in order to get the CAI in?

I am looking at getting a CAI but am worried about winter driving, as it gets pretty cold here in WI, also don't want to void my warranty. Am I just over reacting to both of those points? An extra bit of punch would deffinately be a blast, just don't really want to loose in the deal, it already has quite a bit of power...

I did cut the fenderwell which I was afraid off but it really wasn't that difficult. A utility knife cuts through that plastic like butter. The cut is necessary in order to have the bulge of the new intake to stick out.
That sounds worse than it is since you can't really see it. It is a very small cut and unless you take the wheel off and look for it you wont even see it.

Overall it was a pain in the rump to install. Yes it does feel a bit stronger and it is whole lot louder above 4500 rpm but you are absolutely right.
It is strong already and the stock intake looks very thought out and balanced
towards the car. Overall if I had to do it over again I wouldn't and just get a drop in K&N filter for my stock airbox and be done with it. For some however no matter how strong the car is it will never be strong or fast enough and the modding will never end. I was that type of guy once but I soon learned that the more you do to a car the less reliable and streetable it gets and no matter what you do to it there will always be someone faster and stronger out there. Do what feels right. The intake will gain you a few ponies and will make the car sound a lot more aggressive and louder above the 4500 rpm range. So far I haven't seen any gains in gas mileage but I really wasn't expecting any.

If you are a patient person and have a few hours on your hand then go for it. If you like your car the way it is but still want to have it breath a tad better go with a K&N Drop in filter. 4 hour mod versus a 5 minute mod.

[TreeFrog]

does anyone have any videos of the injen CAI?

[Tom1222]

You mean how it sounds or how it looks on the car?
I don't have either but you don't even see it under the hood. It goes down and behind the bumper so it is pretty stealth. Especially in the black Powdercoated version. The sound is awesome and it screems like a banchee starting at 4500 rpm and just gets meaner from there.

[ABQSI]

Originally Posted by Tom1222

I did cut the fenderwell which I was afraid off but it really wasn't that difficult. A utility knife cuts through that plastic like butter. The cut is necessary in order to have the bulge of the new intake to stick out.
That sounds worse than it is since you can't really see it. It is a very small cut and unless you take the wheel off and look for it you wont even see it.

Overall it was a pain in the rump to install. Yes it does feel a bit stronger and it is whole lot louder above 4500 rpm but you are absolutely right.
It is strong already and the stock intake looks very thought out and balanced
towards the car. Overall if I had to do it over again I wouldn't and just get a drop in K&N filter for my stock airbox and be done with it. For some however no matter how strong the car is it will never be strong or fast enough and the modding will never end. I was that type of guy once but I soon learned that the more you do to a car the less reliable and streetable it gets and no matter what you do to it there will always be someone faster and stronger out there. Do what feels right. The intake will gain you a few ponies and will make the car sound a lot more aggressive and louder above the 4500 rpm range. So far I haven't seen any gains in gas mileage but I really wasn't expecting any.

If you are a patient person and have a few hours on your hand then go for it. If you like your car the way it is but still want to have it breath a tad better go with a K&N Drop in filter. 4 hour mod versus a 5 minute mod.

...word...

I probably wouldn't even have done this mod but I drive at between 6000 and 8000 feet of altitude and the K&N just wasn't cutting it for me. I completely agree with you though.

... except that the stock intake made the car breathe through a silly-straw... remember silly straws?... haha

[bossman]

Originally Posted by sickyute

1. It has shorter piping
2. MR technology
3. piping diameter is bigger and changes throughout the pipe....big at a point smaller at the other(maf point), then bigger again.
4. more intake capacity(bigger filter and piping)
5. more pressurized-bigger intake, then pipe get's smaller at the maf...maf reads more pressure??...the bigger again, then smaller right at the throttle body...map reads more pressure??best way i can explain...i'm tired
6. bolt in a better place than the aem...thus allowing it clearance from metal wall, but then u have to cut the splash guard...aem i cut my splash guard and it still hit the wall...so then i put foam in between it and the wall to stop the vibration noises.
7. the butt dyno doesn't lie.....in this case it's not just the butt dyno, it's the back dyno also..i can actually feeeeel the car pull now...

8. IT'S NOT JUST A PIPE...if it was i'd have made my own and so would every body else...don't think honda would do all that to their intake system either if just a pipe could have done the job...FLOW/VELOCITY etc etc: it can do a lot of different things...like cause hesitation in one pipe and none in another...so it's not just a pipe....ever seen the aem v2(can't be used on Si)...is uses sound waves and air flow to create power(i think)....it's not just a pipe.

GREAT writeup Sicky..if it's good enough for you and these gains are as you say then i'm selling the AEM when I get back home...and btw...the smaller piping by the maf would accelerate the air not give it more pressure,MAF does'nt read pressure it reads air flow across the end of it.Repped for the completeness of this writeup.