Pro's/Con's of air induction kits over air filters...

kapur · Post by **kapur** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:29 pm

I'm look to definately upgrade my air filter for either a K&N panel air filter, or a BMC panel air filter.

The thing is, that i cant find any place that does the BMC air filter online.

Just wondering if people could state the long term benefits of induction kits over air filters, and then the short term benefits?

What's the best way to go if i'm looking for a short term come back. I.E. Reap the benefits within a year.

I was under the influence that upgraded air filters, and induction kits are best at making the car a little more economical.

Also, if you could kindly paste links here as to where i could get either a K&N Panel Filter, BMC Panel Filter, or even a BMC CDA. Looking for prices on all these before i set a firm foot into purchasing one. OR another alternative is shall i just get a replacement from VW or Halfrauds?

Please do help, as my car needs to start getting economical and gain a little power, or atleast be nicer to drive.

kapur · Post by **kapur** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 3:20 pm

I've heard of people drilling holes in their air boxes.

What does this do? I take it it's just for the plain noise? Anyone know what kind of noise it makes, and if it's loud/annoying, and has it for any advantages?

ttaw2 · Post by **ttaw2** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:38 pm

Right, here we go... Please correct me if i'm wrong......

Drilling holes -

advantages- louder induction note
disadvantages- you'll need a new airbox when you sell the car, you suck hot air into the engine (seeing as the box is right above the engine), it really doesn't do much!

If you want to go for this option, i'd say don't drill, but just leave the cold air feed disconnected, as this makes just as much noise, and you don't screw the box

Pannel filter - never had one, but the way they work is to offer a less obtrusive flow of air into the engine, whilst offering the same amount of filtration - not sure if you get louder note, but it does let your engine breathe more freely (actual power gain is minimal usually)

BMC CDA - seems to be peoples weapon of choice, many a review if you look through, obvious benefits of better filtration and a nice big cold air feed/ram effect - downside is that they do cost a fair bit.. Personally it's the only induction kit that i'd go for on the gti, as the intake to the throttle body is right above the engine, and no-one else has bothered with the hot air problem.

if you want a bmc, you're looking for model number BMC-158/01 for the pannel, and CDA70-130 for the cda kit

http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk/frame- ... ilters.htm

for hints on finding stuff, look for the cars that have the same part (like the lupo gti in the case of the cda on this site) and search for those instead, very little polo gtis were sold so virtually no-one bothers listing parts for it

On the fuel economy front, you have to be a little careful with this claim at times, from my experience with performace chips the small print states that you'll get better fuel economy only if you drive at the same speed as before the chip/induction kit was put on. So if you want to make the most of your increase in performance you'll be using more fuel..

At the end of the day, more efficiant air filters are about getting more air into the engine, and with more air, comes the requirement for more fuel (otherwise the engine would start running lean, and we don't like that at all....)

Merry Christmas

kapur · Post by **kapur** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 11:26 pm

Hey ttaw2, thanks for the really good post. Was really helpful.

I think i'll go for the K&N, and then wait sometime. Not to sure on the BMC anyhow, because i might be selling the car off.

Anyone know if the BMC CDA's have a good resell value? Just want to be prepared for the worst if i have to sell it.

Thanks again ttaw2!

Del_GTi · Post by **Del_GTi** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:51 am

Don't think you'd have any problems selling it if you came to get rid of car.

I'm currently on the lookout for one.

BTW does anyone know what sort of noise you get from them?

Is it like K&N 57i noise, (throaty & scooby-like)?

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:11 am

The only problem with selling a modified car, even if it is only a new set of wheels and an induction kit, is that you can't charge a premium for the new parts. Lets say you're seeling a tricked up Polo, with bodykit, alloys, coilies, zorst and some uprated interior parts, like seats, gearknob/steering wheel etc. You'd most likely only be able to charge a Â£500-700 premium over a standard model, despite the cost of the added parts!

Mind you, you do have the advantage of being able to advertise to the uk-p members, which means you'll get a more suitable audience for your sale.

At the end of the day, the mild changes I'm making to my car over the next 12 months will be for my benefit rather than those of the potential future owner; however I will still keep the sell-on value in mind, so no bodykit, and probably no new wheels (refurb the ones I've got instead)...

Of course, you can strip your Polo of the modded parts before selling her off, having re-read your post kapur I'm guessing thats what you meant when you asked about re-sell value

kapur · Post by **kapur** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:06 pm

You got it dead on. I'm thinking of selling the parts before i sell the car, so atleast i'll get something back.

BMC's are pretty rare to come across second hand, so that'd be pretty cool, cuz i'm pretty sure someone off here would be interested.

I just need to get a quote on the BMC now.

Anyone got any ideas where i can get the best buy from?

Also, i've heard somewhere about failing your MOT if you install a BMC, since you need something else to go with it

whats this about

Del_Gti, people say that the K&N is good for noise, nothing else really. This is true aswell, since the heat will give a worse effect than you've currently got with your standard air filter.

CalvinGTI · Post by **CalvinGTI** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:16 pm

K&N = Raw pooness, crap performance and the sound isnt all that either.

THe BMC CDA is the only way to go peeps ! lovely sound form it and the increase in performance is astounding, the engine just seems to keep accelerating these days !

*loves it when his BMC changes tone towards the end of a gear*

WoooHoooo, i dont think i cud drive my Polo without its BMC induction kit now ya know.

Calâ„¢

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:25 pm

Cal gotta sound clip of a BMC roaring away?

cheers

ttaw2 · Post by **ttaw2** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:37 pm

kapur wrote:
I just need to get a quote on the BMC now.

Anyone got any ideas where i can get the best buy from?

http://www.eurostyling.com/eurostyling.html

These guys import them into the country, but don't sell to us common plebs- go to the uk dealers tab and it'll list, well, all the uk dealers.. there are quite a few, so you'll just have to and get ringin!!

The site is a little slow if you've got dialup, but if you want to find the best price it's worth the wait and the effort

Sparky (Iceland) · Post by **Sparky (Iceland)** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 3:29 pm

what do you guys think about Pippercross induction kits? for a 6N 1.4i 16V....

ttaw2 · Post by **ttaw2** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 4:29 pm

Sparky (Iceland) wrote:what do you guys think about Pippercross induction kits? for a 6N 1.4i 16V....

My Bro had a pipercross on his renault 19 16v and i've got to say it was damn loud...

The problem with it on the polos is that it sits just above the inlet manifold, at the back of the engine bay, so it sucks in lots of hot air (see photo)

http://www.piperxonline.co.uk/induction ... 17&kit=327

I was contemplating one of these, and making some kind of heat shied (either kevlar or alluminium) and ram pipe for it.

Sparky (Iceland) · Post by **Sparky (Iceland)** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:48 pm

I think i made a bit of a mistake, i ordered a pippercoss kit for my polo. I think i should have gone with a BMC CDA. What do you think?

ttaw2 · Post by **ttaw2** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:47 pm

Depends what you wat mate - if you just want a better induction note the pipercross should be fine, if you want to go faster it looks like the bmc was the one you wanted..

Another thing to remember is that the BMC is twice the price of the Pipercross - if you can't sed it back it's not the end of the world

Sparky (Iceland) · Post by **Sparky (Iceland)** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:57 pm

thanks dude, then maybe if i put something on my bonet to force cold air in, it might just work better... i wanted more hp btw. what do you think? do you know of any good lookin bonets that would do the job?