I'm not sure if there is any HP gains but I have noticed a slightly better throttle response and yes the car sounds more agressive. Would I buy it again........dunno I think their will be a better design out soon enough.

 

I'm impressed something positive to say


[This message has been edited by charlie (edited November 25, 2000).]

 

Warpspeed, No I haven't done the TB. I may, and I'v vacilated on it, but I've been doing so much to my car since it was deliverd that I haven't been able to drive it. It's in the audio shop now and I won't have it until Tuesday, so I'm not going to do another thing for a while.

I may wait until I talk some other owners with the TB at the Asheville gathering in April before I decide what to do.

Yes, the sound of the engine with the RM intake is incredible. Very throaty and race-car like when you push it in the higher RPM ranges.

 

Here's my take on a CAI:

I, too, bought the RMS version with the alloy tubing . I haven't installed it yet, but will be doing it in conjunction with a TB upgrade over the next several weeks.

As to horsepower gains, I think the performance increase with a CAI will be subtle, but noticeable, if you are tuned into your car's performance -- more like seat-of-the-pants feel. I had a CAI on my '98 528 and I noticed a different in throttle response.

As to the suggestion that CAIs or other performance high flow intake systems actually rob horsepower because they pull in air from a hot eingine compartment, I would point to a September 1997 article in Sports Compact Car where aftermarket intake systems were tested:

"The long cold air intakes for example made significant gains in midrange toque and it is easy to assume this is due to the cooler intake temperatures."

The test involved dynoing a Honda Civic before and after the modification with an aftermarket intake system. The dyno results showed some modest gain in HP and torque. Also, the question of intake air temperature was discussed. They found that the intake temperatures were "not nearly as high as the bench-racing public likes to think."

Finally, one interesting note, the best results in this test was with K&N's Filtercharger system.

While some will dispute that measuring intake systems on a Civic is akin to comparing apples to oranges whe it comes to our S2ks, I do believe that this article clearly points to the advantage of adding a CAI on this car. Again, it is always a matter of money and what your wallet will tolerate for the modest gains in HP.

My .02 worth

BigRedESS

 

I

 

As far as CAI's go. I am waiting for MG Racings. From what I have heard it will rock.
Otherwise the stock one is great.
Airbox. Good.
Shiney metal tube. Bad.
But this is an old debate and has been discused tons.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cdelena:
[B] I

 

I have been running with the RM Racing CAI product for the last seven months.

My thoughts:

1)It is very, very easy to install yourself if A) you release both the condenser (not in my instructions) and the radiator and B) you pay attention to the coolant that will come out of one of the hoses you need to move.

2)It makes the car sound awesome

3)It has to be at least 10 lbs lighter than the stock air box

4)While it may not actually add any real HP, I love the way it looks and sounds, so I might actually percieve an increase in performance.