I have been considering getting a CAI, but I need some help. I've noticed alot of yall hate ebay, but to me ebay seems great to me (1) because I'm broke and (2) because I'm cheap.
So anyways I went to a upgrade shop up here in boston and the guy at the desk told me a CAI is CAI the name doesnt matter. hmmm is this really true? I've seen some on ebay for 30bucks shipped then theres injen that are like 280(way out of my league). So what I wanna know is will I hurt my car if I put the ebay 1 in?
BTW: I own a 99 SE, does the SE mean I need a different one than the other 4gens?
Thanks for all the Luv

 

yes. and i suggest reading the stickies too.

 

Most people will say keep the stock on one...there is a dyno that shows that there is more power in the stock intake system then there is with a CAI or Short ram. If you do choose to keep the stock setup and just want the sound well then you could get a K&N Panel filter and drill holes in your air box

 

Throttle response suffers with just about any aftermarket intake you put on a 4th gen Maxima, especially if it's got an automatic tranny.

 

All CAIs are NOT the same. The thing that makes the biggest price diff. is the filter -- the sucky ones use bad filters that either block too much air flow or don't filter very well.

That said, don't get a CAI either way (unless you have a huge fetish for the sound). It makes a big difference on some other cars but robs performance on ours.

 

a lot of people hate eBay but aren't very smart. A pipe is a pipe, just buy a eBay special CAI and throw on a K&N Air Filter and will work the same as any AEM or Injen intake

 

hacked airbox! The CAI gives you sound, that's it. Minimal gains, if that. Why not get that same sound, for free, by cutting a hole in your stock airbox, and letting more air come into the engine bay?

 

is that all u need to do to hack your box, is too cut a hole in it?

 

or remove the snorkel or dont let the snorkel connect to the box but let it be right next to it(with some adjusting, of course), thats how I have mine.
I got the sound and no whatsoever. just an

 

there are true CAI which require cuttin and sit in the fender and there are HOT AIR INTAKES which are refered to as CAI (cold air intakes) for some odd reason. these sit in the engine bay. now as far as injen goes, ur payin for the name but then again injen is carb approved so u wont get hassled when ur smogin. with injen u pay for looks, name, carb approved and nice fit and finish. the ebay ones are cheap looking and well, u can name the rest

 

hmm ok ill do it this weekend. are you sure about the no gains part? meh ill still do it for the sound

 

injen is not a cold air intake, stay away from them!

the only ones that are true CAI is the ones that you have to cut the wheel well out.

and those are subject to water and various other problems (tho often that doesnt happen).

and most have said they are not much differnt than a k&n air filter ie high flow intake (in the cabin).
i forget the link that it was located from but there were tests done with both a high flow intake from stillen and a cold air intake, and they differed alittle but both results were satisfying, but simular so i would say the cheapest is better.

you should probably stick with the stock air box and rought a pipe to ram air in it.
edit: here it is the link: http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/caivssi2.html