The following is a quote about Place Racing Cold Air Intakes, but I assume it fits all of them:

... improves performance and horsepower by smoothing out the curves and restrictions of the stock intake making it easier for the air to enter the engine.
... improves performance and horsepower by lenghening and tuning the intake path.
... the best part of the system is the cold air! Cold air is far denser than hot air which means there are more oxygen molecules with each breath the engine takes.

So the question is, on a 2000 Max how much of a benefit is there going to be ? The air intake is already at the leading edge of the hood, so I "assume" it is breathing pretty cold air to already (especially in Massachusetts this winter). The air path is clearly not straight and smooth (looks more like a L-shape) and probably not "tuned" either. If the "best part" is the cold air and I already have that, then how much of a benefit is there in going thru all that work and expense ?

BTW, I am NOT saying it is not worth it, I am just asking what people's experience has been ?

Thanks

 

I used to have it before I turned Turbo. I liked the setup. It requires a 3.5" hole to be drilled in the fender area from the hood to get the intake tube down there. It is a good setup.

The stock system yes does sit at the edge of the hood but gets heated from the radiator that is right under it. And there is ALOT of restriction in the stock airbox.

Dixit

 

or you can look at Injen if you don't want to cut a hole. It's not 'true' CAI but it's close.

 

I have a PR CAI and I can definitely feel the gains on a cold day (I'm in Canada). However, I got it in the fall and when I got it, my engine was having some issues (ended up needing a new one in early January so now I can feel the CAI properly).
Therefore, I don't know how it is in the summer and I haven't dynoed the car with the CAI on yet. (I'll probably do that next month or something).
I don't know much about the Injen so I can't say anything about it. I have read mixed reviews about it though (some love it, some find it's crap...it's all subjective).

 

I bet that site never mentioned anything about blowing the MAF sensor because of the CAI? I just blew my MAF sensor a few days ago, still trying to get it fixed. The guy at the dealer said that the MAF sensors are very sensitive on 5th gen maximas and they are having alot of problems with it. The sensors don't seem to like CAI's very much. I have 60k on my car, I probably had the CAI for 20k