hey guys, who ever likes this AEM intake, ive NEVER seen it lower than $350

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/-...FbIF7Aodz3AAww

 

That is a great price.

The ad says its only for '11s & '12s.

I'm wondering if this would cause an issue for my '10?

Thoughts?

 

Nah, thats the same part number as all of them.. I don't know why they put 11-12

 

Is this CAI really any different then the others? Or is it just the name you pay for?

 

This will function like any other CAI such as Stillen or RC2. To have a true CAI, you would need to create a custom setup.

 

This. It is for this reason that I'm not going to bother getting a CAI b/c I'm not inclined enough to go with a custom setup. Great price, though.

 

What do you mean by "true". Ideally, I'd like to get the CAI, headers w/ full exhaust and install all at once. Now, for the money and the AEM functioning like a Stillen or RC2, I wanna buy this now. But should I? Or should I put more into this "true" setup once I get an idea on headers/exhaust?

*Edit - I'm not looking to custom drop everything into this car. But I'd rather do it the right way the first time if that's the case.

 

ya know, out of all the intakes they make out there for us. This is my favorite. It seems like its made of real high quality parts, and I LOVE the cold air being brought in by the scoop. now its still not a legit "cold air intake" like Ghozt, but any little bit counts in my eyes. yeah it will be sucking up warm air from engine bay, but hopefully a little/a lot fresh air depending on speed wouldn't hurt.

As far as price.. Hell NO.. upwards of $350 (seen as high as $600!! on Google shopping) for "maybe" 1-3hp gain above other SRI. But if you are dead set on this, jump on at $250 you won't be disappointed from what I've heard.

I have the R2C and I really like it but like i said i love that direct scoop for fresher air. So this is what I am doing. I called AEM direct and told them a little white lie. that i was in a fender bender and cracked my scoop and the other peice that conects to it before the tube (hoping for some sort of pitty and maybe a full replacement, lol, nope) Customer service outstanding. Scoop is $75 and the other peice was $30.. she really felt bad for my story so she discounted both for a grand total of $58.35 shipped. So now a little custom work comes in.... im gonna Instal the scoops they are sending.. get a tube (autozone) to reach the "heat shield" for my R2C and VUALA!! I'll have my own cheap version of the AEM set up. I can't think of any down side to this except maybe AEM has a better quality heat shield, filter, who knows. Just happy I kind of got what I want, with out buying at crazy prices. Maybe some of you guys not in the market for an expensive *** intake, can give it a shot.

 

By True I mean creating your own setup by using custom piping into the fender to take in cold air. The AEM intake and others are great products, but hot air is still pulled into the intake due to the cone filter not being completed enclosed.

I believe Ghozt and a another member of the forums created a True CAI.

 

Quick question... is there a specific type of tube to use?

 

How much more in comparison would I true CAI cost? And does a true CAI have more of a chance for sucking up water and such, considering you'd be pulling from closer to the ground?

From the little bit I've read, these CAI's do more for sound than HP? What about torque? Seems in order, you'd get improved sound, then torque, and maybe a HP or two?

I've been looking at these intakes for 3 months now and just CANNOT decide if it's worth it. It sure as heck wasn't worth 450 for most of the intakes I see. But at 250... will it get any cheaper? I don't wanna miss out, but don't wanna waste.

Like I said, if a true intake is worth it much more to put the money into it, I'd rather. But I'm also not going to be putting on a SC or turbo anytime soon so that's not a concern.

Somebody make the decision for me lol...

 

To be honest, I'm not sure. I believe the posts from Ghozt should still be available somewhere on the forum.

 

It's a really tough call. Realistically, the gains you'll see from an intake / exhaust can only be quantified after an engine tune. Just installing an intake and exhaust without a tune is mainly for the sound.

 

Save your money.
These so-call "CAI's" pull in too much underhood "hot air" to be of any true benefit.
If you drove around without a hood some of the dyno improvements these manufactures claim may be somewhat realized but you would have an AERO mess and a ticket to deal with.
Your better off just popping in a K&N panel filter and utilizing the OEM cold air system your car came with.
I equate these CAI systems to be nothing more than noise generators, not unlike the playing cards I used in my bicycle spokes to make noise when I was a kid.

 

but wouldn't the air be even hotter going through the stock set up? Its sitting enclosed in a box that's enclosed by the hood. I can see how it would benefit after you remove the filter from being enclosed. And the system the car came with doesn't really look like it brings in too much, without the aem scoop direct to the grill.

 

It's worth getting one of these aftermarket intakes. Just don't expect a lot. AEM's is nice (had it at one point), I have an Injen now. They're really not that different, and I'm sure if I tried all the others they'd be the same too.

Really though, just don't have high expectations. Hell, Ghozt had a sweet custom setup that he built, and measured as working better than any of the others. And he still wasn't satisfied, so now he's rolling with a turbo.

I do think you'd like one if you pull the trigger. Just don't expect a new intake to be the magic bullet that changes everything, that's all.

 

Yes, the stock box is sitting in a hot engine bay which isn't preferential. But you need to remember that almost all of the air entering the oem box is from the outside which for the most part is cooler than directly sucking it in from the engine bay.
My plan in the future is to insulate the oem box and components with some suitable material, still researching this. I would also like to find a used /repairable hood to experiment with. Like an opening for expelling the under hood heat.

 

Best sounding one I've heard was user 'iFuXwItU' or something like that. Could be wrong but I believe he was the first to move the battery to the trunk and make a custom CAI and there was a video of him going down the street in his white max and let me tell you: it sounded nice and mean, unlike any of the others I've seen/heard

 

New forum member... glad to have jumped aboard.

Just bought my first Max 2 months ago. ('14 SV) The "CAI" was the first thing I decided to do and wen with the AEM. Very nice sound to it with casual gas and downright mean at WOT. I went with Amazon to get it as I was tired of seeing everyone having it out of stock... Vividracing being one of them. So, sorry guys. You won't get it for the $250 from them.

And, yes, I am speaking totally in terms of the "cool factor." I wasn't trying to get "+10hp" from it.

 

Very annoying but... he's right. I ordered that AEM CAI friday. Only to get an email from them yestderday afternoon letting me know they were out of stock and my money would be returned. This was really the only shot of me getting a CAI as I would rather put $400 towards an exhaust.

They should state it's out of stock. Little ridiculous it took 4+ days just to tell me so.

 

Is it me? Along with the CAI, I purchased a rear sway and front strut from Stillen about a week before. And JUST last night they emailed me, material for the product is on back order until 6/20.

I'm not a patient person.

 

If anybody is interested I found two of the AEM intakes in stock and ready to go. One is polished and one is the gun metal gray. http://www.carid.com/2012-nissan-max...em-478733.html
Ext 8714 and his name is Vinny.

 

I'll pass on $420

 

Oooo NEVER pass up some 420!! ... ... o the price?