CAI price guides / performance ?

[Simmer]

Just picked up my very first car about a week ago and looooove it. Been driving trucks since i was 16 and i gotta tell u not having 35" tires really makes u go alot faster :) but on my 2 previous trucks ive always installed k&n cold air intakes and they've been great. good performance all around but being not knowing a lot of different brands and companies in the car world are there any suggestions to what intakes i should look at? which ones are better on the performance side of things for the money, etc. THANKS!!

[zzz3]

they are all more or less the same (at least for the naturally aspirated 2.0/2.3 MZR). what it comes down to is features, compatibility and price. some of the lesser known intakes are known to throw CELs. injen cai on the other hand offers the flexibility of being able to switch from cold air to short ram for summer/winter thanks to a two piece design.

checkout the sponsors section and private message some of them for quotes on prices for different brands (i.e. k&n, injen and AEM).

[Ozil]

injen cai on the other hand offers the flexibility of being able to switch from cold air to short ram for summer/winter thanks to a two piece design.

K&N typhoon kit has that ability also

[MarkWB]

K&N typhoon kit has that ability also

Did not know about either of these, +1 to both of you.

OP, what year/trim is your MZ3? That'll get you more answers (or just search). ;)

[n00bMeiSter]

My self and several other members have the Cosmos Racing SRI and have not had a problem with it. No CEL's, good quality.

Here's the one I have:
04-09 2.3L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=1098

Here's the links to the other versions
04-09 2.0L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=1278
2010-2011 2.0L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=2222
2010-2011 2.5L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=2177

[MarkWB]

My self and several other members have the Cosmos Racing SRI and have not had a problem with it. No CEL's, good quality.

Here's the one I have:
04-09 2.3L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=1098

Here's the links to the other versions
04-09 2.0L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=1278
2010-2011 2.0L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=2222
2010-2011 2.5L: http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=143&pid=2177

Corksport and K&N both make intakes for our cars, but they both cost more than this. I've never seen a recommended intake for under 100 bucks. +1 to the max.

[Simmer]

Thanks a lot to every one who replied. I got a 06 with the 2.3 glad I found this forum. Thanks again

[Darkice]

Pacific mall intake 100$ works amazing more better then some branded intake companys also it can convert to short ram or cold air... No CEL or Hydrolock

[n00bMeiSter]

Pacific mall intake 100$ works amazing more better then some branded intake companys also it can convert to short ram or cold air... No CEL or Hydrolock

if you do CAI you should still get a hydro shield regardless, just to be safe.

[Darkice]

yes he should...even though it dosnt do anything...

[07carbon3]

i got the AEM cai and had no problems with it, no CEL's, no getting water in

[matty3]

Hey nn00bMeiSter.. how does the Cosmo racing intake sound? Iv been looking into the Takeda SRI for a while now. But if the cosmo one is just as good I might get that one.

[MarkWB]

Just so you know, an intake won't give you the 20-30-450734 horsepower gains most of them claim to give. On a Mazda 3, you'll be lucky to see 5 whp out of an intake. Intake, header, exhaust you'll definitely notice gains, especially with a reflash, but that's more than a grand in parts. Most on here would suggest spending the majority of your money on suspension upgrades, better tires, lighter wheels, CF parts, lightweight pulleys and if you really want to spend, then boost (turbo/sc kits are like 3 grand +) to make the most out of your car.

Your car has more support since its 5 MYs old, so search a bit on CAIs/SRIs and look into what some of the other members have done on the member rides section, you'll save yourself a lot of hassles. Best of luck with the new ride! :D

[n00bMeiSter]

Hey nn00bMeiSter.. how does the Cosmo racing intake sound? Iv been looking into the Takeda SRI for a while now. But if the cosmo one is just as good I might get that one.

Don't think I've ever heard a Takeda SRI, but I don't think I've ever really noticed a difference in sound between different SRI brands.
Maybe someone on here with a Takeda SRI can post a video of the sound. When I get my camera back I'll post up a video.

[chrispy053GT]

What do you guys think is better? The hydro shield or a bypass Valve? Im planning to instal me AEM CAI in the next week or so

[mazdageorge]

I have a cosmo SRI as well and it sounds good. You barely know its there on idle but wakes up as soon as WOT. Most importantly no CEL.

[zzz3]

What do you guys think is better? The hydro shield or a bypass Valve? Im planning to instal me AEM CAI in the next week or so

Hydroshield is sufficient. Standing water and puddles are usually towards the passenger side due to the crown of most roads. Your intake is on the drivers side and closed off thanks to the bumper and undertray. Only way to hydro lock would be to submerge your intake underwater lol.

[n00bMeiSter]

What do you guys think is better? The hydro shield or a bypass Valve? Im planning to instal me AEM CAI in the next week or so

Doesn't hurt to do both, I know JonJon did both.