The new K&N Cold Air Intake

Haven't seen any posts on the new K&N intake so I thought I'd share my experience so far. Installed the kit two weeks ago. I've attended a two day autocross since then, so I can say with certainty the intake is more powerful; I'd guess 5 hp (which could be anywhere between 2 and 10). Unfortunately, there are more than a few drawbacks: #1. Warranty stipulates that you must return to stock when it rains. This is no doubt due to the poor placement of the conical filter. Too bad I read this after completing assembly... #2. Unit is shown (and no doubt tested) without the dry charger cover (keeps water out of the intake) but again, the warranty stipulates you must use the restrictive cover. I hate when marketing advertises one thing, and sells another! #3. Materials and craftsmanship are poor. There are huge gaps for hot air to seep into the intake... The kit uses the factory intake tube without enough support to mate the intake from the tunnel to the deck lid... Had to run to the hardware store to get real screws, nuts and bolts... #4. The sound is OK at low RPMs, but very annoying above 6000 RPM. I will probably throw this system away. Does anyone know about the EVOMS cold air intake?

thanks for the review.....I was waiting for one....thinking of buying the system...I have the fabspeed "coldair" intake...and am pretty happy with it... Changing back to stock when it rains???? I you kidding???...so you got to have the stock parts in the trunk on a long trip! THAT SUCKS! and is stupid!!!

Agreed. I waved off the notion of using the K&N intake after reading a bunch of guys' complaints about build quality and mediocre separation from the engine's hot air. I'm still keen to get a CAI and have narrowed it down to the EVO version when the time is right.

The huge hot air gaps are a potential problem I questioned since I first saw the photos. Then when people started reporting MAF problems that pretty much sealed the deal (not to buy) for me. I think I may eventually get the Evo system for my 996. I have their intake on my Boxster and it has worked well for 4 years now.

The only problem with the MAF is that people were putting them in backwards. Although there are gaps that would let hot air from the engine in, once in motion air should be coming in from the decklid forcing air in the engine compartment to go down. I'm not saying it's perfect, there could definitely be some improvements in the design.

So is there anyone that has it that is happy with it? I bought ita few weeks ago and still have to install it. I'm wondering if I should just sell it on ebay...

I have had mine in for a month or so in my daily driver and have had zero problems. My only issues with the system is the low build quality and a few missing nuts and bolts in the kit when it arrived.

That is NOT the case. I have read otherwise here and on 6speedonline. While there do seem to be some folks that installed the sensor in backwards, there were also a fair share that reported CELs and insisted that the sensor was mounted correctly. FWIW....

Somebody explain to me again why people are installing these false hp claim poorly constructed air boxes in their car when the Porsche one is engineered and constructed properly? Oh yeah, and I don't have to do anything with my factory airbox when it rains since they already built that feature into the airbox to get rid of any water that should make it into the airbox.

I agree that installing another air box is silly, but for $300 it was worth a try. My X51 power option (25 hp) was $14,000, so I'll probably try the EVOMS set-up even though I've been burned by K&N. Worse case, another $500 down the drain. Best case, 10 hp without the fuss.

Probably closer to 5hp, if any. Waste of cash if you ask me. Personally I would spend the $500 on 2 DE weekends

Has anybody compared it to a drop-in K&N filter? I mean..at the end of the day the stock system is a cold-air intake (aka it only draws air from outside). The rest of the equation is: 1) exposed filter surface area 2) piping diameter and how smooth it is. 3) filter material From what I can tell...the conical K&N is probably not more surface area than the stock filter. Gut feeling is that a freer flowing drop-in filter would give at least 80% of the HP gains of a complete system. thanks, Amir

I now have both, Evo V-Flow and the new K&N - I agree with the poor build quality of the K&N compare to the Evo, the Evo looks better and has a better Cold Air BOX, The K&N simply does not ! Hot air must get in, I can't see how only cold air is force into the filter system. HP Gains, no sure, I have too many engine mods to notice 5-10hp - Throttle response in both kits are good. That's all folks - The bottom Line, The EVO is a much better unit PERIOD. !

And what is the fix for the K&N unit rubbing on acceleration, as mine is doing?

Rah! It only takes a little perspective to see what's the better usage of cash. Thanks for the reminder. May have to force schedule LimeRock (read, beg the girlfriend).

Ah, that'd be the returns department.

I've had no CEL or rubbing problems. I did add 2 additional mounts to mine when I installed it. I will be re-dynoing with the addiitonal of the K&N and Fabspeed exhaust to see what the real gains are. It really surprises me that I have never seen an independent dyno of an EVOMS or K&N intake on this forum.

Finally! I'm sick of the speculation!

Could you elaborate on the additioal mounts? - Cam

I had the same rubbing issues on acceleration - below is a pic of the two things I did...first was an additional bolt for the oem intake to the K&N housing... The other is an L bracket that secures the intake side of the box..... Let me know if you have any questions...no problems for me...no CELs either.

Thanks Wlee69, I appreciate you going to the trouble of taking & posting the picture!!

I'm on 6 speed too, I don't recall seeing anybody that had a CEL that didn't go away once they fixed the MAF sensor.

Hey guys I just read a thread on 6 Speed where one person is stating that the new K&N CAI will not work properly with TIP 996s. Anyone else with a TIP have issues? I am curious, because I just ordered mine and have a Tip. If it is going to cause any issue, I will not use it and return the product? Thanks!

Happens on both Tip and 6-speed.

I followed WLEE69 on this one. I added a third mount for the intake scoop following his example. I made a different bracket for the side. Rather than drill through my car and use an L-Bracket as he did, I used angle iron to make a bracket that attaches to the access hole just below the latch. I used rubber washers everywhere to damper and squeeks or rattles that may result. I'll take pics when I get home.

02 Carrera, please post pics. My CAI is to arrive today or tomorrow. Can't wait. Hope all goes well.

Pics:

I installed the EVO along with headers, mufflers, and the EVO performance flash ....and am very satisfied with the performance and the engineering. I looked at the K and N and questioned the engineering from the start...and it looks like the questions and issues being brought up and discussed are valid in terms of the claims for HP gains and potential poor engineering for the K and N. Just the fact they threw in a disclaimer that said you had to retrofit back to your original air box during "inclement weather" or it could affect your warranty???? What's that? It rains and I have to retrofit my car?? What the hell kind of engineering is that? I'll tell you what it is...it means that the placement of the filter is such that it can suck water into the intake during travel over wet roadways....which doesn't necessarily mean a rainstorm...it could be a broken water main or other unforseen reason for water in the roadway.....and Porsche doesn't think that's something they should cover in their warranty. Frankly I don't think they should either. And why would you want to subject your car to that possibility anyway? The EVO doesn' t have that problem due to the fact they designed it to sit on the other side of the engine compartment in a box that protects it from such an anomaly.

Well, I followed suit & added an "L" bracket as others, but I also enlarged the front (motor side) opening where the stock intake tube fits into the airbox by ~3/8"-1/2" to allow the top of the stock intake to to fit back into the opening of the part on the bottom of the bonnet......by pulling back on the unit with the "L" bracket, it caused the two to not mesh perfectly, now it is right.

Thanks for the thread everyone. I've spend the past few weeks debating whether to install mine or not. On the sum, it seems like I've found more positive than negative comments on the filter and that it does increase HP. But it's borderline and I might end up just selling my 996 soon if we move due to work, so I've decided not to install it after all. Doesn't seem worth the trouble anymore. btw, if anybody here is interested and wants to get a brand new one for a really good price, I just listed mine on ebay. I don't know if I'm allowed to post the link or not, so PM if you are interested thanks!