New AEM Intakes?
 

I took the liberty of ordering these:

https://www.z1motorsports.com/air-in...t-p-11697.html

I ordered them thru Z1 motorsports (because I love them and always get my parts from them). Ordered them August 31st and just got them yesterday, Sept 30th. They were drop shipped, so I think AEM is backed up on making these? I really think they are new, because I haven't seen a review on these ever.

Please note. I have NEVER bought an aftermarket intake, so take some of my review with a grain of salt. I may have high expectations.

I just got them yesterday and installed them this morning.

Just got back from a test drive. Here are my thoughts:
1. For some reason, everywhere, even on the documentation that came with the AEM it says "mandrel-bent, aluminum tubing", but Z1 has also listed that its "rotomolded plastic aluminum tubing. It is definitely the latter. I think someone copy and pasted descriptions.
2. I was VERY skeptical at first, because the diameters of these tubes... are not that huge, especially where it mates with the filter. But they hand you a dyno graph with the instructions... so I YOLO'ed this puppy right on there.
3. Heat shields are really nice quality.
4. Buuuutt... you have to assemble the edge seals onto the heat shields when you get them. That includes cutting them to size. AEM just gives you a ~3 foot length of edge seal. I used all but about 4" of it. I was not bothered by this... but I think it should have come assembled. Maybe this is how they hit that 350$ mark.
5. There are little gaps in the heat shield. So I'm concerned that when I go to the track, this thing will be sucking in heat-soaked air. We shall see.
6. Fitment is pretty good, I would say 7.5 out of 10. There's a spot where they don't mention, where the edge seal kind of pinches down on the passenger headlight wiring harness. I wasn't fond of that. It takes some careful "maneuvering" (as they put it in the install manual) to get that sucker in there. I also had to pull out this part of the wiring harness on the driver's side... they didn't note it in the manual. I'm being rough here though. Instructions were pretty good.


Impressions:
1. Starting the car and just driving up to the highway... I didn't notice a noise difference at all. I was letting the car warm up too, so I kept it below 4k RPM.
2. Hop on the highway and... the sound is a little subtle. I like the noise though. Its a rougher, poppier sound. I am probably not good at describing it, but I like it alot. Higher in the rev range, definitely much more noticable, much more enjoyable.
3. Power felt up, just a little. I believe 15 hp is right. Its got more power all around, especially near the top.

I bought this intake for a few reasons:
1. Its pretty cheap. 350$ seems about as cheap as 370z intakes come...
2. Claimed power gain is on par with the better intakes.
3. No need to service through the front bumper. I take my front bumper off fairly regularly, so I'm not squeamish when it comes to taking it off. I just don't want to increase my need to pull it off.
4. It looks pretty nice. Very clean once installed. Looks at home in the engine bay.
5. I hate oil filters. This has a dry filter. Had K&N filters from a previous owner back in the day on one of my 240sx's. Oiling those was retarded. I probably over oiled it, because under oiling it seemed dangerous. Then that oil ended up all over the inside of my intake. Just not a fan.


Anyway. If you guys are interested, I guess I could take some video. Just thought I would give the world some info on this puppy.

I think I will get them too, I like how they look!! Can you upload some pictures and a video? 😜😜😜 Thanks for the review, it was helpful for me!

Thx for the review - I've been waiting for Z1 to have a Black Friday sales, read about others getting their CAI for $380, but this AEM one popped up on my radar.

I haven't heard a VHR engine in person with a CAI, but if this matches the "sound" level of true CAI, and performance is close/on par, I'd probably spring for this due to not having to remove my bumper.

Love how the heat shields look, but kinda scratching my head on how it ultimately compares to the Stillen G2. That's pricer, but CARB legal and probably has better construction.

But then I'm not clear of diameters between the two, so....*shrug*. But cool to see another option on the market.

I still feel like the stock air intakes are better than these short cold air intakes unless you go with the long tubes leading to the bumper cold air intakes

Spend your $ on a long tube CAI or stay with the stock air boxes and drop in K&N filters and silicone tubes. If you even do a bit of searching and reading on this forum, you will note that the short tube intakes are worthless.

I'm going to post up video and images soon.

But let me say these are definitely not worthless. Definitely way better than stock intakes. Power is definitely up, sound is up at WOT. After driving these for a week, I'm sold. At $380, its a good deal. Love this intake.

I do wish I could compare to Stillen Gen 3s tho. I can't imagine that you would have MUCH more power out of the Gen 3s though. If you are in the bay area and want to do a comparison, by all means, lets do a comparison!

As far as Stillen Gen 2... these have dry filters which to me is a plus. Also, AEM actually published dyno numbers, which to me is a bit of crapshoot, but a little comforting on the purchase. Also... gen 2's are >500$, no?

I should have gotten some video and images of the tubes before putting them on. The tubes are plastic, but very good quality. Airboxes are also very good quality.

Oh. A little more detail on the power via butt dyno:
More torque everywhere. Very noticeable.
Top end feels great, doesn't taper off as much as before.

My big concern now is how do these fare when it comes to tuning? Maybe I wont get as much gain when I finally tune.

:worthless: :happydance: I want to see the intake in your car!

OP (or anyone else) any updates or pictures? I’ve been really missing the noise and response my intakes and would love to pick these up - heatshieds wrapped in heat reflective tape of course.

I just installed these on my car last week. I chose this unit for the following reasons:

-It looks nice and clean
-The price
-Ease of installation (I installed Stillen G3s on my first Nismo myself and didn't feel it was worth the hassle)
-Gains

I agree with the OP, definitely an increase in HP, Torque, and sound. Most of it on the top end of course.

Honestly very similar increases that I experienced with my G3 installation.

Just found this thread so apologies for the late post. mcspooney or johnnydrama did you notice any losses at the low end?

Yes. However, once my FI exhaust is installed, lightweight pulley, and Z1 plenum I am having the car ECUTEK tuned and believe that will smooth it back out.

Sorry I should have clarified in the post, I also currently have MD Art Pipes. I felt more of a fall off on the low end after they were installed. When I installed the intakes first I didn't notice a substantial decrease on the low end.

Best coin spent here would be on a long tube cold air intake like the Stillen Gen 3 cold air intake or install K&N drop in air filters in the stock air boxes.

I hear ya Quicksilvers, but no need to assume that is an absolute for all products. For example

vs K&N+z1 postMAF - often quoted as superior but this unit has a sealed box that mounts in the factory cai location. It has polymer piping which should have less heat soak then the more common metal piping, it should match or exceed the z1 postMAF. There is more surface area on a conical filter and you get more growl. Yes there are cost benefits to keeping stock but that mainly a factor for tighter budgets, a bigger concern in my case is warranty

vs Stillen (long tube) - apples to apples; no other mods or tune. The Gen3 specs a gain of 17 (z1 website) vs 15. Ya its manufacture data but that OK, a stillen 3 guy gonna do other mods and tune anyway. Therefore more cost to get the full benefit of a long tube cai, along with more labor and installation.

Side note on the low end loss conversation. One theory being that larger/longer tubing and better flow actually reduces air velocity at low speeds. I find it interesting that the OP noted the AEM has smaller than typical piping, perhaps by design for this reason. Just some observations; not an attempt to debate as its already been done in other threads. This is more of a product review

The cult-like devotion to the Stillen intake on here is really weird lol. I thought we settled the CAI debate in the 90s.

Friend of mine had the following mods:

FI Test Pipes, AAM true Dual Exhaust 3", HKS High Flow Filters, Mishimoto Replacement Tubes. Dyno @ RT Tuning, 4th gear, STD: 310 whp 265 wtq.

Upgraded to the R2C intakes, which have a very similar design to the AEM: 315 whp, 269 wtq.

Attached, just in case it's helpful to someone.

Stillen G3's aren't made that well. They have a nasty lip where they weld the tube expansion near the filter. Second, is it takes a lot of care to ensure you're protecting your AC line. This AEM unit is about as good as a shorty is going to get. The Z1 intake is an easier install with no real flaws for people going for the longer tube CAI option. You'll still make power with the G3, but it's not the answer for people who don't put up with **** craftsmanship.

Agreed with all of these. I had the Stillen G3s, they aren't the end all be all for every application and definitely not the best for the price. If I were to do long-tubes I would go with the Z1 offering.

They were the first long tube that made power, and they work. Since then. Others have come out at a cheaper price that works just as well. When I got my Stillen. It was that or heat soaking shorties. People follow on what works.

I myself have seen back to back dyno tunes with the Stillen Gen 3 longtube cold air intake on a 2011 370Z after the engine reached normal operating temperatures the Stillen Gen 3 longtube cold air intakes still made power on the dyno. The Stillen Gen 3 longtube cold air intakes have already been proven to make power on the VQ platform many times over. People run parts on there 370Z that work I agree. Also there is no question of the quality or workmanship of the Stillen Gen 3 I believe sounds like some people just have a preference or biased opinion. I have helped install two Stillen Gen 3 longtube cold air intakes on the 370Z and I seen nothing wrong with the quality of the construction.As far as fitment of the Stillen Gen 3 it comes close to the A/C lines but,there is not a lot of space to work with on the 370Z though and just about every brand longtube cold air intake on the 370Z will have similar fitment. The new AEM intakes do look good in the 370Z engine bay I hope someone could dyno using the new AEM intakes? Results?

Just installed these. Had a question for those who have as well. The maf wiring harness. Instructions say to loop it under the intake tube and plug in. This was fine in the driver's side, but the passenger side harness isn't long enough for me to wrap around and plug in, maybe 1cm too short. We're you all able to easily wrap it under? I ended up just putting the harness over the tube.

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So has anybody made a video of these yet? I'd like to hear how they sound

I can't hear any difference in sound...but that's also because I have resonated test pipes and an exhaust, so recording a video won't help, I tried haha

Just picked these intakes up. How was the butt dyno and did you figure out a solution to passenger side maf problem you were having.

I ended up leaving the passenger side wiring to go above the intake. As for butt dyno, didn't feel much different.

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