Takeda Stage 2 CAI Installed - Highly recommended

axmea?

This was yesterday actually at Amplified Motorsport. Props to Lou and Ken! Great product. I know Phelan gave a review on this already. All I could say is it's a great product. Easy to install. I could have installed it myself but I'm just too lazy and would rather have the pros handle it. No cutting. No issues with AC line and intake metal to metal rub. They use a silicon tube that goes through the air inlet. As a precautionary measure - Ken installed a rubber piece on the AC line where it comes into contact with the silicone tubes. This is good practice anyway so kudos to Ken. This intake sounds impressive. I notice a difference beginning at 3.5 k rpm and really sings all the way up. I also noticed that my car does not gasps any longer. It does not run out of breath. Highly recommended.

In case you have not heard, Greddy is having AFE make the CAI for them. I noticed it when I went to some site selling Greddy's.

Next up -- Fast Intentions TDX CBE Non-res Carbon Cans.

The car back on the lift after being lowered exactly one month ago. This time for the CAI.



This is how Nissan should have done it in the first place.


No cutting required.


Low maintenance filters.

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Trips

Nice and Congrats Rafael? I hope I spelled it right

Lou, and his guys do great work

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axmea?

Thanks G! You're still awake? The nocturnal good cop.
Yup you spelled it right. I will miss the next meet but will see you guys in Dec.

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dcpatters

Looks very nice. I've been on the fence for a CAI. Looking to pull the trigger soon though.

axmea?

Why on the fence? It is a necessary mod. Most say the stock intakes are good and efficient. They are right but apparently there was room for improvement. Pull the trigger. Three great choices to choose from. Takeda Stage 2 Attack, Stillen G3, and Injen. I happen to like what I got.

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dcpatters

Initially, considered K&N or Stillen Gen2 but searched around; you know Pro's and Con's. Leaning towards Injen. Like the AEM but isn't available for '12. Not looking for removing the bumper, too old for that.

Mr&Mrs

That looks real nice!

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Project Z <--Click - Check out the link too many mods to list!

axmea?

Yeah this is a niche market. For those willing to take off the bumpers, which by the way is not as hard as people think (I'm just too darn lazy when it comes to these), it is a great product. This intake is great. The HKS is also a contender for CAI upgrade without having to remove the bumper.

Bumper removal = top clips, bottom bolts, side bolts, push down and pull on each side and there you have it. Easier said than done.........

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pbts

Glad you like the intake, I've been less pleased with mine. I posted my dynos in the tuning section. I agree the addition to the sound is awesome but gains-wise is what I'm not sure about. The dyno chart posted on the AFE website is without mufflers.. and if you read the bmw forums they dyno with the bumper off. With the bumper on, only about half of the filter gets any "open" air. The silicone couplings that go through the openings in the radiator support actually reduce the diameter compared to what the stock was drawing from.

axmea?

Great feedback. Would have loved to know exactly what gains after the install. Can't really compare to the BMW's as their entire front configuration is different. Not sure if BMW's has a shroud on their filters to prevent hydro lock but that is restrictive. If that's the result they got in their BMWs then I feels sorry for them. As for my Z, there are noticeable gains and although purely subjective, would bet that I picked up additional hp in the mid to high teens.

This was my first mod and should therefore see the most gains. No exhaust upgrade until after 4 weeks. I would probably not see as much gain when that's installed. I noticed you added your Takeda last - after your berk hfc. At that point my understanding is you would see the least gain.

Additionally, the fact that Greddy is having AFE make these speaks to the quality of their product. Would have loved to see a cold air intake shootout between these products.

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1st

How much was it For the cai? Where you get them from?

axmea?

I sought quotes from a few dealers. $399 - $420 ---- anything above and you'd be paying too much.
Greddy's at $445.00

Hey pbts, no issues. This is what this forum is all about. My experience is different from yours and let's just leave it at that. Hope you find intake bliss at some point.

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pbts

Hey, I don't mean to threadjack and in no way making any assumptions, just wanted to get info out there for folks who are considering this intake for performance gains. Just wanted to clear up that I swapped my Ark cbe out for Berk cbe not hfcs.

Although different designs, I mentioned BMW to give readers an insight about the company's products. I should also add (if I remember right), people on the Lexus forums say they made less power with the ISF takeda's and were recommending staying stock.

I wish I did a before after comparison dyno so I could have some concrete evidence if the intakes made power or not. But for now we just have to rely on yours, mine, and everyone else who has gotten the intakes experiences to make decisions.


And 1st, I got mine from modbargains, talk to Frank and he'll hook you up with a good price.

JTTZR

Installed the Takeda today. The sound is worth having to take the front bumper off.;

In saying that I disagree with axemeas statement that the install is easy and straight forward. In fact the instructions are terrible, almost useless, and feeding the silicone tubes through the radiator support into the metal intake tubes is simply annoying. Plus, I had to relocate a tonne of cables (AUS car) in order for the filter to fit into the right spot.

The reward however is, as you say, quite fantastic. Not sure about gains as not dynoed but this cai looks and sounds great.

My five cents...

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2014 Renault Megane R.S. Cup 265
Pipercross Panel Filter // Fastchip Stage 1 ECU remap

RUFFSTUFF

I took those support pieces out and now there's plenty of room.

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2012 370Z Touring w/ NAV, Black Powdercoat, aFe Takeda CAI, Invidia Gemini Ti-tip Catback Exhaust, DVD/NAV bypass