Any experience with MX5 factory CAI ?

RawSouth · Postby **RawSouth** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:52 pm

miatalim wrote:
93_Clubman wrote:Similar to DDM, the Autoexe CAI also sits behind the NB headlight except on intake side of motor:
MX5 NB Autoexe CAI.jpg

Another alternative is the SMB CAI which draws air from the mouth or NB8B foglight areas:
MX5 NB SMB CAI.jpg

Matty, a forumite, authored the article Free-Flowing an MX5:
http://www.autospeed.com/A_110680/cms/article.html
It's NA centric as he owned an NA6 at the time, but worth a read if you've not already seen it.

I've not tried NB CAIs that are situated behind either headlight, so can't give you a definitive answer of their effectiveness.

wow...the smb CAI would be the ideal solution but at $1400 its 3.5 times the price of what is availoable.

Call up SMB and see what they can do for you...

I have one of these intakes, and I love it to bits... It really makes a big difference on hot days too.

miatalim · Postby **miatalim** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:29 pm

RawSouth wrote:
miatalim wrote:
93_Clubman wrote:Similar to DDM, the Autoexe CAI also sits behind the NB headlight except on intake side of motor:
MX5 NB Autoexe CAI.jpg

Another alternative is the SMB CAI which draws air from the mouth or NB8B foglight areas:
MX5 NB SMB CAI.jpg

Matty, a forumite, authored the article Free-Flowing an MX5:
http://www.autospeed.com/A_110680/cms/article.html
It's NA centric as he owned an NA6 at the time, but worth a read if you've not already seen it.

I've not tried NB CAIs that are situated behind either headlight, so can't give you a definitive answer of their effectiveness.

Hi, even if they could do 50% discount, this will still be $700 which is still a lot of money..and they ain't going to do 50%.

wow...the smb CAI would be the ideal solution but at $1400 its 3.5 times the price of what is availoable.

Call up SMB and see what they can do for you...

I have one of these intakes, and I love it to bits... It really makes a big difference on hot days too.

honki3rider · Postby **honki3rider** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:42 pm

How did you get the original $1400 quote? Retail is about $700 if you don't want full CF SMB (but of couse full CF is way sexier in the engine bay).

But yes, call up and ask for a better price. Rawsouth/Josh got a pretty good deal on his.

miatalim · Postby **miatalim** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:46 am

honki3rider wrote:How did you get the original $1400 quote? Retail is about $700 if you don't want full CF SMB (but of couse full CF is way sexier in the engine bay).

But yes, call up and ask for a better price. Rawsouth/Josh got a pretty good deal on his.

damn...now I have to cancel my order with DDM..if I can get it locally then I will prefer that...CF is indeed sexier but the price is scary. The price was of the website and I did not know that the intake came as non CF version. See another example of how a company could potentially lose revenue because of less than ideal communication via a critical channel.

thanks guys!

Tony · Postby **Tony** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:21 am

Have you thought about the I.L. Motorsports over the radiator CAI?

Also available from Moss or direct from I.L Motorsports in Germany.

http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=100988

Has anyone else tried this system? I'm giving it SERIOUS consideration for my '98 NB.

Regards...

miatalim · Postby **miatalim** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:58 pm

Tony wrote:Have you thought about the I.L. Motorsports over the radiator CAI?

Also available from Moss or direct from I.L Motorsports in Germany.

http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=100988

Has anyone else tried this system? I'm giving it SERIOUS consideration for my '98 NB.

Regards...

SMB said that they do not make the CAI any longer as there is not enough demand to justify the manufacturing. So there goes that option so its back to DDM again. The I.L Sport one is quite pricey and will probably end up closer to $500 landed so the DDM option looks like the best for me. Even the SMB CAI discounted to $500 would be pricey for 2-3kw and that is probably excluding installation. The DDM looks like is DYIable in contrast to the rest.

miatalim · Postby **miatalim** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:39 pm

DDM CAI on its way. I can't wait and it will be my first time working on the car or installing a mod besides the front strut brace. I am hoping to feel more manly after undertaking the install and I will park the car in view of the kitchen window so my wife can see me working on the car with black greasy hands and all !! :lol:

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 5:19 pm

not having to cut holes seems to be a big plus since it can be reversed with no tell tale and then there is a saleable part. It all seems to be a good looking installation so a report back and a photo at some stage would be good.

zoomzoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoomzoom** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:39 pm

Hey Miatali,

Did you receive and install your CAI? Would be very interested in any updated points of view as after reading this thread, I'm gonna het one for my NB8A. I'm in Geelong so If you passing by some time, love to catch up. My shout on the coffee.

zzz

miatalim · Postby **miatalim** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:01 pm

Hi,

To be honest, I did not feel 1% of difference with the CAI install. It made a difference with my NA but not with the NB. The exhaust mod seemed to free the engine up a lot more. Front strut bar and CAI mods are probably the least effective for me. Stiffening everywhere else seemed to be greatly effective. The stock exhaust note on the NB definately needs to be changed as it really wasn't very sporty and decreased my driving enjoyment quite significantly. That would be the first thing I would change. Now my car feels like a real Roadster.