An alternative to the BavAuto CAI

[Sirius600]

I recently found the company COSMO Racing while looking for a CAI that wouldn't cost an arm and leg (think Bavarian Autosport and Dinan). Here they're selling an all aluminum cold air intake with their own, non K&N, conal filter.

Has anybody tried it? Have any opinions before I send them my would be beer money?

Heres the site:
http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=165&pid=559

[ddiorio1313]

It looks sweet I can't tell if it runs down by the fog light or not, plus does it have a heat shield? I have read on these forums that if there isn't a heat shield than it is worthless cuz of engine heat and air turbulance!

[Sirius600]

It looks sweet I can't tell if it runs down by the fog light or not, plus does it have a heat shield? I have read on these forums that if there isn't a heat shield than it is worthless cuz of engine heat and air turbulance!

I actually sent a email to the company inquiring about a heat shield. They replied that they didn't make one, but it would be easy to fabricate one if you had any welding skills.

If anybody knows of a company that makes a heat shield for the M44 engine, please post it!

[KIRASIR]

It's not a bad product for the money. The filter is located right behind the driver's fog light so a heat shield is not needed.
SL

I recently found the company COSMO Racing while looking for a CAI that wouldn't cost an arm and leg (think Bavarian Autosport and Dinan). Here they're selling an all aluminum cold air intake with their own, non K&N, conal filter.

Has anybody tried it? Have any opinions before I send them my would be beer money?

Heres the site:
http://www.cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=165&pid=559

[Sirius600]

Thats what I figured, that it would be far enough in the front of the engine compartment to not be afected by the hot engine air.

[ddiorio1313]

Thats cool well I think I may just buy one of of those....I need a new air filter anyway...

[barische]

hey i got a 1997 318 ti too can u tell me the results when u upg the car thank you

[robcarync]

ahh yes thats interesting...let us all know how it works out!

[Sirius600]

OK, I've got the cash, and I'm going with the Cosmo CAI. But I've got one question: should I go with the chrome or red finish?

http://cosmoracing.com/productinfo.asp?cid=165&pid=559

I'll put up pictures to show what it looks like once it's installed.

[GDB]

Chrome. Only possible reason I would get red is if I had a red car and the underhood was done in red. But I think the chrome would look MUCH better.

[barische]

i just got the chrome one and installed it, it makes alotta difference, and i really like the intake and the sound of it.

[L84THSKY]

Does this intake replace the entire airbox? That would free up alot of space under the hood. How about a few pics?

i just got the chrome one and installed it, it makes alotta difference, and i really like the intake and the sound of it.

[robcarync]

yes...im interested in getting this...so it makes a lot of difference? how easy was the install?

pictures of installation would be helpful too.

how loud is it? id like the performance of it but i dont want someting too loud where its just annoying to anyone within a 5 mile radius of you.

so i guess there is a noticable increase in pickup after the installation?

this thing sounds good

[Viper3812]

I'm thinking of getting the same cai in the chrome finish. Who ever has it on now or gets it before me could you post pics. I'm also thinking of taking out the driver side fog light to let direct air to the filter since it's suppost to be behind it. I know the system is at a good price of $108, but does anyone want to try and get a group buy on this to make it cheaper?

[ddiorio1313]

I dont think you will need to take out the front fog light.... I really don't think that is going to make much more of a difference, it may just look stupid. It should be good enough that it is away from the engine and down by some cool air. But hey if you want to go for it....

[L84THSKY]

I've decided to get the Stromung exhaust, and I'm considering the Cosmo intake. Where is the Cosmo made, don't want any rice? Is it a direct fit, and does it have all connections needed for any sensors?

When you get the Stromung, let me know how you like the combination.






i just got the chrome one and installed it, it makes alotta difference, and i really like the intake and the sound of it.

[KIRASIR]

It's pretty much a direct fit. Well made for the money. One of the horns will have to be relocated. I doubt you will notice much performance gain. The stock airbox flows really well. If you are N/A you would be getting this intake mostly for the looks and the sound. Also if your car is a daily driver and you drive a lot in the wet/snow in the winter consider keeping the stock airbox and just fogging it.


SL

I've decided to get the Stromung exhaust, and I'm considering the Cosmo intake. Where is the Cosmo made, don't want any rice? Is it a direct fit, and does it have all connections needed for any sensors?

When you get the Stromung, let me know how you like the combination.

[barische]

ok guys i got a short ram intake system not a cold air intake system and i know that the cai will be much more louder than the short ram. but there is one problem wiht the cai u might suck in water and this will clog ur engine and u will be ion deep ****. this was the only reason i picked short ram. the engine is so much more louder and i like it loud, my mom and my dad they hate it. they hate me workin on the car, htey hate me talkin about hte car and htey hate me modify the car, so i would say that buy the intake, im pretty sure that u will be happy about if u are a mod fan. if i had the money i would be workin on this car all day but apperently i have to make money and pay for other stuff.I say go with the cai but i dont know whre the pipe goes because there aare some headlight parts that blocks the way of hte intake pipe so i dont know wehre the ppipe will go. installation of the intake went really easy. the instruction werent helpful at all i didnt even look at them because they were wront basically take out the whole airbox and the piping. u can leave the big pipe that is coming from the passenger side and goin over the fan and connecting to the airbox u can leave that piece open. in my car i also had secondary intake injection i also had to go to pepboys and buy a little air breather for that also which costed about 14 bucks. installion will take u about 1-2 hours probably if u dont have any mechanical experience.
good luck i hope that i helped u, i will try to post some pictures but im just way too lazy to go out and take pictures of my engine. i rather go out and floor it,u know.

[barische]

here are so0me pictures

[robcarync]

was there any noticable increase in performance (IE, pickup and such)? any at all? a little more sound would be nice from the engine...but a few extra horsepower (IE: some that is at least a little noticable) is mainly what im looking for.

[barische]

little bit of incerease in performanca and a big change in sound, i say get it. i will be amazed how good and loud it sounds. it is not like 400 dolars its only 100 it will increase ur performance if it didnt then no one would install it.

[robcarync]

im thinking about getting it with my birthday money. seems good. i guess it depends on how loud it is as to whether id like it. i dunno...i just find it annoying when you got a small car thats super loud...reminds me of a stock honda civic with a fat muffler.

[barische]

but ricer wiht a fat muffler sounds like a ricer, but a bmw with health sound is so much more different than a cheap ricer.ricers can not stand against bmw's, hondas suck they are cheap ass japanese ****. wiht a pop corn popper sound

[schussey]

barische- i recommend that you buy/fabricate yourself a heat sheild for your intake. The filter must be sucking up mass hot air sitting right there....

[robcarync]

ddiorio1313 or sirius...did you buy one of these yet? or did you decide against it?

as for viper...im interested in it...but still havent quite decided to buy it...but if a group buy were done, id possibly be up for it.

for 108 bucks i know its worth it. im still skeptical about noise...just because i know my parents hate loud cars and theyd be pretty angry...and im not a huge fan of loud loud loud cars. i wouldnt mind my car being louder...but i dont particularly want it to be so loud where anyone within a 5 mile radius can hear you if that makes sense.

either way, if i decide to go with it, i already got the money because my birthday is nov 2nd.

[L84THSKY]

I'm not too worried about the noise increase, but this potential water in the engine is creepy. This is what I wanna know. Does the CAI directly bolt on with all sensors? I know someone said it does, but I want to make sure they weren't referring to the Ram Air intake. Is this so called potential for water to enter the intake a serious concern? I have almost all of the parts to do the fogged airbox mod, but hate doing mods that look cheesy. I'll pay the $108.00 and do the work this weekend, so long as it's a direct fit, and won't hurt me in the long run. I figure if I do a direct replace with the Cosmo CAI, and I don't like it, I can always go back to stock, and or maybe fogg it.


ok guys i got a short ram intake system not a cold air intake system and i know that the cai will be much more louder than the short ram. but there is one problem wiht the cai u might suck in water and this will clog ur engine and u will be ion deep ****. this was the only reason i picked short ram. the engine is so much more louder and i like it loud, my mom and my dad they hate it. they hate me workin on the car, htey hate me talkin about hte car and htey hate me modify the car, so i would say that buy the intake, im pretty sure that u will be happy about if u are a mod fan. if i had the money i would be workin on this car all day but apperently i have to make money and pay for other stuff.I say go with the cai but i dont know whre the pipe goes because there aare some headlight parts that blocks the way of hte intake pipe so i dont know wehre the ppipe will go. installation of the intake went really easy. the instruction werent helpful at all i didnt even look at them because they were wront basically take out the whole airbox and the piping. u can leave the big pipe that is coming from the passenger side and goin over the fan and connecting to the airbox u can leave that piece open. in my car i also had secondary intake injection i also had to go to pepboys and buy a little air breather for that also which costed about 14 bucks. installion will take u about 1-2 hours probably if u dont have any mechanical experience.
good luck i hope that i helped u, i will try to post some pictures but im just way too lazy to go out and take pictures of my engine. i rather go out and floor it,u know.

[barische]

i never installed a cold air intake system, and i am not much familiar wiht it either. but i know that cosmo racing cai filter stands right behind the fog light. if u have a fog light then there is a small chance of water entering the filter. but if u have just the cover for the fog light still small chance. but if u leave the cover open then there is big chance that water splash and enter ur filter. what i did was that i left the cover open because i have ram air and some air enters the opening and goes up to the filter and entersthe filter. most of the air that is sucked in by my intake is hot air. if u get cai u will be gettin good amounts of cold air. i really dont know about this water issue but it is possible that water might enter and screw up ur engine.
u should ask some other people who did cai mod. good luck

[barische]

im pretty sure that the cai will be direct fit but u might end up buying a little air breather. just like i did.

[robcarync]

with the CAI, it is right by the foglight as barische said...i read somewhere that you really dont have a high probability at all of getting water in it unless you go through a huge puddle like a foot deep...it said unless like the whole thing is absolutely drenched in water it wont cause problems...but it could be wrong...i have no personal experience with it

[barische]

u are right there is probably no chance of gettin water in it unless u go through really deep puddles. but dont leave ur fog light enterance open. i dont know i f u have fog light installed or not. if u have them installed then, i think u will be fine. if u odnt have them just keep the enterance closed.

[robcarync]

no fog lights, but i do have the cover...i will leave it on if i get the CAI...still debating it over...i dont feel like being a neighborhood nuissance with a loud ass car...im too nice...thats my problem

[L84THSKY]

I don't have the fog lights, and my covers are on. So if I don't install fog lights, the covers stay on, if I do, the foglights protect me. I'm gonna call about the Cosmo intake, and get a few last questions answered. I ordered the Stromung exhaust from Understeer today.


u are right there is probably no chance of gettin water in it unless u go through really deep puddles. but dont leave ur fog light enterance open. i dont know i f u have fog light installed or not. if u have them installed then, i think u will be fine. if u odnt have them just keep the enterance closed.

[robcarync]

just curious...but what questions do you have? also...itd be nice if youd let me know what the answer was...becauuse im still not sure about the air mass meter and some other stuff...it would be greatly appreciated if youd share your responses to satisfy my quest for knowledge

[barische]

intake pipe was a direct fit im really sure about that. about leaving hte foglight covers off. if u leave them off then u increase the chances of gettin water into the filterbut u will be gettin more air into the intake. in my thinking leave hte covers off in the nice weather, if it starts to rain then u ca put the covers on. i think they can be put on and off by a screw driver. talkin about the exhaust. actually exhasut will be louder than ur intake. but if you have more air entering hte engine by intake system. and if u have a high flow exhaust then im pretty sure that ur car will be really loud.

[barische]

personally, i want my car to be loud, i wouldnt care if people came up to me and brag about how loud it is, i would take that as a complement.

[L84THSKY]

I knew I was in for bad news when the guy who answered the phone had a Chinese/Japanese accent. My big question was,"Where is the CAI made?" As expected, it's either Japan or Taiwan. If I bought a German car, I want European or American parts in it. That means I won't be buying the Cosmo CAI system. My quest for another one continues.

It's pretty much a direct fit. Well made for the money. One of the horns will have to be relocated. I doubt you will notice much performance gain. The stock airbox flows really well. If you are N/A you would be getting this intake mostly for the looks and the sound. Also if your car is a daily driver and you drive a lot in the wet/snow in the winter consider keeping the stock airbox and just fogging it.


SL

[BiimerDude97]

hey L84THSKY, when you got your exhaust could you notice a difference in sound, and performance. would you recomend it?

[L84THSKY]

As someone else has mentioned, it gets deeper and louder as you burn in the muffler. I like the sound very much, and it fits like a glove, but don't expect any power gains.

I linked a few video files to my website that demonstrate the sound. It also shows the M-coupe shifter I installed.

http://iris.nyit.edu/~egrodsky/BMW/318ti.html


hey L84THSKY, when you got your exhaust could you notice a difference in sound, and performance. would you recomend it?

[aceyx]

aem makes a vent of sorts that prevents CAIs from pulling up water. you're probably gonna have to pick up an issue of super street to find it, but if people are worrying . . .


as for the source for parts, my (summer) tires are korean and kick some serious booty. i could care less, as long as it's well made and does what it's meant to.

like the NGK plugs that came stock in the car.

[mickd]

aem makes a vent of sorts that prevents CAIs from pulling up water. you're probably gonna have to pick up an issue of super street to find it, but if people are worrying . . .


as for the source for parts, my (summer) tires are korean and kick some serious booty. i could care less, as long as it's well made and does what it's meant to.

like the NGK plugs that came stock in the car.
'95 ti's came with Bosch Platinums. I prefer Michelin's, they also were original equipment on the car. Don't know many Asian brands that will outperform Pilot Sports.

[barische]

aem makes a vent of sorts that prevents CAIs from pulling up water. you're probably gonna have to pick up an issue of super street to find it, but if people are worrying . . .


as for the source for parts, my (summer) tires are korean and kick some serious booty. i could care less, as long as it's well made and does what it's meant to.

like the NGK plugs that came stock in the car.

nice

[PettitWC]

Guys, I'm getting the Cosmo CAI today and I'll let you all know how it goes and take pictures and stuff...

[aceyx]

the M44 came with 2-prong NGKs.

while they might not outperform pilot sports, the kumho ecsta 712 is half the price and 90% similar. i know several porsche club racers that mount this tire.

also, i'm not sure i understand how domestic parts are okay to fit on a european car, but not asian parts. what kind of tools do you let touch your car?


like i said before, i'm going to buy whomever makes the best product, and i really don't care where they're located. for the most part i agree, it's euro/domestic, but sometimes "best" equals "least expensive."

[mickd]

the M44 came with 2-prong NGKs.

while they might not outperform pilot sports, the kumho ecsta 712 is half the price and 90% similar. i know several porsche club racers that mount this tire.

also, i'm not sure i understand how domestic parts are okay to fit on a european car, but not asian parts. what kind of tools do you let touch your car?


like i said before, i'm going to buy whomever makes the best product, and i really don't care where they're located. for the most part i agree, it's euro/domestic, but sometimes "best" equals "least expensive."
You are funny aceyx, I have SK/Craftsman tools, and do all my own work on my car. My Japanese bikes have NGK plugs.
When I am in a situation where I have to depend on my car to perform I don't like to skimp. I know my tires have saved me many times, including just this weekend when I had to travel about 60 freeway miles in snow, visibility was nil. Safest speed was about 60. The edges of the road were not visible. I passed a guy that was over the center line (not visible) and caught the inside edge of my rear tire on the edge of the pavement. Almost lost it but stayed calm and the Arctic Alpins pulled me back over the edge. This is only one instance, there have been much worse. When it comes to my life and my car, I can't skimp on items that relate to safety. And there is a reason, in most cases, that brand name products cost more.

[aceyx]

mickd; try and save the rubber on those arctic alpins. i did a *jaunt* last year (500 miles) in possibly the worst weather conditions i've seen on those tires and felt very secure. passed about 12 cars in the ditch, most SUVs. whatever the heck michelin replaced them with (i'm too lazy to walk 40 feet to the garage) are kind of crap. anyway, that's winter tires and really, has nothing to do with what i was saying.


my frustration is that this CAI is a tube. it's not really a safety product, it doesn't really have that much to break.

i mean, i agree where safety is concerned (brakes, rubber, blah blah blah) but seriously--a tube! the elitist ideal goes a bit too far sometimes.

also, note that i didn't say "buy asian crap because it's cheap," i added the caveat that it must be well-built and work as it's intended.

the mere fact that a part can't do that because it's asian is well, ignorant.


also, i have a problem in dealing with SK. they're kind of jerks about warranties.