I was considering a pod filter on my s60 T5, after looking at some of the available kits I noticed that most just involve removing the air filter box and installing a pod type filter with some type of heat shield around it and using the original air intake. Would this really improve performance??? I was also considering purchasing a hood grill to install above the pod filter to provide more cold outside air, or possibly finding a new intake route other than on top of the radiator. Anyone have any suggestions or experience with the pod filter, hood grill, or rerouting the intake??

PS. I am fairly new to all this so forgive my misuse of terms.

1. A K&N panel filter will be your best performance option. The stock intake system is the best for our cars.

2. If you want to spend the money get EST's intake with heatshield. I doubt it will yield any more then 5 Hp. But you will get a cool sound, it is mainly for looks. Or you can just slap a cone filter on the end of your MAF and be done with it.

3. Thre re-routing, I have never seen anyone really do this as there isn't that much room in the Volvo's engine bay to do this. It would have to be a custom job and would have to be planned out really well.

As for the hood grille would it be closable? If you didn't want rain hitting the filter.

I wouldnt bother with the cone filter if u dont get the heat shield. What good is a high flow filter if u pull in hot enigine bay air? Like s70driver said, a higher flow panel filter would be better.

As for the hood grill, the below topic is for the R but u might find it ineresting
http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=53734

Thanks for the advice. The link was very helpful and interesting. I went ahead and just ordered a K&N panel. Will save my money for an exhaust instead of CAI. THanks again

Clean your MAF and ETM on a regular basis if you don't want early failure from the cotton K&N filter particulate and the oil that is attendant to it!!
Reg