what is the best set up for air in take on t5 engines. i have the standard air box with pipecross panel filter. wondering what others have done and if there happy with it. like stock box or cone filter or those enclosures with cone filter and heat shield. i know its been asked before but just wondering how people have their intake

 

I have a massive cone sitting inside the bottom half of the stock box with the original piping. Honestly, unless you have a larger turbo, say, a 19t, you shouldn't need any more than the stock box with a high flow filter like k&n or similar. I already had the cone from an old car so I used it instead of paying 50 for an upgrade panel. More than happy since I can hear the recirc valve popping open. Psshhhhh.

 

One of the best is the stock one. It pulls fresh cool air from the front.

Then there is the fight over if and how much a K&N will help (stock drop in).
I haven't seen problems with K&N filters when properly cleaned and re-oiled but I have read complaints of people blaming the K&N's oil for damaging their MAF.

I have a three K&N equipped cars for many years and have had no problems with them.

IMHO the best would be the SNAAB intake tube or something similar that's big in diameter and smooth with a good quality air filter and ducted to the front, out the wheel well or through the hood.
Sooooo, SNAAB style tube up from the turbo, stock MAF, stock box, K&N stock drop in and stock snorkel is a really good combo and most of it is already there !!



Whatever you do, DO NOT buy that cheesy K&N cold air intake kit. I haven't physically seen one but from the photos on line it's just a slightly better quality dryer vent hose. It still has all the accordion pleats that cause turbulence inside. That and the $$$ they want for it is crazy. If you take a look at the stock intake tube you'll notice they have some really ugly pleats too and I'm sure that isn't good for smooth flow.



Again it's just my opinion but I think the guys who just put a cone on the stock intake tube or upgrade the tube and use a cone but don't duct it to the outside are losing anything they might gain from the easier and smoother intake by sucking in hot engine heated air.

Now there are likely cars out there with poorly designed intakes and filter housings and anything even hanging a cone on the end of a pipe is an improvement but the 850 isn't one of them.

 

K&N panel in the stock box is perfect no matter the HP.

 

i have a similar turbo intake pipe from air box to turbo it was custom made localy for me. i have thought about a cone filter but think id be sucking hot air to much ill leave the stock air box and filter in

 

John, where is the photo of that custom tube ??

 

i never took a picture of it before it was on the car lol its similar to the snab one it was 70mm stainless steel pipe with two bends and the two silicone hoses cost £130 pounds all together. from local place that make silicone hoses they got specifications and the standard plastic pipe and send it else where to make the steel pipe. its easier to buy one off the internet though