Just Installed AEM/Mazdaspeed CAI
 

So today my AEM cold air intake came in the mail :bowdown:. I had a friend of mine help me with the install. For the most part, it was a PITA to install. Taking the OEM air box out was a breeze, but taking the bumper off, and unplugging fog lights etc was a bitch. Took around 3 hours with help from one other person. I was so happy to crank the car for the first time after install. When you start it up, it sounds like stock, but when you rev that engine up, you can't help but smile :). It makes suuuuuuuch a loud sound. Especially when you take it over 7k rpm, it just roars.

Pros:
Looks so good under the hood.
Sounds amazing
Loud when you want it to be, quiet when you want it to be.
Adds a little horsepower/mpg but not a lot.

Cons:
Tedious to install
Very minimal hp/mpg gains (but the best on the market)
Leaves a big gap where the old air box used to sit

Here's some photos of the process, and final product, let me know what you think!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8...e46ebaa3_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8...e4994bfb_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8...b0d18fb7_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8...00e6454d_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8...bf9bfbea_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8...b85bc71c_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8...699515bb_z.jpg

I don't really find the front bumper hard to remove at all, takes me 20 minutes tops. :D: Anyways, very nicely done! I've been considering this or the Racing Beat for quite some time now. I've always hated that empty space the AEM leaves in the bay, but it's starting to slowly grow on me.

I want this real bad. Just so expensive!

im waiting for my aem n rb screens in the mail, u should have installed racing beat oil cooler screens while the bumper was removed

I like the RB radiator screen as well

Welcome to 8 years ago

CRH/BHR used to sell an under tray you use to hide the void created by removing the airbox. I have one and love it. Unfortunately I think he only did a handful of production runs. Although a decent machine shop could certainly do similar.

Here's a (shitty) shot of what it looks like:

https://www.rx8club.com/attachments/...831_083355-jpg

Ignore the bracket to the right -- the picture was taken while my oil filter relocation project was in progress. Also, probably best to ignore the blow off valve too as I'm sure it looks foreign to you NA types :)

Bit the bullet and bought a polished one off Amazon. The total came out to about $264 for a brand new one shipped thanks to the AEM spring season sale.

you can just keep the bottom airbox tray in place. it blocks the air from directly blowing into your "supposed to be" Cold air intake pipe.

and sorry, you are 8 yrs late. and I think I was the first one to install a mazdaspeed intake on this forum.

and I am back to stock 4-5 yrs ago.

I must've missed something. Where the hell does he say anything about being "first"?

Anyway, OP, looks nice. Nothing like the feeling of doing it yourself. You're proud and you should be.

Oh, and the air box undertray does nothing in respect to the cold air aspect of this kit since it breathes from in front of the engine compartment.

Enjoy your AEM. Just like the "back to stock" crowd can enjoy that.

*sigh*

so u want hot air to blow directly on ur "pipes" so everything pass thru it gets its heat treatment ? it's not a life/death thing but hey, it adds up.

Cool story bro.

hmm, u can't afford couple hundred bux ... ?

you can take your setup one step further if you are feeling adventurous

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...58946471_n.jpg

A very well respected member in the community did some extensive work in his findings that this helps squeeze out just a bit more performance out of the AEM/MS setup.

Awwww. A sigh? Really princess?

Into. On to. Read your own words. If you're not literate enough to write what you mean I'm certainly not responsible for correcting you. Lol

Anyway. No need to try and piss in the guy's Cheerios. He modded his car and was proud of it. And that, IS a cool story, "bro". Lol

Classy.

I'm not sure what he said this time but nycgps has been on my block list for a few weeks. Quite a childish character. Him and monchie :mdrmed:

I'm almost afraid to ask who you're referring to to. Or are they so well respected that you can't just post their username? :crazy:

The thread may have been better received if it had been structured as a DIY in the proper forum area. I'm pretty sure nobody ever made one on this particular subject. Somebody more experienced would have likely pointed out that you neither have to fully remove either the bumper cover or the bumper bar to install this.

There was a NIB Black Halo polished tray available on the for sale forum, In fact I am pretty sure it is still available; but shipping may take a while...

I was just trying to get the OP to do some searching ;)

But this was a mod that Eric Meyer suggested a while back. All you are really doing is getting rid of the last bend. IIRC he found a slight gain as opposed to the original AEM setup.

Worth the trouble? probably not. I only did it because i felt that the way the AEM sat with the S2 front fascia, this setup at least put part of the filter in direct airflow path.

Man shoulda bought this CAI during the spring sale

Bought mine for $350....

Anyways great write up!

one can build a tray for no more than 30 bucks and some cardboard modeling...

http://www.normalexception.net/menal...41400234_n.jpg

^^ DIY to the max :D

Wish I made one, but my buddy helped cut it while I was doing the battery relocation. It is not difficult at all though...

Buy 1 sheet of 24x48 of this : https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchan...id=7125&step=4
It is exactly what i bought. Came out to just a dollar or two over $30.

Tinsnips will make your life easier. and get yourself some cardboard so that you can model out the design.

Measure twice, cut once, and voila.

and you will have some metal left over for other odds and ends.

You post a lot of useful information that I am grateful for, (Language Edited , Infraction given, final warning, ASH8)

Nobody cares what you think about someone else especially the person you are responding to

fortunately we won't have to read anything else you have to say for a while ...

Agree 100%. Anyone using metal pipes with the intention of having a "cold air" intake is ignorant about how much heat soak is being absorbed by the engine. These cars also run very hot, so it's just exacerbates the issue. You're going to get much higher intake temperatures, and lose power. Period.

Use carbon, plastic, or at least heat wrap it or block it somehow...