the difference between the two

[Theb95tsi]

im kinda on a budget and looking to mod my dsm but im looking around trying to find the best deals i see intakes on ebay for 50 bucks while i see others on the tuners parts cataloge for much more.. it seems odd to me i would think an air intake is just an air intake whats the difference from say an ebay intake like so http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=38634&item=7988565659 to your injen or your k&n

 

[glennerd87]

I've been trying to decide wether to buy an AEM CAIS or an EBAY Brand the guys on DSM tuners say go ebay brand, because its basically the same thing. my local friends say that the difference is the quality in the materials that they use. the way i look at it is you pay for what you get. although it is only a tube of Metal. you could always buy the $20 ebay one and put on a K&N Filter. i don't know whatever you decide keep me posted on how it works out for you. and hope it does well for you.

 

[bloc]

the system designed to keep trash from entering and harming your engine may not be the best one to skimp on.

on the other hand, K&N etc is way overpriced for what they are, hence the cheap ebay options.

try and avoid foam filters. they are rarely thick enough to filter the air even on par with a K&N, etc.. which are already letting more stuff through than stock. if you do get an ebay one (no reason not to if it doesnt fall apart and the filter element will at least perform as well as one of the major brand ones) try and look for the K&N-type reddish gauze material as the filter element.

 

[Defiant]

The expensive ones are a bit prettier if you're close enough. The welds on the cheap ones look horrible. The air coming into the engine is blind, and really doesn't care. You decide where else you could use the $200 difference.