Cone v Airbox

[s2driveruk]

I've been running a K&N on my s2 almost since I have owned it - so six years and loved the extra noise and in theory better performace.

However on friday I noticed that the cone had been damaged where it was rubbing on something so thought I'd re-install the airbox (not easy to say the least) and just see what difference there was between the two...

ummmmm the performance gain was astonishing

I have tried a few things to protect it from heat but to be honest nothing made much difference.

SO....
- I've lost the induction noise
- & TBV dumping pressure on lift off back into the intake which sounds good
- & the more vocal side of the engine (it's almost silent again now at the front compared to running a cone)
- Lost a sh*tload of space under the bonnet

- I have instantly better throttle response (seemingly)

Is it worth getting the right bits to make a proper fully insulated and front fed cone to regain the noise or just get a performance filter and whack it into the airbox????

Thoughts........

[Fat Audi 80]

RS2 Airbox would be my personal preference. I think it wll always be hard to fully protect a cone from heatsoak. I think there is a reason most manufacturers use an airbox on road cars.

I also prefer the filtration properties and cleanliness of a dry paper filter...

Cheers,

Steve

[Rusty]

I bought a spare airbox and cut the front off and then removed the plate from behind the light to get maximum air flow. Turbo noise and DV noise are nowhere near that of a cone filter but they are greater than the standard airbox and it gives a lovely low resonance when off boost, bit like my old mk.2 Golf 8v with a drilled airbox, that the cone doesn't. Not sure about any performance increase but the inlet hole is over three times the area and it makes more noise so probrably just sounds quicker! Much cheaper than an RS2 item but not as neat if you really look closely. Once again, personal opinion really.

[Ross]

...and the fact, that of course, a cone filter is not OEM

David you've got me intrigued to try an airbox some time when my car is done - I'm running with the cone as well and have become quite acustomed to hearing the car breathing! Perhaps we can have a cone vs. air filiter trial run on an RS2 spec. sometime

[Paulgo]

I had great fun at the weekend replacing the 2 grommets on my 3b airbox! 2 of the difficult to reach clips had also been left undone - and as the inner wing clip is as far as I can see impossible to get at with the box in situ I decided to take the whole lot out, secure all the clips properly and then replace the unit in one. Not a good idea!! After pushing the grommets through to the inner wing at my first attempt I ended up having to remove the intake flange thing off the side of the box and the maff to get it to go back in whole - but at least I now have a properly clipped in K&N and a box that dont bounce around I think Ive sorted an ABY airbox and looks a far better design!! The 3b is a nightmare!

cheers

Paul

[dan_b]

I'm also running a cone, quite prepared to accept that in hot weather it's not the king kong for cool air induction - the question is, how much for an RS2 airbox and can it be fitted to a 3B?

[Keeper of The Kitten]

I intend to have a cone (Apexi) inside an airbox, maybe even have a conical nose over the end of the cone to direct air around it. I think the argument is entirely valid in favour of an airbox, the kind of filter you have inside it is another story altogether. If conical filters don't work I can't see why Audi (and us lot when we did Bentley) ran them on the sportscars?!! The performance aspect of the conical filters cannot be questioned - but more importantly, the filters are always better served when mounted inside a box with good flow from a forward facing opening.

__MDC__

[s2driveruk]

agreed, there is definately a performance advantage there IF you can get a good, cold feed from the front and ensure its sufficiently protected from radiant heat.

I will definately return to one soon - just once i can satisfy the above

Plus...its too damn quiet and altogether refined without it

[dan_b]

So we need a cone, in an airbox?!

[Ski]

Some ideas to get you lot going...

[dan_b]

How's that working Ski I can't really make it out from the photo?

[Billman]

OK, here you go:

Lehmann 500+ RS2 engine:





MTM Filter:

[Ski]

MTM filer? is that an package or a custom jobbie?

[Chris5044]

would it not be wise to have plumming from lower/front grill of car to intake? ....therefore you are getting "ram" air effect and with it being low it should be the coolest temp

(heat rises)

[Keeper of The Kitten]

That's what I intend to do - start an airbox from behind the grill where the aux radiator has been removed. I hope that I can get a pattern made as the guys at work would then offer to make an airbox in CFRP. Need to get the engine back into my car to assess the amount of space available and the required clearance areas for boost pipes etc, before I know if the idea can fly.

__MDC__