Induction gruppe m- coparison with AEM, Pipercross and HKS panel filter

parsey · 20th November 2008, 22:12

For those interested I thought I'd do a quick comparison of the Gruppe M against the AEM short ram kit, the Pipercross intake kit and the HKS panel filter having fitted and tried all of them

Fitting and testing

AEM short Ram - took me around 1.5 hours and this was the most difficult and time consuming of the four, meaning it was also the most difficult and time consuming to put back to standard (for those of us who do this when taking the car back to the dealer

) Also the most opportunity to do something wrong and cause damage. Cost 195.00 and sounds awesome when in vtec but suffers badly with heatsoak as the full standard intake system is removed and there is no heatshield present, I kept this for around three months and sold it

Pipercross intake kit - took around 30 mins to fit and was very easy as this kit retains the lower section of the original air box, good quality and easily put back to standard. Once it is assembled it can be changed from normal to this kit in under five minutes, also has a heatshield and imo works better than the AEM and is 65.00 cheaper at 130.00 delivered. Still suffers from heatsoak when sitting idle in traffic but not as bad as the AEM, good increase in top end power but removed to try the HKS panel filter, currently for sale in appropriate section of the forum

HKS panel filter - five minutes to fit, no real difference in sound and/or performance but around the same price as OEM part and would work better than the restrictive paper element and need replacing less often - removed today for 'the daddy' as some would say - cost 35.00

Gruppe M - fitted in around an hour and was easy enough just take your time and follow instructions, fitment is ok but not what i expected for the price paid although i did get mine alot cheaper than most. First impressions were not great. I have the Hondata and Milltek Non Res fitted (as with all kits I tried) and this felt the worst. I wasnt happy but after 20 miles the car has been transformed, little to no studder, alot more punch in the mid range pulling harder from 3000rpm onto the redline. Some say it sounds quieter than stock but I have found the note just nice, its def deeper and more aggressive than stock but nowhere near as loud as the AEM and Pipercross cone systems. Those of you that have the Gruppe M will be aware that you can remove the back panel of the box for removing/replacing the K and N, I read somewhere someone had removed this and had an increase in sound but loss in power, anyone on here tried this? Cost me approx 400 but that was part of a deal, I think these can be had for around 530 new from CPL etc

IMO if you have the money go for the Gruppe M, if not avoid the AEM and try the Pipercross as i feel for the money its good.

Im off to get the CPL race manifold fitted tomorrow so will report back on the fitment and first impressions of this for anyone thats interested

dinoc · 20th November 2008, 22:21

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated !
Keep us posted about the CPL headers , too.

polsonm87 · 21st November 2008, 09:40

good write up mate am currently looking for a induction kit, but there doesn'tseem to be to many available! might go for the pipercross untill they bring out more kits for it!

Guitaralmond · 21st November 2008, 11:53

prices on the Gruppe M & HKS for comparison....

parsey · 21st November 2008, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitaralmond

prices on the Gruppe M & HKS for comparison....

added in edited thread above.....

parsey · 21st November 2008, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by polsonm87

good write up mate am currently looking for a induction kit, but there doesn'tseem to be to many available! might go for the pipercross untill they bring out more kits for it!

If your interested in the pipercross I have one for sale in the 'for sale' section of the forum

parsey · 21st November 2008, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinoc

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated !
Keep us posted about the CPL headers , too.

Was told the manifold should take around 1.5 hours to fit but took it to my local garage today and they said more like 3-4 hours as it looked time consuming so couldnt get it fited today

Have it booked in for thursday though. Has anyone fitted this themselves? If anyone has had it fitted at the garage what was the fitting time?

Thanks

Krokmas · 29th March 2009, 10:53

Is it possible to keep the standard intake (lower airbox) with the AEM short ram kit?
Just like the pipercross, will it fit?

20th November 2008, 22:12	#1 (permalink)
parsey Join Date: 17th November 2008 Location: belfast Posts: 236 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader: (0)	gruppe m- coparison with AEM, Pipercross and HKS panel filter For those interested I thought I'd do a quick comparison of the Gruppe M against the AEM short ram kit, the Pipercross intake kit and the HKS panel filter having fitted and tried all of them Fitting and testing AEM short Ram - took me around 1.5 hours and this was the most difficult and time consuming of the four, meaning it was also the most difficult and time consuming to put back to standard (for those of us who do this when taking the car back to the dealer) Also the most opportunity to do something wrong and cause damage. Cost 195.00 and sounds awesome when in vtec but suffers badly with heatsoak as the full standard intake system is removed and there is no heatshield present, I kept this for around three months and sold it Pipercross intake kit - took around 30 mins to fit and was very easy as this kit retains the lower section of the original air box, good quality and easily put back to standard. Once it is assembled it can be changed from normal to this kit in under five minutes, also has a heatshield and imo works better than the AEM and is 65.00 cheaper at 130.00 delivered. Still suffers from heatsoak when sitting idle in traffic but not as bad as the AEM, good increase in top end power but removed to try the HKS panel filter, currently for sale in appropriate section of the forum HKS panel filter - five minutes to fit, no real difference in sound and/or performance but around the same price as OEM part and would work better than the restrictive paper element and need replacing less often - removed today for 'the daddy' as some would say - cost 35.00 Gruppe M - fitted in around an hour and was easy enough just take your time and follow instructions, fitment is ok but not what i expected for the price paid although i did get mine alot cheaper than most. First impressions were not great. I have the Hondata and Milltek Non Res fitted (as with all kits I tried) and this felt the worst. I wasnt happy but after 20 miles the car has been transformed, little to no studder, alot more punch in the mid range pulling harder from 3000rpm onto the redline. Some say it sounds quieter than stock but I have found the note just nice, its def deeper and more aggressive than stock but nowhere near as loud as the AEM and Pipercross cone systems. Those of you that have the Gruppe M will be aware that you can remove the back panel of the box for removing/replacing the K and N, I read somewhere someone had removed this and had an increase in sound but loss in power, anyone on here tried this? Cost me approx 400 but that was part of a deal, I think these can be had for around 530 new from CPL etc IMO if you have the money go for the Gruppe M, if not avoid the AEM and try the Pipercross as i feel for the money its good. Im off to get the CPL race manifold fitted tomorrow so will report back on the fitment and first impressions of this for anyone thats interested Last edited by parsey; 21st November 2008 at 15:40. Reason: request for comparison prices

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20th November 2008, 22:21	#2 (permalink)
dinoc Supporter Join Date: 9th August 2007 Location: Bucharest Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts iTrader: (3)	Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated ! Keep us posted about the CPL headers , too.

21st November 2008, 09:40	#3 (permalink)
polsonm87 Join Date: 17th November 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 106 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	good write up mate am currently looking for a induction kit, but there doesn'tseem to be to many available! might go for the pipercross untill they bring out more kits for it!

21st November 2008, 11:53	#4 (permalink)
Guitaralmond Street Legal 225bhp Car: 2008 CTR, Silver, Rages, Nav Join Date: 9th January 2008 Location: Stoke-On-Trent Posts: 1,760 Thanks: 130 Thanked 61 Times in 53 Posts iTrader: (2)	prices on the Gruppe M & HKS for comparison....

29th March 2009, 10:53	#8 (permalink)
Krokmas Car: 2007 CTR, Bronze Join Date: 18th February 2008 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 116 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader: (0)	Is it possible to keep the standard intake (lower airbox) with the AEM short ram kit? Just like the pipercross, will it fit?