hey eveyone, just wondering if i need to buy the AEM CAI bypass or does it come with the unit? thankx a bundle

 

you have to purchase it separate.

 

thanks man

 

i don't think you need it in so. cal though.

 

naw, u dont need one

 

sooo, what happens when it rains... I know we dont get too much rain but id rather be positive than be sorry

 

it hardly rains here..and plus the filter needs to be fully submerged in water for it to suck up

 

well if you end up lowering your car you should get one. I had a friend with an s2000 who had the AEM cold air without the bypass and he hit a puddle...well you know what happens from here.

 

yeah, thats what i dont want to do, hit a puddle and then realize that I should've bought piece of mind for next to nothing rather than deal with water in my engine, any other opinions?

 

I have had mine for almost 3 years without the by-pass and don't have any problems. You avoid the deep puddles when your drive. Besides, the filter is not in the open. It is shielded by the panel. Furthermore, quite a few of the member have complained about the broken valve. The valve is more of a burden than anything else

 

Just don't drive through giant-ass puddles at WOT, and you'll be fine. It's been reported to rob some of the small power gains, too.

 

Go with the icebox!

 

I got one.. don't know if I really need it.. but it does rain a lot more up here in the NW. Mostly, it's just a peace of mind.

I've had mine since May 2002.

 

Really?, You think I should go with the Icebox rather than the AEM?

 

Its a trade off......

icebox is a little more expensive but produces slightly more power

CAI is less expensive and also gives a more aggresive sound

 

hmmmm, this sounds like a tough one, i still need a few more opinions if yall dont mind givin 'em...

 

i think the cold air without the bypass makes the same amount as an ice box. You will feel an intake barely, whether it be ice box or cold air. I prefer the cold air because of the soun it makes, it got even louder when i removed the bypass. The cold air is awesome but too quiet. It totaly depends on what you want as far as sound. They are so close in performance that choosing either one is based on if you want noise or quiet and peace of mind.

 

dope shit, thanx a lot... prolli goin with AEM then

 

I would not put on the bypass valve. There is no way that you are going to suck up any appreciable amount of water by hitting puddles etc. I have passed through many considerable puddles in heavy rains and have had no problems as all. The entire filter is shielded by the undercarriage of the car. Not only would you have to be submerged in order to suck up waterr, but you would have to be so for some time in order for the water to trickle around the undercarriage and fill the filter compartment. If you drive in such conditions I wouldn't reccomend getting the AEM with or without the bypass.



On another note--since I had one of the very early AEM units, it turns out that the bracket was mounted incorrectly, which they tried to fix by providing the additional bushing. Well, my bracket actually cracked off so AEM replaced my unit with a new one. The new one is a much tighter fit and it is held in place correctly. That being said, on the day I re-installed it, it was about 40 degrees out and there was an unmistakable difference in power compared to the stock set-up without the resonator.

And to think, I almost didn't put it back on! What was I thinking?!

 

my original aem broke at the bracket. so they replaced the unit, and now the replacement is starting to break.

must be all those runs down the strip.

 

I suggest the Comptech Icebox and put in K&N cotton filter. This setup will provide you with the same HP as CAI and more TQ compared to a CAI. Not only that but you will not have to worry about puddles at all unless you go into water that would submerge your engine. By using the K&N filter it will give you slightly more power but also you wont need to clean the filter every 3K miles like Comptech suggests....also it makes the Icebox much better than the plain AEM and Icebox with unifilter.

Icebox will give you more torque in the lower RPM range where you need it most in day to day driving. The Cai scream is most notable at over 4800 rpm that will only make everybody look at you like a RICER in a Civic or Integra. IMO the CL-S is a luxury cruiser and the Ice-box does not take away its pedigree.

 

I went with AEM, cause you can get them pretty cheap on the black market here, iceboxes definitely go for more and are harder to get used. Mine was just slightly used, and for what amounts to a pipe and a rechargable filter, used is just fine.

I think the sound is great - for everyday driving it's not much louder at all than stock, with the windows up it's quite quiet in the car. Step on the gas and rev it up, though, and it makes a nice sound - sporty, but not too obnoxious.

This is my first rainy season in CA with the CAI on, I'll let you know in spring how it went with puddles and no bypass. The car isn't lowered yet, though, so I've still got plenty of clearance off the ground for the filter.

 

I had the AEM & now have the IceBox. Had the bypass but didn't install it. I couldn't tell any power difference between them. I did notice the sound was ALOT quiter with the IceBox. The AEM growls very loud at high RPM. It hisses, & make all sorts of noises. I hated it.

BTW - no proof yet as to getting better power using the K&N filer in the IceBox compared to the foam Comptech filter.

 

what about a snorkel? Then you can go thorugh really deep puddles! Also, you won't have to worry about that 4x4 lifted look the CL has...

 

There may not be a difference with both filters NEW but with over 1K miles the K&N will be freer flowing than the foam. When I cleaned my Icebox unifilter with only 3K miles it was all black in the side that sucks in the air which is clearly gonna effect performance. When I had the AEM I had it for 5K miles and when I took it off the filter still looked new. I think the K&N is good for at least 15K miles but I would recharge it every 10K miles while the Icebox unifilter every 3-3.5K miles and it need it bad.

 

I just cleaned the Comptech filter at 5K miles & it still looked clean. I think it's easier to clean then the K&N. I had all K&N stuff before & I hated cleaning them.