andy T

My 2002 C32 AMG has 130K and in the last 4 years I have upgraded the supercharger pulley, tuned ECU and TCU, changed radiator and IC pump, and last year installed a PLM heat exchanger. But I don't want to spend $700 for a Needswings cold air intake. I think this is the last upgrade the car needs for the remainder of its life. What cold air intakes make sense without requiring major alterations to the car or breaking the bank?
Thanks,
andy T

tw2

SL55 Y-pipe, some 3" aluminum piping, silicon couplers and buy some inline air filters from ebay. Thats what I did and it certainly didn't break the bank. Maybe $200-400 depending on where/how you source the parts and labor.

If I were to do it again I would have simply bought the needwings intake if only for ease of fitment, slightly better aesthetics and not having to bother making it. If your going to keep the car for ages then $700 isn't quite as bad in the long term.

andy T

SL55-Y sounds great! Aesthetics are important as long as the appearance and interior of the car go with it. My car is beginning to show its age! You are right, if $700 was all I was investing I would do it as well. But having added the upgraded pulley, radiator, IC pump, heat exchanger, etc. means I am spending money for now, not later. Don't get me wrong as I am enjoying the car and this is why I am still investing in it and want to add the cold air intake. But based on my experience with these expenses, incremental enhancements will not add much power or increase the overall performance of a 12 year old car with 130K!
SL55-Y pipe is purchased from the dealer?
Inline air filters from ebay? (any two inline air filters will do?)
Also Spectre has a dual CAI that company says has 45% greater air intake than factory. I believe it is made of aluminum. I am not sure! It sells at $299 but I don'k know if it is any good. Any experience with Spectre DCAI?
Thanks Andy T

tw2

I used specre 9833. Check out the link in my signature. To have it all fit in there you need 3" in and out of course and I think the diameter is about 5-6" in the middle. I don't know about their dual CAI.

The SL55 y-pipe you can get from parts.com You can search the forum here for the part number and any other good places to get it, there are several threads about it.

andy T

Thank you TW2. I saw a post in this forum where a member used SL55 Y-pipe with existing boxes (existing air filters) and existing primary vents. The member claimed gain of at least 10 HP. Other members commented on that idea that changing the secondary (SL55 Y) will not affect the overall air intake and only make the whining supercharger louder. What are your thoughts on this as this may yet be the least expensive option.
Thanks,
Andy T

tw2

I believe the y-pipe is the biggest restriction but i would do the whole intake personally or not bother at all. I'm sure there is a significant gain for just changing the y-pipe but i don't know what proportion of the total it would be.

EDgineered

This has parts and DIY instructions, etc


http://www.slkworld.com/performance-...ml#post1213185

andy T

Thank you.
Found one that V5STI built for the C32 AMG, just removing the intake bottleneck but kept stock parts and air filters.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...h-results.html

If you scroll down that messages you will see a pdf file with pictures and schematics. It looks very clean and the project is nicely put together.
Andy T