Gruppe M intake (Look Quickly!)

Hey guys so I have the chance to pick up an authentic Gruppe M intake and was wondering what you guys thought about it and what a reasonable price for a mint one is. I'm talking to the owner right now so quick responses are much appreciated.

Eh, they kinda suck. Totally not for you.

So what's this guy's number?

I would'nt pay more than $300

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Alright thanks. We'll see how it goes. If I don't end up buying it I will share the buyer with you all.

Good luck Chris!

I can only get him to $350 shipped and insured...decisions decisions

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danewilson77

I would'nt pay more than $300

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

---

I was going to recommend this price as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HokieZHP

I can only get him to $350 shipped and insured...decisions decisions

---

As I said above, $300 is about right for me. But the extra $50 might be worth it. That's about going price for a regular intake.. so it depends on how much extra you're willing to pay for something you want. Honestly, $350 isn't really extreme in terms of price. Seems pretty fair to me.

An alternative, the AFE CAI is available from auto anything.com for $36x normal price with free shipping. Then they offer a 10% discount for 1st time customers and the price comes out to $330 -- coincidence??

It may be worth it just because of the rarity of the piece and condition. I'm going to think about it overnight and let him know tomorrow.

I can't tell you how many times I had to pull my self back from a Gruppe M CAI when I had my ZHP.

It does look awesome but I ended up getting an ECIS + heat shield and was more than happy for 1/2 the price. Just my $.02. $350 is a lot of moo-la for an intake.

I see the ECIS intakes for $240?

Why is it so desired?? Does anyone on here have one? Pics? Thoughts?

From what I've read, it blocks the engine heat well, it sounds incredible and gives as good of gains (barely any if any) as other intakes.

Derek has it:

http://img.skitch.com/20120212-ughjb...dqp1yq2thg.jpg

Who is this Derek fellow?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hermes

Derek has it:

http://img.skitch.com/20120212-ughjb...dqp1yq2thg.jpg

---

Oh, wow... Well, if you love it, go for it. Personally, I think its pretty fugly looking... I know, that's a silly reason to NOT get it, but eh, just looks awkward to me. Cool to see something different I guess!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HokieZHP

Who is this Derek fellow?

---

derbo

Oh yeah I saw it in his thread and asked him about it but never got a response

To me...it look like you lose all of the air coming in through grill scoop.

It's a beautiful piece, on the table but in the car...I'm not sure it looks quite right.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Yeah I was looking at that as well...i can't decide

I think Seth may have one...

I realize peoples concerns over the looks but from what I have heard this is one of if not the best sounding and performing intake.

My vote is for 350 get it, and enjoy the function over the form and the amazing sounds you will make.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

I have one - totally worth it, hope you picked it up Chris... I should read the last 2 pages huh?

Ok caught up.



BUY THE DAMN THING!!! Sound is amazing, function is all there.

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY IMPOSTERS!
Attachment 5720

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danewilson77

To me...it look like you lose all of the air coming in through grill scoop.

It's a beautiful piece, on the table but in the car...I'm not sure it looks quite right.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

---

Dane, that's what would stop me from getting this although it is an awesome CAI. At least with the BMW Performance, K&N, or Afe CAIs you still retain the grill scoop...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Thanks Seth, I'm getting more pictures tomorrow just to verify and then will most likely pick it up. This coupled with the new Magnaflow exhaust (which should be here wednesday) should make a nice sound!

Meh...any intake that is just a cone that bolts on to the MAF is pointless. A true CAI like the OG DINAN long tube would net you a legit 7-10. This just makes the air turbulent and spoils the air flow. Stock intake could outflow the GruppeM. Only benefit is noise.

Horney...via TT.

Stock intake with a drop in maybe.

However that also has to make 2 90 degree turns to get in to the filter. the air with the gruppeM is smashed right into the cone with no bends and is further from the block for less heat soak (theoretically).

It's not a true cai but about the best you'll get on an e46. :dunno


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

Have you opened the stock air box? Where are these magical 90 degree bends hiding? All that's there is a smooth flowing stack that leads right into the MAF.

A true CAI is easily attainable for under $150. All you need is a quality dry air filter some hose clamps and a nice piece of 3" silicone tubing with a 60 degree bend.

Heat shielding does nothing to alter the temperature of the intake air on this set up. Money saved.

But what about hydrolocking?! Wat.

Water getting into the intake and making its way to the cylinder and actually being enough of it to brake something in the engine is extremely unlikely. You'd have to drive into a sink hole and if you do lock the engine, that's the least of your worries.

Why pay for something that doesn't work? Makes no sense to me.

Horney...via TT.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hornung418

Have you opened the stock air box? Where are these magical 90 degree bends hiding? All that's there is a smooth flowing stack that leads right into the MAF.

A true CAI is easily attainable for under $150. All you need is a quality dry air filter some hose clamps and a nice piece of 3" silicone tubing with a 60 degree bend.

Heat shielding does nothing to alter the temperature of the intake air on this set up. Money saved.

But what about hydrolocking?! Wat.

Water getting into the intake and making its way to the cylinder and actually being enough of it to brake something in the engine is extremely unlikely. You'd have to drive into a sink hole and if you do lock the engine, that's the least of your worries.

Why pay for something that doesn't work? Makes no sense to me.

Horney...via TT.

---

my pants are no longer as tight after reading this..however my plan was to get both this and the Cosmos and compare the two then sell whichever one I like the least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDwc-...&feature=g-upl

The camera is catching the GruppeM intake noise more than anything. :)


Dane, it does lose the air from the grille but it does get air from the bottom below the headlight.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=653046

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DiscoStu

I've noticed in recent years that the GruppeM intake has had a pretty bad rep around the forums, especially amongst some of our newer members (2007+). I think this is due to it's high price and the common misconception of how the intake actually works. Also note that replica GruppeM intakes aren't true replicas in the fact that the heat shields have different shapes. I had my car apart today while I was replacing my thermostat and water pump, so I decided to take some pictures to illustrate how the GruppeM works.

This is the GruppeM intake installed. I believe many people have based their opinion on this intake purely off what they see in this picture. An intake snorkel that goes nowhere and a heat shield stuck up against the backside of the headlight, yuck!

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/gruppe6.jpg


This is the intake in it's raw. It is specifically designed to scoop cool air and block heat from the alternator and engine. The heat shield on mine is made of carbon kevlar. Take note of the shape of the heat shield.

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/gruppe2.jpg



This is the area where the intake will be installed. I've labeled some key components in the picture to help get an idea of where things are in relation to the intake. The alternator and expansion tank can become quite hot when the engine is at full operating temperature.

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/gruppe1.jpg


This is the intake after it has been properly installed. The alternator and expansion tank have been completely covered by the heat shield. The filter on the intake also has plenty of surface area. Also note how low the intake actually sits.

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/gruppe3.jpg


Here is another picture of the intake installed. I've highlighted the area in blue of where the air is actually supplied from. This is a rather large opening that feeds down to the bumper, right where the brake duct and fog light sit. Notice how the heat shield sits nicely against this opening. This same opening is used by intakes such as Dinan, Benfer, etc that take their air from the same location.

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/gruppe7.jpg

Here is a bird's eye view of the opening. I've labeled the fog light and brake duct to give you an idea of where this opening actually leads to. Plenty of cool air is provided by this area. It's common for people with the GruppeM to actually cut a small portion off of the top of their brake duct to supply additional cool air.

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/gruppe4.jpg


This picture goes back to the intake snorkel that goes nowhere. While it may lead nowhere, it is actually acting as a "cooling fan" for the intake's heat shield. Heat shields can actually absorb a lot of heat. This cooling method helps to keep temperatures down.

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/gruppe5.jpg


That's all I have. I hope after reading this it has shed some light on how this intake actually works. A common misconception is that the air is take from the back of the headlight. As illustrated in the preceding pictures, the air is taken from the lower part of the bumper, same location that the Dinan, and like intakes, take their air from.

You might be asking yourself, "why does he care so much?", and the answer is, I really don't care. I just think a lot of false information goes around this forum. Years ago the GruppeM was regarded as a great intake and loved by most. In the snap of the finger, nowadays it seems people have nothing but negative things to say.

Feel free to discuss. Comments both positive and negative are welcome.


Additional Info:

GruppeM Dyno:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/attachm...7&d=1051068218

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=24845

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by derbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDwc-benMqo&feature=g-upl

The camera is catching the GruppeM intake noise more than anything. :)


Dane, it does lose the air from the grille but it does get air from the bottom below the headlight.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=653046

---

That's a sin to have such a nice intake in such a dirty engine bay

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hornung418

Have you opened the stock air box? Where are these magical 90 degree bends hiding? All that's there is a smooth flowing stack that leads right into the MAF.

A true CAI is easily attainable for under $150. All you need is a quality dry air filter some hose clamps and a nice piece of 3" silicone tubing with a 60 degree bend.

Heat shielding does nothing to alter the temperature of the intake air on this set up. Money saved.

But what about hydrolocking?! Wat.

Water getting into the intake and making its way to the cylinder and actually being enough of it to brake something in the engine is extremely unlikely. You'd have to drive into a sink hole and if you do lock the engine, that's the least of your worries.

Why pay for something that doesn't work? Makes no sense to me.

Horney...via TT.

---

The bends I was referring to are from grilles to filter.

Hydro locking could be a concern however I'll point out that I've never had an issue in the 10 years I've owned cars with ram intakes on them as well as the fact that ive never met anyone else oit there in the world who's had it, let alone with this intake.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending it cuz I have one or spent money on one... It was free and came with the car.

It's style mixed with function. Dyno proven gains over stock air box. Plus it's all CF and looks good under the bonnet. You pay the price to get both in 1 package.

:dunno


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

I bought one under $300 and I say its sounds fantastic. I didn't get the intake for HP, i got it for noise so i could hear the car during track days. If I wanted power, that would be in a supercharger/turbo. :))

Pants are tight again! Thanks for the info Derek! I'll try and read through that thread tomorrow when I don't have Dynamics hw due haha

It's not about where the air comes from, it's how it gets read by the MAF. And an open filter attached directly to the MAF is doing nothing to help your readings thus negatively affecting performance.

Horney...via TT.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hornung418

It's not about where the air comes from, it's how it gets read by the MAF. And an open filter attached directly to the MAF is doing nothing to help your readings thus negatively affecting performance.

Horney...via TT.

---

What does an open air filter do to the MAF? I'm curious.

My impression how an MAF sensor (hot wire) works is that a wire with electrical current in it is placed in the flow of the intake. That wire is subjected to air flow and changes the wire's temperature which affects how it adjusts the current to reach the ideal temperature. The circuit that detects the changes is then sent to the DME. I'm not an expert so that's all how I thought it worked.

I'm guessing the open air filter slapped onto the MAF doesn't provide the proper laminar flow required for an accurate reading.

Precisely. The long tube provides the flow necessary to allow for accurate readings while increasing volume.

THIS THREAD highlights the main differences between intakes, and while its an import magazine, the science is still there and by a reputable individual as well.

Don't mind Carcus, he's a huge douche. Dare I say it, a bigger one than Iceman....

Horney...via TT.

If thats true then how does this intake consistently make 10hp on a dyno?

I dunno Seth. You really believe all the dyno numbers that get put out? If you do.....my AFE puts out 20 HP, and 27 ft-lbs of torque.

http://afepower.com/shop/details_new...0L&&brandID=52

Even the BMW Performance intake (which seems to be a favorite), only consistently dyno's a 6 HP gain.