Cold Air Intake - Silicon vs Aluminum?

[street sleeper]

*typo - meant silicone not silicon in post title

I’m looking to add a cold air intake to my (V8) S5. My previous car had a K&N filter with an aluminum pipe that produced a nice, throaty note.

I noticed cold air intakes now come in either silicone or aluminum. Are there any performance or sound difference between the two? Wouldn't a silicone pipe sound significantly quieter than an aluminum one, or no?

I’m leaning towards an AWE cold air intake, but was wondering what's the point of this carbon cover? Just for show? And wouldn't that muffle sound and restrict air - the opposite of what an aftermarket cold air intake is supposed to do?

[street sleeper]

Anyone?

[Lnchbox]

Not sure about the difference between silicone or aluminum for intakes, but I have that AWE intake. It sounds much better than the stock, a little subtle, but better. The carbon fiber box is purely cosmetic, there are other versions with plastic boxes. I don't believe it restricts any more than the stock intake would.

[Okan509]

I don't think it really matters. I could see the sound being very insignificantly different between the two.

One thing that has made me appreciate silicon tubing is that aluminum pipes, if fitted incorrectly, can rub through some crucial lines in that area (not sure if true to the v8, however).

[street sleeper]

It might sound silly, but in addition to performance (assuming the two will perform the same), I'm looking for a deeper sound over stock. And I would hate to pay several hundred dollars for an silicone intake that doesn't deliver a deeper sound like an aluminum intake does.

So far all the cold air intakes for a (V8) S5 that I've found seem to be made of silicone.

[Brozee]

Roccccccccccccccccccc euroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[street sleeper]

Roccccccccccccccccccc euroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Roc-Euro doesn't make a cold air intake for the (V8) S5. They only have it for the V6.

[LiLS]

what options do we have as far as intakes are concerned when it comes to the v8?

[JamesRS5]

The inlet length on the V8 is so short that I doubt you'd notice any difference between the two materials. One thing I would bare in mind, aluminium (unless it's ceramic coated) will become heat soaked and retain heat more so than silicone so going against the whole 'cold air' marketing idea.
Another is flexibility, unless the air box is mounted to the engine then an alloy inlet pipe won't flex as a silicone one will as the engine moves and vibrates, ally will stress crack pretty quickly in those situations.

[Brozee]

Roccccccccccccccccccc euroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I'm embarrassed I didn't see it was the V8 :( smh.

[street sleeper]

what options do we have as far as intakes are concerned when it comes to the v8?

Unfortunately, there aren’t many cold air intakes made for the V8 S5. I’ve only found two!

• AWE Tuning
• APR Carbonio

And I’ve heard some complaints that the APR Carbonio one doesn’t fit properly.

So I’d go with AWE Tuning. They have a “fitment guarantee” on their intake. I have their touring exhaust and it’s awesome. High quality product. No complaints here.

[street sleeper]

Little Update:
I exchanged a few emails with John (Performance Specialist) from AWE Tuning. Over the weekend, before this thread got any replies, I asked him the same questions.

He confirmed what many people in this thread have been saying.

— silicone hose creates less stress on other parts and helps cut heat
— silicone hose will be slightly louder than stock, but not as deep and throaty as an aluminum pipe
— carbon fiber cover is just for looks
— according to their dyno tests, you can expect 11hp gain
— no solid proof of increased gas mileage, but may improve by 2-3 mpg

Dyno charts and more info here. http://www.awe-tuning.com/s5-4-2l-s-flo-intake-system

I think I'm going with an AWE cold air intake.

[mozman68]

Little Update:
I exchanged a few emails with John (Performance Specialist) from AWE Tuning. Over the weekend, before this thread got any replies, I asked him the same questions.

He confirmed what many people in this thread have been saying.

— silicone hose creates less stress on other parts and helps cut heat
— silicone hose will be slightly louder than stock, but not as deep and throaty as an aluminum pipe
— carbon fiber cover is just for looks
— according to their dyno tests, you can expect 11hp gain
— no solid proof of increased gas mileage, but may improve by 2-3 mpg

Dyno charts and more info here. http://www.awe-tuning.com/s5-4-2l-s-flo-intake-system

I think I'm going with an AWE cold air intake.

Can't go wrong with anything from AWE...I'm going this route as well. Seems like a great option for a little increase in power without too much cost and something I can easily install myself.

I have plenty of cold air going through my car right now....zero degrees out...going to wait until the Spring until I pull the trigger on this mod.

[Okan509]

probably the route I'd go, if I didn't want to do something custom - and didn't have EC option available.

[street sleeper]

I have plenty of cold air going through my car right now....zero degrees out...going to wait until the Spring until I pull the trigger on this mod.

Oh yeah. 19 degrees here. It's Mother Nature's cold air intake. Installs itself and the best part is it won't cost you a penny!