Panel Vs Pod Vs PD160 Intake

[PoloMint]

Morning all

I have been having a good read though the forum and have learnt a lot in 24hrs! Picked up an 05 GTI on the weekend and so far have loved every minute of it....

I'm now interested in enjoying the car more....

As the title states which way is the way to go filter/intake wise... I have read 1001 different posts and everyone has a different opinion ha ha....

Do i run a pod off the MAF, do i keep the original box and put in a green or do I go the way of the PD160 and a green...


On a side note will be looking at flashing ECU in the not too distant future.

Any info on actual setups is appreciated!

James

[team_v]

Gavin was developing a pod in a box type intake.
See here: Pod in a box R&D

[PoloMint]

Hi mate

Yea i have been in touch with Gavin. I like the idea of it and it appears to be pretty straight forward. Im 99% sold on that idea but i was interested to see what other people have done.

[seangti]

I have read 1001 different posts and everyone has a different opinion ha ha....

Welcome.

I think that's your answer.

I've avoided running oiled air filters since my old subaru days when the oil damaged the air flow meters. I've never heard of that on VW's, though am dubious of the real world advantage of running "performance" filters. Have kept with VW's stuff. I like the PD160, it looks stock when you open the bonnet, and with a tune, made a marginal, but noticeable gain in drivability.

If you want to go pods, there's a few alternatives, though IMO it typically raises other hassles around airflow when idleing, or driving, or when driving in the rain. PD160 negates this. Though the pod filter on the track car sounds flipping awesome, can't get that with PD160.

[sambb]

Instead of going to a $$ PD160 snorkel that is still pretty constricted before it enters the airbox, I went for a convoluted 3in pipe. My 3in pipe enters the airbox through a modified entry.... I used a heat gun to soften the entry tube into the airbox whilst jamming a cone shaped die into it to create a flared trumpet. Over that I fitted a 30 degree bend of 90mm stormwater pipe/gutter fitting which was also heated and molded to fit over the trumpet I'd made. Its a really nice smooth sealed and large entry now and was all sprayed black afterwards to look stock. At the front of the engine bay the 3in pipe was shaped to fit inside the stock cold air feed behind the grill.
I've used K&N drop in replacement panel air filters and stock ones too - can't tell any difference between them though.

[PoloMint]

Cheers Sambb I like the simplicity of it. I also understand peoples points of view in regards to running a pod. Thanks to all the replies so far!

[noone]

I've tried a few options, the best IMO is;
PD160 (or custom version if you like)
Pod in the box / Gav's custom

I've had an open pod, custom heatshield, original setup, panel filter, etc.

If you're chipped, its worth it, if not, spend the money on a chip.

[sambb]

Yeah noone is right. Save for the tune and/or dump first and foremost. In the meantime the cheapest and easiest thing to do is just take off the tiny stock snorkel and its tiny entry at the grills cold air duct and bung on a cheap 3in convoluted tube from autobarn and fix it with cable ties in underneath the slam panel behind the grill. I only mucked around with mine because I had all the tools at my disposal on loooong night shifts.

[Paazuzu]

I've tried a few options, the best IMO is;
PD160 (or custom version if you like)
Pod in the box / Gav's custom

I've had an open pod, custom heatshield, original setup, panel filter, etc.

If you're chipped, its worth it, if not, spend the money on a chip.

PD160 + Gav's pod in a box is a really nice mod. Great throttle response and works nicely with the stage 2 cc tune.