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Panel Filter or Induction Kit?

mashpotato_1981

Guest
Just a quick question to see whether a performance panel filter is better than an induction kit for a tdi leon?

Cheers
 
You'll get mixed reviews....

Open cone... good sound, suffers from heat soak so ideally needs a good cold air feed.

Panel filter... cheaper, doesnt suffer from heat soak, probubly not as effective as and open cone.

I put a green panel filter on my TDi 110 SE, feels more responsive on throttle, and also the revs sit lower when cruising, about 200RPM lower at 70 in 5th, so I guess... burns less fuel. Happy days!
 
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Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
I'm contemplating a panel or an open cone too. But after plenty of searches and reading, I've decided to just go what the hell and get myself a cheap universal open cone to sit inside original airbox (without lid on, as wont fit with it on), and will have an extra cold air feed running to it. If it doesn't work and goes wrong, then it's not cost me that much (£10), and can easily go out and get a decent specific panel filter(£40).

I basically just want some noise :p lol.
 
I'm contemplating a panel or an open cone too. But after plenty of searches and reading, I've decided to just go what the hell and get myself a cheap universal open cone to sit inside original airbox (without lid on, as wont fit with it on), and will have an extra cold air feed running to it. If it doesn't work and goes wrong, then it's not cost me that much (£10), and can easily go out and get a decent specific panel filter(£40).

I basically just want some noise :p lol.

I'll be following that if you do buddy... might have to follow suit... I wan't a decent cone, but 'stealthy' :whistle:
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
I'm just keeping an eye on ebay for a nice looking cheap one for under a tenner. I think the size of neck for the cone I need is 70mm? I measured it ages ago and that's what comes to mind anyway! Not getting a specific induction kit as they're stupid money for what they are! Already have a decent size cold air feed already. So could turn out to be another one of my traditional decent cheap mods :)

I'll let you know how it turns out! lol.
 
I'm just keeping an eye on ebay for a nice looking cheap one for under a tenner. I think the size of neck for the cone I need is 70mm? I measured it ages ago and that's what comes to mind anyway! Not getting a specific induction kit as they're stupid money for what they are! Already have a decent size cold air feed already. So could turn out to be another one of my traditional decent cheap mods :)

I'll let you know how it turns out! lol.

nice one.. I'll keep an eye on your build thread...

You gone back to uni now?
 

Gordz

Caught The Mod Bug Again!
May 31, 2007
1,325
1
North East
Not yet. Heading back on Sunday for the best week of the year... Fresher's Week :D:funk::drool::happy:;)[B)]:p

So that'll be a week of no driving and constant drinking for me. So no progress will be made on the old motor, lol. I've nearly finished my full LED interior light transformation though, so will get that posted up soon!
 

SalSheikh

Under the Hood
Sep 2, 2009
2,760
5
Midlands, UK
mate, i had a cone one on my golf tdi and it felt more responsive and the turbo spooled up quicker. i replaced it with a panel one and the car felt smoother to drive and the boost wasn't as quick to build up.

i used some aluminium hose from focus diy (£10) and attached it to the bottom of the bumper running upto the filter.
 
Not yet. Heading back on Sunday for the best week of the year... Fresher's Week :D:funk::drool::happy:;)[B)]:p

So that'll be a week of no driving and constant drinking for me. So no progress will be made on the old motor, lol. I've nearly finished my full LED interior light transformation though, so will get that posted up soon!

Nice one... fcuk a fresher?? I'm off to Bristol this weekend to do the very same.... :lol: you on any of the rugby teams??

Just that, I play for a National 3 team... we are looking to go on tour in wales... and wanna play some uni teams if they fancy it...
 
Mar 29, 2007
1,207
1
Berkshire
Does that mean that because I now have an extra 45hp my car should rev 2000rpm less at the same speed? :think:

Not having a go at all btw Ben. I'm just informing you that it's not possible if you understand fully how gearing works....
 

olliep

Wants a mk2 GTI
Oct 3, 2005
709
1
Winchester
i have to say it does sound slightly on the 'mechanically' impossible side.

One thing to note is that you need to ensure that your new filter is fixed to the body of the car to prevent it from killing your MAF
 
Does that mean that because I now have an extra 45hp my car should rev 2000rpm less at the same speed? :think:

Not having a go at all btw Ben. I'm just informing you that it's not possible if you understand fully how gearing works....

No I'll accept I am most likely wrong... lol...

Its just something I noticed... it may just be something I didnt really take much notice of, and think it now does...

You are most likely to be correct.
 
Mar 29, 2007
1,207
1
Berkshire
Another way to think about it is if you have me on my mountain bike riding at 20mph in 4th gear, the pedals will spin round at a particular speed. Lets say its 70 revolutions per minute in this example.

Now if we change this weak little engine (i.e. me) and put Lance Armstrong on my bike instead, and ask him to ride at 20mph in 4th gear his cadence will also be 70rpm.

The gearing is the same and the road speed is the same therefore the pedals must be spinning at the same speed. The main difference is he can get up to 20mph a hell of a lot quicker than I could! :)
 
Another way to think about it is if you have me on my mountain bike riding at 20mph in 4th gear, the pedals will spin round at a particular speed. Lets say its 70 revolutions per minute in this example.

Now if we change this weak little engine (i.e. me) and put Lance Armstrong on my bike instead, and ask him to ride at 20mph in 4th gear his cadence will also be 70rpm.

The gear is the same and the road speed is the same therefore the pedals must be spinning at the same speed. The main difference is he can get up to 20mph a hell of a lot quicker than I could! :)

Stephen Hawking (who I have met... funny story) couldn't of put it better...
 

cupra_ahhh

Active Member
Nov 4, 2008
1,203
11
Tonbridge, Kent
I have an 04 Cupra R and bought a performance panal filter to go in the OEM box which was great, but out of curiosity I then purchased a K&N induction kit for it at a price of £90....not worth it. I had it on for about 3 weeks and the performance was compromised, and I found myself needing to put my foot down more when accelerating, it felt really lumpy and an awful lot less responsive.

I put the performance panel filter back in and the car was sooo much more smooth and the lumpiness had gone completely. Of course I didn’t know the difference until I tired.

I trust that there are cone filters / induction kits out there that genuinely improve performance, I’m guessing they’re the ones that are going to cost upwards of £150.

As one of you guys have stated already, heatsoak is the biggest problem, and the Cupra R creates a hell of a lot of heat.

In my opinion, stick with a panel filter.
 
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