I'll be getting my Civic in a week or two and one of the first things I'm gonna buy is a new intake. I'm looking at CAI's off of eBay and are they worth it? For like $50 you get the whole thing shipped to you which is so cheap compared to AEM models which are like $200. The construction of the piping and everything doesn't look like it is of lesser quality of the AEM brand. The one thing I have heard is to swap out the cone for a name brand cone.
So is an eBay CAI good?

 

Please search, as this topic has been discussed many times. Check out this thread.
https://www.hondacivicforum.com/foru...ht=ebay+intake

The big difference is research and development. Companies such as AEM, Injen, etc put time and money into making the product. Ebay companies simply replicate it. You are 100% right regarding the filter. Buy an intake off of ebay, ditch the filter, and buy something like a dryflow filter.

AEM is C.A.R.B. approved, so it is legal in Cali. where the rules are oh so strict. Ebay intakes are not.

 

Just so you know when you look into buying future parts for your civic, you get what you pay for.

AEM might be more expensive, but i will do more than a simple ebay pipe.
If you are short on money than just buy the piping off ebay and get a k&n filter or similar brand.
If you have the extra money, get an AEM one. They add a little hp and sound nicer.

 

i vote aem all the way

 

:|

omg dont even bother.

what future mods do you have planned for the car?