Simota CAI Review for the Z4M

GammaZeta · 10-01-2012, 06:21 PM

Today, as I arrived home, I spotted an unexpected surprise waiting for me on my doorstep. My first in the world Simota Carbon Fiber CAI for the Z4M arrived 2 weeks early today!

Here is my original post: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=739105

Since I literally installed in just 2 hours ago and just took it for a quick 10 minute drive, pics and video will be coming in a few days. These are just my very, very initial impressions.

Noise: The #1 thing of any CAI is what noise it makes. And I must say, the Simota CAI makes a GLORIOUS sound. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Now I have never heard the Gruppe M in person, but this is what the Simota is supposedly modeled after. I have owned an aFe CAI, and sold it.

The Simota, when driving normally or slow, really sounds stock, maybe 10% louder. Cruising around my condo complex, I didn't really hear much of a difference. In fact, if you baby it, you can make it sound stock if you keep it in the right RPM range.

However, after 3k/4k to 5k/6k RPM's, it turns into a growling beast and THEN, after 5k/6k it turns into an exotic sounding car with the true S54 noise kicking in.

You can keep the sound tame if you don't throw down your foot. But once you accelerate, BAM!, your engine sounds like it was just unleashed.

Now I had the aFe on my car and I did not like it. The Simota is a much, much different sound and range. With the aFe, it was quiet until 4k and then NOISE, NOISE, NOISE, NOISE, NOISE. It just didn't sound natural to the S54 engine. It sounded more like a 4 banger trying to be a V8. It sounded metallic, and forced. It sounded like a fat broad trying to put on skinny jeans.

The Simota has a nice growl to it. It COMPLIMENTS the natural sound of the S54. When you get into higher RPM's you can actually hear the vanos working with a slight pitch to it. Not a high pitch, but the sense that the mechanics are revving at a high degree. No metallic or tinny sound what so ever. A nice, even purr and growl.

Performance: A little tough to tell right now. I could tell my car is adjusting to the different intake. A few stutters went away as I drove on. I only got up to 4th gear, so no highway travel yet. No noticeable improvements, and no noticeable decreases either. I just need to drive the car for a bit more to let it smooth out. Remember, you will NOT get 10 hp from a CAI. It is for the aural pleasure and sound that you put it on.

Build Quality: Well, you can tell it is of high quality, but you can also tell it is a limited production. It's a little loose right now in the engine bay, I need to tighten some things up and adjust a few things. You can also tell the carbon fiber is hand made. Pretty easy install, but the directions SUCK. Also, this is not a true cold air intake. The intake part of the CAI does not wrap around the front of the air intake. In fact, it's pretty wide open. I don't see how they can put the word COLD in there.

For those who are looking to get more noise from your car, but don't know what exhaust to get, or maybe don't want the aFe, then the SIMOTA is the option for you.

It provides great engine noise, easy to install, and it's NOT ANNOYING or has DRONE. It's the perfect accessory to make our cars sound like they should have from the factory. Tame enough for regular driving, and a BEAST when you throw it down!

itdnwiwbp · 10-01-2012, 06:58 PM

Thanks for the review. Looking forward to some sound clips and videos.

txz4 · 10-01-2012, 07:12 PM

In for updates! really interested.

VinnieAces · 10-01-2012, 07:15 PM

nice review so far! waiting on pics/vids

GammaZeta · 10-01-2012, 07:33 PM

Quick crappy cell phone update. I can set up my video camera on a tripod to do some drive bys, but I have no clue how to edit them. If I send the raw footage to someone, could they cut it down so I can post it on YouTube?

Kgolf31 · 10-01-2012, 07:35 PM

Keep me updated on any heatsoaking issues.

GammaZeta · 10-01-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Keep me updated on any heatsoaking issues.

How would I tell heatsoak issues? What should I look for?

Kgolf31 · 10-01-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

How would I tell heatsoak issues? What should I look for?

Usually occurs on hot hot days where you're sitting idle in traffic...etc

You'll generally notice a loss in power, although not much...

GammaZeta · 10-02-2012, 03:56 PM

Good News: I was able to do a quick video despite the rain. It gives you an idea of the sound. Quality, of course, is not great and I had NO PLACE to mount the video camera. I was only able to get up to 3rd gear and I didn't really push it past 6k RPM's. It will give you an idea though.

Bad News: I just got word today that my wife's department has a meeting next week to discuss "reorganization", so depending on how that goes, I may have to post it in the classifieds. BavAuto show this Sunday, new CAI comes in 2 weeks early and BAM!, this drops.... life sucks sometimes.

txz4 · 10-02-2012, 04:07 PM

Sounds amazing!!

As much as i would love to buy that off you, i wish you and your wife the best of luck with everything, i hope to not see that intake in the classifieds!

GammaZeta · 10-02-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txz4

Sounds amazing!!

As much as i would love to buy that off you, i wish you and your wife the best of luck with everything, i hope to not see that intake in the classifieds!

Thanks, it's not going anywhere yet if I can help it!!!

StickMon · 10-02-2012, 10:15 PM

So it's a dry filter that's washable and warranted for 100K miles?

I'm going to go for this after I wait a couple months and see if you report any MAF or other related SES issues. Keep us posted.

P.S. Just listened to the video! Love it!

ricanbandit · 10-03-2012, 06:39 AM

Would love to hear it in action. Planning to head to the BavAuto show on Sunday (if it doesnt rain)

elerner61 · 10-03-2012, 07:20 PM

How about he it sounds when you come off throttle? Does it induce any nice burbling or popping ?

XMetal · 10-04-2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elerner61

How about he it sounds when you come off throttle? Does it induce any nice burbling or popping ?

I don't think an intake can induce any burbling or popping sound.

BTW...OP...is this a dry or oiled filter? What is the brand of the filter that comes with this intake? Thanks.

GammaZeta · 10-04-2012, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMetal

I don't think an intake can induce any burbling or popping sound.

BTW...OP...is this a dry or oiled filter? What is the brand of the filter that comes with this intake? Thanks.

Not sure if it is burbling/popping, but you do get a little extra something from the engine noise. I think burbling/popping is only from exhausts.

It's Simota brand. I touched the filter and it didn't appear to be greasy or anything. The instructions say washable and durable.

Walkurie · 10-04-2012, 09:24 AM

Really does sound good. Went to the website, which dealer did you use and what did it cost?

GammaZeta · 10-04-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbalutis

Really does sound good. Went to the website, which dealer did you use and what did it cost?

Be more than happy to help you out. But it looks like next week my wife may have a reduction in hours or job cut, so I would like to hold off so I can try to sell mine first if needed. I'd probably sell mine at cost -shipping if need be.

I just had my aero side skirts painted and installed, gotta do Inspection 1 in the Spring, and I found out I need new tires next Spring too. Can't justify the cost for a CAI intake right now. If I would have known, I would have postponed or sold my aeros first!

elerner61 · 10-06-2012, 01:09 PM

Burble would certainly only come from the exhaust but sometimes changing the intake on an engine will cause the fuel management to do some different things that might induce some wonderful sounds from the rear end

GammaZeta · 10-07-2012, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwflbimmer

I am seriously interested in getting one of these intakes. I hate to hear about employment down turns. It is time for the economy to recover! I know where my vote is going. Anyhow damn politics just pisses me off. If you have to let it go, let me know. Otherwise can you supply me with the company you ordered it from? I want to get one of these and have it installed by the 20th of the month. Big car show this month!
Thank You.

You will be 2nd in line. One person local is interested.

XMetal · 10-07-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwflbimmer

So share the company that sells them. Please

Why not just try contacting the company directly

http://simotausa.com/ or http://www.simota.com/

GammaZeta · 10-07-2012, 07:49 PM

If you can wait until Tuesday when I hopefully may or may not sell mine, I will give the direct contact info.

10-01-2012, 06:21 PM	#1
GammaZeta Captain 59 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 1 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ma iTrader: (1)	Simota CAI Review for the Z4M Today, as I arrived home, I spotted an unexpected surprise waiting for me on my doorstep. My first in the world Simota Carbon Fiber CAI for the Z4M arrived 2 weeks early today! Here is my original post: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=739105 Since I literally installed in just 2 hours ago and just took it for a quick 10 minute drive, pics and video will be coming in a few days. These are just my very, very initial impressions. Noise: The #1 thing of any CAI is what noise it makes. And I must say, the Simota CAI makes a GLORIOUS sound. It was exactly what I was looking for. Now I have never heard the Gruppe M in person, but this is what the Simota is supposedly modeled after. I have owned an aFe CAI, and sold it. The Simota, when driving normally or slow, really sounds stock, maybe 10% louder. Cruising around my condo complex, I didn't really hear much of a difference. In fact, if you baby it, you can make it sound stock if you keep it in the right RPM range. However, after 3k/4k to 5k/6k RPM's, it turns into a growling beast and THEN, after 5k/6k it turns into an exotic sounding car with the true S54 noise kicking in. You can keep the sound tame if you don't throw down your foot. But once you accelerate, BAM!, your engine sounds like it was just unleashed. Now I had the aFe on my car and I did not like it. The Simota is a much, much different sound and range. With the aFe, it was quiet until 4k and then NOISE, NOISE, NOISE, NOISE, NOISE. It just didn't sound natural to the S54 engine. It sounded more like a 4 banger trying to be a V8. It sounded metallic, and forced. It sounded like a fat broad trying to put on skinny jeans. The Simota has a nice growl to it. It COMPLIMENTS the natural sound of the S54. When you get into higher RPM's you can actually hear the vanos working with a slight pitch to it. Not a high pitch, but the sense that the mechanics are revving at a high degree. No metallic or tinny sound what so ever. A nice, even purr and growl. Performance: A little tough to tell right now. I could tell my car is adjusting to the different intake. A few stutters went away as I drove on. I only got up to 4th gear, so no highway travel yet. No noticeable improvements, and no noticeable decreases either. I just need to drive the car for a bit more to let it smooth out. Remember, you will NOT get 10 hp from a CAI. It is for the aural pleasure and sound that you put it on. Build Quality: Well, you can tell it is of high quality, but you can also tell it is a limited production. It's a little loose right now in the engine bay, I need to tighten some things up and adjust a few things. You can also tell the carbon fiber is hand made. Pretty easy install, but the directions SUCK. Also, this is not a true cold air intake. The intake part of the CAI does not wrap around the front of the air intake. In fact, it's pretty wide open. I don't see how they can put the word COLD in there. For those who are looking to get more noise from your car, but don't know what exhaust to get, or maybe don't want the aFe, then the SIMOTA is the option for you. It provides great engine noise, easy to install, and it's NOT ANNOYING or has DRONE. It's the perfect accessory to make our cars sound like they should have from the factory. Tame enough for regular driving, and a BEAST when you throw it down!
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10-01-2012, 06:58 PM	#2
itdnwiwbp Major 80 Rep 1,443 Posts Drives: 330iZHP Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Thanks for the review. Looking forward to some sound clips and videos.
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10-01-2012, 07:12 PM	#3
txz4 Major 59 Rep 1,097 Posts Drives: 2006 M coupe Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: san antonio, texas iTrader: (3)	In for updates! really interested.
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10-01-2012, 07:15 PM	#4
VinnieAces Lieutenant Colonel 92 Rep 1,603 Posts Drives: Imola Red Z4MC Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ontario, Can iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 Z4 M Coupe [8.00]	nice review so far! waiting on pics/vids __________________ ///M - Some Mods 'N Stuff
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10-01-2012, 07:33 PM	#5
GammaZeta Captain 59 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 1 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ma iTrader: (1)	Quick crappy cell phone update. I can set up my video camera on a tripod to do some drive bys, but I have no clue how to edit them. If I send the raw footage to someone, could they cut it down so I can post it on YouTube?
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10-01-2012, 07:35 PM	#6
Kgolf31 Brigadier General 460 Rep 4,531 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC, 2012 128i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (4)	Keep me updated on any heatsoaking issues.
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10-02-2012, 03:56 PM	#9
GammaZeta Captain 59 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 1 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ma iTrader: (1)	Good News: I was able to do a quick video despite the rain. It gives you an idea of the sound. Quality, of course, is not great and I had NO PLACE to mount the video camera. I was only able to get up to 3rd gear and I didn't really push it past 6k RPM's. It will give you an idea though. Bad News: I just got word today that my wife's department has a meeting next week to discuss "reorganization", so depending on how that goes, I may have to post it in the classifieds. BavAuto show this Sunday, new CAI comes in 2 weeks early and BAM!, this drops.... life sucks sometimes.
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10-02-2012, 04:07 PM	#10
txz4 Major 59 Rep 1,097 Posts Drives: 2006 M coupe Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: san antonio, texas iTrader: (3)	Sounds amazing!! As much as i would love to buy that off you, i wish you and your wife the best of luck with everything, i hope to not see that intake in the classifieds!
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10-02-2012, 10:15 PM	#12
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	So it's a dry filter that's washable and warranted for 100K miles? I'm going to go for this after I wait a couple months and see if you report any MAF or other related SES issues. Keep us posted. P.S. Just listened to the video! Love it! Last edited by StickMon; 10-02-2012 at 10:20 PM..
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10-03-2012, 06:39 AM	#13
ricanbandit Captain 29 Rep 782 Posts Drives: 2011 30i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Detroit Metro Area iTrader: (0)	Would love to hear it in action. Planning to head to the BavAuto show on Sunday (if it doesnt rain) __________________ 2011 30i [SIGPIC]/SIGPIC]
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10-03-2012, 07:20 PM	#14
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	How about he it sounds when you come off throttle? Does it induce any nice burbling or popping ?
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10-04-2012, 09:24 AM	#17
Walkurie Lieutenant 9 Rep 452 Posts Drives: 06 M Roadster / 99 Jaguar XK8 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Surf City, CA iTrader: (2)	Really does sound good. Went to the website, which dealer did you use and what did it cost? __________________ Vibra Technics engine mounts / Rogue trans mounts / Stoptech brakes / original owner
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10-06-2012, 01:09 PM	#19
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	Burble would certainly only come from the exhaust but sometimes changing the intake on an engine will cause the fuel management to do some different things that might induce some wonderful sounds from the rear end
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10-07-2012, 07:49 PM	#22
GammaZeta Captain 59 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 1 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ma iTrader: (1)	If you can wait until Tuesday when I hopefully may or may not sell mine, I will give the direct contact info.
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