i'm looking around at cold air intakes for my 98 avenger 2.5l...and well, is it really worth it to spend $250 on an overpriced k&n cold air intake versus a $50 no-name brand off of ebay? i seriously don't see what's so complicated about it, it's not like you can have a bad quality "pipe" or anything, just the filter itself, and i can always just buy a replacement filter for it somewhere else...but $250 for a pipe and an air filter?

what gives?

 

The difference is that K&N has taken the time in development to make it functional. Most of the ones for 250 are a full kit w. a new "airbox". The cheapy e-bay ones are just a polished alum. tube w/ a filter that you can get in a 1 or two piece. the one piece puts the filter directly behind the radiator......infact turning it into a hot air intake unless you are going to box in the filter. The two piece ones tend to go down to the bottom of the radiator sucking up water and dirt kicked up b the front tires........I got the one piece e-bay special for my car and it actually made my check engine light come on, when i scanned it the code was "intake air temp hot"

 

Also, some of the e-bay ones run the Valve Cover breather hose onto the back of the intake right by the throttle body...........and everyonce and a while the hose tends to get pinched when you shut the hood..........and then building up some pretty good pressure in your valve covers, which will make them spit oil and that = NO FUN!