Advice on BBK CAI

I have this intake on my car, so I may be able to help you.


1) This intake supposedly needs no tune. However, for some people, it threw codes after it was installed. I was one of the lucky ones who never received any codes. Every car is different. You should have it tuned to prevent the computer from throwing codes and to get the best gains from the intake.

2) You can take the intake off and reflash the car back to stock. If the dealership notices that it the computer has been reset, you can just tell them that you disconnected the battery. When you get the car back, you simply reload the tune.

3) It will not hurt your gas mileage enough to notice. I can't recall if I gained or lost mileage, but it has been over a year since I've had mine installed.



Hope that helps.

haha yeah that helps alot. hmm looks like my wallet is guna be around $600 lighter shortly . by the way, awsome ride spooky. i was guna get my mustang in black but after having a black f-150 for 4 years i was starting to get nightmares about another black car :laugh:

P.S. yes i know your a girl :bigthumbsup

oh, would i have to run a higher octane with the tune? gas prices in southern california arnt too friendly and im rather fond of 87 :gringreen

I have BBK CAI and my gas mileage increased (about a half mpg). I haven't tuned the car and things are fine. I'm running 87 octane and haven't had a problem. Make sure you unhook the battery before the install and you shouldn't trip the check engine light. A tune will give you the best preformance, but you can get by without it.

C&L > BBK :bigthumbsup

4.63vPower said:

C&L > BBK :bigthumbsup

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does the C&L require the programing?

Journeyman said:

does the C&L require the programing?

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Yes, unless you get the version that has the no-tune MAF housing insert.

if you go with c&l the c&l street doesnt need a tune but the race one does. try looking into k&n or airaid becuase they dont have the aluminum which can get pretty hot and raise the air temp. i have the airaid on my 06 gt and love it and my friend has the c&l street and he loves it so either one is good but the airaid is a bit cheaper.

forgot to mention neither one of those requires a tune either but the airaid has a removable insert which needs a tune if it is removed

ford2791 said:

if you go with c&l the c&l street doesnt need a tune but the race one does.

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That is incorrect. The C&L Street without the insert absolutely needs a tune.

Journeyman said:

oh, would i have to run a higher octane with the tune? gas prices in southern california arnt too friendly and im rather fond of 87 :gringreen

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No, you can get a tune for whatever octane you want as long as it is available in your area.

4.63vPower said:

C&L > BBK :bigthumbsup

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I can't say BBK is better than C&L because I've only had BBK and don't have any idea how the two compare to one another. I can say that the BBK is an intake of wonderful quality and that I've been happy with it so far. It is easy to install, not in a million different pieces, and everything is well constructed and designed. I had a Steeda intake and it was a Mickey Mouse piece of crap, but other people like it and it works for them, so that's all that matters.

Preston951 said:

Just my $0.02...

I originally wanted the BBK because it didn't need a tune & didn't want to screw the warranty.

Fortunately, I came to my senses and started looking around.

There are probably close to 20 CAIs for the S197 GT. Maybe 5-7 of them don't need a tune.

If you are worried about a tune... Look at it this way. If people were having problems with tunes & intakes, would so many people still be buying and using them? :scratchchin

I say spend the extra money and get 20+ hp with a CAI and tune vs maybe 10 on a non-tunable expensive BBK.


Check out the JLT... Its a heck of a lot cheaper than the BBK and you can put that saved money towards a tuner! :bigthumbsup

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thanks for the imput. yeah i REALY dont wana screw my waranty, i got a smokin deal on a full extended waranty so i want to still be able to use it(workin on my story for when i need to take it in as to why i needed to unhook my battery ). i plan on doin some more research for the right CAI from either C&L or JLT. they seem to be realy popular and i havent heard of many problems coming from them. ive got about a month or so till ill be financialy ready to pull the trigger which should be just about how long it will take me to make a decision :shigrin. thanks again to all who replyed, i know this must have been discussed a million times before

Journeyman said:

thanks for the imput. yeah i REALY dont wana screw my waranty, i got a smokin deal on a full extended waranty so i want to still be able to use it(workin on my story for when i need to take it in as to why i needed to unhook my battery ). i plan on doin some more research for the right CAI from either C&L or JLT. they seem to be realy popular and i havent heard of many problems coming from them. ive got about a month or so till ill be financialy ready to pull the trigger which should be just about how long it will take me to make a decision :shigrin. thanks again to all who replyed, i know this must have been discussed a million times before

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No problem! Let us know what you end up doing. You shouldn't ever have any problems, so don't fear the tune! :bigthumbsup

It's been discussed about 2 million times before, but each one is a little different!

C&L ftw, i think C&L is one of the best out there I have mine tuned for 94 octane. I would never get a CAI with out a tune whats the point you wont get the max performance out of it. Good luck with whatever you go with:bigthumbsup

stlwagon said:

That is incorrect. The C&L Street without the insert absolutely needs a tune.

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so leave the insert in