VW 1.8T Intake Guide

There are several key issues to consider when looking to purchase an intake for your 1.8T:

-Panel/Cone/Cold Air Induction
-MAF Concerns
-Price
-Performance
 

Panel/Cone/Cold Air Induction
   There are endless options when it comes to replacing the filter element for your VW 1.8T.  Heres just a short list of the possibilities:

  - Stock airbox, stock filter
  - Stock airbox, panel filter
  - Stock airbox, panel filter, cutout side of airbox
  - No airbox, cone filter, NO heat shield <- worst setup
  - No airbox, cone filter, heat shield installed
  - No airbox, cold air induction, cone filter
  - No airbox, no filter <- not recommended!

Stock airbox, stock filter
Highs - cheap to replace, comes factory equipped, sucks in cool air
Lows - restrictive filter and airbox, no diverter (DV) sound

Stock airbox, panel filter
Highs - cheap filter lasts long time, slightly louder DV sound, sucks in cool air
Lows - restrictive airbox, minimal gains

Stock airbox, panel filter, cutout side of airbox
Highs - cheap filter lasts long time, much louder DV sound, sucks in more air
Lows - still retains restrictive airbox despite larger inlet, sucks in warmer air

No airbox, cone filter, NO heat shield
Highs - much louder DV sound, sucks in more air than panel filter
Lows - sucks in HOT air which hurts performance

No airbox, cone filter, heat shield installed
Highs - much louder DV sound, sucks in more air than panel filter
Lows - sucks in warm air despite heat shield

No airbox, cold air induction, cone filter
Highs - loudest DV sound, sucks in COOL air, looks good installed
Lows - most expensive, longer installation time

No airbox, no filter <- not recommended!
Highs - no filter = no restriction, its FREE
Lows - can lead to major engine/turbo damage

MAF Concerns
   Will adding an intake cause my MAF to go bad??  Yes and No: There have been several people that have complained about failing MAF's due to changing out the stock filter panel. The only causes for this are related to an over oiled panel filter or a loosely mounted cone or CAI filter.  The over oiled panel filter will slowly build up oil on the MAF and cause it to fail. A loosely mounted cone or CAI will allow the MAF to move around and possibly knock into something causing failure. But theres always the chance that you've just got a bad MAF as well! Numerous individuals have reported bad MAF's using the stock airbox and filter. In my opinion this is a NON-issue when considering a performance filter for your 1.8T.
 

Price
   Prices for a performance intake will range from $49-$299.  The lower priced being the panel filter replacements and the high end being the cold air induction kits.
 

Performance
   Lets just put it this way, an intake isn't going to give you HUGE gains!  Actually an intake isn't even going to give you decent gains at all.  You'll be lucky to see about 5hp from an intake upgrade.  The other benefits of an intake upgrade include improved throttle response. That is, when you hit the gas it goes, less hesitation!  
   Of the various intake options there are to choose from the only two that I would even consider are a simple drop in filter retaining the stock box or a complete CAI.