Cp-e Xcel Nano install and review w/ pics n vid

[copperkid]

I picked up an Xcel Nano today from Cp-e. As always the Cp-e staff was great and I was in and out with the new intake.

What’s in the box:

​

Initial impressions 10/10

The quality is top notch. The MAF housing was nicely machined and constructed. I believe the aFe wet filter is the same one found on Cp-e's CAI. All the hardware and filter were well packaged and organized. The Nano includes fully illustrated step by step color instructions.

​

Installation 8/10

Installation was straight forward and relatively easy with the provided instructions.

The filters frame support/mount is better designed than Cobb's. It's not hard to install the small machined piece over the battery tray studs. The thick rubber mount looks like it will allow the intake to freely move with the engine and not put pressure on the battery bracket.

The trickiest part was adjusting and installing the vacuum hose to the MAF housing. The fittings on the vacuum hose do rotate, but since the hose doesn’t bend much it puts some minimal pressure on the whole intake. It did take some adjusting of the silicon elbow and MAF hosing to get everything tight and straight.

The final step involves installing the air filter.

​

Performance 10/10

The car definately feels faster! The engine revs up much faster. I have a friend with a Cobb SRI and I would say the performance is comparable. You can definitely hear the turbo spool up and the BOV with this intake. I would say the intake noise is mild to moderately loud.

​

Things I would improve:

The machined MAF housing or the filter need to have a built in stop. It’s too easy to slide the filter over the MAF housing too far. This would affect the performance of the filters molded velocity stack.

I would slightly adjust the position of the vacuum attachment point that extends from the MAF housing to reduce the pressure the vacuum hose puts on the whole filter.


Overall Rating 9/10

I would highly recommend this kit to anyone looking for an SRI for their MS3.

Coming soon, full review on the Racing Beat CBE for the Mazdaspeed3!

 

[SHaW]

Look at the quality of that SRI. Props to CP-E. Thanks for providing a nice review of something everyone has been wanting to see a review on.

 

[paylew]

Sweet review, I've been thinking about getting one.

 

[skubidoobie]

When are they releasing the color options? I want a red one.

 

[desperado-c]

Congrats and thanks for taking the time to post all that up. Very nice for you that you could p/u in person. I guess not everyone at CP-e is at SEMA!

 

[ms6acton]

nice review, defin picking one up

 

[PCspeed3]

I want dat, looks very nice. I wonder when SU will ship em'

 

[desperado-c]

I want dat, looks very nice. I wonder when SU will ship em'

Monday.

 

[JerAyala]

I placed my order with CP-E. :3

 

[714ms3]

I am jealous. I can't wait for mine to arrive.

 

[dan7225]

(idhitit)
why the hell dont these guys make the rest of the intake is beyond me! i mean come on... $200 for a maf housing and filter. not a bad deal, assssss compared to what every body else does (you know, the same product for the same price, yippeeeeee!)

here's a novel idea. lets make an sri with a turbo inlet pipe and sell it for say... the same or even less than a cpe cai. why is it that just because the parts can be called different names that you have to be charged separately for each. really, how hard is it add another small mandrel bent pipe and a couple of couplers (that sounds similar (eyeballs)) and complete the whole air intake system, because $200 for a cai and another $200 for a turbo inlet pipe is just plain rediculous.

yea, yea, yea,,,,,,, "but it costs so much money to make those maf housings that are within plus or minus .000000001 of an inch.

Here's a real challenge for CPE and Cobb. Why not make an sri with the super-extra-bonus "turbo inlet pipe" and sell it for less than $300. I dont think anyone would disagree, that this would dominate the market and give the consumers the feeling that they actually got a part worth more than they paid.

 

[mr_mazda329]

Woohoo, going to SEMA tomorrow

 

[PCspeed3]

woo gettin' mine next week! Pray to god no CEL's, but what do I care, I already have the damn TPMS light for my snow tires blehh.

 

[skubidoobie]

So no word on color options? And I definitely agree with you Dan (hey, that's my name!) because I would buy the cp-e combo in a heartbeat if priced right.

 

[Circle9]

Waiting on mine, maybe by next Wednesday?!

 

[desperado-c]

woo gettin' mine next week! Pray to god no CEL's, but what do I care, I already have the damn TPMS light for my snow tires blehh.

It's CP-e. You made the right choice if you're worried about cels. That's why they call their intakes "X-Cel".

 

[badmotorfinger]

Thank you to the OP for thorough initial review. Looking forward to some dyno numbers. Now where is that dang UPS truck?

 

[Sport6]

(idhitit)
why the hell dont these guys make the rest of the intake is beyond me! i mean come on... $200 for a maf housing and filter. not a bad deal, assssss compared to what every body else does (you know, the same product for the same price, yippeeeeee!)

here's a novel idea. lets make an sri with a turbo inlet pipe and sell it for say... the same or even less than a cpe cai. why is it that just because the parts can be called different names that you have to be charged separately for each. really, how hard is it add another small mandrel bent pipe and a couple of couplers (that sounds similar (eyeballs)) and complete the whole air intake system, because $200 for a cai and another $200 for a turbo inlet pipe is just plain rediculous.

yea, yea, yea,,,,,,, "but it costs so much money to make those maf housings that are within plus or minus .000000001 of an inch.

Here's a real challenge for CPE and Cobb. Why not make an sri with the super-extra-bonus "turbo inlet pipe" and sell it for less than $300. I dont think anyone would disagree, that this would dominate the market and give the consumers the feeling that they actually got a part worth more than they paid.

If they did that, then it would limit the orders on it because then people who already have an intake they like or would rather have a CAI are restricted on ordering another just to get the turbo inlet.

Its not really a good idea to package a few things together like that. Doesn't make sense to the consumer or the company. Ya it works great for a few people but not everyone.

Plus they are working on a silicon inlet pipe rather than metal piping(or whatever).

 

[ElSpeedDiablo]

You guys installed it, damn I thought Tom was gonna let me know, I wanted to see that thing in person, oh well. Are they still taking orders for these things?

 

[copperkid]

Sorry ElSpeedDiablo. Didn't know you wanted to check it out. Sent you a PM.