Here's the bit I wrote on the Ebay filters
While I normally don't weigh in on such threads you've managed to punch a hot button.
I too have wondered about the "Ebay intakes", primarily because they often sell for less than I can even buy the components that go into my intakes. It really all comes down to the old addage that you get what you pay for.
After purchasing several (3) of the Ebay intakes I have the following observations to pass on. While the following observations may not be the case for all intakes
sold on Ebay, there was a consistent theme in the ones I had purchased.
1. Filter quality.
A. Filter Material
All three intakes I purchased had used different filters but all had the same issues. All were not the tried and true oiled 4 layer cotton gauze that either S&B or K&N use. They were of single layer oiled paper material and only appear in the pictures to be of similar construction.
B. Filter element area.
All three had a reduced filter media area due mostly to fewer and shallower pleats. The reduction in area varied from the S&B filters I use by from 35% to 50% as measured on 7" filters. You could simply need 2 of their filters to equal one S&B or K&N, and even then the paper filter media is questionable
C. Filter screen material.
All three used steel wire mesh as opposed to Aluminum as used by K&N and S&B. Not pretty when your filter starts to rust.
D. Unsealed filter media.
One filter was actually not completely bonded where the filter media joined the base. A void in the seal actually allowed for unfiltered air to pass to the inside of the filter.
2. Tube material
A. Two of the three used thin guage aluminum tubes (half the thickness of my tubes) One of which was bent out of 5003 alloy (dead soft alloy) which would bend under the pressure of clamping the coupler or filter on to the tube. The third tube was injection molded plastic.
B. Chrome plating on the two metal tubes, as opposed to the ceramic coating I use.
3. Couplers
None of the three used High temp silicone couplers...rather they used plastic.
4. Clamps.
All three used steel rather than stainless steel clamps.
5. Instructions
Two of the three kits came without any sort of instructions.
6. Customer Support.
Your kidding of course?? Slow shipping! Up to 3X of actual, charged for shipping. Try to get a refund if your not happy. Go ahead and try some of the links to web sites...they more often than not, do not really exist.
It became quickly obvious as to how the intakes being sold were able to sell for the prices they go for. My fear was that I was missing something and that I needed
to re-evaluate my suppliers and components. After seeing the products for myself I decided that I will lose some sales, especially to the more price sensitive
customers, but that I have no intention of changing the components I use simply to remain cost competitive with Ebay and the quality provided. Their is simply no real
camparison that can be made other than pricing.
I'll be posting some pics of the filters that I have cut apart (both S&B and Ebay) on my website in the near future.
John Watkins
Intense Performance
)
