I have a k&n induction kit on my VRS, but after reading about some problems with the turbo because of poor filtration I'm considering a PD160 intake. Is it better or is it worth keeping the k&n?

They're totally different parts. The "PD160" intake refers to the snorkel which leads from your slam panel into the airbox. The airbox and panel filter are exactly the same on the PD130 and PD160 engines.

Or to explain it another way, buying a PD160 intake doesn't mean you don't need a panel filter as well. But yes, I would replace your K&N with a standard paper filter, I did exactly that and it made no difference performance wise, but will give you OEM quality filtration.

Ahhh I see, so should I put the original air box back on then? And maybe just get an aftermarket panel filter?

Ahhh I see, so should I put the original air box back on then? And maybe just get an aftermarket panel filter?

No - stay away from aftermarket & stick to the standard air filter

Personally I would use the PD160 intake, the standard airbox, and standard panel filter.

I love the chatter the cone filter has give it tho :/

Shrug. You know what the risks are. I'd rather lose a tiny bit of induction noise than have to fork out £1k+ on a new turbo (since not many places do recons anymore). But each to their own, enjoy your mullered impeller blades

I think you've twisted my arm lol air box is going on tonight! Lol

They're totally different parts. The "PD160" intake refers to the snorkel which leads from your slam panel into the airbox. The airbox and panel filter are exactly the same on the PD130 and PD160 engines.

Or to explain it another way, buying a PD160 intake doesn't mean you don't need a panel filter as well. But yes, I would replace your K&N with a standard paper filter, I did exactly that and it made no difference performance wise, but will give you OEM quality filtration.

I'm a bit of a newbie here I have a 1.9tdi fabia pd100 if I was to buy a pd160 air intake would it do anything performance wise like a bigger boost? And would I the worth doing before a map? Cheers

A lot of people think it doesn't do anything. The standard intake is generally fine. But then SEAT put it on the PD160 engine for a reason. If you can find one for a reasonable price, it can't really hurt, but they're about £90 or something insane so I wouldn't go as far as buying a new one.

I'm a bit of a newbie here I have a 1.9tdi fabia pd100 if I was to buy a pd160 air intake would it do anything performance wise like a bigger boost? And would I the worth doing before a map? Cheers

Id just leave the intake idea well alone & pursue a smooth remap instead. Extra air doesn't help diesels the same way it does petrols, the key to power on diesels is fueling :-)

There's a YouTube vid of a tuning company proving this point.

They ran rolling road tests on a diesel Ibiza, 1st with the standard air box & then with the airbox and filter removed entirely! (ie absolutely zero intake restriction) -

The result? Identical readings!

In some cases more air can actually reduce power.

Id just leave the intake idea well alone & pursue a smooth remap instead. Extra air doesn't help diesels the same way it does petrols, the key to power on diesels is fueling :-)

There's a YouTube vid of a tuning company proving this point.

They ran rolling road tests on a diesel Ibiza, 1st with the standard air box & then with the airbox and filter removed entirely! (ie absolutely zero intake restriction) -

The result? Identical readings!

In some cases more air can actually reduce power.

hmm interesting, didnt know this

I had a K&N when I bought mine, It came with it... My got it sounded so nasty I was embarrassed to drive it. No chatter just a nasty whooooooooooorrrp

I went for standard air box, PD 160, Cut away the plastic flap and got a IYG panel filter.

Edited 22 November, 201114 yr by leehowling

Id just leave the intake idea well alone & pursue a smooth remap instead. Extra air doesn't help diesels the same way it does petrols, the key to power on diesels is fueling :-)

There's a YouTube vid of a tuning company proving this point.

They ran rolling road tests on a diesel Ibiza, 1st with the standard air box & then with the airbox and filter removed entirely! (ie absolutely zero intake restriction) -

The result? Identical readings!

In some cases more air can actually reduce power.

Thanks, so if I wanted to tune my car even more after in map what would be the next steps? New turbo, new intercooler, them forge pipes, and a pd160 intake and a stage two map? I am all new to modifying (18) nice one matey

Honestly, if you're 18, run your car standard and build up a few years NCD. As soon as you declare any mods your insurance will probably go even further through the roof than it already is at your age, and if you don't declare your mods then you're a scrote and I will be duty bound to hunt down your car, find you, and give you a slap

Honestly, if you're 18, run your car standard and build up a few years NCD. As soon as you declare any mods your insurance will probably go even further through the roof than it already is at your age, and if you don't declare your mods then you're a scrote and I will be duty bound to hunt down your car, find you, and give you a slap

Haha, it's not too bad at this moment in time (fleet insurance) its £1600 and they didn't bother to much about mods

Id just leave the intake idea well alone & pursue a smooth remap instead. Extra air doesn't help diesels the same way it does petrols, the key to power on diesels is fueling :-)

There's a YouTube vid of a tuning company proving this point.

They ran rolling road tests on a diesel Ibiza, 1st with the standard air box & then with the airbox and filter removed entirely! (ie absolutely zero intake restriction) -

The result? Identical readings!

In some cases more air can actually reduce power.

I've been telling them this for ages, they simply put their fingers in their ears and go "LALALALALALALALA I'M NOT LISTENING", then they say things like "well it definitely improved my throttle response lol" because fitting that £90 piece of plastic increases induction roar slightly. For these people tuning is a matter of belief and I'm afraid baffling them with the facts won't make a blind bit of difference, let them waste their money.

I've been telling them this for ages, they simply put their fingers in their ears and go "LALALALALALALALA I'M NOT LISTENING", then they say things like "well it definitely improved my throttle response lol" because fitting that £90 piece of plastic increases induction roar slightly. For these people tuning is a matter of belief and I'm afraid baffling them with the facts won't make a blind bit of difference, let them waste their money.

Well for starters you haven't been telling me this for ages.. And as stated I am new to all this so I don't have a clue on how to tune my car to its best possibilities. I did also thank mark for his reply and for giving my the information so there was no need to come up with this crappy remark. We all started somewhere so don't go embarrassing yourself.

I love the chatter the cone filter has give it tho :/

Try a paper cone? Plenty around from the likes of FRAM etc...

I've been telling them this for ages, they simply put their fingers in their ears and go "LALALALALALALALA I'M NOT LISTENING", then they say things like "well it definitely improved my throttle response lol" because fitting that £90 piece of plastic increases induction roar slightly. For these people tuning is a matter of belief and I'm afraid baffling them with the facts won't make a blind bit of difference, let them waste their money.

I'd probably agree with you but 1) I didn't fit mine so it'd actually cost me more to go back to standard (unless I find someone who wants a 160 anyway) and 2) I kind of believe it does something else SEAT wouldn't have spent money developing it for the PD160 anyway? No point putting it on a PD100 since the standard intake is fine for 130bhp in a vRS anyway, but if SEAT believe it was necessary to put the R&D into it for the 160 engine then IMO it's worth having for anything from a remapped vRS upwards which would be putting out the same 160bhp from what is almost the same engine.

Happy to be proved wrong as always, but I've never seen any dyno runs directly comparing the two intakes.

Well for starters you haven't been telling me this for ages.. And as stated I am new to all this so I don't have a clue on how to tune my car to its best possibilities. I did also thank mark for his reply and for giving my the information so there was no need to come up with this crappy remark. We all started somewhere so don't go embarrassing yourself.

I wasn't replying to you, and if you'd bothered to use the search function you'd find that I have said all this before and it's in a sticky called "The definitive PD160 thread" or somesuch tosh, so don't be so lazy and do your homework first!

I wasn't replying to you, and if you'd bothered to use the search function you'd find that I have said all this before and it's in a sticky called "The definitive PD160 thread" or somesuch tosh, so don't be so lazy and do your homework first!

I don't do homework I left high school 3 years ago.

I'd probably agree with you but 1) I didn't fit mine so it'd actually cost me more to go back to standard (unless I find someone who wants a 160 anyway) and 2) I kind of believe it does something else SEAT wouldn't have spent money developing it for the PD160 anyway? No point putting it on a PD100 since the standard intake is fine for 130bhp in a vRS anyway, but if SEAT believe it was necessary to put the R&D into it for the 160 engine then IMO it's worth having for anything from a remapped vRS upwards which would be putting out the same 160bhp from what is almost the same engine.

Happy to be proved wrong as always, but I've never seen any dyno runs directly comparing the two intakes.

If you want to get rid of the PD160 (i'm in Nottingham), i'll have that off you for a good price of course