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Review: 42 Draft Designs Mk4 1.8T High-Flow Intake System

7750 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  nicholsMKIV
A few weeks ago I finally bit the bullet and purchased 42 Draft Designs' new short ram intake system for the Mk4. Despite it only being listed for the Golf and Jetta, this intake fits without issue under the hood of my GLX. I made sure 42 DD knows that it fits too! :p

The price may seem steep at $330, but the craftsmanship is remarkable as you would expect from 42 Draft Designs. The unit came pre-assembled with new hardware and O rings to mate the adapter to the MAF. Not only that, but they machined an aluminum piece to adapt an included k&n valve cover breather filter to the SAI intake hose.

Their new intake uses a huge k&n cone filter with a 6" opening that fits over a beautiful velocity stack feeding into the MAF adapter. Installation was easy and took probably less than 10 minutes including removal of the stock air box.

Before anyone comments that CAI and short ram intakes do nothing for these cars, I was not expecting huge performance gains or colder intake temperatures. My car is still running a stock tune (waiting for a Revo sale), and a turbo-back exhaust is the only real performance mod thus far (gauges don't count in my book). 42 DD does claim some performance gains and backs them up with stats from a tuned Audi TT, but I doubt I'm gaining much on my mostly stock bug (My butt dyno is inconclusive yet very happy).

What I did gain was great acoustics from the open intake and the velocity stack that can only get better with a tune and Samco TIP. Not only that but the piece is beautiful and grants me a little more space in a very cramped engine bay.

Overall, I am very happy with my intake and I feel it is my duty to share with everyone my great experience with a fairly new product.

Product link and installed pictures below.

VW Mk4 1.8T High-Flow Intake System





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Pics aren't working; that looks like a extremely well made and beautiful piece, dare I say... almost a work of CNC art? :)
Pics aren't working; that looks like a extremely well made and beautiful piece, dare I say... almost a work of CNC art? :)
What He said.
Can't see nary a pic :(


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
Google Drive why don't you play nice! I guess I could see them since I'm logged into Google :rolleyes:
Should be fixed now.
Could we get some larger pics? I'm having trouble counting the individual electrons orbiting each atom.
How about posting a video; of how it sounds running and revved up? Inquiring minds want to know and hear! :)
How about posting a video; of how it sounds running and revved up? Inquiring minds want to know and hear! :)
Good idea! Sorry it took awhile to get a video together. It's been a busy Memorial weekend.

Here is a short video taken on my phone so it's a bit grainy.
Don't mind the noise in the background, I had my garage door open.

Link:42 Draft Designs intake 2003 VW Beetle 1.8t - YouTube
Thanks for the video that sounds really nice; it sounds like it is very free flowing, with very little restriction at all! :) So what is your "butt dyno" telling you; now, that you have some time driving around with the upgrade installed? How is the throttle response and has the acceleration improved any? I would assume; that would be the primary benefits of such an upgrade! :)

What is your engine set up and have you done any mods to it; or is it essentially a stock motor? From what you're saying; it sounds like it is mostly stock. I would assume; you would see the real benefits of this part, with a tune or other upgrades. Like a bigger turbo! :)
Besides the intake, the only real mods I have on the bug is a 3" Downpipe/cat connected to a 2.5" exhaust. I plan to chip the car this summer, revo is what's closest so I'm waiting for a sale, and then focus on the suspension. It really neds some new struts so I'm going to wait to save up for a set of Koni FSD with eibach springs.

As for butt dyno ratings, It certainly feels like the turbo spools a bit quicker and pulls slightly harder. Mostly it is really fun to hear the intake sucking in huge amounts of air and the DV go "pssshht" or stutter at low throttle.
k

Okay so it looks good and I'm totally jelly, but what good does it do for the car? IMO, With a 2003 year model car you might want to start concentrating on the fan control module, SAI Pump, both electric fans and the fuse box on top of the battery because those problems are coming just around the corner for ya. good luck man
Okay so it looks good and I'm totally jelly, but what good does it do for the car? IMO, With a 2003 year model car you might want to start concentrating on the fan control module, SAI Pump, both electric fans and the fuse box on top of the battery because those problems are coming just around the corner for ya. good luck man
Honestly, the money for this was set aside for an apr tune when they went on sale a couple of months ago. That, unfortunately, fell through when I found out that apr can only direct port a tune to AWV beetles. So I wasted three days while my car had its brain at ECS. In my frustration I used that money to buy this intake and a few other things from 42 Draft Designs to wire up my water temp gauge. I had been eying this intake since they released it 5-6 months ago.

I'll still get a tune, Revo likely, and I know there are needed things coming up on the horizon. Luckily the previous owner had to replace the fuse box on the battery shortly before I bought it. If the SAI pump does fail, I'll probably just delete it:

VWVortex.com - DIY: Ultimate SAI/N249/PCV/EVAP Delete

This mostly ensures my continued interest in my beetle for those times I get frustrated with the unexpected maintenance.
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Have you had any problems with your SAI filter? I've had my intake since July and noticed yesterday that the rubber is melting away... It's almost torn itself off from where the hose clamp is and rubbing it with my finger makes the rubber crumbles.

I have mine placed a little higher than yours so interested to know how yours is holding up.
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