Juster

i'd have to agree the M2 box is worth it. I dont know about waiting 2 months though. i'd much rather look on the parts for sale forum and find one there for a lesser price.

MilesBFree

iTrader: (2)

In terms of history, I recall that Pettit had the first of the box-type filters, although it didn't include a box per se. It used a piece of sheet metal that was bent to form the back and left-hand sides of the box, and relied on the fender for the right wall. I think it included weather stripping to seal to the hood, which would then act like the roof of the box. This was a great design, IMHO.

I can't remember if Pettit's instructions said to remove the foam next to the radiator. This would allow it to draw a lot of cold air, but it wasn't entirely a cold air intake as it was not entirely sealed and could draw a bit of hot air from under the hood.

M2 made the next leap forward by building the complete box. This one definately did say to remove the foam, as that space is the only major area from which it could draw air.

M2's was then knocked off by a lot of others, with varying degrees of quality.

I think these guys get screwed by a lot of the second tier players, as they invest the time to design these sorts of parts, make them work, and figure out how to mass produce them (if you can call the limited 3rd gen market a mass market). Then someone comes along, copies your design, and then sells it a bit cheaper since they didn't have the cost of designing it.

And then people get confused between your design and the inferior knockoffs (see the confusion above).

It would be one thing if the market was huge e.g.- Hondas) and could support a few knock-offs, but it just isn't for 3rd gens.

Cheers,

Steve

SanJoRX7

While I agree that there was probably some ripping off going on, doesn't it make sense? When there's a market for a product, and the demand can't be filled by the only distributor, it's only natural that someone will come along and build a different/better mousetrap to satisfy the demand (see your freshman year macro econ).

This *should* spawn healthy competition in the market, which would in turn (hopefully) drive prices down, and quality up, as the ever more demanding market continues to want better, cheaper products. The difference here is that our market is small, and the ppl distributing things know this, and can thus quasi-collude to keep prices high (after all, it's in their own best interest).

Now, on the subject of this intake, if the RX7Fashion model is 99% like the M2, but slightly cheaper, wouldn't you think that'd be motivation for M2 to get their act together and either make more of these boxes, sell them a little cheaper, and maybe, just maybe, be honest with their ETA's when people order things?

I for one have no sympathy for M2 about this and hope that someone that works there reads this post. While their products may have been great at one time, it's almost better to see them suffer a bit so that they can get the picture. *shrug*

MilesBFree

iTrader: (2)

Is it possible that due to the knocking off of their products (not necessarily different/better) and the limited demand that a particular vendor would give up stocking the part and make them to order since it was not economically viable? (freshman year physics - cause and effect) But that is just chicken and the egg speculation - unless someone wants to call M2 and ask :-)

Cheers,

Steve

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Or it could be that they are too busy with racing, and customer service is not a priority.

Johnny

what came first the chicken or the egg... damn you all must be 3gen nubies to think that m2 was the first intake box...because it was not...

god I feel old now....milesbefree you ought to know who too...you old time big lister

large_x7

iTrader: (1)

Yes, M2 makes them to order. That's what's been taking so long. They keep telling me that the shop is late getting this or that, or something didn't ship on time, and I will have the airbox next week.

potatochobit

iTrader: (1)

nah M2 always answers emails and is friendly so i dont think they are too busy racing. there just is no high demand for the products i think thats why they have started going to a production per order basis. keeping a large stock of intercoolers is very expensive. same with crooked willow.

pp13bnos

iTrader: (1)

So....if an individual was selling a used m2 box, what would you guys be willing to pay? Has, ohhhh say, maybe 300 miles on it. Good condition, but the owner is going single turbo soon, and won't need it. Just wondering. CJ

artguy

lol...that kind of thing pp is worth full price...get it now or wait...i wouldnt take a loss on that if i was selling it...but perhaps you would be interested in trading me for my pettit kit. lmao

j

large_x7

iTrader: (1)

Just called M2. Here is our conversation:

Me: Hi, I'm calling to check on the status of my airbox.
M2: Oh, hi Brian, it should be done this Friday.
Me: Is that a real "this Friday" or is a "this Friday" like you've told me every week for the past six weeks.
M2: Well, honestly it's probably more like next Wednesday.
Me: Okay what's the holdup?
M2: The airboxes are done, but they have to be anodized black. I can send you a raw aluminum if you want and you can have it sooner.
Me: No thanks. So there's only one step left?
M2: Yes
Me: OK then. I'll guess I'll just keep waiting...

Oh well. At least they offered to send me an "unfinished" one. By the time I get it, it will probably be over 3 months. You guys better be right! It better be worth the wait!

pp13bnos

iTrader: (1)

So m2 is no longer selling the carbon fibers ones? Or are they selling bolth? CJ

scratchjunkie

m2 is selling carbon fiber ones. the anodizing is for the back plate of the intake. don't stress to much large x7. you are going to have one of the best track tested and proven intake.

Amen

Ackman

So it's July now, did you ever get your intake, Large X7 ?

I'm looking to order one too...

large_x7

iTrader: (1)

Nope, still don't have it. I called them a couple of times today and nobody answered. I left them a message, but they haven't returned any of my calls yet. I suppose their products may be great, but if they were selling any other product, people would have stopped buying from them a long time ago.

I would think that if you ordered one now, you wouldn't have to wait as long because their build shipment is just about completed. That is assuming that they built more airboxes than they had orders for. Let me know how it goes,,,

kyle@insight

Dammit... this is exactly what I did NOT want to hear

I'm wanting to order the big SMIC kit from them, can I expect the same run around you guys have gotten?

large_x7

iTrader: (1)

I think that the RX7 Store actually still has some M2 side mounts in stock. At least they did the last time I was down at the store about a month ago. Can't tell you if they were the meds or the bigs, though.

The only reason (that I know of) why it is taking so long is because M2 didn't have any airboxes in stock and they had to have them all manufactured. I would imagine if they had some SMICs just lying around they could send you one pretty quick.

striker

I think the M2 has a better intake system then the rx7fashion one.

M2 - http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/M...erIntake3d.jpg

rx7fashion - http://static.zoovy.com/img/autoparts/-/cold_air_lid

The M2 goes farther down, and lets in "colder air" from the bottom. There is almost no way to duct air to the rx7fashion without cutting metal.

SanJoRX7

I still hate M2, but their intake sure is a damn fine piece of work.

large_x7

iTrader: (1)

Well, M2 was kind enough to call me two Fridays ago (July 11th) and tell me that they now have the airboxes in their possession and they would be shipping them out sometime last week. Our phone conversation (slightly paraphrased cause I'm typing this 10 days later):

M2: Just wanted to call and let you know that we now have the airboxes back from the shop and we should be shipping them out next week.

Me: Oh, cool. So I should look for the end of next week or early the week after?

M2: Yeah. Man, we just had about 20 or 30 of these on the shelf about 6 weeks ago, but we were all sold out. You just missed a shipment of them.

Me: Six weeks? How come you didn't send me one of those because I ordered my airbox at the beginning of April.

M2: (awkward silence, then...) Well, you must have just missed them cause we had about 20 or 30 of them.

Me: Okay, I'll look for it in the mail then.

For the record, I still don't have my airbox yet. BTW, not only did I place my order in April, but M2 charged my credit card in May! I put a stop payment on it because I don't like paying for things that haven't been made yet

Just to give you an idea of how long I have waited for this damn thing: Since ordering my airbox, a friend of mine has ordered, and received, a brand new Honda S2000!!! That's a whole ******* car! And its backordered by two months!! And it came from Japan!!

Arrgghgh!!!

zeravla

Large X7,

I bought some stuff directly from M2 before for my previous 3rd gen. They make good stuff, but it was a nightmare trying to get it. They didn't return calls, gave me the runaround, etc. I finally did get it though and was quite pleased w/ the products themselves (stage 2 complete kit).

For my current 3rd gen, I bought a M2 downpipe from a local place because he had them in stock. Also, I saw your thread on the M2 intake so I wasn't going to deal w/ the runaround... I bought a Rotary Extreme intake instead. I am quite familiar w/ both designs, having owned each, so I can compare the two.

They are the same basic design. RE is polished metal (aluminum?) whereas M2 is carbon fiber. They both use dual K&N's (supplied). They both sound the same during driving (factory blow off valve no longer supressed on either M2 or RE intake). Both have excellent finish. They both have the sleeve to shield the intake air from the radiator. The only significant difference is the lower intake outlet from the RE box is centered directly underneath the top one.... in other words, it's about an inch or so closer to the center line of the car. If you are still using the stock lower accordian tube, it will work, but if you're using hard intake pipes, the lower one will need cut.

Chuck from Rotary Extreme always answered my emails within a day. Top notch customer service and a great product in my opinion. Unless you really need that extra 1-2 weight savings, I'd just go with RE and have it in your posession within a few days.

Good luck,
Tony Alvarez
93 Base

ps- Another similar intake is the Rx7 Fashion. However, it does not have the shield that separates the cold intake air from the hot radiator air and costs about the same I believe.

GsrSol

Good luck on finding a used one!

The M2 cf box is all cf except for the back plate where the hoses connect, its aluminum.

Some people hate waiting, but as I've said in previous posts about M2, good things come to those who wait.

large_x7

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I've already resigned myself to just waiting for the M2 box. Although, as I said before, everytime I call, it'll be done "next week"

In fact, I called them so often, that they stopped answering the phone (they must have caller ID!) I just started leaving messages once a week.

I'll be sure to post a review of the airbox once I get installed though

Kento

and wait....and wait....and wait....and wait....

IMO it's BS to take $$ from a customer but not deliver, unless there are specific agreements to the contrary. I've heard way too many horror stories from friends to hand over my money but get nothing in return for months.

SanJoRX7

You know, it's one thing to put a deposit down on something you know you'll get in specific amount of time (like a car, or a house), but it's absolutely uncalled for and totally unprofessional of them to charge your card for something that hasn't even shipped yet. Good call to whatever it was that stopped their payment, because it's the right thing to do.

Hopefully since I have no money right now they'll be getting their act back together, because by the time I've got money and have done another 3-5 track events, I'm going to be looking at investing in an intake, exhaust and IC, and I really would like to keep M2 in the running.