I put a K&N on my Larini

[TonyHetherington]

Mr Shangani very kindly loaned me a K&N filter, as I was curious about what difference to the noise it would make with my exhaust/de-cat combination.

The result? Well, to be honest, the noise of the exhaust is quite loud and so it 'drowns' any noticeable gain. The only time you really hear anything is when doing about 80/90 in 4th and put your foot down so the engine's under full load - and it simply sounds slightly deeper.

So, the conslusion; while I can't hear any MAJOR difference, I do like the current sound it makes and so I'm happy. I'll try and get some videos done so the difference can be heard but, to be honest, I'm unsure if it will come across on the video.

Thanks
Tony

[AlexT]

I have a Hurricane with my Larini and I really could not notice much sound difference either. (no decat btw).

The sound of the exhaust does, in large, drown out the sound of the induction. Which I thought was a bit suprising since the Hurricane was quite loud. Only time when I can really hear the induction sound is if I have the passenger door open and rev in neutral.

[AlexT]

BTW Tony did you notice any diff. in engine response with the K&N fitted?

[Mr_C]

Mine is the opposite you can hear the K&N over the Larini inside the car!!

But outside the car it's the exhaust which is by far the loudest.

[enjybenjy]

I'd say that there are two seperate sounds for me, my hurricane is really loud and is heard most when you boot it. The exhaust responds to higher revs IMO. I've got a Janspeed sports CAT to put on next week so I'm hoping I get the pops and crackles without going for a CRP and the MOT hassle.

[AlexT]

Let us know what the result is with the sports cat benjy!

[enjybenjy]

I will, I'll try and take a recording of it. Miles is fitting it on Monday!

[kevin ritson]

I fitted a Hurricane before shelling out on a Larini silencer and I can definitely hear the induction - the whole thing sounds wonderful

[TonyHetherington]

How interesting that we all find different things being the loudest (with what essentially amounts to the same set up in some cases!).

AlexT said:

BTW Tony did you notice any diff. in engine response with the K&N fitted?

Alex - certainly no noticeable difference. (though I did thing my car pulled particularly well at the weekend, but that was just 'one of those things' rather than because of the K&N!).

The biggest difference by far that my mods have made to my car was when I went from completely std car to larini back box; the revs felt so much more 'free'...not quicker or faster...but so much more free (sorry I can't be more explicit!)

[Mr_C]

yeah mine's like that,it doesn't sound like its straining itself to do high revs, it'll happily sit there.

[Skyman]

TonyHetherington said:

How interesting that we all find different things being the loudest (with what essentially amounts to the same set up in some cases!). AlexT said: BTW Tony did you notice any diff. in engine response with the K&N fitted? Alex - certainly no noticeable difference. (though I did thing my car pulled particularly well at the weekend, but that was just 'one of those things' rather than because of the K&N!). The biggest difference by far that my mods have made to my car was when I went from completely std car to larini back box; the revs felt so much more 'free'...not quicker or faster...but so much more free (sorry I can't be more explicit!)

Tony,
My 111R is due its 1k service at DL in two weeks and I am thinking of asking them to fit a new backbox. Current choice is a Stage 1 or a Larini Sports box. You seem to have had good experience of the latter. I assume therefore you would recommend it? Do you know the best place to source one, other than from Larnin direct?
Simon


>> Edited by Skyman on Wednesday 8th March 19:03

[lawrence5]

Got a B & C and 57i k & N and it sounds great - induction noise beats exhaust any day.

effectiveness is nil I'd say - less restrictive but picks up far too much warm air hence the hurricane and ITG boxed in filters. But then you lose the noise.....


didn't pick up the noise when I did a vid on my camera going under a bridge

[AlexT]

In terms of engine responsiveness, the fitting of the Larini made more of a positive difference than the Hurricane. This is not the first car that I have noticed this phenomenon on - seems that replacing the exhaust with a more free flowing item tends to 'free-up' the engine more than fitting a cone-style (K&N or other) filter.

[GTRene]

AlexT said:

In terms of engine responsiveness, the fitting of the Larini made more of a positive difference than the Hurricane. This is not the first car that I have noticed this phenomenon on - seems that replacing the exhaust with a more free flowing item tends to 'free-up' the engine more than fitting a cone-style (K&N or other) filter.

I'll agree with that, though both are importend ofcorse, its like breathing through a straw?, or breathing through a pipe...or blowing out through a straw or blowing out through a pipe...try that at home! take a 3mm straw and a 20mm straw...feel the resistence then think of your engine breating and blowing(not blow your engine though)
Specialy whit a turbo engine, I remembered with a Nissan GTI-R (4wd 220-300hp) I've had adding a K&N filter, means a bit more sound and a bit torque? but when adding that big pipe Mongoose System from turbo till end(without cat) give's me much more powerand a quiker responcing turbo! dropping the torque from 4800rpm to 3800rpm! and many pops out the exhaust, like the rally car that was the biggest difference I ever had on a exhaust, but remember this was a turbo, so normaly aspirated engines have not that big advantage, but ofcorse still ads a bit more! specialy when you do it all the way, so>> outlet manifold >> decat >> and silencers, so the complete system big bore pipes
GTRene

>> Edited by GTRene on Thursday 9th March 10:37

[enjybenjy]

I changed the exhaust on my old Elan Turbo and immediately gained 0.4 bar pressure! Went like stink. Easy mod, getting the exhaust gases out easier is much better than trying to stuff more air in. Sort the former out and the latter comes out in the wash!

[GTRene]

[Esprit]

I fitted my hurricane before I fitted my Larini (S1 Larini 4-2-1, decat and clubsport).... the Hurricane itself made the sound a LOT better and also made throttle response better (in conjunction with a 160TB).... with the Larini though it almost drowns the Hurricane out.... although not totally... the Larini is about the best thing you can do to an S1 IMHO as it improves the sound SO much, but the Hurricane is just the icing on the cake... just adds more of a bassline and howl when you're on wide open throttle My Elise is about perfect for me now All I need is an Emerald

[TonyHetherington]

Skyman said:

Tony, My 111R is due its 1k service at DL in two weeks and I am thinking of asking them to fit a new backbox. Current choice is a Stage 1 or a Larini Sports box. You seem to have had good experience of the latter. I assume therefore you would recommend it? Do you know the best place to source one, other than from Larnin direct? Simon

Hi Simon
First point to note is that I have a 111S, so the exhausts between your car and mine are significantly different. My experience of Larini has been very good but it is worth pointing out that a few members on here had some problems - delivery took a little while (in fairness this was because we ordered 20 exhausts at once) but also a few had some quality issues; pipes not being at correct angles, that sort of thing. Everybody has had, as far as I am aware, very satisfactory help from the guys at Larini though and are now enjoying the sound as they should

My personal opinion is GO FOR IT! I love the sound and I love what it has done for the nature of the engine (which I must again stress is different to the one in your car). Someone with a Larini on a 111R may be able to comment more; use the 'search' feature in the menus at the top of this page and look for LARINI, that should help out a lot.

I only know of going through the factory direct in the UK (which is essentially two very helpful guys). Mention to them you've heard about it through Pistonheads, they MIGHT be favourable with the price. I stress MIGHT.

So, do a search on here for owners with 111R comments, give Larini a ring, have a chat, ask them about the sort of noise etc (which they are more than happy to discuss) and feel free to ask more questions should you have any!

Hope that's all of help
Tony


(PS: I probably should stress that I have no connection with Larini AT ALL. Simply I bought they product and was really chuffed with it, prompting my videos etc)