CSL Intake Pricing?

[Kipjames3]

For anyone who's done the mod lately, what did it cost you? Got quoted $6k recently at a local shop which included the karbonius box, snorkel, and a dyno tune. Just trying to see the going rate nowadays.

[tuxmonkey]

$6K?! That seems steep. I'm a novice, but the karbonius intake and snorkel is like $$3300 shipped. You can get the tune from HTE performance for like $500? IAT sensor kit is cheap and plug and play. I think you'll need a different DME if you have a later model M3. I have a 2002 and didn't need it so perhaps that's where the added cost comes in, I'm not sure on that though. $6K seems like a lot.

[elbert]

You are forgetting cost of shop labor (around $150-250/hr nowadays), which by itself will probably be $1000, if not more.
There is also the dyno time, plus all the little pieces (filter, hoses, clamps, mount clip, etc) that add up quickly.
And of course profit, since we're not fully socialists/communists (yet).

So yes, $6k may be on the high end, but depending on geography and the shop, it is IMO at least roughly in the ballpark.

[liam821]

Meh, I think in 2026, seems pretty realistic. $3500 in Karbonius parts, $1000 custom dyno tune, another $500 or so in misc parts, and another $1k in labor - boom $6k.

[Cubieman]

Do the install yourself, if you don't feel comfortable with the DME portion of it you can send your DME out or even buy a separate DME and stick your factory DME aside.

With so much documentation on this install its really not so bad, the hardest part may be wiring, but even that isn't bad once you get over the potential fear factor of wiring that some have.


Edit: Here in a DME for sale currently with CSL firmware and H bridge so it can run the flap even.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/classifieds/members-parts-for-sale-wtb/e46/571655-ecu-mss54hp-csl-with-flap#post613001

[9kracing]

Just get a blower and make some actual power for that kind of money

edit - emojis not working, imagine me smiling