I recently purchased the Lem intake for a great price on eBay. I didn't buy it for the hp increase but more for aesthetics and it didn't disappoint. It sounds exactly like the factory tube which was no surprise.I also decided to replace the factory paper filter with an F sport reusable one. As I was about to replace it I thought about how I could make the sound more aggressive. I saw some previous posts about the previous generation f sport intake for the IS that had an additional hole cut into the box right behind the headlight, so I thought what the hell. 30 mins later with a dremel I cut out a good sized hole in the box where it sits behind the headlight.

On startup, no change. A couple a revs and still no change. Took it for drive and cruising around 2500 rpm still no change. But once I goosed the throttle the revs spiked to 4k and the noise that came from the intake was amazing! It roared like a lion with no raspiness. I won't make any claims about hp increase from the additional hole but the sound brought a huge grin to my face.

I don't know if the new filter had anything to do with it but cutting the additional hole was so worth it for the auditory benefit. Just wanted to post this for anyone looking to get a little more sound. The best part is if your just cruising the sound is like stock but once you peg the throttle it's pure music.

 

Our car have f sport air filter?

 

It's probably for the IS model, which happens to fit the GS box too.

 

I've been considering doing this mod as well. Did you take any pics of the air box after you cut out the additional hole?

 

Yes, its the same filter as specced for the current IS. I did'nt take any pictures but I marked on this image the shape I cut out.

 

Do u know if the IS intake box will be a direct fit in the GS engine bay?

 

That I couldn't tell you. Even though the air box uses the same shape filter there's no way to know how it sits on the fender. The air box has a curve that follows the contour of the wheel well.

 

That's a lot bigger than the hole I was going to make. I was considering cutting out a section similar in shape and size to the blue line shown below. I'd make the cut on the side of the air box closest to the fender (away from the engine).

 

Omg I'm doing this!! hahaa I also have Lem intake

 

Is there a source of cold air blowing into that area where the cut out is or will it be sucking in hot engine air?

 

That hole Faces the backside of the passenger side headlight. The original hole is connected to an Inlet tube coming from the side facing the engine. I chose this location As it was the same location as the original f sport box on the previous generation IS. I made the hole pretty big as my premise was the bigger the hole the less sound insulation would occur. The factory box insulates sound pretty good and since my whole intent was just to make it louder. The temperature of the air coming from this would not be any greater then if you went with a cold air intake

 

Any chance you can record this with windows up?

 

I'll give it a shot this weekend my wife usually drives the car during the weekdays

 

That's great thanks

 

Here's a video from this afternoon. The windows are closed but the crappy recording from my iPhone isn't accurate. The actual volume is much louder in person.