GruppeM Carbon Airboxes for 355/360

[Skyler360Spider]

One of the F Chatters had inquired about Carbon Airboxes. I found an article regarding GruppeM's where they are good for 20 hp on the 355 and similar or more on the 360...of course you could add Larini Sports Cats on the 360 and get upto 32 ponies more. GruppeMs are hard to come by right now, I feel lucky to have mine last year.
Here' the info:

Tuning Japanese: A peek inside Gruppe M, Japan’s hottest tuner shop.

We are greeted at Gruppe M’s research and development center on the outskirts of Yokohama in Japan by company founder and president Mamoru Ogose. Many entrepreneurs tend to use their last names when it comes to naming their companies; Ogose chose his first initial as a symbolic nod to the company’s first-name-basis approach to business that goes back to when Ogose started his shop in the late 1980s.

Back then no one in Japan was making bolt-on air intake kits to upgrade horsepower, so Ogose fell into a market niche. Ogose says working for German Porsche tuner Ruf inspired him to create his own designs and build his own products. Before long he was collaborating with filter giant K&N, and his custom carbon fiber airboxes were fast becoming hot tuner commodities.

user posted image

Today Gruppe M has 12 employees and annual revenues of $4.8 million. It is a key supplier of carbon fiber air intake systems used in racing, mostly in the Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship and Japan endurance car racing, but also in Formula One and the FIA GT Championship in the United Kingdom. Tuning affiliates of Japanese car manufacturers—Mugen, Nismo and MazdaSpeed—also rely on Gruppe M for the development and construction of their road and race car airboxes and filter kits.

In the United States a small number of die-hard enthusiasts are on a first-name basis with Gruppe M, thanks to the company’s popular supercharger kit for the Acura NSX. The $8,000 kit, developed in collaboration with Eaton, features a small intercooler and pushes engine output from 280 hp to 370 hp. A 420-hp kit for the Mercedes-Benz E55 is available and can also be bolted onto the S55, ML55 and SL55.

It is not just the immaculately clean and organized operation at Gruppe M that sets Ogose’s business apart from his Japanese competitors, many of whom are backyard tuners laboring inside rough corrugated tin buildings. At Gruppe M all design, testing and development are done in-house—with all testing completed on the bench before the parts are bolted onto cars for road testing. For instance, to simulate high-speed cooling, a custom-built fan provides a constant 155-mph wind to keep the dyna*mometer cool and to create realistic intake charges.

It is no doubt a tribute to Ogose’s squeaky clean operation that customers entrust their very expensive and rare cars to his care. On the shop floor during our visit were a 1000-hp Koenigsegg Turbo Ferrari Testarossa getting fitted with a custom intake, a 996 Gemballa in for some engine work, and Ogose’s own rare 1972 Porsche Carrera 2.8 RS, a pet restoration project Ogose regularly drives on road courses.

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One of the crown jewels is Ogose’s Ferrari F355, outfitted with a $3,250 carbon/Kevlar airbox and K&N filters that boost output by 20 hp over a stock engine.

The shiny carbon fiber box, sporting the Gruppe M logo, looks right at home sitting atop one of Maranello’s beautiful engines. Ogose wouldn’t have put his first initial on it any other way.

Gruppe M, http://www.gruppem.co.jp

Article from: www.autoweek.com

[yellow 355]

I posted a thread last week regarding the use of MACARBON air boxs. They are sponsors on the board and need some feed back on there product. I love the GRUPPE M INTAKE but not the price point. The MACARBON is $1300 less then half the price. I have alot of experence in after market parts and yes there are huge $$$$ payed for Brands that sometimes are over priced.Your opinon....BEN

[F355Bob]

I have had the GruppeM air box on my 95 F355 for two years and I can tell you it does add power. I am not sure that the MACARBON has the same K&N filter inside. I saw this same filter on the LeMans Corvette and the Audi's.

[SP_wEaZeL]

Being able to deal with Gruppe-M USA extensively I learned a few things about the company. The quality, craftsmanship, and the time spent on these units are well worth it's value. I understand products like the MA Carbon intake covers are 1/2 the price, don't get me wrong, John has great products, but the Gruppe-M is a complete unit. The full replacement, with heat shield, and new K&N Air filters. Gruppe-M is also K&N Japan, and that wasn't just because he has the money to do it, but it's because K&N felt that their product and his worked well together. I've seen them on the 355/360/Gallardos/M3, and never once has there been any problems with them. The quality and fitment is unlike any other. The only bad thing, is the instructions are in Japanese, LOL. Regardless, I will continue to support the product as long as it's available here in the US. As far as proven test and horsepower gains, I can only say from talking to my customers that they love it and have noticed gains in their own opinions.

[awhite]

Originally Posted by SP_wEaZeL

Being able to deal with Gruppe-M USA extensively I learned a few things about the company. The quality, craftsmanship, and the time spent on these units are well worth it's value. I understand products like the MA Carbon intake covers are 1/2 the price, don't get me wrong, John has great products, but the Gruppe-M is a complete unit. The full replacement, with heat shield, and new K&N Air filters. Gruppe-M is also K&N Japan, and that wasn't just because he has the money to do it, but it's because K&N felt that their product and his worked well together. I've seen them on the 355/360/Gallardos/M3, and never once has there been any problems with them. The quality and fitment is unlike any other. The only bad thing, is the instructions are in Japanese, LOL. Regardless, I will continue to support the product as long as it's available here in the US. As far as proven test and horsepower gains, I can only say from talking to my customers that they love it and have noticed gains in their own opinions.

I am wanting one for my 360 (actually now for 2 of them) both 360's do yo uhave a hook up ?

-a

[SP_wEaZeL]

Originally Posted by awhite

I am wanting one for my 360 (actually now for 2 of them) both 360's do yo uhave a hook up ?

-a

It won't be for awhile since there is no real USA Gruppe-M now. It's a little tricky. =/

[riverflyer]

I got mine from www.gruppem-usa.com
They are a bit elusive but we worked out a very good price and both units I have ordered were sent out right away. They do have some supply problems from the Japanese end, but once here, are good about filling orders and will work with people.

[285ferrari]

Dam looks awesome. What actually gives the HP increase. I assume lighter weight. Better air flow??

[Modenafan]

Originally Posted by 285ferrari

Dam looks awesome. What actually gives the HP increase. I assume lighter weight. Better air flow??

I've heard everything from 8 - 22 HP. Has anyone ever dyno'd before and after? $3,000 is a lot for 8 HP, even though it sounds great.

[awhite]

Originally Posted by riverflyer

I got mine from www.gruppem-usa.com
They are a bit elusive but we worked out a very good price and both units I have ordered were sent out right away. They do have some supply problems from the Japanese end, but once here, are good about filling orders and will work with people.

that web address doesnt work..

-a

[SEAL2CC]

NAPerformance on this site is/was a dealer but some weeks ago said they weren't available until further notice so "don't request until he gets word they are", or something like that. I'm sure Kevin will check in on this. I'm intrigued for my 355 and will follow them. Esthetics if nothing else..they are gorgeous in the engine compartment..

Chris

[riverflyer]

Originally Posted by 285ferrari

Dam looks awesome. What actually gives the HP increase. I assume lighter weight. Better air flow??

Stock boxes are not very heavy so its all in the airflow. NO angles, all very smooth inside and a highly engineered structure/shape to deliver non turbulent. Supposedly, they do lots of air tunnel research on their products and really get the flow tuned, reducing turbulence and maximizing flow in the most advantagous current. This is what I was told by a Japanese company rep. Could be rubbish, but I think not, especially if you look at the two side by side. If you blow into a corner, you get backflow and misdirection. If you blow into a smooth curve, you get directional movement. I am no engineer, but just the shape and interior architecture convinced me.

[awhite]

Originally Posted by SEAL2CC

NAPerformance on this site is/was a dealer but some weeks ago said they weren't available until further notice so "don't request until he gets word they are", or something like that. I'm sure Kevin will check in on this. I'm intrigued for my 355 and will follow them. Esthetics if nothing else..they are gorgeous in the engine compartment..

Chris

I had placed an order with Kevvin like 9 months ago, and nada.. I just spoke w with someone from JP..

will keep you posted.. he acutally said they can ship now..

(I am ordering 2)

-a

[mgtr1990]

I agree it adds response on the throttle and the Dyno says HP also

[rbf41000]

I have one one my 360 and needed a couple of questions answered.
E Mailed japan and got the reply the next day from the company owner.


Russell

[wfo900]

Does this increase the induction sound as well?

[awhite]

okay so here goes...

I called and spoke with them in JP 2 days ago, and my unit is being shipped next week.

I wired the funds this morning, and they are getting it built and then shipped.

they said about 3 weeks total..

Not sure what Kevin from NA Performance was talking about or why this is happening this way, but I will have the answer in 3 weeks.

-a

[SROC4]

I know of a shop in Hong Kong who sells Gruppe M parts and other parts for the 360 and 430.

I bought a set of CSL wheels for my M3 when they were hard to come by. The pricing was reasonable.

It says on their site the Gruppe M airbox is $2,890. I don't think shipping will cost that much.

I'm not affiliated with them, I just want to help my follow fchatters out.

PM me if you guys are interested.

[awhite]

Originally Posted by SROC4

I know of a shop in Hong Kong who sells Gruppe M parts and other parts for the 360 and 430.

I bought a set of CSL wheels for my M3 when they were hard to come by. The pricing was reasonable.

It says on their site the Gruppe M airbox is $2,890. I don't think shipping will cost that much.

I'm not affiliated with them, I just want to help my follow fchatters out.

PM me if you guys are interested.

I got the Gruppe M airbox Carbon, with shipping for less then 2100.00

-a

[SROC4]

Originally Posted by awhite

I got the Gruppe M airbox Carbon, with shipping for less then 2100.00

-a

That's definitely a better price than the shop I was talking about. I think some of their carbon pieces are cheaper than other places. I just don't know about the fit and finish, but their M3 parts are good.

Aaron, post pics when it comes in!