AMS Cold Air Intake Review: 2023-2025 Nissan Z (RZ34)

A Nissan Z cold air intake is the single best first bolt-on for the 2023-2025 RZ34, and after installing dozens of them at NLP Performance we keep coming back to two kits: the AMS Performance Cold Air Intake and the K&N 69 Series Typhoon. The RZ34's VR30DDTT twin-turbo V6 makes 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft from the factory, but its compact parallel turbos are hungry for air, and the restrictive OEM intake tubes leave real, repeatable power on the table. In this review we break down what each intake actually does, the dyno numbers, install time, sound, and which one belongs on your Z.

Why the RZ34 Nissan Z Responds So Well to a Cold Air Intake

The 2023-2025 Nissan Z uses the VR30DDTT, a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 rated at 400 hp at 6,400 rpm and 350 lb-ft from 1,600 to 5,600 rpm (the Z Nismo bumps that to 420 hp and 384 lb-ft). Because it is force-fed by two small parallel turbochargers, anything that reduces restriction before the compressor inlets pays off immediately – the turbos spool faster and hold boost more consistently. The factory airboxes and accordion-style inlet tubes are built for quiet cruising, not maximum flow, which is exactly why an intake is the highest-value first mod on this platform.

A good RZ34 intake does three things: it opens up the pre-turbo airflow path, it feeds the turbos cooler and denser air, and it wakes up the twin-turbo whoosh and blow-off chatter that Z owners love. Both intakes in this review deliver on all three, but they take different engineering routes to get there.

AMS Performance Cold Air Intake Review: Our Top Pick

The AMS Performance Cold Air Intake (part number AMS.47.08.0002-1) is the intake we reach for first on a 2023+ Nissan Z. AMS built its reputation on the VR30 platform in the Q50/Q60 Red Sport world, and that experience shows here. This is a dual sealed-airbox system with organically shaped tubes designed to cut pre-turbo restriction on both banks. On the dyno, AMS measured a 10+ WHP improvement over stock with no ECU changes, and a 15+ WHP gain when both the intake and calibration are optimized – all from a 23% average increase in intake-pipe cross-section.

Design and airflow

Instead of leaving the filters exposed to radiant engine heat, AMS uses closed airboxes on both intakes to keep hot underhood air out and feed the turbos a denser, cooler charge. The tubes use gradual bend radii and smooth pipe-size transitions so air flows unimpeded all the way to the compressor inlets – there are no sharp accordion sections like the factory setup. That 23% larger average cross-section is where the bulk of the gain comes from, and because the boxes are sealed, the gain holds up in Florida summer heat instead of fading as the engine bay soaks.

Install and street manners

No ECU calibration is required to run the AMS intake, so it is a true bolt-on: most Z owners have both airboxes swapped in about 60-90 minutes with hand tools. Because it is a fully enclosed system, intake noise stays refined at cruise and only opens up under boost, where you get a noticeably sharper turbo spool and induction note. For anyone worried about emissions testing or living in a strict county, the AMS kit is EPA-compliant and ships to all 50 states – a genuine advantage over many competitor intakes.

K&N 69 Series Typhoon: The Value Alternative

If you want proven twin-turbo airflow gains for less money, the K&N 69 Series Typhoon (part number 69-7086TC) is the intake to beat under $500. K&N's own dyno testing on the RZ34 measured gains of 19.16 horsepower at 6,995 rpm and 21.91 lb-ft of torque at 3,672 rpm over the factory intake. It pairs a mandrel-bent aluminum intake tube with K&N's washable, reusable High-Flow oiled-cotton air filter, and the whole kit is backed by K&N's No-Hassle Lifetime Limited Warranty.

Washable filter and lifetime warranty

The Typhoon's headline feature is the reusable oiled-cotton filter: instead of buying replacement filters, you clean and re-oil it every 100,000 miles or so with a K&N recharge kit. Over the life of the car that saves money and waste, and the lifetime warranty removes the long-term risk. The mandrel-bent aluminum tube gives it a clean, OEM-plus look in the engine bay and a slightly more vocal induction growl than the sealed AMS system.

The California caveat

There is one important catch: the K&N 69-7086TC does not carry a CARB Executive Order number and is not legal for sale or use in California on pollution-controlled vehicles – K&N will not ship it to a California address. If you live in California (or another CARB state that enforces it), the EPA-compliant AMS intake is the intake you can actually run. Everywhere else, the Typhoon is a fantastic value.

AMS vs K&N: Nissan Z Intake Comparison

Both intakes make real power on the VR30DDTT – the decision comes down to filter style, emissions legality, and budget. Here is how the two RZ34 cold air intakes stack up side by side. Prices sit in the roughly $485-$576 range at the time of writing.

A note on the numbers: AMS and K&N measure on different dynos with different correction methods, so the headline figures are not directly comparable. AMS emphasizes a sealed, heat-isolated system that holds its gains, while K&N quotes a single peak-HP figure. In back-to-back street driving, both feel like meaningful, immediately noticeable improvements over the stock airboxes.

Sound, Daily Driving, and Who Each Intake Is For

Beyond the dyno sheet, the biggest reason Z owners install an intake is the sound. The VR30DDTT's parallel twin-turbo setup produces a distinctive spool and blow-off chatter, and both kits amplify it. The K&N Typhoon, with its open mandrel-bent tube and exposed cotton filter, is the louder and more theatrical of the two – you hear more induction growl and turbo flutter at part throttle. The sealed AMS system is more composed: quiet and OEM-like at cruise, then a crisp, purposeful rush when you get into boost. Neither drones on the highway, which matters if your Z is a daily driver.

So which one belongs on your car? Choose the AMS Performance Cold Air Intake if you want the most consistent, heat-isolated gains, plan to build toward a tuned Stage 1-plus setup, or live somewhere that enforces emissions inspections – its EPA compliance and 50-state legality make it the safe long-term pick. Choose the K&N 69 Series Typhoon if you are outside California, want the loudest induction note, and prefer a washable filter with a lifetime warranty for the lowest cost of entry. Either way, an intake is the smartest first $500 you will spend on the RZ34 – the gains are real, immediate, and reversible.

At NLP Performance, we fit both intakes to customer cars regularly, and the feedback is consistent: sharper throttle response, a more aggressive turbo note, and a genuine seat-of-the-pants difference on boost. For a stock or lightly modified Z, either intake transforms the character of the car without touching reliability. Pair it with the right supporting mods and the VR30DDTT has plenty more to give.

Do You Need a Tune, and What Comes Next?

Neither intake requires a tune to install or run safely – both are designed to bolt on and deliver their gains on the stock ECU. That said, if you add a piggyback or flash tune later, the intake's extra airflow lets the calibration make even more, which is why AMS quotes a higher figure with a supporting tune. An intake is the ideal foundation for a Stage 1 RZ34 build.

When you are ready for the next step, the natural pairing is a set of high-flow downpipes such as the AMS Performance VR30DDTT Street Lower Downpipes with GESI catalytic converters, which free up exhaust flow after the turbos and unlock the biggest gains with a tune. Add an upgraded intercooler and a calibration and you have a complete, reliable Stage 1-plus Z. You can browse the full range of intakes for your car in our Cold Air Intakes collection.