How to install the Perrin Performance 3" Cold Air Intake.

How to install the Perrin Performance 3" Cold Air Intake.

Difficulty: Moderate

Removal of the stock intake box usually leads to the installation of an aftermarket intake or the replacement of the box if damaged. The replacement steps to installing a an intake or a cold air intake is simple and doable with the correct tools.

Step 1

Step 1Step 1Step 1

The very first thing we need to accomplish in our guide is to remove the front 2 wheels.

We do this just to have easier access inside the wheel where we will be removing some items.

Step 2

Step 2Step 2Step 2

At the edgemostpart of the wheel well, using a Philips screw driver, remove the four plastic clips on both the passenger and driver side.

Step 3

Step 3Step 3

Be aware, one of the clips is located behind the reflector. If you do not pull it out, you might end up ripping something.

Step 4

Step 4Step 4Step 4

Under the bumper and car, remove seven plastic clips. These will be located around the perimeter of all the under panels.

Using the aforementioned thin pick will save you a lot of headaches trying to remove these tightly placed clips.

Step 5

Step 5Step 5Step 5

On the underside as well, remove the two bolts with a 10 mm socket. Surprisingly, these are actually the only two metal bolts on the underside.

Step 6

Step 6Step 6Step 6

On each side of the vehicle's front wheel well, remove the side markers. They are held in place by metal compression clips.

Note: Be sure to push in the bulb holder through the bumper so when removing the bumper, it won't be caught and rip. Do this on both sides.

Step 7

Step 7Step 7Step 7

After removing the side markers, a hidden plastic clip that needs to be removed will appear just above where the bulb was.

This clip secures the top part of the outside bumper to the bottom of the foremost fender section.

After you remove this clip the sides of the front bumper should easily come off.

Step 8

Step 8Step 8Step 8

Now turning our attention to the top of the bumper, we will have to remove the five bolts up top with a 10mm socket.

After this there are a couple of beefty clips to remove. Go ahead and take those off as well.

Step 9

Step 9Step 9Step 9

After the top fasteners have been removed, the front bumper can now be pulled firmly from the vehicle.

Before completely removing the front bumper however, disconnect the two plugs under the headlights to the fog lights and to the turn signals, on both sides.

After performing this last step, you will have succeeded in removing the front bumper on a Subaru BRZ.

Step 10

Step 10

Disconnect the battery. (picture shown is the DIF Super lightweight Battery Tray)

Disconnecting the batter insures that you do not get electrocuted while working on your car.

Step 11

Step 11Step 11Step 11

With the 10mm socket, remove the five bolts securing the stock intake, snorkel and box to the vehicle.

Note: The fifth bolt is location on the intake resonator box to the radiator support.

Remove the snorkel.

Step 12

Step 12Step 12Step 12

Using a 10mm socket or a philips screw driver, loosen the clamp securing the intake hose to the intake filter box.

Slowly but surely remove the intake tube from the box.

Step 13

Step 13Step 13Step 13

Note: Be sure to not damage the factory air flow sensor because it will be brought over to the new air intake.

Disconnect the factory air flow sensor.

The intake filter box can now be removed.

Step 14

Step 14Step 14Step 14

Remove the six plastic retaining clips securing the air diverter panel.

The air diverter panel can now be removed.

Step 15

Step 15Step 15Step 15

Using a 12mm socket, remove the four bolts securing the top of the radiator support to the vehicle.

With a preferred racheting 12mm wrench, remove the two bolts securing the radiator support center brace to the lower radiator core support.

Hint: The two bolts are located near the header.

Step 16

Step 16Step 16Step 16

With the radiator support loose, lift the driver side and snake the Perrin intake pipe into place.

Connect the intake tube to the Perrin Cold Air Pipe.

Note: Do not secure immediately.

Step 17

Step 17Step 17Step 17

Place the air diverter plate back into it's stock original location.

Reinstall and secure the six radiator support bolts.

Step 18

Step 18Step 18Step 18

Using the factory plastic clips, reinstall two upper mounting points of the air diverter.

Using two factory plastic clips, attach the Perrin supplied support bracket to the diverter plate from the bottom.

Note: Perrin highly recommends it is done from the bottom up.

Step 19

Step 19Step 19Step 19

With the two remaining factory plastic clips, secure the Perrin Diverter bracket to the radiator support.

With the Perrin supplied hardware, secure but do not tighten the Perrin pipe to the radiator support.

Step 20

Step 20Step 20Step 20

Install and secure the Perrin intake filter to the Perrin intake pipe.

Loosen the clamp holding the intake tube to the throttle body.

Secure intake tube to the Perrin Intake pipe.

Step 21

Step 21Step 21Step 21

Now that the clamp to intake throttle body is loosen, rotate clockwise the Perrin intake tube and Perrin pipe to relieve the stress placed on the stock intake tube.

With the intake pipe reclocked, you can now secure the remaining clamps on the tubes and the bolt on the pipe to the radiator support.

Install Factory Air Flow Sensor with the two Perrin supplied philips screws.

Reinstall the Bumper and Reconnect the Battery.

Note: With this intake, you are required to retune the ECU for this modification. It will not be safe with the stock ECU tune.


We matched the Cold Air Intake with the silicone intake tube. The Cold air intake can also be used with the stock tube.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.