I have a r56 justa and I saw that the chrome grill seems to only be open from the bottom space under the bottom chrome bar. If I would change it to and open grill would that make a difference or just make it look better

 

A difference to what?

If your engine isn't overheating, then it shouldn't noticeably affect the cooling. In fact, opening it up may make it take longer to get to operating temperature. Opening it up will increase drag by a microscopic amount, but probably not enough to detect in your fuel economy. It will let more dust and water into the engine bay, but it might not be enough to worry about.

The only positive I can think of is more air through the radiator--if the opening is ducted to the radiator, at least. If not, then it's just more air into the engine bay. Which to my mind is a solution in search of a problem.

 

I am not sure which year you have, but I went from the stock chrome grill to the JCW grill, and the car seemed to get better air flow (but could also have been all in my head)

It was super easy to install but only fits 07-2010. If I remember correctly, I bought it from Outmotoring.

 

So on the cooper s or jcw the open grill is more of a cosmetic item than function

 

wick my question would be why you are trying to increase air flow? is there a problem you are trying to correct?

 

Well I live in sunny so california and when I drive home after I park the fan stays on for a long time. Its just regular not aggressive. I don't know how long it should stay on. Since we don't have a Guage on the dash I can't really tell if it gets hot. I thought of openning up the grill might help it stay cooler.

 

The grill is easy to remove--just remove the whole chrome grill and drive it for a couple of days to see what the change might be. Alternatively, buy the black plastic grill (it's cheap!). http://www.waymotorworks.com/black-a...7-r58-r59.html

 

I think those blanked out areas just keep the bugs and rocks out, they don't affect the airflow much.

 

Since air intake is not the same that engine ventilation, then

1) Replace your front OEM grill with a JCW grille (for better engine ventilation)




2) Replace your OEM air intake system for K&N air intake 57A-6033.
This point is only valid for non-US Mini since the non-US Mini can still using the tube air intake from the vehicle front:



We want the coldest air to our engines, then, for Mini "made in US" and Mini Cooper "S" this change (2) is not recommended because the system takes hot air from the engine compartment.
Just change the filter paper inside the filter system:




I don't recommend this:
But ...