Hi, all. I want to construct a rear diffuser for my Mini. Something similar has been described here:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...nel-15189.html

The design cited above was fabricated out of coroplast. Inexpensive, lightweight, easy to work. Doing one in aluminum would be much more durable, but considerably more expensive.

It occurred to me that this might be an entertaining Saturday workshop kind of deal others might enjoy. It has the advantage that, with minor variations, the dimensions and attachment points of the design should work for whatever Mini you have.

Possible sequence of events:

Determine how many are interested.
Pick a meeting spot.
Figure out the design on one Saturday, then order materials and do the fabrication on a 2nd Saturday.

Shouldn't be more than $25-$75 in material. Throw in $10 courtesy fee to our garage host and another $10 for beer and pizza and you've got a fun summer Mini event.

Think it over and post your interest. I think it'd be a hoot.

 

Just a note the guy also has a full body pan made out of the same stuff and has the rear diffuser tucked under the body pan.

 

Yup!
Joe - aka "the guy"

 

Righto there, John. I figured the rear diffuser might be a more attractive choice to BRM folks since it's less work, less material and cost. Personally, I'd like to do both at some point.

 

I can't believe the coroplast would hold up to the muffler heat seeing the side shot

 

Good question to pose to the guy on the ecomodder.com forum. I know that M7 and Group Four produce a fiberglass version. Not sure what they do to keep theirs from melting. I think M7 design just keeps the closest diffuser surface a couple of inches from the muffler.

 

It holds up fine, all I did was add a layer of aluminum tape to the top side.
You can see the reflection of the battery box on the tape.


Joe

 

Thanks for that additional information, Joe. How are you liking that "Jesus Head" from Jan? Got an ECU tune from him in Rochester NY this April. Even just that made a BIG difference in my JCW. I'm drooling over the whole head/cam transplant you did on your Mini. Must be sweet!

 

I love it, head/cam is the foundation for all performance gains. Before I had the MINI I owned a 1995 e36 M3. Before I did the head change I missed the power of the M3, since the head I haven't looked back!

Joe

PS - If you have any questions about fabbing your diffuser feel free to post them.

 

Thanks Redux, Joe. I've had a couple of "non-Mini" BMW's myself. Never an M though! Appreciate your willingness to share your experience with this project. When we get to the shopping list stage, I'll probably have more questions which I will post for your review.

 

That looks really neat. Of course, I would require black & shiny to match my car. Just the aluminum wouldn't look right.

 

Coroplast comes in black and shiny! Other option is to do sheet aluminum and paint to suit. Russ let me know he's interested. I'll assemble additional info on parts list and prices and post it here.