R56 Cooper - Modified Intake Silencer
Finally had a rain free weekend so I took out the VIP and put in the tape.
Immediately noticeable was a reduction in sound at idle, but not so much beyond that. Still sounds very nice when you get on it even a little. Don't remember the stock sound, but I suspect the tape at idle is between that and the VIP.
I never believed the VIP made a noticeable HP difference, so I can't say this is better or worse. I also had put in an Alta foam filter shortly after installing the VIP and overall I felt that made a bigger difference then either intake.
End of story?- Look for my VIP on eBay soon. They are very nice looking (especially in Red) but at this point I think I would rather have some of my cash back (hopefully there are some potential bidders that are not reading this thread.)
Immediately noticeable was a reduction in sound at idle, but not so much beyond that. Still sounds very nice when you get on it even a little. Don't remember the stock sound, but I suspect the tape at idle is between that and the VIP.
I never believed the VIP made a noticeable HP difference, so I can't say this is better or worse. I also had put in an Alta foam filter shortly after installing the VIP and overall I felt that made a bigger difference then either intake.
End of story?- Look for my VIP on eBay soon. They are very nice looking (especially in Red) but at this point I think I would rather have some of my cash back (hopefully there are some potential bidders that are not reading this thread.)
The louder the better.
As you discovered the VIP intake pipe doesn't do anything but lighten your wallet.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Emmitsburg, MD
Jim
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 368
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From: Rota, Spain
This is totally against any tuner's religion and I know that I sold my soul to the devil on this one, but I got bored one day and ordered a few parts from AutoZone.com for the CAI. The sound of it came out really nice. Just got tired of waiting for a good CAI to be made. Still waiting on someone to make a actual CAI that I like. I asked Van at VIP if they had any others that were in the process of making and he told me that they had one but due to the louder/throatier sound it made they didnt release it due to customer's saying they did not like the sound. I turn heads as i drive down the street in my 09 MC and this is even with the AutoZone intake. I noticed a huge difference with it as well, more pick up right from the start. Over all I like the way it sounds and there will be a vid soon of it. Totally I paid only $70 for it all, with shipping. feel free to take a look at my gallery at the pics of it.
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Switzerland
Hi all!
Me and some guys in Germany modified the Intake Silencer
.
Now I saw at realoem that american MINIs have the same "thing" installed.
What we did ... we modified the part #12.
1.
Remove the silencer.
2.
Look inside and you will see these holes on the top of the silencer.
3.
Take some tape and close the holes with it.
I used a srewdriver to fix the tape because there was no chance to get in with my hands.
4.
After mounting the tape it looks like this.
After that re-install the silencer and have fun.
Between 2000rpm and 5000rpm it sounds really great!
Cu
Chris
Me and some guys in Germany modified the Intake Silencer
.Now I saw at realoem that american MINIs have the same "thing" installed.
What we did ... we modified the part #12.
1.
Remove the silencer.
2.
Look inside and you will see these holes on the top of the silencer.
3.
Take some tape and close the holes with it.
I used a srewdriver to fix the tape because there was no chance to get in with my hands.
4.
After mounting the tape it looks like this.
After that re-install the silencer and have fun.
Between 2000rpm and 5000rpm it sounds really great!
Cu
Chris
did the tape ever come off when you modified the silencer? you just used normal silver duct tape?
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 3
From: Austria
.But I think it's still there. I didn't notice power loss or something else
.
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Switzerland
noticeable sound difference? vroom vrroom?
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: seattle, wa
i think there is a noticeable sound difference, especially in the mid range rpms you get a nice growl out of it.
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Switzerland
thanks for info Corin. did you use duct tape silver or some other kind of tape?
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 432
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From: seattle, wa
i used gorilla tape because thats all i had around the house. if you look back to the first post, there is a pic of what the tape looks like in the silencer, i left some excess tape to wrap around the outside just as a precaution if the tape did start to peel. just make sure you press down the tape and it adheres. i used two pieces and overlapped them a bit
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Hey guys.
Has anyone tried to measure the holes? I'm thinking of using vinyl end-caps to seal the holes (cleaner and removable). I've found some in various sizes that are basically shaped liked a mushroom with a flattened cap. They have "fins" on the shaft to keep them snugly fit into the hole they fill.
You see them used for various applications (e.g. capping off the end of bicycle handle bars).
Thanks!
Has anyone tried to measure the holes? I'm thinking of using vinyl end-caps to seal the holes (cleaner and removable). I've found some in various sizes that are basically shaped liked a mushroom with a flattened cap. They have "fins" on the shaft to keep them snugly fit into the hole they fill.
You see them used for various applications (e.g. capping off the end of bicycle handle bars).
Thanks!
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Switzerland
did the tape job... works perfectly. no video.. but i recorded the sound and it's just like checkercoop's video. sweet sound with no cost but the tape. when cruising, nothing...but when you step on the gas.. the sound is there. thanks for the tip guys!
Hey guys.
Has anyone tried to measure the holes? I'm thinking of using vinyl end-caps to seal the holes (cleaner and removable). I've found some in various sizes that are basically shaped liked a mushroom with a flattened cap. They have "fins" on the shaft to keep them snugly fit into the hole they fill.
You see them used for various applications (e.g. capping off the end of bicycle handle bars).
Thanks!
Has anyone tried to measure the holes? I'm thinking of using vinyl end-caps to seal the holes (cleaner and removable). I've found some in various sizes that are basically shaped liked a mushroom with a flattened cap. They have "fins" on the shaft to keep them snugly fit into the hole they fill.
You see them used for various applications (e.g. capping off the end of bicycle handle bars).
Thanks!
Didn't measure, but they do all very in size. The first one looked like maybe 2" in diameter and then there were maybe 3-4 more holes and the last one looked to maybe be .25-.5" in diameter.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From: RIGHT BEHIND YOU... Made you look!
Tried it. Didn't like it. Undid it.
Nice throaty sound in the mid-RPM range, but I was getting a low, unpleasant popping noise in the high RPMs at WOT. Because it was at quick regular intervals, I think it was two (or more) frquencies "beating" together. I suppose that's the kind of thing the silencers are engineered to stop.
For the cost of 14 inches of aluminum tape it was worth a try.
Nice throaty sound in the mid-RPM range, but I was getting a low, unpleasant popping noise in the high RPMs at WOT. Because it was at quick regular intervals, I think it was two (or more) frquencies "beating" together. I suppose that's the kind of thing the silencers are engineered to stop.
For the cost of 14 inches of aluminum tape it was worth a try.
Last edited by trwxxa; Sep 26, 2010 at 08:31 AM.