Currently my Cooper enjoys a MTH kit1 (Header and tuner file), modded stock exhaust and a K&N panel filter.

Compared to the stock airbox which actually is a CAI, designed by BMW techs, I think the so called performance CAIs looks more like warm intake systems than performance mods. How are you supposed to get more cold air from a conic filter placed under the bonnet than from the original system?
Personally, I think the CAIs are eye- and ear candy, and not performance related. Opinions?

Tormod, Norway

 

Its not that the air is going to be any colder. The thing that cone filters offer is that they allow you to get MORE air into the engine. The surface area of the filter is much greater, and has many less restricting bends in its design. The result is more air in a straighter path. The ideal setup would be to get colder air from somewhere...but like you said, the BMW guys did a pretty good job of that already.

 

From what I can tell, the 05 MC intake is different than earlier years, and it looks like a decent CAI to me. My question would be, if you put in a K&N panel filter, did it make any difference? Does it sound any different?

 

Its different in terms of shape and stuff, but in terms of function the difference isnt very big at all. they both work the same way. I have never tried panel filters before...i have the K&N typhoon kit. And i can feel the difference with a cone filter. You won't get a noise change with just a panel. I dont know about how much you will feel it.

 

My Butt`O-meter isn`t that fine tuned, and I seriously doubt that anyone can feel the difference between the different intake options if you take the sound factor out of the equation.
When I was working with Miatas, the Dynos showed that most aftemarket intakes actually removed power and torque from low and midrange RPM due to the lack of resonated chambers in the airbox. Usually we lost 3-4 hp from 2-4K, and gained 3-5hp from 6-7K. That changed the caracteristica of the powerband of course.

Has there been dynoed Minis with "CAIs" that proofs an increase in power?

 

Try and contact Randy Webb at Webbmotorsports.com to ask about dyno numbers for various MC intake upgrades.

At the basic level you can drop in:
K&N
Alta or Unifilter (foam)
Green Filter

You get limited gains but it's simple and easy enough.

Some of the MC upgrade intakes have fitment and rubbing the bonnet issues.
Being louder doesn't necessarily mean more power.

 

Three of us in Canberra ran our cars over the dyno here. Minigolf's car went over the rollers a few times before and after an Alta CAI and a Miltek exhaust.

The dyno was a bit dodgy but it gives you an example....we all thought the CAI results were a bit unbelievable, but if you go through the thread you'll see things changed a bit when the Miltek went on...

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=dyno

 

Tit,

That looks like an MCS thread. How is it relevant to this discussion?

 

Apologies..my mistake.... (t'was late at night when I made that post...)

But now I've made that comment, I'll say that on my MCS...I don't believe it's given me any tangable performance gains, just noise....as for MC....I wouldn't expect much different...