did you notice any difference in smoothness, MPG or performance....or is it just a $55 air filter?

 

I'll let you know when mine gets here. I wanted to do a dropin but prefer ITG technology to K&N-type filters. Borla exhaust after that. Since JCW kit for Cooper isn't warranteed for an '06 I'm just going to do both ends, starting with the (as compared to an exhaust) 'cheap' filter.

 

Did you order your ITG filter from MyMiniParts? I called Friday and got a recording saying the owner, (Peter), was going to the hospital for some test. Called back Saturday morning and got no answer. Hope he's OK.

 

Yes I did but didn't do it by phone, did it via the web. I hope Peter's ok too.

 

Minimania also has a foam panel filter (including '05-06's) for half the price of the ITG. Has anyone tried theirs?

 

Well I put it in last night, drove to work this morning in rush hour traffic. Left work later tonight so I had more room to play. I don't believe it's just the placebo effect, I believe I can feel a bit better throttle response and it pulls just a touch better when on the throttle. I think it was worth doing. I'm awaiting some feedback on the MyMiniTouring that resmini is getting, also considering a Borla.

 

SonicVI, I've got the MiniMania panel in mine. No noticable difference, other than not having to buy replacement filters. I've used cleanable filters for 20 years for that reason alone.

 

Was the clamp that holds the intake hose to the filter box hard to take off and replace without breaking it? My Bentley manual says to replace the clamp with a new one.......Was there anything the least bit difficult about changing the filter?

I know, I shouldn't have to ask these kind of questions...I blame it on getting old.

 

In my day, we didn't have clamps on our intakes, we had gigantic wingnuts and that's how we liked it!

 

Semi-related question, since we're talking about filters: does anyone know if the K&N recharge kit will also work on foam filters? Or does foam need different stuff?

 

The only 'clamp' I saw is a tie wrap, it was easy to replace. There are 2 other U-shaped pieces into which hoses snap, those don't get replaced, you just pull the hoses out of them to get better access to the airbox. 2 Torx screws on the right side of the box (driver's side of the car) that back out, snip the tie-wrap, pull the other small hoses away from the box and pull out the old filter, put in the new. Push the hoses back into their U-shaped clamps, a new tie-wrap where the old one was. If there is some other clamp that others have, I don't have it.

NEVER feel you shouldn't have to ask questions. It's rare that I'll do ANY kind of DIY without finding some instructions on the web or talking to someone first. I've screwed up some things thinking I'm better (at 51) than I am.

 

Good question. I wondered that myself, especially since MyMini doesn't include the foam re-oiling spray with the ITG filter, but I played it safe and ordered the ITG spray from another vendor.

 

Pete at MyMini recommends the K&N oil saying it's fine for the foam filters. Since I already have some of the K&N stuff I'm going to use it.

 

Sweeet! I gots tons of K&N stuff laying around!

 

Yep, I had a brand new 65 GTO, 68 Z-28 and 67 Corvette, among others. Removing the air cleaner required all of taking off the one big wing-nut. On some of todays cars removing the air cleaner is a big job....and if you don't get everything just right when you put it back together you will get the dreaded, "check engine", light.