This would be my first engine mod.

Who likes what and why?

 

I have the AFE. I liked the design that helps isolate the filter from the engine heat. It is as close to a CIA as you will find for the MC. It sounds cool when combined with an after market cat back exhaust. Probably adds a few hp as well.
If I had a limited budget, and was interested in performance, I would start with the adjustable camber plates. I did the exhaust, cai, camber plates and rear sway all in a few weeks time. They all add to the enjoyment of the car.

 

I like the AFe for the same reasons as Terry-heat blockage. I am going to get one soon.

Sorry for the newb question and for semi-hijack of thread....but what/where do the adjustable camber plates go? Best brands for sway?

 

Adjustable camber plates allow you to "add" negative camber to your front wheels. The Mini's primary short coming is under steer. This helps correct that. MC2 magazine (google this) has a detailed how to in the current issue.
Brand wise, I have Helix. Many exist. Same for rear sway bars. Read some of the (countless) discussions about size (rear sway) and brands.

 

I got the aFe and love it. Although it isn't a full CAI, the shield helps. It also sounds great.

Make sure to order the right one for your model year. Pre and Post 04s are slightly different.

 

I have a k&n and love it. im currently going to start testing other ones starting with the injen

 

Thanks- Hey TerryD- Which rear sway do you have? Are you pleased with it?

 

the only non-ideal thing i can see about the afe is that it reuses the stock piping which has some sharp bends, which will reduce air velocity and increase turbulence (but i think you want turbulent air <-- dunno if that is right, i just read it somewhere where as the velocity thing comes from my fluid class) but the big filter, shield and price are all good

i am leaning towards k&n because of the short striaght-ish shot into the TB, i will prolly make my own heat shield and use octane guy's tips in this thread

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=air+diverter

 

I got the HSport comp hollow bar set on soft. I intended to get the sport, but the place that did the work installed the comp. Oh well.
Yes, I like it. I just did a 2 day autox school and had a chance to really put the car to the test. Many runs on several different types of courses. The car rotates very well and corners like it is on rails. It is amazing what these cars can do.
I have not used it on the track yet. I will in June. I will start out carefully.
I doubt I will ever use it on anything but the softest setting, but I may.

 

I see what you're saying about the aFe, but with a Cooper, does it really make that big of a difference? Seems like all the aftermarket intake gains are about the same.

 

If you are just looking for best bang for the buck, a good drop in like K&N is the way to go. It won't give you the nice sond that the others do, but it will get the most improvement dollar for dollar.

I did some testing a few years ago with drop-ins vs cone filters vs CAI's and found the drop-in gave the best gains.

I used an pocket dyno, which won't give accurate bottom line HP figures, but will give reasonable comparison results. I did 10 0-60 runs each, threw out the high and low and averaged the remainder.

The drop-in was a bit better that the cone (Pipercross) and quite a bit better than the twister cai.

 

i have no idea how much of a difference it makes in practice, i was just basing that on theroy

or maybe i will just stick with my panel, were all these runs on the same day?

 

I have a K&N 57i intake. I bought it for the sound and the increase in responsiveness. It has a very short, smoothly curved tube. I like it. I think its replacement, the Typhoon has a similar setup. Oh yeah, also, at the time I bought it, it was the least expensive of all the intakes that were similar to it.

Zip

 

The runs were all on the day, winter 50degrees overcast. Not much temp difference. The panel was not oem, but a drop-in foam filter. All the filters showed gains over OEM.

 

nice, i am using a green performance panel right now, i got it from turner motorsports

 

So even though everyone has said all the ones have better sound than the K&N, but does the K&N have a good sound to it?

 

My K&N 57i howls like a banshee!

Actually, I've never heard a banshee howl, but my MINI's intake sounds great. =o)

Zip

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I recently got a BMP/Promini performance intake. It's nice, I like...
It took a while to get all the pieces shipped, but eventually they got it right and it sounds excellent. Although, before I had a K&N drop-in filter and I think that the performance was certainly comparable. It's a bit quicker, but not by much. The big improvement is the sound. FWIW I'll try and post some mp3s soon-

Thanks again-

J

 

Turbulant air is what you want on the intake side. Turbulance promotes tumble and swirl in the incoming air. With a stirred up air stream, fuel is more likely to mix better (homogeneous) with the air. The same reason you port an intake side, but not polish. Leave a smooth surface for the exhaust. Sorry. Inner geek came out from Machine Shop II/Hi-Po class from a year ago.

 

I am surprised you can hear you intake my Megan roars so it is fairly impossible to hear my AFE.


Aer

 

!!

 

Might this be because the stock, (sealed) air box provides a higher air pressure to the filter than the usually not sealed aftermarket units. With a drop in filter that is less restrictive than stock you take advantage of the higher pressure in the air box created by the foward motion of the car. The faster you go, the higher the pressure in the air box and the higher the air flow. Doesn't sound as fast though.

 

I just installed the drop in K&N stock filter replacement in our "new" used 2005 MINI .... and WOW! It really woke the MINI up. It definitly sounds more throaty. The dealer serviced (LOL) stock air filter was filthy.

Thanks asodestrom for your review and reccomendation. I like EASY!

 

With the windows open, I can hear the intake at full-push, but I know what I'm listening for.

Zip

 

well, after reading all the good things about it..i ordered it today.

i am a little concerned about getting oil on the mass flow sensor and messing the engine computer up..

[SIZE=2]03Indigo had some nice pics BTW of his installation and engine bay..


i will let you know what i think as soon as it gets here..


if i like it...maybe MTH next?....


[/SIZE]