Hi guys.gals

I'd like to know what people think about their JCW airboxes - power gains etc, and also those who may have considered the JCW, but went with another product for various reasons. I like the idea of the OEM/JCW airbox, because it actually does provide ram air - being a completely enclosed box.

I'm still not completely sold on the idea of most CAI's on the market, i believe a lot of them are aesthetically marketed and provide no real significant gains... apart from a racier looking engine bay. There are a lot that claim hp gains, but only provide more aural pleasure and 'hot' air to the engine

I've also considered the GruppeM CF CAI, although fairly pricey at $1500!!!

Anyhow... I'd like to know what others think...

 

Sorry don't have an answer for you, but do you know if the aftermarket JCW box comes with the JCW filter?

 

Mine did & I'm sure we'd have heard by now if others had bought the JCW intake only to find it missing the filter.

 

Yep, i believe it does. Even when buying it from a reseller. Although from reading there is much to be desired from the stock JCW filter... Aparently very $$ to replace, as well as other top brands having direct replacements with better flow properties...

 

What makes you believe the "other" CAI are actually using hot air? All of the top selling CAI systems draw air from the cowl vent area. The only real differences is the sound and type of filter (pleated/foam).
There is also both a foam and a paper aftermarket replacememt filter available for the JCW.

It really comes down to what do you want from your intake. As there is very little if any difference in HP gains from any of them.

 

If you like the scream of the SC under acceleration, buy an aftermarket, if you don't, buy the JCW. IMO that's the only difference.

 

JCW with K&N filter, lower plug removed and it will scream when you get on it!

 

I had the Alta long ago but after a couple years the racket became less tolerable, the JCW (bottom plug intact) will still make noise at full throttle but it is more subtle. The whistle that comes with any of the full partition removed intakes is muted to the point of inaudible most of the time on the JCW. Here’s mine with a Nanofiber filter (no oil required) and the flapectomy.

 

I bought a Mini-Madness filter a while back but haven't put it in yet. Not sure if the benefit is all that and thinking about reselling it. I think it was around $100. I had a K&N for my old Jetta. I wonder if the K&N is better than the Madness. I guess with no real performance gains, theyre about the same.

What is the 'lower plug'?

 

Not a fan of foam filters and have always had good results with K&N, so I installed a RU-3130 K&N universal filter for $28.00 from AJ-USA and was quite pleased with the results. Below the flap hole you will feel another smaller hole through the cowl wall connected to the airbox. Inside the hose is a round piece of plastic that can be pulled out allowing more air to enter there...

 

What is the stock #and $ of your Nanofiber filer and where did you puchase it? Thanks

 

EaAU3570 http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/na...ir_filters.htm ask for Ches Cain to get the best price.

 

I'm just the opposite, as I've had bad experiences & bad test results with K&N. I had a turbo'd Mitsu a while back that once I put a K&N filter on it, I could slowly see the dirt making it past the filter and making marks on the turbo impeller blade! K&N came off and an ITG foam filter went on. No increase in dirt marks after that. I've also had K&N's gradually pull away & deteriorate at the ends by the rubber caps and let dirt straight through big gaping holes.

Also, a friend of mine flow & filtration tested OEM, K&N and similar ITG filter elements when designing his own system, using the SAE automotive dirt filtration test (like an auto maker would use when selecting a filter). The results were startling... the K&N didn't filter at all when new, even when oiled "properly", but it did flow a bit better. However, it loaded up with dirt FASTER than the OEM and flowed WORSE about 1/2 way through the test. The ITG had the best overall results, in other words, it sucked less than the others when all 3 areas were averaged (flow new/clean, flow dirty, overall filtration).

Back to the original question, I have a JCW intake, originally with paper OEM element and now foam ITG. No lower plug. Works nicely & fairly quietly.

 

Where did you source your ITG filter?

 

Many thanks

 

I purchased mine from: http://www.myminiparts.com/products.php?cat=7&pg=2

They had a good price and shipped it quickly.

 

Thanks rbaker, that's who I bought my JCW intake from. Very good service from Peter.

 

The Amsoil Nanofiber filter is made using Donaldson endurance filter technology (although different manufacturer) and was developed for military applications. The Abrams tank needed a filter that could still flow lots of cfm (more than a MINI could use) even when loaded with dirt and be easily cleaned in the field. By design, dirt cannot pass the outside layer and become lodged, all that is needed is a shake of the filter to remove the majority of contaminate. The tank’s filter has an arm attached which can be manipulated by a crew member while in operation, it’s given a shake and off comes the dirt; how easy is that.

I’m not going to get into a superiority discussion about one type of filter medium over the other, but I will say I based my choice upon a recommendation by a lubrication analyst who has performed a lot of research in this area (including many years of professional racing). It’s too bad a Nanofiber oil filter is not available for the MINI.

 

Anything special need to be done to fit this filter?

 

This isn't special but I put a piece of adhesive backed padding on the end of the filter to snug-up-to the stock filter retainer bracket as an extra precaution.

 

Is there a clamp for the other end?

 

Yes, the filter comes with a band clamp. The ID of the filter is larger than the OD of the output shoulder and the ridge looks as if it would be too short to grasp, but the filter tightens securely, so no problems with it staying put.

Another feature found inside this filter is an interesting shaped polyurethane tapered cone which appears to serve as a flow "Focuser" (my new fluid dynamic term). Even if the filter can flow adequate cfm when dirty, it won’t provide full benefit if the flow is stalled by eddies within.

 

Thanks

So you didn't need an adaptor ring like one member used with the K&N RU-3130:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...130#post866646

Would have a close-up picture of this?

 

At this point the filter is still attached but only time will tell if something else is needed. Because the box top is curved, the filter opening will not fit flush, so I think if it was installed at an angle that might cause a week attachment but it is simple enough to line up evenly and tighten the band clamp. Try placing the filter opening on a flat surface, pull the band down to the end so it is even all the way around, tighten enough to hold its place, put in position, rock to find center (center for the filter, not the box), then secure.

The piece of peel & stick rubber was purchased in the hobby department of Wal-Mart; it comes in paper size sheets. This stuff is good for correcting rattles & squeaks in the car. I don’t know if this step is necessary either so don’t get too hung up on that detail because it hasn’t been tested without it.

 

I purchased the JCW, it came complete with filter on sale from one of the vendors on NAM. My dealership also sells them complete with the filter.
I have very good results with the JCW. Installation was easy, I like the stock sounds during normal driving and the SC whine when I hit it.
I have a few aftermarket filters in mind when the stocker is dirty.
My vote is for the JCW.

Mini Madness sells an aftermarket filter for the JCW airbox