I don't post much, but I am on this site everyday soaking up the info.

I have an 06 MCS with the JCW air filter kit and JCW exhaust only (dealer installed.) I am crazy about this MINI, and have the mod virus. However, this is the first car that's happened with. Although I am far (very) beyond my teens, I feel like a kid with my first vehicle.

This may be a very basic question for some, but:

What is the difference between a CAI and the JCW air filter kit I have?

I appreciate any and all replies. Thanks!

 

If you have the JCW "intake" (which is what I think you have) then it IS a "CAI"... a very sophisticated one, in fact.

The stock MINI airbox is, in fact, a CAI - it has a snorkel to draw in "cold" air from the front of the car, and a small grommet hole to draw in some more air from the cowl area below the windshield.

Aftermarket CAIs just have various approaches to allowing even more air to be drawn in, usually by opening up the divider between the airbox and the cowl area. The JCW also does this - but has a mechanical flap that only opens at higher RPMs when the stock snorkel and grommet might become restrictive... it probably does this to hide "undesirable" throttle whistle sounds at low RPMs, which can be apparent with aftermarket CAIs. The cost of this is that the supercharger whine sound (which many folks really like) is less loud with the JCW than with many of the "sheet metal" CAIs like Alta, Madness, etc.

I personally have the JCW airbox and use a less restrictive aftermarket filter (AMSoil) and love the sound and performance of this setup.

 

Great post Blimey..............!

For best results just get a new aftermarket filter for your JCW intake.

 

Blimey,
Thanks for the info. I didn't realize that the stock MINI airbox was a CAI.
Is the AMSoil filter a perfect fit for the JCW airbox?

Also, what exactly is the JCW sound kit that I have seen mentioned on NAM?

 

I've got the JCW CAI also, and like the way it works. However, the throwaway JCW paper filter that MINI supplies for it is pretty restrictive and remarkably costly to replace - around $180 last time I looked.

You can get less intake air flow restriction at half that cost by using a reusable/cleanable filter, such as this one: http://www.mini-madness.com/index.as...ROD&ProdID=272

You may read a lot of unsupported assertions from people with no personal experience, on the topic of foam vs. gauze type air filters.

Personally I prefer the gauze type, as K&N pioneered the design and has a lot of data that they work very well if you clean them regularly. The foam filter manufacturers do not present much actual evidence that they work as well in filtering, or in airflow restriction as they get dirty. K&N, by contrast, has data from hundreds of thousands of miles of testing in fleet vehicles, showing no increase in engine wear, and slightly better mileage due to the lower air flow restriction. They also have solid data on performance increases.

If you aren't willing to clean any reusable filter every 5-10K miles, stick with the MINI disposable filter.

If you want to save a bunch of money, get a standard K&N filter direct from them for $35. Part numbers are in this thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=62783

You can use the supplied hose-clamp to fit the K&N RU-3130 without making up the adapter ring I described - many have done so. Installation instructions are linked in the thread...

 

The sound kit is for the standard Cooper only, not the S. Here's a link for a the details...

http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/01/...per_sound_kit/

 

Minspeed has the ITG filter for the JCW.

mb

 

Yep go with the foam.....will give better performance between cleanings than the gauze/fabric type will.

 

To all those who replied...thanks for the clarification.
I'm no longer so confused!