I'm considering getting a replacement drop-in K&N air filter for my 07 MCS. My car has a factory element now. Has anyone used a K&N? If so, can you feel any difference in power?

 

My K&N drop-in works great... I think the tires would actually spin from a standstill after the filter, when before it wouldn't.

(Automatic Cooper S...)

I figured the difference in costs was better applied towards a pulley then a non-factory airbox!

 

now if u want to see something really neat.... dyno the car before the filter and then after, you will gain hp and tq. THats what sold me on the filter

 

Yeah, I'm wishing I would have dyno'd the car before making any modifications...

Oh well... it's quite the drive for me from San Diego up to Long Beach where Jan works his magic...

At least I have the after numbers, and I'm quite happy!

 

They have dynos in San Diego. Google for it.

 

Yup they do... but I didn't think Jan would travel to SD for one mini!

 

I replaced the stock air filter in my 07MCS with the drop-in K&N last spring. The first time or two I ran the car, it seemed like it was running a little differently, like 600rpm at low idle, instead of 700 -- after that, no detectable diff, as if the OBC had adjusted things slightly. I figure I'm still ahead with a more-efficient filter.

 

There is no measurable torque or HP increase from a K&N panel filter in a MINI. Anyone who says there is has a highly active imagination.

 

Negative....you can get more hp and maybe even a little x-tra torque from a drop in panel filter. Just because you get that extra power doesn't mean it'll make the car faster. Then you're getting into re-tunes and re-gearing of the tranny. I guess the guys with dyno proof have active imaginations. Hell, I thought I saw Optimus Prime driving down the street the other day, but that was my over active imagination.

 

People who think that they can reliably and reproducibly find a 1% difference in HP or TQ at the wheels need to take a a statistics course in theory of measurement.

Sorry guys, but the error-band of the dyno is much larger than that. Just the warming up of the tires and increase in tire pressure from one dyno run to the next will cause more than a 1% difference all by itself.

Any accurate measurement would require that you measure with a panel filter installed, and then a second run with it removed, while every dyno run I have ever seen has been done with the stock setup first, and then changing to the modified version.

Even the magic-wizard-tuners do this backward, and never bother removing the modifications to demonstrate that their ministrations are effective.

Guess what? The modified results are Always higher...

I repeat -those who think that a panel filter makes a measurable or noticeable difference in power are deluding themselves and others. Of course, one sells a lot more stuff that way...

 

Does the filter charger kit (cleaning and oiling kit) have expiration date? I have had the kit for possibly over 10 years. I only used it a few times as my previous and current cars with KN drop-in filter rarely get driven.

I only rack up less than 8000 miles after 3 years of having the R53 on original air filter. It's now time to consider changing the stock one. I wonder if I should purchase a new kit along with a new filter for the MINI.