After some consideration I couldn't justify spending $200.00+ on a Cold Air Intake kit. Afterall, most are simply an Air Box with a High Flow Filter; so I decided to see what was available on E-Bay that would be comparible to the name brand items available.

This is what I found:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Megan...Q5fAccessories

Combined with this K&N Filter:

http://www.knfilters.com/search/prod...x?Prod=RU-1830

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the performance and Fuel Milage gains. I do plan on painting the Air Box black to better match the engine compartment. But considering that the whole thing cost me less than $100.00 I'm very happy with the end result.

P.S.
I will try and post pictures when there is better lighting.

 

K&N is a nice filter. Never quite understood why they charge so much more than anyone else though for their typhoon set up. They are in the 300 dollar range.

Well, if there was a partition on the other side, and if you performed the cowl mod by cutting a hole into the cowl area, and sealed off any cracks around the unit with black silicon, it could work fairly well I guess.

I performed temp tests for two months in various weather conditions to determine the recovery rate of a CAI using a remote digital thermometer I installed into an ALTA CAI V2.0. It is a genuine CAI.

They all get terribly hot and heat soaked after a run and then being stagnent for 30 mins to 1 hr in a parking lot. But the CAI by Alta Recovered within 10 min /10 miles of hot summer highway driving. And to ambient temps.....

While I cannot attest to this particular one you found, and while it says it is for a MCS, initially I can say w/o a doubt you will run into issues of hot air entering the box area. And that you will have to perform a permanent rear cowl mod of drilling holes into the rear panel so air is sucked in from the cowl....an irreversible process to that panel.....the Alta unit as does the others come with a new rear panel.

 

Agreed that there is some modification that will need to be done, I installed a rubber gasket around the heatshield to better seal it to the hood. I have not performed the Cowl Mod yet as I dont feel comfortable about drilling a hole into it. I do know that after repeated runs up at Wilcox (Indi Motorsport) the airbox was cool to the touch and the filter was just slightly hotter than the outside air. Since the scoop is still functional and brings cool air in from in front of the radiator, this is a very nice alternative to paying $200.00 plus for a simple CAI.

 

It's a safe bet you have to shill out some $$$ to see HP gains on MINIs. The single biggest gainer is the 15% pulley. This will run $110-150 plus cost of installation (usually around $400 total), and you will see roughly 20 HP and 20 lbs. TQ at the crank. Most everything else will appear to be less worth the money. NOTE: my $$$ and HP numbers are estimates. CAI, $200; 7-10 HP gain. Catback exhaust, $600-$900; 7-10 HP gain. NGK BKR7 plugs, $40. Head, $1200+. Cam, $300+. Tune, $350+; ??? HP (depends on all mods done beforehand).

The best initial mod combination benchmark is pulley, CAI, exhaust, BKR7 plugs, and tune. This total investment would be about $1,500 (only including pulley labor), and this will put you at roughly 195 HP at the crank. I cannot think of any modder who has not thoroughly enjoyed this combination. Don't forget that each HP we gain is more beneficial than someone with a Camaro or Mustang. Our little MINIs only weigh 2680 lbs. empty, so the HP-to-weight ratio is in our favor.

Other mods that can help in overall performance, but not necessarily HP gains, is lighter wheels (unsprung weight is better to shed; it's considered 10:1 vs. sprung weight) and a lighter flywheel (stock is 27 lbs.; don't go below 13 lbs. to retain stock-like feel). As the old saying goes, if you want to play, you've gotta pay.

 

Any ideas on these cowl scoops?
http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...eIndexID=90071

It would seem to me, that they'd be a big help in re-establishing "cold" air flow once you started moving again. But I'd also think they'd restrict air flow and drive IAT up once stagnant.

I don't mean to Highjack, just didn't want to make a new topic about something only slightly off topic.

 

jec1980: until you take actual temperature measurements in your airbox, you won't know what's going on. Using your hand to measure temperatures will lead to false readings and wrong conclusions. However the unit you bought is very similar to the Alta one, and if sealed properly you will get most of the same results. You can remove the rear cowl panel without having to cut holes (the Alta requires the panel to be removed, not cut.)

 

Eventually I will modify the cowl, but for now I'm satisfied with the results. Throttle response is much better than before and as a bonus, I went from averaging 350 MPT (miles per tank) to averaging 400 MPT. The gas millage increase is enough for me to support this MOD. Until I install a pulley I most likely will not know what performance increase the CAI has really afforded me.

 

One thing to remember... A HAI ( hot air intake) may give mpg gains due to the fact you are feeding you car less dense, warmer air...and makeing less hp in the process.....and this may be masked by the better throtle response due to a better flowing filter, that is, undoubtly, cleaner than the one that replaced it.
I do love "home made" mods, just be sure they are done with sound science, good therory, and some good ol fashioned common sense. Bang for buck, it sounds like you have done well, and are happy, so good job.

 

You are right about this. I forgot that's why some prefer HAI over CAI.