Has anyone thought about this...

Routing either 1, or both of the new JCW lower grill housings (made for brake cooling), and routing it up to the intake?

For those with aftermarket intakes, it would provide better ram air and a tiny bit denser than the stock hose behind the upper grill. Having an open intake filter in the back of the engine, it would be possible to route both brake ducts pointed at the intake.

And for those with the stock intake, you could technically even modify the stock piping behind the upper grill and route it down to the bottom. Vacuum/induction from the lower grill would provide denser ("cooler") air than at the upper grill.

The only thing would be the spacing behind here. I randomly thought of this sitting at my desk at work right now, and haven't even began to look at the spacing behind the grill/route to the intake. Seeing that the stock hose is right above one of the ducts, it may not be too hard. Bumper removal would probably be necessary. But, I could see definite improvements in this.

 

Never thought about it but, if you were able to run the tubing through the engine bay effectively and not get to close to the motor and run both tubes into a custom intake box that accepts both tubes with a rather large filter it should work.

 

here is a cheaper alternative... I dont know whos mini this is but originally it was from gen1 brake cooling vents post. This can easily be done and rerouted to the air box. Someone take the plunge cuz I am happy with my Super AGS

 

Good luck with running it to the airbox. Just buy a DDMWorks RIS and be done with it for good. That is a pretty neat hack brake duct system. The OEM rotors sure need it!

 

too many zip ties... but agree...

 

And that is why the MINI has stalled in performance part is because people are not willing to take risk.

 

And that is why the MINI has stalled in performance part is because people are not willing to take risk.

 

Or you could just run your intake behind and below the engine where the air is nice and cool at speed.

 

What the heck why did it double post? Hmmmm.....

 

Sweet cool, lets put something that sucks air into our motor 3 inches off the ground to suck up all sorts of water and stuff!! Oh and ram air.. really? its has a turbo? If you were going to do that just make the side scuttles vents so air could be sucked through them!

 

I toataly agree with you on the MINI performance market being at a standstill because nobody is willing to exparament with new ideas. I have been trying to beat some motivation to get out and try something new into this forum since I started posting.

Your Idea would probably work to some degree(space permiting). I dont have an R56 so I cant say if there is enough room or not under the hood. There are some drawbacks to a setup like this (1) being water as stated before, (2) the air on the surface of the pavement is usualy pretty warm compared to ambient, and the brake ducts are mounted pretty low. And (3) S models have a turbo, and a verry tiny one at that. A bigger turbo could make better use of this setup but, the stock one is probably flowing its max cfm with just an intake. On regular justacooper models the benefits would be more noticeable.

The only real way to say if it will work or not is to fab something up and try it out.

 

Lol.. Its funny how AK and dicks garages' posts out across the same message but two very different ways of putting it across. Anyways, this random thought would work better (if executed properly) than an open filter (hot air intake) in back of the engine that many people are running. Yes, I've had an open filter and have reverted back to stock as I've proven in my own scenario it outputs higher numbers, YMMV.

 

Yeah sorry kind of a **** way to put it. The "hot" air intake really is only around 100-120 in 80- 100 degree weather. so its not that much higher. The intercooler will take care of most of it. Before people start to go crazy with air intakes and everything. Upgrade the intercooler because that is where the air will be cooled.

 

Where is the thread that this came from? This is the type of setup I was thinking of doing for track duty.

 

I think it was from MU... this was years ago. I saw this and was like SAVE! Not too sure where it is anymore.... I have additional pictures if you want to pm me...

dont want to hijack OP

 

PM sent. Thanks!

 

Not sure how much of a consideration it would be, but the lower you pick up the air, the dirtier it is, so you would need to keep an eye on keeping the air filter clean.