Does anyone have the viper induction kit? Is it truly a cold air intake kit? I have heard that kits that have the filter exposed under the hood make great bhp with the hood open on the dyno, but as soon as you close the hood the added performance is gone, and maybe worse than stock due to the air now being drawn from the warm engine compartment. Can anyone verify this?

 

From what I have heard about (and seen online pictures of) the Pipercross Viper kit, it completely replaces the stock air-box on the MINI.

It is completely enclosed, and is NOT open to pull in any air from inside the engine compartment. I guess the way it really adds horsepower is by eliminating resistance in the airflow (getting more air in faster) and streamling the airflow path. I don't think the air is any colder though, since the source/input opening hasn't changed.

Seems kinda expensive though..

 

I have had the one from MINI Madness installed for about a month with no issues. It sits inside a stainless steel box and butts right up to the underside of the hood with flexible rubber grommet.

the air for the supercharger actually comes from the inlet just below the windshield into the box and then through the cone filter.

i think the sealed box is key as it isolates the engine heat from the air supply. After a hard run the sides of the box are pretty hot to the touch.

I can't really say that i have seen a really noticable performance improvement but Mini madness claims 7 hp which seems to be consistant with other claims. I put it on at about 1,000 km so the engine is still breaking in - i now have 4,000 km

. The supercharger whine is much more noticable under hard accelaration and that is kind of neat.

 

When I first got my Mini used a under the hood induction system. Straight pipe from the intake to a cone filter. What a difference at the top end. I would race my partners yellow mini and I would always pull away on every shift from 5000-6200 rpms. Both cars would shift at the same time for each gear. But, I would just pull away just a little each shift. But for the first 3500-5000 we would be the same. Except for the gains I would make at the top end.

Once the viper kit came out I added this to my car. Now, my partner has the same set up now. But, what happened is I gained my low end back.

With my old setup that I made form scratch. I was sucking in the hot ambient air from the engine compartment. Thus lossing off the line quickness. With my old kit I was ticked. Every time I would pull out of my office parking lot I could turn my tires. But, once I was out cruising I could not. It always bothered me. But now I know why.

When leaving the lot my engine was cool. Thus sucking in cold air. Once it got hot I would lose my ability to turn my tires.

I modified my Viper set up further. I pulled off my front bumper and cross support. Thus giving me access to the resinater box which I removed.

The viper does hook up back to the stock intake from under the hood. But, the difference is I now have a carbon fiber filter (keeps cooler), a foam filter (higher air flow) and connection tubes are heat resistant.

With my old set up I would not be able to touch my filter setup. It would be too hot.

My buddy who has a SL300 V6 Saturn just put the Viper on his car. He said from the stop he could now turn his tires longer. He also used to have a cone filter induction kit.

my 2 cents

 

Hey thanks for the imput. :smile:

 

Ahhh.... so that's the advantage of the Viper system, it stays cooler... honestly, I really didn't know what the Viper had over the other systems out there... but is that a MC or an MCS? I know that the MCS has the 'snorkles' semi-outside of the engine compartment, how's the MC set up?

Rocketboy_X

 

I have installed a reguar pipercross induction kit, greeting from across the pond by the way (im from uk) i like the look and the sound i get its got more growl to the engine but not too much (as i dont want my car to sound like vuhal nova's or citroen saxo's) (cars in UK people all ways mod and they are just.... horrid nasty waste of money) any ways here is a pic of my fitted induction kit

 

The stock setup is also a cold air box. Replacing it with the Viper will improve airflow and increase HP. My Mini is much improved with the Viper. I do not like the Hose they provide and recommend either of the following 2.5" Intake Hose The hose they provide has many holes and is difficult to cut without unraveling. The Viper does work and does use the stock cold air intake. I run mine direct to the the intake horn and eliminated the strange resonating box. The Viper is very quite when ran to the cold air intake.
Once you drive with it, you will not go back to stock. Be carefull cleanaing the filter. It does not open up, I broke mine and had to modify it to work.
Good Luck.

_________________
CHRIS

 

CSP4,

How is the Viper mounted? Is the carbon fibre case mounted to anything so it doesn't move around?

retroom



>>The stock setup is also a cold air box. Replacing it with the Viper will improve airflow and increase HP. My Mini is much improved with the Viper. I do not like the Hose they provide and recommend either of the following 2.5" Intake Hose The hose they provide has many holes and is difficult to cut without unraveling. The Viper does work and does use the stock cold air intake. I run mine direct to the the intake horn and eliminated the strange resonating box. The Viper is very quite when ran to the cold air intake.
>>Once you drive with it, you will not go back to stock. Be carefull cleanaing the filter. It does not open up, I broke mine and had to modify it to work.
>>Good Luck.
>>
>>_________________
>>CHRIS

 

It is glued in on one end.

 

CSP4, looks like you're talking about how the Viper's foam filter is mounted inside the canister. I think retroom is asking whether the entire Viper unit is mounted or attached to anything to keep it from moving around under the hood...correct me if I'm wrong retroom.

The Viper "box" is attached at it's exit end to the rather rigid hose that leads to the throttle body. The intake end of the unit is mounted via a band/hose clamp and a bit of angle iron using one of the bolt holes left behind when you remove the stock airbox.

 

The Viper does include a solid mount setup. In my opinion the Viper is the best cold air setup for the Mini. Again I only recommend changing the hose, not to say the hose is bad, it better than what is atavailable form auto parts stores. Because the bends that must be made in a tight area you really need the best hose possible.

The BMC is to big to mount properly. The only way to gain enough room, would be remove the battery box and battery and install a smaller battery. In my opinion this would not be worth the trouble.

 

Yes kurvhugr, I was asking about mounting of the whole unit.

You answered my question and CSP4 confirmed it.

The Viper does seem to be the best CAI intake for the Cooper.

retroom