I am curious, what type of filter is in the JCW intake? Is it like the stock one? Is there a good hi-flow alternative?

 

It is a large paper cone. It's the only intake that has a combo of quiet stock like sound at low RPM and loud open cone at high RPM. There are several open cone intakes, but they are loud at all RPMs - the Alta being the most popular.

 

ahem, only during higher throttle angles. Just want to keep the information straight.

CARdiac: Back to the JCW Intake; I'd suppose that since you spent the money on the warranty, you wouldn't want to risk throwing it out the window. If so, then keep the restrictive paper filter. If not, then get the calipers out and then sift through the UNIfilter catalog!

 

Thanx...

 

Priced a replacement factory JCW filter element at the dealer = $100

 

$85 from Classic. I'm going to replace it with a foam when the time comes.

 

I don't mean to hijake this thread but...

I was talking about ordering an S with my MA yesterday and that was something we weren't sure of. The JCW intake only is noticable at higher RPMs? So if I want more noticable noise at lower RPMs I should go with a aftermarket CAI? Considering M7s AGS.

 

If you have the money, go with the full JCW kit (or aftermarket parts) The extra HP is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much fun

 

I'm going Auto S. So no Works kit.

 

Ordered my wife the MCS CVT Cabrio should be in first week June

I thought I would keep it pretty much "all MINI" and not like mine with the aftermarket parts since she only drives under 7k a year on her cars.

After reading this thread I don't know, had thought about the JCW intake for her car but I'm sure not going to pay $100 for a filter and WTF it should be a K&N type anyway for that kind of money.

Looks like it may be the aftermarket intake after all...

 

I'm thinking the same. I ordered a MCS Auto that should be here about the second week in June and was on the fence on the intake. I think I'm going aftermarket. Besides I asked them and it holds no residual value in the car if you decide to sell it back to a dealer later on.

 

I would say most of the Mini Aftermarket intakes hp increase comes from the fact that they are utilizing a higher flow filter, and not necessarily the design. No facts, just a guess. If so, then a better flowing filter in the JCW should increase some of the flow as well. I am not sure that replacing the intake filter will void the warranty in any way, and it would take a lot to show that a failure was caused by a filter. Most people rarely retain stock filters very long on any of their cars, and are usually purchasing stock OEM style filters from NAPA and the such. But with that said, which filter type would be the best? A lot of arguments between foam and cotton and..... Also, does anyone have the measurement for the JCW filter? I have been interested in this for a while, but am suprised the topic has just come up.

 

Glad I could start a thread for my own selfish reasons!

I would like the measurements as well. I have K&N on all my cars I am very happy with them... I have only had my car a couple of months and everytime I open the hood with my toolbox near by my wife threatens me with my life... hmmm I thought MY name was on the title? Anyway, I emailed K&N and asked about the filter... lets see if I get a response.

 

I'm sure there are many filters out there that will fit - it looks to be about a 4-5" opening and about 6-7" long, nothing unusual.

 

The JCW filter itself is 4.75in diameter and 7in long in filter area. The open end is a press-fit onto the collar inside the filter lid, and the closed (opposite) end has a 'fitting' where a retaining bracket attaches and the bracket is held with a screw in the lid assembly, holding the filter in place. It would not take much in the way of a modification to fit an aftermarket filter in this area. The filter itself is placed in a downward angle approximately 45 degrees, making room for some rather long filters in the closed box. Diameters of 5 inches or so would fit nicely with no shrouding issues.

 

Any way to post pictures?

 

Is supposedly getting K&N replacements filters for the JCW intake today. It can be cleaned and oiled like all other K&Ns. I had heard the cost of the replacement filter for a JCW intake was high, I had no idea of how high! I pick my K&N up today!

 

I'll post them once I get home where I have the pictures.

 

As promised, pictures (I love the visual arts!).

This is the top part of the airbox assembly removed from the bottom and sitting inverted. The filter is held in place by a bracket that can be seen to the left.


A view of the filter itself, removed from the housing, compared to the old stock (dirty) panel filter:


The inside of the upper filter housing itself. The canister in the center of the picture is a vacuum reservoir which allows the air door to be opened using a vacuum diaphragm despite operation at WOT (and therefore no available vacuum from the engine).


The canister holds enough vacuum to keep the door open regardless of how long the engine is held at WOT. I 'cycled' the door by energizing the solenoid with the engine off and was able to get 4 full open/close cycles of the door. There is no worry of the door somehow closing and not having enough vacuum to reopen. Note the collar for the filter opening/mounting on the right. I lost the measurement I took of it, but it's around 3 inches in diameter, or about the size of most aftermarket filters. The bracket that holds the filter in place is held on by the screw on the left near my thumb.

I hope to get ahold of a couple different aftermarket filters (Alta, K&N, etc) while at the Dragon and see which ones might be adaptable to this housing. This would save some money in addition to being reuseable. The stock JCW element is built for high flow with a lot of pleated surface area.

 

Earl, would you consider starting a new thread once you have the replacement info? I think this is important enough info to JCW owners to merit its own thread.

 

Please post here as well, for those of us who are subscribed to this thread but may somehow miss the new one. Thanks!

 

Interesting info on filters for the JCW. I also recall seeing someone post here that they were in the process of R&Ding filters for a variety of intakes so it might be worth keeping an eye out for that.

For those with the auto, there is word that that JCW kit for the car will be avail soon if you are interested

 

I have not heard anything yet....

 

Sounds to me like the business to be in is making replacement filters for MINIs!

Seriously, what paper filter is worth $100? Or even $50?

/gary

 

I took apart my JCW intake this weekend and posted a how-to here:

http://www.jwardell.com/mini/jcwintake.html

First...does anyone have the part number for the stock filter replacement?

And yes we need to encourage other companies like K&N to make replacements. There might be something else out there already that would fit, with the exception of the bottom where the bracket holds it in place.

I may also one day come up with some circuit that allows you to override the flap and open it anytime with a remote switch.