My wife has an 05 MCS that I'm thinking of adding some parts to. It is all stock right now and I've been looking at the CAI The three in particular are the minimania, bmp, and Dinan. Will these work on an otherwise stock car or are there additional mods needed. Anyone recommend one over the other? I am new to the Mini world and just looking for a little advice.

 

To date the most popular CAI has been the Alta. I have it and I think highly of it. Very complete setup.

 

The M7 Air Gain System is new and the people that actually have it really like it. I saw it at the Dragon installed and out of a car and it looked well made. The sound is really great. I heard Misfitoy coming and going all weekend and always knew it was him. But on that note I have the Alta and I really like it. The Alta makes great power for an intake and sound good too. I got it from www.webbmotorsports.com

 

Yeah, but you failed to mention you have to disassemble the front end of the car to install an AGS, and there are no gains shown yet above any other intake.

You can put any intake you want on, and you'll notice a little better throttle response, a little better pull in the upper RPM ranges, and more supercharger sound when you floor it. It's a base mod for others, but nothing that will give you much difference on an otherwise stock car, if that's all you do.

If you want a single mod to actually make a difference, do a pulley. It gives a nice seat of the pants feel, little better pull on an otherwise stock car, little more pulley noise and the powerband drops about 1,000 RPM for useable torque.
The first mod I did (with the intentions of dong more) was the JCW intake. It has the added advantage of being stock level quiet below 4500k RPM. I do not want it whining all the time, that was my primary reason for choosing it over other open cone intakes - which make the supercharger whine audible all the time.

 

Here we go again. Lets see if me can get this thread locked down too. I don't remember saying anything about the AGS being easy to install nor did I tell the man that it would turn his MINI into a rocket ship. I just said it was a nice looking system that sounded good. I'm sure it is an improvement over stock. I agree about the pulley but he ask about intakes. And my Alta isn't audible all the time just when you get on it. I think the supercharger whine is great.

 

I'm simply giving him all the information, since it sounds like he's not looking for such an extensive install as an AGS, given his named choices so far. Don't get your panties in a wad just yet. I'm sure it's an improvement over stock as well and never said otherwise.

 

... but yet you think he might want to jack his motor out of his car for a pulley? ...

 

The panty crap is uncalled for. All I did is add the AGS to the list. The man never said he wanted an intake that was real easy to install. I'm sure he will do his own reseach. I thought he might want to take a look at it.

 

Forgive our manners... At present the debate around the Intake King of the Hill is pretty lively. The Alta CAI has been the top choice for a while now. If you can wait a little while there are several new intakes coming on line that promise to deliver nice gains. If not, I'd buy the Alta from Webb Motorsports or from Alta directly. Enjoy modding your MINI.

 

Getting back to the question that was asked:

You can install any of the intakes you've mentioned with no additional mods. The intake is a pretty common first mod.

 

I agree total! I wasn't tring to get anyone revved up. I just really liked the sound of the M7 system and thought it desired a look. I have been total happy with the Alta and recommend it highly.

 

I started out with the Alta and really liked it.
I now have the AGS and like it more.

For the first mod I agree with most others here that you would be fine with any of your choices or the Alta. If you continue down the slippery slope of modding your MINI :smile: , then later you might want to consider the AGS as a compliment to other mods that have improved the overall flow of air through the motor.

Above all, have fun. I know I do as I am so far down that slippery slope that I can't see the top anymore .

Bill

 

Great post, Bill! So very true about the slippery slope!! Motor on!


Clover

 

Nope, but I am giving him the advice that if he only wants to do one mod, the pulley is a better example than an intake as far as performance gains.

 

I never said it was bad did I? I simply gave him the advice regarding the install differences of the other intakes and the AGS - it makes a big difference to a lot of people if they are doing the work.

 

From what I understand from various cars, is that aftermarket intakes, like exhausts, all yield similar gains no matter what brand. There may be a few hp difference between them but in the end it's all about your preferences, your philosophy on what exactly contitutes a 'cold' air intake, how much you want to spend, and what you like in the sound department.

I had the JCW installed and think it does what it is supposed to do well. It is not a noisy intake, hissing with any throttle application and Darth Vadar-like gasps at WOT like some intakes I have experienced on other cars, but when the flap opens at 4500 the supercharger whine is quite inspiring I think it was designed to feed more air through at the optimum time and recommend it as a well made mod for the MCS

Whichever you choose I don't think you can really go too wrong.

 

Exactly! The only big downside to the JCW is the price. They go for around $400, which is double the typical intake for the same peak gains. However the look under the hood is stock, and that plus the noise differences matters more than an extra $200 to some folks, like me.

 

Are you sure all the facts are correct here??????? Just because the poster claimed to be modding a wifes car does not necessarily in this day and age confirm the fact that the poster is actually a he or that the posters wife is actually a she. Until proof has been made available please refrain from referring to this poster as a he
Thanks for your time

 

Well, the little arguments aside. Thanks for the info. BTW, I am a man and my wife is a woman.

 

<cricket noises>

 

I am just looking for a solid first choice that is not too difficult to install. I have some mechanical ability and do all of my own mods on my motorcycles. Also, would prefer something that is not too loud as this is the wife's daily driver.

 

Then the JCW is the only choice, that fits those requirements. It's a GREAT intake - looks sweet, has the WORKS logo on it and performs very well. I got mine from Classic Mini for $405. There were a few sales here on NAM for around $250, for some people that bought it in a kit with other parts, and sold the intake because they didn't need it. You might put up a parts wanted post for one. Search, and you'll find a couple install threads for it. There is a factory .pdf install file that's very good, and I posted a thread on some parts that weren't detailed in it. It should take about 45 min-1 hour to install.

 

...produce some horsepower gain. Some more and some less. Some exhausts produce more gain (HP & Torque) and some less. The same is true with Cold Air Intakes. In the end, it comes down to budget and sound preference.

If the Alta produces 2 more HP then the M7 AGS, but I like the AGS's sound better, then I'd go with the AGS.

If I don't want to have the SC sound in the cabin, but want everybody within a 3-block radius to know that I'm arriving, then I'll get the AGS.

If I want to listen to the sweet SC sound in the drivers seat, I'll get the Alta.

If I'm installing it myself, then I would definitely get the Alta.

Good luck on your decision.

 

did anyone ever determine the need for the JCW intake to open it's input flap tot he cowl, rather than draw from there all the time? Noise? water?

 

I can rate my promini/bmp filter quite highly if your interested in a quick filter mod! Better response than standard and sounds good too