A question for those of you with the Moss air intake. I ordered back in December and it's been sitting in the box on my floor for a while because the directions are a bit vague in places, and the photos are kind of like UFO photos - grainy and dark photocopies. But, to get to my question: the actual filter part seems to differ from the picture in the catalog/website in its proportions. The catalog picture shows it roughly as wide as it is tall, but the filter that I was shipped is much taller, around 8" or so.

I know that they sell a similar product for other cars (PT, for example), and even though mine came with the MINI-badged air tube and MINI directions, I want to make sure that I have the correct size filter before attempting the install. Anyone care to make a height measurement on the filter, or speculate as to whether an extra 1-2" will pose a particular problem with the fit? I called and spoke to someone at Moss, but I wasn't satisfied that they really understood my question (!).

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2003 Red/White Cooper - Brookline, MA

 

Does the filter element have any numbers or markings? If so, I'd call MOSS and tell them the filter element doesn't match the pictures in the handout, and would like to make sure XXXXXX is the correct product # for the MINI filter.

R

 

Thanks, I actually hadn't thought of that! The only marking on it that I can see is "2 1/2", so I just called and left a message at Moss's tech assistance line with that info. I actually went and measured my filter, and it's around 6 3/4" high. The one in the catalog and on the website appears to only be around 4 1/2" high, assuming that the base is the same width.

Hopefully my description is making sense. I'd really appreciate if someone could run out to the driveway with a tape measure for a minute! I'm not confident in Moss's response (so far), which was something to the effect of "pictures can be deceiving"..

 

Hi Chris,
Still haven't installed that intake!!! Wow.
Why don't you email Randy at randy@mini-motorsport.com . I would guess that he would know.
If you have it installed by June maybe you can join a group of us who are putting together a MINI Mt. Washington Auto Road ralley. Going to need all the oxygen we can get up there!

 

Hello Steve,
Yeah, it's been a while, hasn't it now? I was out of town for a while for the holidays, got sick for a week or so, and now it's just been so cold... Temp today didn't go over 20; doesn't look like it will tomorrow, either. It was 7 when I got in my car this morning! Not exactly midwest cold, but extreme for Boston!

Anyway, there are basically only two parts of the instructions for the Moss intake install that I have questions about (besides my strangely large filter), so I guess I'll just start a new thread and hope someone bites.

 

Sorry chris, I just saw your post.

Here is what it should look like. It's easy enough to just put it together, and then it will become glaringly obvious if it is wrong.



Let me know if you have any other questions.

Randy

 

Thanks, Randy. That looks exactly like the picture in the Moss catalog, and exactly like the filter shown in the instructions I received. Unfortunately, it doesn't look exactly like my filter. Judging by the size of the intake tube versus the filter, the base of the filter in the photos (the larger circular dimension) is just under 5", same as mine. The height, though, also seems to be about 5", while mine is nearly 6" (I'm talking now about just the cone-shaped filter part, not including the connected stem that the tube attaches to). May not sound like much of a difference, but trust me, the proportions of mine are noticeably different. This concerns me just because everything is so shoehorned in under the hood that 1" seems substantial. I can't quite eyeball it with the airbox in the way.

If I can't get Moss to give me a definitive answer, I'm going to tell them I'm returning it and ordering from MINI Cooper Motorsport!

Second question I had was about the wiring loom clip, but another look under the hood seems to have answered that one.

Last question: how long of an extension do I need to remove the bolt from the transmission mount (the one that the metal tube support bolts to)? Judging from the size of the piece, it looks like I need at least 10", but again it's hard to tell with all of the stock equipment currently in the way.

Randy, it's good to see your site/shop up and running! I look forward to doing business with you in the future. Thanks for all of the help, with this and everything else on MCO. Even though I'll probably never tackle an exhaust, I was fascinated to read your how-to pictorial thing. Until I got the MINI, I never cared enough about a car to go to the trouble of doing this stuff myself.

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2003 Red/White Cooper - Brookline, MA

 

Also, Steve - definitely let me know about the Mt. Washington rally! I'm there.

 

I think you'd be surprised how much room you have after you get the airbox out. 1" should be fine, and if it isn't - it's really not too tough to put it back together. You will usually surprise yourself at just how mechanical you can be when there is no one else around to bail you out .

The exstension is just the standard "long" one with the standard "short" one put together - probably about 8" or so.

Let me know if you have any other quesitons.

Randy

 

Thanks again for your help, Randy. If the temperature ever hits 40 degrees again, I'll give it a shot!

 

Finally undertook this project Friday night, and it was pretty easy. Plenty of room for my larger filter, and it really opens up some space in the engine compartment! I like how the tube from the air intake behind the grill points right at where the Moss filter ends up, supplying plenty of fresh air.

No power gain is obvious, but I love the sound (slightly louder under strong throttle), and I'm hoping that fuel economy will get a slight boost.
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>>A question for those of you with the Moss air intake. I ordered back in December and it's been sitting in the box on my floor for a while because the directions are a bit vague in places, and the photos are kind of like UFO photos - grainy and dark photocopies. But, to get to my question: the actual filter part seems to differ from the picture in the catalog/website in its proportions. The catalog picture shows it roughly as wide as it is tall, but the filter that I was shipped is much taller, around 8" or so.
>>

>>_________________
>>2003 Red/White Cooper - Brookline, MA

There was a production change to the filter late last year because of clearance problems between the filter and the hood insulation. The instruction or ad copies have not been update yet.
Sound like you have the updated filter anyhow.

FonJ

 

Thanks - good info!
Chris

 

I just got my Moss Mini intake today and it doesn't look like the one in the pictures but it still looks cool. I'll try to install it today, it should be fun trying to install it myself. :smile:

 

I can't get the stock intake tube off the throttle body!! I pried for ever and it wont come off, the trottle body is starting to get really scratched! maybe im not following the instructions properly? help please

 

I still cant get the tube off the throtle! The outside of the throttle body is getting scatched and the rubber at the end of the tube is starting to tear near the clamp where im prying. Chrisneal was ur tube hard to remove from the throttle body?

 

Have you removed the clamp? It should just slide off.

Randy

 

Do I have to remove the clamp? The instructions didnt say to, if I do have to remove the clamp how do I remove it?

 

Take a small standard screwdriver and put it under the tab - the raised area on the clamp - and just pop it up. You will be able to reuse it if you need to, but I would recommend getting another clamp that is adjustable - a regular hose clamp.

Give me a call if you are still having problems.

Randy
720-841-1002

 

Removing the clamp was the hardest part of the install. The key is just to be patient and keep prying. I used a large, thick flathead screwdriver. There's a bolt toward the right side of the tube that you can pry against, as well as the tube itself. It took bending the clamp up a lot more than I expected in order to be able to take the tube off. Just keep going; you're not going to be able to see scratches on the tube once you put the new tube over it!

Also, once you finally get the filter installed, don't get too excited and forget (like I did) to plug the plug back into the throttle body and connect the breather tube. The engine won't sound happy when you start it that way...

I'm sending you a PM with my phone number if you'd like to give me a call (although I imagine Randy could provide more knowledge).

 

The key is to pry the clamp against itself. The clamp is two pieces at the connection - with the "tab" or "hump" giving you a space between the two. Pry right there. Use a twisting motion and it should just pop off - promise.

Randy

 

I finally got that little sucker off of the throttle. I was amazed at how hard it was to get it off of there and at how little room there was in the engine bay around the intake tube. I installed an intake on a honda accord and that tube just poped right off. The intake sounds great and the car feels like it has a little more pep to it. Thanks for your help guys :smile: