I'm not sure if the cowl induction flap is opening on my JCW Intake. The intake/supercharger noise form my car builds steadily to redline but the volume does not suddenly increase at 4500rpm. Does the flap pop open or slowly open? What's the best/easiest way to check if it is opening?

 

just get someone to rev to motor for you....with the bonnet open...and you just reach in where the opening is....you will feel the flap...it should be closed...then when your friend revs it make sure they go pas 5k and make sure they are reving it aggresively...you should feel it open right as you get to 4500

 

Thanks Tuls,

When you say reach in there, do you mean the cowl area or take the top off of the air box and reach in?

Edit: I've read this before but have been reluctant to free rev the engine that high. I now have over 2000 miles on it so I guess no harm will be done, although my old V8 hotrod buddies say that revving an engine with out a load is not good.

 

Your hotrod buddies are clueless.

Yes you reach in the cowl hole.

How did you attach the sending wire to the harness?

 

just have someone rev it for you, and carefully put your hand near the flap... you can feel flap open at about 4500.... The flap is electrical not based on load....

I ended up taking the flap out so air gets in there all the time...................

 

[QUOTE=kaelaria] How did you attach the sending wire to the harness? /QUOTE]

My intake was installed by my dealer before I took delivery of the car, as part of the complete engine tunning kit.

 

Then take it back - if you don't hear a loud distinct sound change above 4500, they missed something.

 

Actually, I think you have to be driving it to hear the Opening WHINE above 4500 rpm

Don't trust it in park, drive it and listen

 

I don't think you even need to have a hand down there to verify that it's opening up (with the bonnet open). Its gets pretty loud once the flap opens... I did a similar experiment (having a friend listen carefully) and sorta scared my him... as the sound is very noticable. Not completely sure but as I understand it the engine needs to be at a higher throttle angle to build up enough vaccuum to open the flap, but others here probably know more.

Erik

 

Hey Red, I've driven it to redline many times and listened with the windows down and the volume just seems to evenly grow as rpm's increase. I haven't tried sticking my hand in the cowl area while I'm driving though .

Thanks everyone who posted help, I'll check to see if my cowl flap is opening tonight.

 

Take it in, part of the wiring make be incomplete, works off vacuum hoses too.

Also, it has to be programmed with software flash too

 

it does not need any software to function...I have installed one...worked jsut skippy with out any fancyness

 

Well, BMW dealership said it needed to be "programmed", maybe just BS

 

You clearly don't have one and have no experience with one - why are you commenting like you have facts?

No you do not have to be driving to hear it - at ALL. No it does not take, nor is there any, special software for it.

 

Thanks for the support and understanding "K" , I do have one and chill out please

 

Mine hasn't opened since the install...the dealer cannot figure out why...going one last time. 29,000 miles since the install with a siezed(?) flap Time for an Alta!

 

I had a Rouge intake before I upgraded to the JCW intake. With a Rouge or any open intake you will hear the supercharger whine at all RPMS but with the JCW no whine until 4500 and you will definately hear that glorious noise eminating from under the bonnet. Sounds like Victory!!

Nice

 

yes, I concur. However, sometimes the noise on my car is more noticeable after 5,000 RPM.

 

heh heh...yeees...hmmmn "programmed" mmmhmmmm cha ching!...well the other thing is most of the SAs do not know....they are simply doing a job which is cutomer service...alot of times they have no Idea what goes on in the back...as in...they dont' do the work...so...it's not thier fault...eh...

 

Yes you can hear the increased whine, but in my opinion it is a modest increase in volume... I remember after hitting 1300 on my breakin period, I was so psyched to hear the increased sound.. couldn't really hear it and then had to check it by putting my hand near the flap.. yes it was opening.... As I said above, I removed the flap, and lower plugged intake.. which helps sound... I may actually change back to my turner/rouge/madness cai to compare and see which is better... i think the jcw may keep a cooler charge but wonder if it is really better than a alta or rouge with airbox mods.... Just some thoughts.... a dyno test would be great on this issue

 

meb...there are only four variables to the flap...vacume lines, ignition power, ground and 12 volt power

if they did it right it should work...if it doesn't it's broken...tell them to get you a new one...

annoying isn't it...

 

Wow then that's incredibly sad, that you can only give such wrong information.

 

I had the JCW intake installed on my MCS by the dealer a few days ago. Of course I tried to hear the surge in decibels above 4500rpm. It didn't happen, or I am deaf. I figured, what the heck, the dealer certainly must know what he's doing... But reading your post and the simple "hands on" method of testing, I gave it a try. My "flap" works just fine, and there is no dramatic increase in the volume or character of the sound. Perhaps it will happen after I install the 15% pulley?

 

The pulley does make it louder, yes.


You can most easily hear the sound with the windows up, wide open, radio off. It's very obvious, gaining at least 100% volume.

 

well, save your money on JCW cai dyno; according to factory, this airbox is suppose to generate 5hp. Other companies will boast various figures for their intakes, but I doubt any of them are any more credible than the good German (and some British) folks behind Mini. Just my $.02.:smile: