Does anyone make a "cold" air box for the cooper? If so do you feel or hear a difference? Not the ones I have seen that take the hot air from the engine bay. What can they possibly do?

Thanks, Sergio

 

There are no cold air intakes for any MINI. I think you are talking about intakes with a heatshield. And I think to answer your question of any MC intakes with a heatshield is no. Sorry.

 

I know of three CAIs for the MC - the Pipercross Viper has been out for many months and now the new Green Twister and BMC CDA CAIs are just appearing on the scene. These all replace the entire stock airbox with a high flow filter enclosed within a heat shield (they're actually sealed canisters) and use ducting (either new or re-using the factory pipes) to pull cold air from just behind the grill.

The uncovered intakes that draw air from inside the engine bay are meant to improve performance simply by being less restrictive than the stock system and thus increasing airflow. So you have the potential to draw more air but it's hotter (less dense)....seems like it could be a wash, but without reliable dyno figures one can only speculate.

 

I installed one of these. This is when installed properly, a true cold air setup.

I have not put my car on a dyno, but there is no doubt about it it works. Much faster mid-range, top end and when upshifting at highr rprm with FOT it feels like there is a turbo. Not tosay it make the car a S, but it make the coope ra much more fun to drive. If anyone knows where I can go in southern California for a dyno, please let me know. I will post the results. The picture above shows a easy fit, this it is not. After a couple of hours and a Mcgiver effort you will find a way.
You need to throw away the hoses that come with it, as they are to stiff to bend.

1. I removed all the stock hoses and box.
2. Install the BMC across the battery box.
3 Install a 3-2.5 inch adapter to the throttle box.
4. Install a small 2.5-2.5 pipe to the 3" side of hose ( you need something solid to
clamp down on.)
5. Install a 3" hose from the other side of the 2.5" pipe to the BMC.
6. Remove the hose that goes from the front air intake to the old box inlet.
7. Install a 3" hose from the BMC intatke side to directly the front air intake.
8. Install a small breather filter to the breather. This elimates this hot air source
from the new cold air intake.

_________________
CHRIS

 

bk,

kurvhugr is right, the Viper, Green UK Twister, and the BMC Carbon Dynamic Airbox are all cold air intakes. I still haven't received all of them yet, but as soon as they all get here, I'll be doing a comparo.

The Moss intake provides nice sound, allows for freer breathing, but doesn't isolate the under bonnet air. I still think it provides an improvement, as the Cooper doesn't generate near the same heat in the engine compartment.

Hope that helps!

CSP4 - good show on that install!

 

I spent $300 on the Piper viper before purchasing the BMC Carbon filter. It is not easy to clean the filter, I broke mine trying. The BMC is solid, learn from my mistake. The Green Twister looks well made, I like the metal inclosure. I would go with one of them and avoid the Viper. The Viper does work, but is about $5 in parts for $300. I like the Cold Air setups, the opened filters look cool, but unless the are closed in by fabrication, do not suck cool air.

Whichever one you buy. Hook up the breather to a small filter of its own. If you do not, you will be sucking in hot engine air.

Thanks to Randy BMC for the original post on the BMC Carbon Box. This is how I found out about it. It is excellent.

_________________
CHRIS

 

Hey Chris, That is what I am looking for. Where did you get it and what was the cost?

 

I will be carrying it after the eval process. The cost is under $300, but I'll need to get the final pricing. I always worry about pricing and margins and such after the product passes muster!

It'll probably be ready by the end of the week if everything goes well.

Randy
720-841-1002

 

Sergio,
Your best best is to keep in touch with Randy BMC. He offers the best support for what he represents. Although they say this is for Mini or another car, they are universal for all engines to a certain size.

When Randy offers this, I know we will all gain from his knowledge. If I knew Randy was going to sell these, I would have waited.

 

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Finally, a true CAI!? cool.

Any chance that you can take a picture of this when it is opened up (as if you were going to change the filter)?

Thanks for the info.