I have a BMP intake, I just extended it to the bulkhead to create a cold air intake. I noticed that there are two small openings in the box that are below the computer and I'm not sure where they lead to. I shined a flashlight into them at night but didn't see any light on the outside. Does anyone know what they are, what they are for and can I seal them up?

I recently had Helix install (great guys, great work) a pulley system. I was a bit disappointed with my Dyno results and Eric explained that my intake temperatures were higher than other cars they have Dyno'd with the same mods with one exception, Randy's air-box mod. He thought that if I sealed the box to keep engine heat out then the results would have been more to what I was expecting.

I sealed up the box (with the exception of these two small openings) and am going back next week to have it re-Dyno'd to see if it made a difference. My seat of the pants impression is that it has.

 

I checked my airbox. Within the filter area at the side of the airbox in the lowest edge that faces the left front wheel there are two holes about a inch or so in diameter. At night I shine a bright light at it and no light comes through anywhere else. I open the top lid to the ECU and no light passes into the ECU box. I shine the light into the ECU box and no light comes through to the airbox. I'm not sure what the holes are for but maybe they offer structural rigidity more than anything else and are not true openings between the airbox and anything leading out to freshair. I don't think you have to worry that these holes are a source of direct hot air. Too bad you could somehow insulate the airbox from heat sources in the engine compartment. If you still need to know more about the two holes just ask Randy BMC. You can PM him for the quickest answer.
Good luck with your pulley and feel free to PM me with your final impressions good or bad. Aloha-

 

You are referring to the indents on the driver side of the lower half of the airbox, right?

Those aren't holes - they are just part of the molding.

As far as the gains you had, did you do a base run? I have seen cars that just don't make as much power from the get-go, so you have to use total gain instead of your ultimate number.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Randy

 

Thanks Randy for the comment.
Actually there are many small circular looking indents on the inside of the airbox in various directions. Some face the firewall and some face the ECU side. The important thing is if it is dark and you shine a strong light at one side and you cannot see any light from the opposite angle then there isn't much access from one side to the other. Not enough to make a difference.
Also I did notice when looking at all of the Dyna results with the various coopers listed in the threads that results vary alot and that individual coopers may be not be getting as good numbers based on slight variations in build from the factory. Most coopers get decent numbers compared to specs and most MCS don't get as good numbers compared to specs. Depends on what the conditions are when you run the test. Lots of variables.
Like what Randy said, compare the results of before and after Pulley but only as it applies to your particular case.
Good luck

 

Thanks for the quick replies, Now ( about 4 days after the pulley install) this thing screams, very noticable increase in power, Did the ECU have to adjust itself or something?

 

Crewbus:
Increased power in the low RPM range? Smoother? Can you spin your wheels?

 

I went to Helix yesterday to be re-Dyno'd since my air-box mod. The results were good. On 4/21 after the pulley was installed my average run was 154.5 hp @6500 136.3 torque @4000. Yesterday after my intake mod the car pulled 160.1 hp @6500 143.0 torque @3750. I was very pleased.

I can't figure out how to post the picture in my message but I uploaded 3 pictures in the Members MINI Gallery. They are on page 243, airboxmod1,2,3.

 

just the airbox mod and it added that much wow

 

It seems to me that baseline runs without a pulley have been in the 145-148 range. You were only getting 154 with the pulley? That doesn't sound right.

 

My baseline without the pulley was 143.8, the pulley only brought it up to 154.5, Eric said my intake temp was higher than most of the cars he has seen, I did the airbox mod ( sealing it up to the bulkhead) and my numbers went up, kinda weird it went up that much, It was a hotter day too.

 

I also have a screen in my hood scoop to keep stuff from hitting my intercooler, I changed it to a more free flowing one ( bigger holes) a that could have helped a little, the first one looked good but was to restrictive.