So, I got the '15 S to the dealer today for an oil change and fast idle problem (P0133, intermittent) 1,500 rpm. Smoke test determined the "clean air pipe" elbow was leaking, seals melted, gone, or whatever. So, the SA (done the car for the last 5 years) showed me the leak and he and the tech said that the elbow to the engine had to be replaced. And the upper piping to the CAI. Parts guy came over and checked the part. New superseded number came up, a BMW number with two A's in it, perhaps a BMW motorcycle part number. NOT ONE IN THE USA, on backorder. Checked a couple of large BMW part houses (close to import BMW part locations), NADA. No clue when they will be in stock.

Spent hours looking online for the part. Found one in stock, Handler Auto parts in LATVIA. Not Latvia, US, but Latvia Europe. They say they ship international and take PayPal, according to their website. NOT. Like I am going to give credit card number and/or bank info to a LATVIAN website. The 65 Euro part went up to 135 Euros and not 4-day shipping as the invoice said. Latvia parcel post. Sled with motor by Reindeer.

Called MINI USA (which is Mini Financial Services) and got a manager to callback. He wanted the dealership info including the SA. NOT. They will just give my SA a hard time and make matters worse.

So, this is how BMW treats its MINI customers (our 3rd MINI and we have no. 2 as well). An obviously defective part (is it part of the emission system? It has two sensors. I’ll have to check) and they do not have replacement parts for a 5-year-old product. And no, no other part companies have anything close. No aftermarket hard pipe replacements available either. Used eBay part from UK? Forget it. Maybe a little Permatex and sell it. The part is probably made in Latvia anyway.

 

The intake system of the B36/B46 is pretty simple, so I'm curious, what exactly is the "clean air pipe" that needs to be replaced?

 

It is at the end, a 90 degree elbow that has a flange with two bolts. It can be seen from the wheel well. Looked into a Forge hard pipe but they use the original stock O-ring seals (gaskets) and mine are cracked. No replacements as they come with the OEM unit. Considered Permatex form-a-gasket.
Finally found the part in Germany from Handler (OEM BMW parts). They expect to get it in this week and ship it to US via FedEx. There are numerous part numbers for this part, all obsolete. Hope this one lasts another 45,000. I'll keep the old part, and if needed, fabricate the connector and use 3" silicone tubing from the Eventuri.