Is there REALLY a performance advantage in adding a cold air intake to a normally aspirated MINI?

If so, what are the best modles out there/

Many Thanks

Motor on.

-B

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not really.....GRM did a dyno test that showed that often, drop-in filters put out better HP numbers. And even then its just a few HP....nothing major.

 

Its a couple horse power but the throaty sound it nice

 

After doing quite a bit of NAM re-"search", I removed my stock air filter and put the K&N filter in its place. The car sounds great and runs better. I have a K&N in all 4 of our vehicles and once a year they all get cleaned and re-oiled. R50s do not generate as much underhood heat as the S or the really hot R56 turbo. If you want a CAI for show then go the more expensive route. I am quite happy with the simple filter swap to the K&N brand.

 

my 02 cooper felt/sounded like a new car with a cold air intake. whatever increases in HP and sound were well worth it.

 

Thanks all...

It appears from the collective response here that adding a cooler to a naturally aspirated MC does not give a significant increase in HP (and the related MPG and performance) according to objective testing, but it makes one FEEL that they are getting more/better performance, etc. I am left wondering where that subjective feeling comes from. I am going to guess its the sound. I know a lot of bikers swear that their noisier after market pipes give them better performance, but that usually turns out to be bogus.

Are there other ways to significantly enhance performance in a MINI? What about aftermarket ignitions, sparkplug cables, re-programmed digital goodies, exhaust, etc.?

What about combining these? Any experience with different combinations out there?

Many thanks again.

Motor on

-B

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There isn't much hope for getting solid numbers from an NA cooper. Intake might be 3hp and a nice exhaust could be 5-8hp....ignition isn't gonna do much for ya, ECU tune might be another 5hp maximum. Most stock Coopers dyno around 100hp....i would say that the exhaust+intake+ECU will get you to around 105-110. The head seems to be a good option though

This entire forum is about the non-s Cooper.....so you can just go back and read everything instead of having it all re-written in this thread.....but some good ones are:

Custom head:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...highlight=dyno

HP talk:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...highlight=dyno

GIAC chip
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...highlight=dyno

thumper mini heads:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...highlight=dyno

 

Those are good links. Many thanks.

Alas ...it appears I will have to bite the bullet and give my beloved MC to my wife and find the $$(+) for that JCW MCS if I want to get the same kind of fun I had on my two-wheeled sled.

That will be a hard sell to the Scottish wife ...then again, she gets a shiny, nearly new MC out of the deal ...maybe it won't be so tough...

-B

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