Just because it looks the same doesn't mean it works the same. There is a lot to consider here. Angle of attack at the root, twist angle, cord length, upper camber and lower camber. Unless the wing is an exact copy following the curvature of the top and bottom of the original then you cannot assume it has any function except for looks.

I like the look myself and besides, very few if any of us get the car up to speeds on or off track where the wing will have any use. I'm curious to see the R53 wing, who knows, I may abandon my own wing project if this suits my needs.

I just swapped an aftermarket rear wing off for the OEM and then went to the track, there was no decernable difference.

 

sorry for asking the question but M7 has worked with aero specialists in the past on the scoop designs (JS I think was the guy's name?). Just wanted to know the design goals here...form > function or function > form? Fair question to ask I think.

 

OMG that is an amazing finished product Peter congrats on the final look
sorrry i waited to say anything sooner so just curious like everyone else when will the final product be completed to buy ??

thats for diffuser in CF and wing in CF??

 

PGT that is a great question and I am afraid you will have to ask BMW. Our goal was neither form nor function but to address a need put forth by the market place . The BWM challenge wing is desired by many but unfortunately unavailable to most. We merely had our fabricator do his best to try and mimic it closely with our own take as to how it should look.
JS was not involved on this project as there was not a new design needed. For those of you that have accused us of copying other products in the past and have been wrong this is as close as you can get to being correct On a more personal note and out of curiosity PGT what took you so long for you to jump in here ? It is not like you and the gang to wait until 224 posts have gone by in any M7 related thread before coming in and saying hello Again thanks for the question and if you get a answer from BMW please share it with us all.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

I see....altruism then!

What took me so long? Might want to check the WHOLE thread before accusing me of participating here only because M7 is involved.

We all know the MINI's aerodynamics are horrid at the back of the car (check any MINI out there for 'dirty boot syndrome'). Forgive me for asking an honest question from a 'tuner' who likes to tout their use of CFD and engineering ability to come up with solutions. To quote Peter 'There are no problems, only solutions"

 

No forgiveness needed as I said it was a good question. If you get an answer from BMW please share .

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

humor me....how would info from BMW about their spoiler design be germane to M7 making a similar looking design (without having one to clone)?

 

 

Its just a thought but perhaps a " similar " looking design MAY have " similar " results ? Nothing concrete of course but the numbers could be interesting. In all honesty I think that most people would just be happier if it kept the rear window a bit cleaner

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

agreed on this point 100%. Peter has since posted a new thread extolling the 'downforce' abilities of the full M7 aero kit. I'd deduce some track testing was done since aero isn't truly useful below about 82mph (performance wise...we all know 99.999% of add ons like this on the road are cosmetic elst that '87 Civic with huge trunk spoiler might actually fly)

 

I'm still suspicious. "butt dyno" numbers aren't real numbers. I'm glad to see a company meeting a demand, but that's all it is. It doesn't seem like there's too much push for a superb product, just something that looks right and will make money. In the honda world, it's called "rice".

 

moved

 

wind tunnel test to solve the debate ?

 

Very nice work Peter and Randy. You know you've scored if you bring out the poor old jealous r53 owner naysayers.

 

jealous? hardly. poor? flaco strikes again with his classy comments

 

yep you said it pgt

 

I am a bit perplexed here. M7 has put out a great product for Mini enthusiast, and there are killjoys here trying to rain on the parade.

Here is an idea, if you do not like the look of these items, or question the "aerodynamic" qualites of these items......don't buy them.

There is alot of truth in the fact that most aftermarket "aero" stuff is just cosmetic, so just leave it at that. It was already mentioned that no testing has taken place....YET.
If dozens of others have commented on how great it looks, why poo-poo the company that has brought forth such joy.

Buy the product in question, conduct your own tests at the cost of thousands of $$$, then blast away in a PM to the company or poster, that just seems more "classy" to me.

Sorry for any highjacking, but this sort of stuff kinda sticks in my craw.... just my .02

 

this is true but M7 has not 'left at that' and claims real aero benefits (without testing I might add). See the rub?

 

Well, I'm definitely in the "rear wings are pointless on a FWD street car" club, but I love the way this wing looks! If the price is right for the non-CF one, and it doesn't add drag over the stock wing or any funny wind noises at high speeds, I'm all over it I can't believe MINI isn't going to sell them, but I'm glad M7 is picking up the ball and running with it.

 

It's fair to claim results based upon design principles (which shouldn't have to be revealed by a vendor as they are proprietary) or subjective perceptions which can be just as valid depending upon the experience of the observer. The bottom line is if the market wants it, it satisfies a need and the vendor is providing a real service to those purchasers in the MINI community by making it. It's certainly more of a service than the "insight" of those who run older model cars which are quickly becoming albatrosses around their neck hung.

 

woah. The TWO threads abotu the challenge wing are being hammered on.

well the wing is not totally 'useless'...it does help with top speeds .. as the original one in this thread is adjustable, the owner did a few setups with different settings and have proven it... not 100% scientifically pure data but still. better than nothing ..

 

This wing falls under the pure aesthetic department for me; like painting parts in the engine bay. Do I want one? Hell yeah! But being both cheap and poor, I would/could never get one.

 

Under car image (note how long the diffuser is)


Can anyone tell me how I can purchase the vortex generators in this pic.
(The 3 V shaped items attached to the diffuser channels.)
I need them to test a theory.

BTW - Nice work M7!

 

I thought there were some close-ups of the rear wing? Where did they go?

 

http://www.buyairtab.com/