Hi All.
This is my first New Thread Post, so please forgive me if I break any protocol or state something obvious to MINI-nation, but clearly not obvious to myself.

I have (2) mods in mind, the first is adding (3) magnetic grille badges (mgb) to the grille and the second is adding a 4-fixture light bar (Palo Uber or Alta) at the lower air dam.

After reading the instructions for the mgb's, I see that there is warning not to mount more than (2) to "ensure sufficient airflow to engine". I own a MCS, so will the scoop compensate for any sacrificed airflow from the grille? Of course, I can still Motor with (2) grille badges.

With that in mind, the light bar will be installed within the lower air dam. After nosing around down there, I noticed that it too allows for airflow (for the radiator perhaps?) Will installing anything down there also sacrifice performance?

Your knowledge and comments are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

toaster- just so you know you are in the 2nd gen land, no big deal. Your scoop will provide airflow, but the more the better. The air from the scoop and the grille will have slightly different effects i would assume, but I wouldnt worry too much. how many badges were you looking at doing?

 

I wanted to do at least 3 grille badges, but will bring it down to 2 due to the warning. I wouldn't want to sacrifice performance.
Also, do yo know if there is a way to move this thread into the proper location?

 

I just get a little antsy about blocking these grilles... they are there for a reason... the radiator is boxed up in there along with the AC coil, without much of a way to get any air other than the grilles... the scoop does NOT feed air to the radiator, so I can't see that it's going to help cool your water (it does cool the air...)... These cars run so much hotter than other cars I'm used to (maybe not in degrees, but certainly in BTUs) -

Maybe I'm just paranoid - but evertime I see a car with four lights on that lower grille I cringe...

If you do it, I hope you have a water temp gauge... and keep an eye on it... before and after...

 

Hey Blimey,
Thanks for your advice. It made me curious enough to ask the service technician at Patrick MINI today. I asked him to breakdown the significance of air flow with the scoop, front grille, and lower grille. The scoop is functional and helps to cool the supercharger, the front grille cools the engine/radiator, and the lower grille, where many typically locate their 4-fixture light bar system, does nothing to cool any part of the engine or surrounding elements.

Although I have decided to go in a different location with my lights, I would like to believe that existing and future owners of light bars that will go in the lower grille have nothing to fear in regards to overheating. If we can't believe our service technicians, than who can we? However, I will keep an open mind and continue to keep my eyes open for more information regarding this topic.
Thanks.

 

You may want find another technician to speak to. The scoop on a R53 is for the intercooler, not the supercharger. I don't see how he seems to think that the lower grille "does nothing to cool the engine or surrounding elements". The bottom part of the radiator as well as the A/C condenser are right behind the lower grille and receive a significant amount of airflow through there.
You will still get airflow running four lights down there, just not as much. Your service tech just services the car, you can't believe everything he says.