Anyone install one of these oem parts?

 

I ordered one and can post impressions when it arrives.

 

Please do. It looks like a great upgrade as that pump fan is practically naked hanging out there and this looks like some protection rather than increased cooling.

I’d am anxious to hear what others think.

Rich

 

I'm curious as to why this "OEM" part isn't already on everyones MINI. Is there a TSB on this missing part? Hmm

 

Because we are over the hill and way down the valley

I'm interested in this, to bad there are no instructions for the install, but could not be to hard.

Mark

 

I think the OEM part is way to complicated. I'm gonna just get the metal grate cover from OutMotoring…

 

The OEM part actually protects better than a grill would. it is completely enclosed and getting air from a more protected area.

These parts are on the new automatic R53's.

 

Can't be too hard. The main skirt is only held on by 5 fasteners along the front edge and two quick threading screws at the back. The work will be in tapping two holes to accept the duct at the fan, maybe.

While I would agree it offer more protection, I don't see any additional cooling as getting air down a duct isn't freer than just open to the air. JMO.

 

I agree, I can see no real benefit to it. I believe all 05 & 06 MINI's aready have a grill over the fan.

 

'04 has a plastic grill as well. Mine is cracked though...probably going to get the stainless grill cover.

 

I had an email exchange with moss about the part - it may still allow some forms of skid plates to cover the bottom of the car even when in place.; we'll see.

Where I am, snow plowing is not always done very evenly and I've heard the crunchy hard ice-dirt scrape the bottom of my car. I have a homemade skid plate on the car now that I hope will still fit after this part is put up.

Paranoid to have both but it's cheap insurance for me against the (maybe low) odds of messing that fan up and having my S be a torch ..

 

I just installed one on my car since i've already gone thru 2 fans.

The screws that come attached to the new panel, I had to swap out with the existing panel as they were to small in diameter to use in the factory clips that the screws screw in to.

I did have to use a drill to reposition two of the panel screws.

Where the fan duct mounts to the existing fan. I removed the metal clips where the duct screws to the panel and mounted them on the fan.

This forced me to go to the hardware store and purchased two new machine screw's/washers/locking nuts to use where the duct mounts to the panel.

When doing the install, test fit your pieces and see where you will need to make slight modifications.

There are 3 or 4 bolts on the lip spoiler that will need to be loosened to get the existing panel out and slide the new one in.

This was fairly straight forward but annoying at the same time that the screws weren't the same size etc.

It may not increase cooling but at least the fan I have is more protected from crap flying up in to it and jamming the fan.


Overall took me an hour plus a trip to he hardware store.

In reality if everything fit and bolted in should take 30 minutes or less.

 

Every pump I install I make a "screen"... this is alum rain gutter material and I hot glue it to the fan.



On my car Ihave been playing with this...

 

Thanks for filling us in.

I think I'll just be keeping the screen & my skid plate for protection.

 

One note.....remember this is stock for the automatics. Not a direct installation on earlier manuals. Thus the need to modify the installation.

Protecting the fan by any means is the best idea. This adding some additional cooling is just a bonus. This won't act as a skid plate that's for sure, but a lot of us don't want a big piece of heavy metal adding weight to the already heavy front end of our cars.

The fan is actually pulling air towards the pump, so at speed the effectiveness of the fan is diminished because it is going against the air flow. By ducting the air from the front of the car under some pressure the fan can perform much better.

 

I'd agree with that if the intake for that duct wasn't aimed at the ground.

 

geeeez.......you'll argue about anything won't ya.

I guess all of the CAI's don't work either cause they can't get any air from the cowl vents that are pointing up towards the sky.......

 

MY girlfriends OEM Auto r53 had it from the factory but mine did not. =/

 

geeeez.........Are you having a bad day Scott??

I'll bet those cowl vents at the base of the window get a darned near a ram air effect. I don't believe that under the front bumper gets the same ram air effect.

 

...As was posted before this was stock on the automatics. It needs to be modified a bit to fit on the manuals.


You amaze me crashton with your lack of comprehension......what exactly is the difference between the cowl vents and the area by the front lip.

Oh wait........................nothing.

 

I'd think the manufacturer would have taken the movement of the air under the vehicle into account when locating and sizing the fan. Then again, maybe it was just the best deal available to them and they stuck it in there. Therefore, protection is the most important issue IMO.

I like the combo screen and guard COR BLMY has shown in the photos.

Now, just stay off piles of leaves and twigs and all should be fine.

Hmmmm, given my luck with fans lately, maybe I should crawl under there an see if mine is even running.

Lastly, if one's MINI is lowered, are the potential hazards to this fan increased? Exponentially?

 

Nothing because you say it's nothing.

 

My thought on this is that this was done on automagic MINI's because auto trannies run hot & possibly the fan was pulling in that hot air off the tranny. What's your thought?

 

I understood it was to get a bit more insurance for the fan while driving. If the fan dies there is NO air going to the pump. With this duct at least you are getting air to the pump when moving.

 

True, but why is this a part for a R53 auto & not manual? Do fans on auto equipped MINI's fail more than manual equipped MINI's? If they do why would that be?