I just got done installing the BMP/ProMini cool air intake. Install took about 1/2 hour with basic hand tools. Initial impression is good. It seems to have abit more power. The best thing it did was almost eliminate the bogging I had when starting out. I used to have to give it a few extra RPMS to get started without bogging down. Not anymore. Starts moving just fine at lower RPMs than before.



Here is my install writeup:

http://homepage.mac.com/rv6a/MiniIntake.html

Enjoy.

Chris

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2003 LY/W Mini Cooper

 

nice!
another fellow mac guy too, wow! hehehe
how does it sound?

 

How ironic - I'm just finishing up a one week review of this intake for my site. nfo - I'll have a sound clip up by the morning at Bridger.us/MINI

 

My install went well enough, however, there was some rubbing of the underside of the bonnet. A bit of adjusting and all seems well. The problem is the angles of the connection to the throttle body and the mounting bracket. They didn't want to line up, took a bit of horsing to get it in and down far enough to not rub. Nice improvement in power, throttle response and makes a glorious sound!

 

wicked!
i wanna check it out gabe!

 

>>nice!
>>another fellow mac guy too, wow! hehehe
>>how does it sound?

Sounds pretty good. A bit throatier.

Yes to Mac guy. I work for Apple.



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2003 LY/W Mini Cooper

 

_________________

 

>>My install went well enough, however, there was some rubbing of the underside of the bonnet. A bit of adjusting and all seems well. The problem is the angles of the connection to the throttle body and the mounting bracket. They didn't want to line up, took a bit of horsing to get it in and down far enough to not rub. Nice improvement in power, throttle response and makes a glorious sound!

I experienced the same thing. I moved it around a bit and pressed down on the shroud to flatten it out a bit. Clears now.

Chris

 

I don't get it. I thought this one was supposed to be a CAI but it looks like part of the filter is protruding from the end of canister. From other pics I got the impression it had an input hose to attach to the stock ducting hooked to a sealed canister with an output to the throttle body. Straighten me out someone....what am I missing?

 

>>I don't get it. I thought this one was supposed to be a CAI but it looks like part of the filter is protruding from the end of canister. From other pics I got the impression it had an input hose to attach to the stock ducting hooked to a sealed canister with an output to the throttle body. Straighten me out someone....what am I missing?

It is considered a CAI because it gets its air (or at least some of it) from outside the engine compartment. It does have a tube that connects the filter housing to the factory cold air intake tube. This will help get some cool air to the filter. This is better than drawing in just hot engine air. Every little bit you can cool the intake air, the better. I wanted more flow and the fact that it might cool the air a little was an added bonus. I don't think a fully enclosed filter housing would flow any better than the stock filter housing with a K&N or Green filter. You would still be trying to draw all your intake air through that small diameter factory cold air intake tube. That would be your airflow bottleneck.

Chris

 

I put a thread on MCO a few weeks ago about the BMP/PROMINI intake.

THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THE UNDER-BONNET-RUBBING:

1. Remove entire assembly from car.
2. Take the rubber connector off that connects air scoop to intake
3. unscrew ring clamp in order to remove the filter
4. Unscrew the flange piece that connects the intake to the throttle body so that the allen bolt surface is on the inner part of the shield
5. Carefully use a razor knife to remove the excess portion of rubber on the bottom side of the filter connector (make sure the ring clamp will stay securely on!)
6. Remove the clamp that fastens the intake to the transmission mount (connecting each end of the intake is secure enough)
7. Put the remaining pieces back on

I performed this 'operation' on Friday and immediately I noticed a much lower position of the whole assembly, along with only a lip of the filter itself poking above the heat shield. This mod may even improve on response. To say the least, it DOES ELIMINATE RUBBING. Good luck.

Eric
IJM

 

Well it's nice too know I'm not the only one with the rubbing problem with this damn intake. The best I could get Promini to do was fax me instructions with blurry pics. I called and requested better pictures and get shuffled around into voicemails that you know they will never return. If that isn't bad enough they have the nerve to tell me it doesn't rub and they don't know what I'm talking about. They sold tons with no problems. Kind of sounds like MINIUSA! Stumble what stumble!!

Well a thousand thanks goes to AZMini and italianjobmini. Using AZMini's awesome write up and italianjobmini's mod I might just get this damn thing installed.

Promini please send AZMini and italianjobmini a check for their efforts ohh and send me some new Bonnet insulation...!!!

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Rodney

 

Thanks!

I try to take the time to fully document my installs in hopes that it helps others like yourself. If you get a chance, at the bottom of the writeup, click on the "Home" link. From there, click of the "My Jeep TJ" link. When that page loads click on the Current Mods link and take a look at my writeups there. You'll see what I mean.

I plan on taking the intake off and taking a closer look at the mount. I think it can be modded to get a better fit.

Chris

 

>>I plan on taking the intake off and taking a closer look at the mount. I think it can be modded to get a better fit.

I was thinking the same thing. The rubber isolator looks to be about .75 to 1 inch thick. I was thinking we could cut that in half. Does anyone think this would cause other problems? If it does it seems easy enough to put back.

 

The intake is in. I used italianjobmini's "chopped filter" method. I also flattened it a little. No rubbing at all now.

The kit really needs to be tweaked in order to fit properly. I still think the blue hose connector is not ideally connected. You have to place the black part of the intake at a slight angle to get it to fit properly.

A little tweaking of the design by BMP/Promini would make this a great kit.

This really transforms the MINI. Not just the sound either. I agree with everyone else on this thread. The intake reduces the bog that occured when letting the clutch out at low RPMs. The engine feels more alive. Not sure if all this means faster 0-60 times but it sure feels faster, expecially 50~80!

I am hoping for better fuel mileage as well. Time will tell I guess. I just have to keep my foot out of it... The sound of wide open throttle is addicting! :smile:

 

>>I am hoping for better fuel mileage as well. Time will tell I guess. I just have to keep my foot out of it... The sound of wide open throttle is addicting! :smile:

I'm finding that my day to day milage has suffered a bit for this very reason

 

When I first installed the intake it rubbed on the insulation so I took it off. I was working on it late at night so I didn't have time to play around with it. All of the installation tweaks expressed in this thread really helps. I'll try installing it again this weekend. I really want to feel the performance difference with it on.

Does it help/change performance to remove the excess from the bottom of the filter so it fits farther down in the heat shield?

retroom

 

I have had it on both before and after cutting the filter and have not noticed a difference.

 

So what's the consensus on the fit? Is it a good fit or not? I wouldn't want it to mess up the insulation (dealer: what's that?). Are the instructions bad? Does Promini need to make some adjustments to the design/fit?

 

>>So what's the consensus on the fit? Is it a good fit or not? I wouldn't want it to mess up the insulation (dealer: what's that?). Are the instructions bad? Does Promini need to make some adjustments to the design/fit?

It's a good fit after some modifications not mentioned in the blurry instructions! This is a new product, by what I am told (or led to believe) is a good reputable company. I'm sure they will smooth out the fit and instructions given sometime. Maybe they read the forums... We've pretty much told them what they need to do to make it fit without fuss!! Heck AZMini already wrote the instructions for them complete with highly detail pics! :smile: I still think he should get a cut of the profits! :smile: ItalianJobMini should patent the "Filter Chop" and charge Promini royalties.

I'll be honest I can't remember the last time I ordered an aftermarket part and it was 100% perfect. Promini is just rushing to meet demand and ride the profit wave of another popular car. Gotta jump while the fire is hot, I believe that's the saying.

Good luck with your selection.




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Rodney
'03 ib/w w/ 1,2,3 and Promini Intake

 

rcase13,

Did you change the thickness of the rubbber insulator? Mine has a metal plate on both ends so you can't really alter it. Is your unit made that way too? I'm thinking my own mounting insulator, have to look at what's available at the hardware store or local Home Depot.


italianjobmini - I'm concerned about leaving the mounting bracket off. Without the bracket there is more stress placed on the rubber cold air boot and the silicone throttle body sleeve since they are now supporting the weight of the intake.

retroom

 

>>rcase13,
>>
>>Did you change the thickness of the rubbber insulator? Mine has a metal plate on both ends so you can't really alter it. Is your unit made that way too? I'm thinking my own mounting insulator, have to look at what's available at the hardware store or local Home Depot.
>>

I did not change the thickness of the insulator. In the end I was worried the unit would not flex enough if I did this. As it is the unit does not flex as much as stock. It places more stress on the throttle body then the stock unit. Hopefully this doesn't cause problems in the furture.

 

I mounted the intake with the bracket off and the metal shroud covering the filter still rubs on the hood insulation. I guess I'll have to bend the shroud a little to stop the rubbing. I actually am a little surprised at how loud it is at full throttle acceleration. Cruising around you don't notice it at all. Haven't decided if there is more power but the throttle response is better.

retroom

 

retroom,

By chopping the filter, there may be a teenie tiny decrease in the temperature of the hot air the filter element is sucking in from areas under the hood.

The mounting hardware isn't necessary for keeping the intake in place. For your own personal reassurance, check it after a week...even tug at each end; There should be no slippage at either connection.

I already have 'before' pics...I will take 'after' pics tomorrow and post them on web.njit.edu/~ejp2/mini.html hope it proves the difference.

Eric
IJM