Why did MINI decide to put a fresh air pipe that would be blocked by the bonnet when closed? I was going though the install manual of my AGS-R and saw that it must be removed. When looking at it I realized that must get minimal to no air ever. Any thoughts?

 

Although it is not a ram-air system, the OEM intake hose is amply fed with - ambient temperature - fresh air entering the engine compartment through the front grill. The BMW engineers/designers did not construct this intake system randomly.

 

I never thought they would do something randomly, but as you said, it gets fed through the grille. Even that section of the front grille is blocked by 5 inches of plastic in front of the tube. Maybe they should of directed it lower and put a protective cover on it to not let any debris inside. I can understand the temperature, but it seems a bit out of place in that spot. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

Gear-heads correct me if I'm wrong, but you put it any lower, and you'd be susceptible to more accidental WATER intake as well, right? We already have issues with accidental "MINI drownings"...

 

I also noticed the grill is blocked off right in front of the fresh air hose. Kinda silly if you ask me, but I figured it was to decrease the amount of rain/snow that makes it's way back to the filter box.

 

even worse for us spot lamp owners.... the opening to mine is COMPLETELY blocked by my right spot lamp!

 

I dont know if its the mini or the mazdaspeed 3 that i worked on but one had flapper doors on the grill that opened up.

 

Now you have me looking

Its the Madzaspeed 3.

 

Dayum, i need to go get my torque wrench calibrated so i can assemble my head back together!

 

You are funny. Please keep it up.

 

Well when you work 7 days aweek, 4 of them being nightshift you have to get it down to the point where you can humor your own self, just ask my mirror .

 

Exhaust Depot,

My best wishes to you. Make sure you have enough reserves so you do not keel over at work.

Hope you have enough time to enjoy your Mini. I, for one, enjoyed your humor. Perhaps you should forget the mirror, just use NAM.

 

I think the hose intake area is a positive pressure area when you are driving through the air. Therefore the hose intake does not need to be exposed to the open air stream directly. I understand what you are saying but bet that mini is putting it to the side to avoid things being sucked into the hose like bugs, water, etc.

 

Makes sense. Thanks.

 

But isn't the point of the filter to keep it out? Also what about putting an elbow on the tip of that pipe, and pointing it down towards the ground. That way it would still draw cool air, and nothing would be "rammed" into it, might still get sucked in though. (filter, again)

 

There is hardly room for modifications to the Air Intake System, which is why all aftermarket intake modifications are Hot Air Intake Systems.

I am sure they have tried your method before, either on the MINI or a variety of other vehicles... do you not know that cars get tested for millions of miles before showtime? Who knows what crazy things they tried during the testing phase?

You could try it out yourself. Just unbolt the clamp, buy yourself a hose, stick on an elbow, and post your results! Should be cheap, and it will save you the wondering.