So I've read the threads concerning opening up the hood scoop to help control under-hood temps, but has anybody ever tried making the side scuttles operational, thereby venting hot air out the sides? Inquiring mind wants to know-

 

IMO, the vents are WAY too small to net any sort of difference in underhood temps..

 

Not sure what you mean by side scuttles, but getting rid of heat is no problem while the car is moving. It vents out the bottom. When stopped, it's a whole different story. Any additional venting would need to be as high as possible to allow convection currents to push the heat out. Opening up the scoop will help, but to me the real culprit is the cowl molding. It's completely closed off! Any ideas?

 

Side scuttles:

 

Thanks Shoof, now I know what scuttles are.

 

That whole area just before the scuttle where the hood meets the scuttle is already open. The problem is the radiated heat from the turbo that sits just under the cheap plastic scoop. Key word being radiated...

 

Radiated heat indeed! The only place on the hood I was getting those high temps (250F.) with my IR/Laser gun was directly over the turbo. The heat shield cured that. For more info on how that scoop came to be, check MINI2.com in GB. BTW, radiated heat is why I thermo-wrapped the air intake tube. It worked. Also, that fancy temp gun can be had at Harbor Freight for $40!

 

M7 Heat shield + CF hood scoop ...works awesome! -no hot hood!!