Should I go NM? Kinda pricey.

 

The stock air intake is the best one, unless you want more intake noise. Most aftermarket intakes actually reduce horsepower.

 

What model year? I like the AEM personally, because it makes the OEM hood scoop functional.

 

Yeah I saw that. So it fits pretty good? Got R56 11 JCW

 

 

really Dave?

Why do you say that may I ask?

 

The stock intake is a true cold intake, it is engineered for the MINI's engine. Most aftermarket cold air intakes aren't even cold air intakes, they take in warm engine air from under the hood. and are designed to fit, but they are not tuned to the MINI's engine requirements. They make more noise but not more horsepower. Even if you get one that makes the hood scoop functional, you are not going to get more horsepower than the stock intake, maybe even less. The best thing you can do with the hood scoop is to open it up to allow air to pass over the engine, cooling the engine compartment. Better yet, buy a turbo wrap for the hot side of the turbocharger. Insulating the hot side of the turbocharger will improve turbocharge efficiency and give you a horsepower boost. http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-turbo-heat-shield.html.

You already have a cold air intake, don't waste your money on an aftermarket intake that will give you no horsepower advantage.

 

very sane advice. but if you do want sound with no cooling loss what intake do you rec Dave?

 

I personally am not interested in more sound from under the hood I want what works best. But you could put a high flow air filter in your MINI.
You could put a John Cooper works intake in your MINI, a JCW cold air intake is designed for the MINI's engine, I understand that they are louder than an S intake.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/jcw-in...6-r55-r57.html

 

Alta CAI works great, I've been running it for almost 10 years.

 

For bang per buck, stock intake box with high flow drop-in filter works best in normal street conditions.

For tracks maybe something like the AEM or GruppeM Ram Air Intake or similar.

 

For anyone wanting an upgrade over the factory airbox, I've got the JCW Airbox that Dave linked to for sale as I sold my Coupe with the N14 motor and took the box off. I haven't gotten around to posting it for sale yet, but I can sell the top with the air filter and the bottom (so any N18 guys can install it) for $175 plus shipping. If anyone is interested, I can get some photos taken this week and send them to you.

 

Not to disagree with Dave in any shape or form, I had been running stock air box with K&N drop in it was good and yes true cold air. About few month now I am running AEM ram and love it not for noise I don't think any thing changed drastically but I can feel the pull is defenetley better the box and enclosed top is as good as oem.i also have th WMW wrap on the hot side. Great combo.
Ben

 

I've been running the AEM CAI system for a few months now. I noticed a bit more throttle response and it feels the turbo is spooling a bit quicker. I have no numbers to back any of this up. But I'm happy and my MINI is happy so I guess it's all good. Worse case scenario is I put the stock box back in.

 

you have pic of your set up?

 

Will post one for you this morning
Ben

 

Nice advice DneprDave. Yeah. Think you're right. Who cares about noise. Makes sense what you're saying.

 

I think I'll go with the AEM

 

If you're going to tune the car, it will already be delivering the performance. The noise is an added bonus.

Go with Alta. The noise adds to the excitement of driving.

 

I think the gruppe M would have ot be the best.... this is what i want to buy:
https://www.gruppemdirect.com/produc...-6-t-2009-2014

 

If you're really going to spend over $1000 USD to buy an intake, hats down to you for having lots of cash to give away. But no way that's the best intake just by reading the specs up. AEM, K&N, Stock JCW cone box, those are reasonably good upgrades looking at return on investment.

 

Just put on 3k miles in one pandemic year 😝 on my JCW so thinking still about that AEM upgrade. Give my mechanic something to do.