I have a 05 MCS, I wanna buy a front splitter for my car .
Can anyone suggest any brand that i can go search 4 plz???!

 

www.m7tuning.com (functional)

www.helix13.com (not functional)

www.hamann-motorsport.de (not functional)

www.bavauto.com (not functional) (they sell the hamann in the US)

 

M7

 

So being the inquisitive questioning type, why are you saying some of these are non-functional? I would have assumeed sticking just about anything into the airstream is functional, might not be a positive result, but it has an effect. Is this seat of the pants, actual aero data or just an opinion? Has anyone thrown some strain guages on a MINI and measured the actually downforce at speed?

 

Well of course it does SOMETHING...i guess i was using "functional" to mean a noticable positive effect.

My opinion was based on many reviews i have heard, and a knowledge of aerodynamics. It would be pretty hard for the hamann to make a decent positive effect because air is allowed to flow OVER it but still UNDER the car. A splitter gains a lof of its effect by lowering the amount of air travelling under the car, and increasing the amount of air going over it. If you look at the designs i'm sure you will understand the difference that I'm pointing out. The hamman doesnt do much to redirect air over the car, and certainly doesnt prevent air from going under the car. I have also talked to the vendors of the hamann product and they all agree that its mainly a visual upgrade(a very good visual upgrade though, i think it looks hot).

I dont have numbers....but i do feel that there is enough information out there to make a reasonable decision when it comes to purchasing a splitter. For more information, i would research the aerodynamics of splitters, and maybe look into the splitters used by race cars (when classes allow them).

 

Its simply been my experience in performance matters, particularly aero stuff, that a lot of times what seems reasonable in fact isn't. Presumably, the primary purpose for aero aids on a car is to reduce the effects of lift on the handling of the car as speed increases. This is important as we'd like to retain or tune the handling balance of the car as aero effects start to influence mechanical grip and change the charactersitics of the car.

So, I'd at least like to know what the aero figures are for the stock MINI in the first place and to second order what effect these devices have on them. Like simply how much lift is generated front and rear at 60, 100, 130 MPH by the stock car and non stock car. Why? Because from where I'm coming from, my common sense (which has been demonstrated to be faulty in the past, sadly its all I've got) says that a car with 60% weight on its nose is more likely to require effective rear downforce. A data logger, a reasonably smooth level surface and some strain gauges can probably at least give an idea of whats going on and I was wondering if anyone had done that. I wasn't expecting any of these guy to have done tunnel testing, but I don't like guessing about this stuff in total darkness as its all pretty much a black art to begin with.

What I'm actually concerned about is that depending on whats going on a splitter could have a negative impact on handling without adding a more or at least similarly effective rear spoiler. One might guess that by putting on a highly effective device in the front that as speeds climb the car could get pretty hairy taking a set if the rear is now proportionately lighter i.e. the weight distribution has shifted further forward. In my experience that is likely to be a really bad thing unless you enjoy spinning, which I'd admit is quite fun, as long as you don't hit anything.

So to me, without some testing, its not a no-brainer that adding any of these devices is a guarantee of a positive outcome. The M7 may be far more effective, but is that really desirable without further complimentary mods? I can't tell. They may have done all their homework, the others may not have. All I was asking was if you were aware of any testing, is this generally accepted opinion or simply a well reasoned guess on your part.

 

none of those listed above has positive effect on aerodynamics, nothing but bling, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you search a little here, there is couple of race Minis that have some pro race splitters that actually work for aerodynamics.

 

I would agree with most of that. All of the splitters on the market will not produce a drastic, noticeable change in handling. They may produce a slight benefit to front downforce at speeds of like 100+mph, but under normal driving conditions it is just a cool looking spoiler. Also, as was said before, more front downforce isn't necessarily a good thing. A rear diffuser and a functional rear spoiler like the JCW are probably better mods for handling performance. You have to remember too that all of these parts function better as speed increases...the faster you go the more downforce they create. So if you are tracking your MINI and obtain high speeds then they might help, but if you mostly autocross or just drive on the street then they are just expensive bling.

 

have you tested any of them or are you just saying that?

I know quite a few track-driven cars that use the M7 with a positive review of it.