This is just a FYI for people thinking about these filters. I just got two of these filters and did a install this afternoon. I am very mechanical and have done all the work on my cars for years. The filter is not a direct replacement and took some trimming to fit. The only dimension that is the same is the width. The filter is 5/8 inch longer and 1/8 inch deeper than the OEM filter. The filter is suppose to slide along a channel or guides and the end of the filter slips into a slot in the upper recesses of the box, the other end of the filter seals against the lower passenger door side of the box with about a half inch gap between the filter and box lid. Unless you trim some the filter's plastic frame off to shallow up the depth, it will not slide into the slot and seal. And if you do not trim the length, the filter will bulge down and touch the the box lid, which will render the little bit of filter beyond that point useless. Which brings up the fact it definetly does not have as much area as the OEM filter or the ease of air flow. I knew about the filter area and for the price I was willing to live with that. But to have to trim the plastic frame to make it fit properly, I won't be buying this filter again. Unless I went completely stupid or got a bigger filter, I don't see how you guys are getting a clean intall. Anyway, my two cents and just pisst it didn't work out for me.

 

Mine fit perfectly. No fuss, no muss. And several dozen others had the same results as me. Maybe you got a different sized filter.

 

No fitment problems for my 2002 or 2003 Coopers..

 

MIne fit fine on my 2005

 

Can someone explain why the original in the car has no plastic? I had the same experience as CactusFlier and decided not to install the new one, lousy fit and doesnt even barely resemble the original part.

 

Sounds like you don't have the original air filter. The original has plastic and "MINI" logo embossed on the side of it.

I don't have my MINI anymore or I'd go and take pictures to show that it fits nice and snug.

 

I wonder if some cars have a slightly different filter box. My filter was the orginal and it had mini and various numbers written all over it. But it didn't look anything like the replacement. No plastic frame, all paper or some fabric construction and over twice the pleats. And like l said earlier slightly smaller in depth and length.

 

I still have my old filter if someone is interested in pics. My advice is check your old filter before ordering. If it has a black pastic frame you are probably good to go, but if no plastic frame you might want to pass. I think it would be interesting for people to check their filters and see how common the non-plactic frame filters are.

Like Lordgrinz, my car is dark silver too. Maybe dark silver cars got the funny filters.

 

Hey Xymox,
You rock! Have you ever changed your air filter? I've got an '05 MCS and I just ordered a K&N air filter; wondering if it's something I can do myself (I'm pretty ahndy and I've got tools...)

 

Hey Xymox,
you rock! Kinda new here: Just wonderin if you've ever had occassion to change your air filter? I just ordered a K&N air filter and I was wondering if it's something I can do myself (I'm pretty handy and I have tools...although I'm not quite sure what the heck that crazy "star" lookin' screw thingy is...)?

 

All i can say is WOW!

 

Looks like you're thinking of the engine air filter which uses the "crazy 'star' lookin' screw thingy" (torx screw driver bit is needed to work these)....

 

Turns out there are two different OEM filter types and two different air boxes. That's why my original filter didn't look like the one talked about here and why it wouldn't fit in my airbox. So look before you order.

 

I just came across the post and thought I would check my filter as I had no idea there was such a thing. To my surprise I found more than I had expected. Thanks for the info.

 

Make sure you look around to see where the nesting material was taken from to make sure it wasnt from someplace important.

 

Can we move along to spark plugs now? I'm going to change my plugs. I have Denso Iridium Power IK22 (5310). My questions are these. Do spark plugs come pre-gapped? It it just a straight-forward swap -- take the old ones out, put the new ones in, use anti-seize stuff, hand-tighten and push my wires back on. Oh, I have a MCS 2002. I'm a woman. 65 years old, so go easy on me. No nasty comments.- Thanks - Denise

 

Pre gapped ... well the factory plug, according to Haynes, is "not adjustable" if that means another is "pre-gapped" is your call.


Hand tighten? You're kidding right? Or have you missed the many many posts of people reporting spark plugs popping out (and in my opinion often Denso but never mind) The factory spec for spark plugs is 20 ft lb.


BTW, modern plugs have a life expectancy of something like 100,000 miles .... you are changing 'cuz of???????

 

I ordered these cabin air filters a few days ago. They arrived within a couple of days. $14+ for the filters, $11 for shipping. Big savings over the oem filters.

They are well-made. The filtering part itself looked fine and doesn't look or feel like it is going to deteriorate at all.

Thanks for the tip, Xymox.

 

Just got mine last week and it's a perfect fit for my '04 MCS. Great deal...bought 2 to bring down the cost per each.

 

sweet find im going to order tomorrow : ) thanks

 

ps: this is insannne!

 

Just checked the price as my Mini needs one. The price has doubled to $16 (A/C version) since this thread was started.

Wow... did I miss something? Is the economy going through another boom?

Bugger!

 

I order Mine for Advance autoparts here in houston and it was 13 bucks for the fliter. Its a Purolator filter its a direct replacement Part No. C15537

 

Was just wondering, is it possible to make a permanent filter from material that works like the K&N filters so we could simply spray cleaning fluid on and rinse them out? And yeah, I do have a K&N filter in my engine.

 

Do you know if this filter has the Activated Charcoal/Carbon (A/C)? It doesn't say on their website but from the photo it doesn't look like it has A/C... which is slight gray.