So, driving from socal to central coast today... cruising along at about 75 with the sunroof popped up and WHAM! something flies up hits the windshield, the sunroof and goes over the car; scared the heck out of me. Drive for about 1/2 mile and decide I should pull over to look if there is any damage from whatever I hit..... couldn't believe it, I didn't hit anything, my hood scoop is missing! put a scratch in the hood on its way off and hit the windscreen and sunroof. Went back to look for it but no joy and all the fasteners are still attached to the hood but are all cracked from where they would attach to the actual scoop.... crazy! Glad nobody got hurt, did a search and can't find it happening to anyone else.
Warranty? what do you guys think?

"06 MCS Dark Silver with 39k on her

 

omg that had to be frightening, Im glad your ok!!!.. I would call my dealership and let them know..heck yeah warranty!! Take pics!

 

It happened to another owner here on NAM, but his was a R56.

 

here are a couple of photos.

 

Maybe you should look at it as a cheap mod. More airflow and less weight!

 

Holy crap. I can't believe it would just let go like that.

 

yep, pretty crazy... scared the heck out of me. Dealer is replacing it; they said they had never seen it happen b4 but going to warranty it. Asked if I wanted painted or chrome... thought i'd try chrome.

 

Man I've seen alot of the scoops missing the screws cause they vibrate loose. But the only time one flew off is when I hit something with the car.

 

Funny, I saw a first gen MINI in a parking lot the other day that was missing the scoop. Maybe it's time to check those screws!

 

Damn! I would have thought the forcing of the air would keep in IN position, not pull it out of the hood. Damn.

 

I recently found both "rearward" tabs broken off. The bolts were there, just not attached to the scoop. Took the cheap way out for now. Lifted both corners and hot glued the scoop to the tabs without removing it...

 

On a highway once, I had the car ahead of me throw something up from the road that hit the scoop and took it out. Like the OP, I saw something fly up and hit the windshield and figured since the windshield hadn't cracked, I was good. When I got to work, I saw a dent next to the hood scoop opening and no scoop. Cost a little over a grand to fix the dent, paint the hood and scoop, and put on replacement stripes. This was on my wife's '05 MCSa.

 

This happened to my R53 on the track today, doing about 85. I saw it fly off in that 'slow motion' effect. Fortunately, it didn't hit anything on my car or the car behind me (also a MINI), but I knew there was no way I would recover it from the track. Time for a new one. Interestingly, this occurred on a relatively slow section of the track, but maybe my speeds on the straights contributed to it's demise. Anyway, if there's one part of my MINI that I had to sacrifice on a track day, this would be it.

 

Yup, every thunk, squeek, rattle and hum has me schizing out. And just when ya expect it least...thwack! right in the face. I better recheck those connectors too! Maybe I shouid get a cot in the garage for naps between maintanance schedules. Just joking though it really is a love affair with a needy soulmate!

 

If you really want a needy soulmate, get a Classic Mini!

 

that is too funny." a needy soulmate, that is just how I feel.

 

I am glad I did this search. Just noticed the driver side scoop tab held down by the metal bolt was broken off from the scoop itself. I suspect long exposure to engine heat directly over the supercharger is the cause. Exactly like the second pix posted by slocraiger. Do you think the dealer will replace it under warranty? How hard is it to replace it with CF aftermarket scoop?

 

Hi Mini,
Dealer replaced mine under warranty with a carbon fiber one... no questions asked. Feel free to use my photos above if it helps.

all my best,
Craig

 

That Glue will let loose when under hood temps rise. You may want to actually reepoxy the tabs back to the scoop.

 

Thanks, Craig. Did you have to hassle with them or explain to them before getting a replacement?

 

no, Southbay Mini in California is the best... they took one look, ordered up the new scoop and installed it.

 

Same thing happened to my MCS 2009! But this time it was a touchless car wash (the dryer did it, lol). Dealership is painting a new one for me and they'll put it on the car in a few days. Good thing it didn't scratch the car, the thing flew off straight forward. Anybody found out how to avoid this from happening again? Seems like a really bad material to use for something that takes a lot of air impact. Urgh.

 

Maybe you can justify getting that larger scoop now.

 

Sorry, what larger scoop?

 

M7 Vortex or Ram hood scoops are nice.

http://www.m7tuning.com/parts/produc...products_id=21

http://www.m7tuning.com/parts/produc...roducts_id=145