So our '05 R53's rear parcel shelf came with a vent in the middle of it. Unfortunately, this shelf is significantly warped / bowed down in the middle so we found a replacement on craigslist. The replacement we found fits perfectly, however, it is from a non-"S" Cooper so it is a solid piece with no vent.

From what I have read, this vent is primarily to allow S owners to hear a bit more of the exhaust note. Other posts I have found refer to the vent being a deliberate design of the cabin's ventilation system.

Can anyone shed some light on this? If it's really necessary, I can always use a Dremel & cut out the vent hole / transfer the honeycomb vent insert over to the new shelf. However, it's mostly for vanity & to hear the exhaust more, I'll just leave it be.

Thanks!

 

that would be interesting if it was for exhaust note, if that's the case I would think it would only be applicable for the JCW. the stock exhaust I could here anything but engine noise.


I would imagine its just for ventilation. or looks

 

Must be for looks, as you cannot fit a body in the trunk.

 

I understood the vent to be necessary on an S because of the battery's location in the floor of the boot .... part of the necessary battery ventilation . . .

Not needed on a 50 as the battery was up front; ditto for the GEN2 cars

 

I wouldn't think you'd want the battery venting to the passenger compartment. IIRC there's a vent tube that connects to the OEM battery. In any case, plenty of gaps between the boot and the parcel shelf.

 

This is the reason given on the Outmotoring website overview. Seems like there's an air pressure problem on the non-vented shelfs.

 

Sound for the exhaust ( Cooper S ). Take out the deck completely and you can here the exhaust more when I removed mine. 51467111559

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...kage-tray.html




Also possible to vent air from the trunk when closed, vent for battery heat. There are several theories I have head from MINI Product Managers over the years.