My 2004 JCW is almost 3 weeks old. Within the first week (approx 1500 miles of break-in driving) the intake seal had "singed" a footprint against the intercooler cover plate. The burn marks on the silver portions were cleaned off with a little bit of elbow grease. The rubber/plastic JCW logo, however, is discolored and appears uncleanable

The dealership says this is normal (but acknowledges the obvious - that is "isn't good design" to place an easily damaged rubber/plastic logo in an area where it will experience such intense heat). Have any/all of you had this same issue? I'd like to know how common it is before I contact MINI USA to complain.

Is it even normal for the intake seal to leave a footprint at all on the intercooler cover?

I've included one "before cleaning" pic and 2 "after cleaning" pics

 

ccm5,

I'll check around with other JCW kit owners in my area if they have similar trouble with discoloration. It seems that if this was the normal case, JCW would have found this out in their test cars and done some adjustments to protect against discoloration.

Seems to me that something is not right about your case. Did oil or some burning substance get into/onto the scoop seal? When that heated up it left burnt oil on your cover and logo.

I have a painted IC cover and don't have any burn marks on it even after almost one year. I do keep it clean and wax the surface. I do get waterspots that show in the same areas as your discolorations.

 

I noticed the discoloration from day one. Didn't think too much about then and still have no major concerns. It cleans off easily with a drop of Goo Gone on a paper towel. It has subsided a bit in five months but still requires cleaning at least every two weeks, but I ususlly have the bonnet open every other day just to pick the bugs out of the radiator and dust things off when necessary.

 

yep, that's exactly how mine looks. fortunately, i'm not too picky about it, so i don't worry about it. but whenever i pop the bonnet and others look in, they usually do ask about it, since it does kinda stand out.

 

My JCW has the same issue, but after six months I get less residue. The JCW logo in my case cleans up completely however. I use 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner and everything wipes right off with no effort.

 

Whether or not it is considered “normal” by the dealer, it is still not kosher and you shouldn’t have to live with it. IMHO, it is a faulty design and they should correct it. If that is your only complaint about the car, however, be grateful.

 

My intercooler cover was not "singed" like ccm5 but the JCW logo was and could not be cleaned up. My Motoring Advisor @ Keeler Motors has since replaced entire intercooler cover. No problems after 500 miles.

 

yup, it's happened to mine, there was an identical thread awhile ago, I think someone said they just trimmed back the foam on the underside of the bonnet lid and it seemed to go away. I'm fastidious about the outside of my car but tend to let the inside "slide" a bit....so I haven't worried about it....perhaps I should.

 

Take it back to your dealer an have him replace it under warranty. If he is a really good guy about it he'll let you keep the old one once it passes the warrany process. He may have to send it back to MINI. If he doesn't he may let you keep it. Use the new one for shows or meets once you get there.

 

Yeah, this is pretty much how mine looks too. I haven't been to the dealer to do anything about it-- as others have said, it doesn't really bother me too much. BTW, when it first happened, I blotted heavily the foam around bonnet scoop with paper towels-- it was quite greasy/oily. Since doing that, I don't really get much NEW residue, but some "cooked on" discoloration remains, no matter what I use to try and clean it. (I, too, used some Goo Gone which made a vast improvement.) May try that adhesive cleaner though. Good luck.

 

Mine looks like this, too. The discoloration doesn't seem to reduce peak hp or torque at all, though.

 

Me too. Cleans off with elbow grease and 409 cleaner or just windex once.


Paul

 

Mine too !!

 

I got to check a few JCW IC covers and found them to have this same problem in different amounts.

It seems the foam seal of the bonnet scoop is of a material that may vibrate and breakdown leaving a brown crud on the IC cover, or perhaps the engine is vibrating or moving thus rubbing against the seal.

If you can keep the IC cover cleaned up often it seems that you can prevent most of the discoloration which is the worst right at the JCW logo on the far right. The logo is on a raised tag which allows for more contact between the IC cover and the seal which makes things worse. Trimming the seal would be good but not too much to worsen air flow to the IC.

Bad design. Ask your dealers for replacement if it gets really bad.

 

Nope. Mine looks like this without doing anything to it. I've had it for 2 1/2 months. No problems, yet.
Jim

 

I have the same issue with my 04, and have since day one. Since I don't enter any shows, I haven't worried about it, but will ask my dealer when I am in for service. Doesn't seem to have any impact other than being ugly.

Not too long after buying mine a budy drove it and bought one the same weekend. He is seeing the same discoloration with his, so he and I assumed a design flaw.

Other than that, this car has been a blast.

 

Looks like you got lucky, SCurveS! I wish mine looked like that! Seems that the majority of us are suffering from the same problem. Most importantly, as many of you have stated, the car runs beautifully and I love the kit!

It's not my intention to blow this out of proportion. It's very disappointing, though, that despite the lengths I (we) go to care for our pride & joy to keep its appearance on par with its performance, there is this thing that (for me, anyway) stands out whenever I open the bonnet (and I can't seem to do anything about it!).

If any of you have a positive response from your dealers when you ask them about correcting this, will you please post it for the rest of our benefit? I'm not sure how to push the issue, having been dismissed already. It's only the engine compartment, but . . .

 

I would say it is a defect. Normally things like this wouldn't bother me. But I could see how you would be upset. After paying upwards of $6000 for the JCW kit installed, I wouldn't be too happy either. You have paid top dollar for the item (maybe even more), so it should look top dollar. I would take it back and complain.

 

As I understand it the foam gasket is oiled & it's the oil that leaves the residue:
-Remove the section of foam (cut carefully w/ sharp utility knife) and replace section w/ same size foam strip (commom product) that is NOT oiled.
-This may work but I have not tried it yet. If you notice, the oil discoloration is visable in other areas where the gasket contacts the SC I.Cooler cover.
-Rubbing alcohol w/ remove the brown stain
-Yes, it's a pain in the ***!

 

Yep, I absolutely have this problem, along with everyone I know with a JCW. I originally waiting a month and a half after getting my car and it was a PAIN getting it off, I use simple green, paper towel, and plenty of elbow grease. Now I do it every time I wash the car, pretty much every week, and it's not so bad.

The only solution was mentioned in a thread on MINI2, to get some talcum powder and rub it into the foam. I just haven't been able to find any in the store, I guess no one uses this stuff any more

 

Thanks for the tips! This evening I tried a few drops of Goo Gone on the badge (warm engine after a trip to store and back), wiped with a paper towel, and the badge cleaned right off. Good as new, I'd say (though I'll reevaluate tomorrow when I have some better light). I love this site!

(Maybe I should post about the "chipping" leather on the side bolster of my driver's seat next? On second thought, no, that's my own fault. I read the warnings about MINI's leather before I ordered it!)

(Yes, I'm VERY careful climbing in and out of the driver's seat!)

 

As soon as I read the subject, I knew exactly what your pics were going to be. My looks A LOT worse than yours. I guess I better go clean it.

 

Wow, I have been using simple green but I went to clean it again yesterday (it had been 2 weeks and worse than usual) and inspired by your goo-gone, I tried some WD-40 on a paper towel.

It wiped off instantly.

The simple green I had been using required a lot of scrubbing. So switching to WD-40 now. But I still go over it again with a little simple green afterwards, just to remove the WD-40.

 

When my car-ignorant friends ask about it, I tell them that there's so much more power from the JCW kit that flames shoot out of the intercooler, and that burnt spot is what I have to live with. Shock and awe ensues..... it's really fun taking them for a ride and saying "keep watching the hood, do you see the fire licking the outside of the scoop? There! Did you see it?"

 

Aloha folks!-

Took my MCS Works to MINI of Hawai'i a couple of days ago. Service tech had never seen the problem before and said it was NOT a warranty item. he also said they don't get a lot of Works vehicles in either. Suggested I go see my motoring advisor.

Another web site suggested brake cleaner. Worked like a champ!

Shot an e-mail off to JCW in good 'ol England. I'll let you know if they have any good fixes.