R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 Alta Air Filter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 11-29-2017, 06:30 PM
Tombstone's Avatar
Tombstone
Tombstone is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 457
Received 42 Likes on 38 Posts
Alta Air Filter

Just removed my Alta Performance filter ( X-AMP-INT-208) and what a piece of junk , it literally fell apart when I was washing it, right where the foam meets the rubber cone. Replacements are real expensive and I would never recommend buying one from Alta/Perrin.The foam media does not filter fine sand from entering the throttle body and would eventually ruin the engine rings,bearings & supercharger...
 

Last edited by Tombstone; 11-29-2017 at 08:09 PM.
  #2  
Old 11-30-2017, 09:47 AM
ONEBUNCHMIN's Avatar
ONEBUNCHMIN
ONEBUNCHMIN is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
I have one with that Foam filter. It came with the car. One day I'll replace it with a DDW Intake and a K&N filter.
 
  #3  
Old 11-30-2017, 10:46 AM
AoxoMoxoA's Avatar
AoxoMoxoA
AoxoMoxoA is offline
5th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 854
Received 97 Likes on 82 Posts
OEM Stock filter is less glamorous in appearance, but still works best...
There's absolutely NO performance gain when using these aftermarket air filters.
 
  #4  
Old 11-30-2017, 11:17 AM
ONEBUNCHMIN's Avatar
ONEBUNCHMIN
ONEBUNCHMIN is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by AoxoMoxoA
OEM Stock filter is less glamorous in appearance, but still works best...
There's absolutely NO performance gain when using these aftermarket air filters.
Eh, I don't care about performance increases. I like the induction noise especially when the intake is sucking air from behind the air vent next to the windshield. Plus it looks nicer under the hood. Diifferent strokes for different folks.
 
  #5  
Old 11-30-2017, 08:56 PM
pnwR53S's Avatar
pnwR53S
pnwR53S is offline
6th Gear - NAM Hall of Fame
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: soggy pnw
Posts: 3,967
Received 389 Likes on 356 Posts
Eh, I do care about performance increase. I like the engine sucking more air over sound. I would do this but my Mini would be very hurt that I turn him into a One Eye Pirate of the Pacific Northwest.

this intake and filter that really work
 
The following users liked this post:
MiniTigger (12-04-2017)
  #6  
Old 11-30-2017, 09:06 PM
AoxoMoxoA's Avatar
AoxoMoxoA
AoxoMoxoA is offline
5th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 854
Received 97 Likes on 82 Posts
Originally Posted by pnwR53S
I would do this but my Mini would be very hurt that I turn him into a One Eye Pirate of the Pacific Northwest.
Must be loads of fun changing the oil on the OEPPNW...
 
  #7  
Old 11-30-2017, 09:56 PM
ONEBUNCHMIN's Avatar
ONEBUNCHMIN
ONEBUNCHMIN is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by pnwR53S
Eh, I do care about performance increase. I like the engine sucking more air over sound. I would do this but my Mini would be very hurt that I turn him into a One Eye Pirate of the Pacific Northwest.

this intake and filter that really work
It's a good thing A good aftermarket intake does that. Especially when it's colder air. Like the Factory JCW box, but without that annoying flap. Too bad the Orranje intake isn't easy to find in the U.S. (Idk, maybe there's a vendor) I would have preferred that. And my left headlight.
 
  #8  
Old 12-02-2017, 06:54 AM
wedge07's Avatar
wedge07
wedge07 is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: King George, VA
Posts: 81
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by pnwR53S
Eh, I do care about performance increase. I like the engine sucking more air over
OMG. What a Beast. It looks like something out of a SciFi Movie. Nice.
 
  #9  
Old 12-04-2017, 01:53 PM
ECSTuning's Avatar
ECSTuning
ECSTuning is online now
Platinum Sponsor
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 34,808
Received 1,966 Likes on 1,766 Posts
^^ where is that pic from.
 
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
  #10  
Old 12-04-2017, 02:08 PM
pnwR53S's Avatar
pnwR53S
pnwR53S is offline
6th Gear - NAM Hall of Fame
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: soggy pnw
Posts: 3,967
Received 389 Likes on 356 Posts
Originally Posted by ECSTuning
^^ where is that pic from.
RSR Motorsports competes in Daytona Historics

just don't show it to my Mini as he is inching over to the dark side of no return
 
The following users liked this post:
ECSTuning (12-03-2018)
  #11  
Old 12-02-2018, 02:02 PM
Pflashinaz's Avatar
Pflashinaz
Pflashinaz is offline
4th Gear
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 435
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I've had an Alta CAI on my MINI since 2005. In 2013 I had to replace it as the foam had degraded terribly. It's 2018 and the MINI is in front end service mode for routine service to just about everything I can get to. I looked at the Alta foam filter and it has degrade and started to come apart, again! This time I'm going to go a different route. For two reasons; the first is that I don't want to keep buying a new one every 5 years or so, second, is I sent a email to Alta a week ago and no response, oh well.


As I searched the internet I came across this filter, even though it has a 10° flange on it, there looks to be enough room in the box for it.
K&N RU-1480 Universal Clamp-On Air Filter
 
  #12  
Old 12-02-2018, 02:16 PM
wildwilly2004's Avatar
wildwilly2004
wildwilly2004 is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by AoxoMoxoA
OEM Stock filter is less glamorous in appearance, but still works best...
There's absolutely NO performance gain when using these aftermarket air filters.
I agree with this. However, they do have better performance in letting more dirt get into the engine if that is what you seek...
 
  #13  
Old 12-02-2018, 07:10 PM
Tombstone's Avatar
Tombstone
Tombstone is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 457
Received 42 Likes on 38 Posts
Alta Filter

[QUOTE=Pflashinaz;4435252]I've had an Alta CAI on my MINI since 2005. In 2013 I had to replace it as the foam had degraded terribly. It's 2018 and the MINI is in front end service mode for routine service to just about everything I can get to. I looked at the Alta foam filter and it has degrade and started to come apart, again! This time I'm going to go a different route. For two reasons; the first is that I don't want to keep buying a new one every 5 years or so, second, is I sent a email to Alta a week ago and no response, oh well.


As I searched the internet I came across this filter, even though it has a 10° flange on it, there looks to be enough room in the box for it.
K&N RU-1480 Universal Clamp-On Air Filter
If you call Alta direct and complain about the filter they will replace it for free, because mine looked exactly likethe one in your picture. The K&N would be a lot better for capturing dirt/sand debris and save your motor too...

 
  #14  
Old 12-02-2018, 07:19 PM
MrGrumpy's Avatar
MrGrumpy
MrGrumpy is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Washington state
Posts: 1,361
Received 241 Likes on 207 Posts
Originally Posted by wildwilly2004
I agree with this. However, they do have better performance in letting more dirt get into the engine if that is what you seek...
I like this!
Seriously though, most aftermarket intakes available for Mini these days are really more like HAI’s than CAI’s, lol.
especially with the R60. The factory airbox is really just about the best CAI you can find for them. As much as I love all of the turbo sounds, the difference in intake air temp between a cone filter and the box was just too much to ignore for me. I put the factory airbox back in. Now with that combined with a DV+ diverter, it’s stealthy, except for the exhaust. For me, the performance of the cooler air temps is just more important than the nifty noises.
 
  #15  
Old 12-02-2018, 09:17 PM
Racingguy04's Avatar
Racingguy04
Racingguy04 is offline
5th Gear
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 931
Received 118 Likes on 95 Posts
My car had an ALTA intake on it when I bought it and honestly I'd probably prefer the DDM intake, but can't win 'em all. My filter didn't look nearly that bad, but the foam filter has always made me nervous because I worry about the foam bits getting sucked into the supercharger, intercooler, or engine. I recently put this K&N filter on my ALTA intake and it works perfect.
Amazon Amazon
I wanted the most surface area that I could get and I think this one is close. It's also $15 less than I paid for it at the moment.
 
The following users liked this post:
Pflashinaz (12-03-2018)




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:21 AM.