I'm thinking about opening up the remaining holes on the screen in the scoop. Heat starting to deform the hood scoop. Is it the same as removing the scoop on the R56? Just want to get some feedback before venturing to far down the path. Thanks

 

Popped ours off after a bout of frustration. Very easy once you figure out that you have to 1. take out screws, 2. close the bonnet, then lastly, pull it forward (towards you)

Takes no time at all (ours took waaaaay too long since we skipped step 2 and 3)!

 

Will opening the other vents change the amount of air flow and mess with how the engine runs? I would think the more air the better but then why didn't mini do it in the first place? I have the DDM cai on the way and was thinking of opening them also partly because I think it would look better.

 

The Scoop comes of fairly easy, you just remove the one plastic screw and tab under the hood then lower the hood and push from back side the white platic tab up and then gently pull forward. The scoop is held on with 4 snap tabs, you will need a little force. I was scared but it does come off easily and can be put back on easy as well. I have the DDM CAI with the ram air and instead of removing the scoop grille, I drilled out all the holes. It definately helps over the stock holes. My MPG driving daily increased by almost 2mpg, power is there when needed, and the engine runs cooler. At first I just left the stock scoop and Grille on, but a week later decided to drill out the additional holes. I was hoping I could find a replacement grille for the stock Scoop, with all holes open, but I have not been able to find one. The DDM is nice though and love it.

 

we removed the honeycomb peice on our 07, and on our Clubman, I removed the peice, and used a dremmel and carved out the rest of the holes.. looks good.. yes, easy to remove as stated, one center screw from bottom, then grasp with both hands and pull up and twards yourself. Right about the point you think you are going to break something, is when it will pop off

 

OK, so I am obviously a rookie here, but is it normal to have the heat from the engine deform the hood scoop?

 

Get yourself a turbo wrap from Way Motorworks and never ever have a hot bonnet again!

 

It's a feature of the turbo engine cars. When the car has been sitting after driving (for 7+ minutes) the heat generated from the turbo will heat up the hood/scoop where it can burn you hands if you touch the hood. The scoop is made out of plastic and it starts to deform it over time. Many folks (R56) have been having their dealers replace the scoop under warranty, but it will just melt again. I don't think it happens on all of the turbo cars, but it seems to be quite a few. You can read more here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=128350

 

Yes, I like the idea, just would like to learn more on if the wrap will cause premature end of life for the turbo.

 

OK, I know I am new....whats a DDM CAI?? Pics always help us Mini 'newbies'!

 

Talk to Waylen over at Way Motorworks, or check the thread in R56/Modifications/Drivetrain called "WMW Turbo Wrap." It should answer a lot of your questions. It shouldn't shorten the life of your turbo because only the hot side is wrapped so the heat stays where it's supposed to.

 

Interesting. I may pick one of these up. Here's the link:

http://www.waymotorworks.com/product...1&cat=0&page=1

 

Sorry it's the cold air intake made by DDM :
http://www.waymotorworks.com/product...cat=328&page=1

 

I wouldn't be concerned about the life of the turbo, but shouldn't the idea be to keep the heat away from the turbo? The heat going where "it's supposed to" IMO, would be away from the turbo and not shrouded by a wrap. I wouldn't really want to keep the heat in, regardless of how hot the hood gets. That's why there's a warranty.

 

I am trying to remove the scoop now with no success. When you mentioned pushing up on tabs; do you mean the tabs that are like 2 little plastic blades sticking through 2 little holes, do you mean the long grey plastic bolt that is dead center. I have the replacement scoop and it has 6 plastic bolts that I cannot understand how they are going to slide in? Any insight that you may have would be extremely helpful.

Thanks

 

Our new Clubman came with that wrap. The air intake pulls air from under the grille...I would think opening the scoop would only just be a good way to get your engine dirty.

 

It's cooled by the way...there's a coolant hose running through it.

 

Keeping it cool and cooling it are two different things. It is kept cool to prevent failure, but it is only cooled so much. There are a few threads out there on the turbo wrap. Just remember anything that fails while aftermarket anything on it is subject to the dealership saying you broke it while it's under warranty...the kicker is they just have to prove it could have happened and you have to prove it would have happened either way. That aside, I will probaby get the wrap..the DDM cai and open up my intake bonnet.

 

I just pulled my stock hood scoop off. There is only one plastic screw under the hood. I saw no tabs under the hood. After removing the screw, close the hood and gently pull up. (not "toward you" or "toward the front) The snap in tabs go straight down into the hood, not at an angle. Each of the SIX snap-ins will come loose. The scoop will then pop out. I had no locktite or other adheisive on my hood or scoop.

Some of the bases of the snap-in assemblies stayed in the holes in the hood. Since my new chrome scoop came with new bases attached, I pulled the old ones out of the hood (gently with a thick towel and a screwdriver) and re-attached them to my stock hood if I ever want to re-install it.

One issue is the main screw under the hood. The stock scoop (on a June 08 Clubman build) was attached with a black plastic screw with a black plastic flange. The new chrome scoop had a metal screw holder slipped on the scoop, but did not come with the metal screw to use with the base. I re-used the black plastic assembly, but I think the metal screw and base would be more secure. I am gonna drop by my local service department to see if they have the screw or at least can tell me what size I should buy. (So I'm gonna have to pop off the new scoop to do this. )

Any questions, fire away!

 

(Underneath the Hood) Does any one have a picture where the plastic screw is located? I took out two screws, only knowing later that they were just the grill screws, not the scoop itself. And there is this quarter coin size cap in the middle which I'm puzzled about.

 

The circled hole is the only screw that involves the scoop.

 

Oh okay .. Now we're getting somewhere. Actually, there was NO SCREW in that slot AT ALL!! It was always cover by a metal clip as to hide the threads so I wouldn't have known that was where the screw went. So I just popped the hood up (like everyone mentioned in this thread). Thank you again for that picture.

 

If there was no screw in that hole, I think you need to make sure one is installed. That is the only "through the hood" fastener that holds the scoop in place. The other six fasteners are just push pins. There are posts here on NAM about the scoop just flying off the car while driving down the road!

This is the screw that I was talking about in the last paragraph of my post above. The stock one is a cheap plastic screw with one of those plastic flareing bases that is supposed to spread out as you tighten the screw. The new chrome scoop had a metal clip with a metal threaded hole for a metal screw. But the screw was not included with the scoop they sent me. That is what I am gonna call them about tomorrow. The scoop will be a lot more secure with that metal screw and base, I think.