As far as I can see - nothing! What am I missing?

 

When the R56 came out, the opening in the hood scoop was completely blocked off. Then they had an issue with the scoops melting due to heat from the turbo, so they opened up the grille in the scoop to provide a little extra cooling air to the turbo. So basically, the function of the hood scoop is to keep the hood scoop from melting.

I'm looking into getting a DDM Race Intake, which would actually make the scoop more functional.

 

The only thing worse than faux performance bling is faux performane bling that melts. Awesome job MINI.

 

proximal,

Thanks for your response!

On my '09 MCCS my MA said there was a "filter" under the hood covering the scoop to keep out leaves, etc. The "filter doesn't look like it would even allow air thru it. I now see this must be a heat shield! Even the grill on the scoop has only about 10% of it open.

If you have time, please let us know if that kit really works or if it is just some more "hype" added by the after market people. I would think the Mini's air intake system from the front would be sufficient.

Oh... does the kit call for removal of the existing heat shield and grill - er...I mean, existing air filter?

Thanks...

 

You're MA is full of it and obviously misinformed. That "filter" is Mini's cheap take on a heat shield that obviously doesn't work. The current hood scoop is just decoration, they figured a Mini S just wouldn't be a Mini S without a scoop, so they installed a fake one. Fake is ok, but cheap and fake that melts is poor engineering on Mini's part.

 

R56 FTW!

 

Will there be any issues with this intake during the rain?

 

I have seen these on a number of cars and no one has reported rain problems.

Another thing many people do is carefully cut out the rest of the openings in the OEM scoop.

 

i took out the grille in there completely when I put on my M7 Super AGS. No issues with rain or anything else really. couple bugs make it in now and then...

Also just need to remember not to spray the hose directly in...wash down the hood lol

 

The DDMworks RIS's hood scoop has drains in it that allow water to escape, and because of the hood and scoop's angle it is unlikely that water will make it to the air box unless a semi-high pressure stream is sprayed directly into it. Even if it does, it shouldn't make it past the filter. And since it is metal, it shouldn't sucumb to the melting issues.
Disclaimer, this is just me reiterating what was said by a DDM employee. I have yet to install the kit in my MCS, but I cant wait.

 

My personal opinion that the MC 'S' needs a hood bulge (similar to the Diesel mini's) to clear the front mounted turbocharger. The scoop was put on the S to clear the turbo, and give a wink to Cooper S tradition. So there is my opinion: Cooper ( and 1) - no bulge or scoop, Diesel - bulge no scoop, and MC S Bulge and traditional scoop. Originally TICE (tradition inspired cosmetic enhancement) the scoop is now semi functional because of the heat issue. Of course only Gabe at MotoringFile probably knows the true answer. ajm