I read somewhere about the hood scoop, that Mini changed the material of it to include metal. New Minis built after March 2010 have this new scoop. (Edit: Here http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/01/27/mini-fixes-sagging-mcs-jcw-hood-scoops/)

Wahoo: You are starting all new threads, it's hard to keep up with you. I guess that's the way you drive your Mini too.

 

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I drove about 15min home from work tonight (yeah, I know, not long enough) and the bonnet right above the engine was rather warm. However, not hot by any means. The scoop didn't feel hotter than the other sections either. It's only upper-50s where I am, which may have helped, but there was no blaring heat and I heard the fan on so I obviously used my engine a bit

 

Well maybe MINI finally addressed the problem. As it is I'm going to see if I can talk my dealership into a heck of a deal on a CF scoop.

 

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