Dealer replaced mine one week ago. The new one is warped now. I have had the MINI 23 months and it looked fine. The first one warped all at once. The second one gets worse everyday. I am dismayed, but holding off calling the dealer.

 

I posted this to Motoring Alliance as well and someone mentioned that the CF ones *might* have plastic integrated into the scoop so not a true CF solution. Better? sure sounds like it

Think I'm gonna get the M7 heat shield as well and be done with the issue

 

I was hoping that Mini had improved the hood scoop material. I took my MCS to the dealer today for it's annual oil/filter change etc...and a new hood scoop (and cold start valve chatter analysis...and cosmoline stains on the front wheel trim...and automatic transmission jerkiness on take off...and a rattle in the back bonnet). The hood scoop has to be ordered then painted and installed...that's correct. Long day 3 hours each way. The good thing was that they had a "loaner" for me ('09 MCS).

 

Update-

My service dept still willing to install CF one with me paying diff for regular one. Problem-IMO it would look horrible on my car as it comes matte black and there is nothing matte black on car currently. SA is saying that paint does not hold that well on CF AND that while BMW will cover the cost of painting a regular one they will not for a CF one.

Gonna get the regular scoop and a M7 heat shield and probably be ahead at least $200

 

My car is still in the shop. The scoop is on backorder according to my SA.

 

Its not matte black, its glossy CF.

 

Follow up. My scoop has been replaced. The body shop did a great job of matching the paint and the SA told me that the new scoop is made from a heavier plastic. It sounds like they aren't 100% sure that this will solve the problem but we will see. I think some sort of simple (inexpensive) heat shield could be designed that would attach to the bonnet. Anyhow it's fixed and looks great and I'm happy.

 

Why not just get a new heat shield and turbo rap and vent most of the heat farther down the exhaust where there is less to melt? Or a bigger intercooler will help a little. Hey even better take off the hood and drive around the engine will stay cooler.

 

Yeah...that's easy for you rich guys who live in Paradise to say. All that stuff is expensive. Down south where all the Po' folks live it's been averaging 100 degrees for the past two weeks. I've got my hood open right now...believe it or not!

Seriously...I believe it's possible to design a small relatively inexpensive heat shield which would mount under the hood and below the scoop. Giving just enough protection to stop the warping. If someone would come up with this they would sell like hotcakes...hint hint M7, Alta etc.

 

Seriously though, that turbo wrap is pricey at $170 or something. I've seen cheaper turbo wraps, is there something special about this other than 'its designed to fit' that allows them to jack the price up? I expect that this turbo wrap the best way to reduce heat on the bonnet. Has anyone had issues with scoop melting with just the turbo wrap installed?

I spent a solid hour yesterday researching this topic of the melting scoop. I pick up my MCS on Saturday and am trying to decide if I should take action proactively or wait till it happens to me. If it was really happening to everyone, I think it would be a sticky with posts every day by hundreds of people. Its certainly common enough to worry about though.

Has anyone had problems since the ECU update to keep the radiator fan running longer? I expect that all new cars will have this update.

Worst case...its a cosmetic issue that the dealer will need to take care of under warranty.

 

I think there is reason for mild concern because I'm not convinced the new scoop material will fix the problem. Time will tell. I'm watching my new scoop like a hawk. I'm hesitant to spend $200 on a heat shield that arguably might present potential problems of it's own.

 

I just posted over in the problems/issues forum about the same thing. My month old JCW cabrio's hood scoop is already warped. My MA is supposed to check with the service department tomorrow but considering my car was built in April and its melting, im afraid they dont have a true fix. I think they will try to replace it with the same part which will, of course, melt again. I'll see what she says tomorrow when she calls me.

 

Do share what that dealership is so we can all get the fix. 150 ambient temps in Lemoore before you even crank the engine..

 

Just got back for the dealership. Had the CF installed on Percy. Got hit for $159 (CF cost -(OEM + paint job). It was a tough swallow, but I got it down.
The CF is glossy but still manages to bridge the black grill/dark silver hood color scheme fairly well. I like the look.

Before I get too happy about it, I got a piece of lumber kicked up into my widnshield about 2 miles from the dealership. $()#@^%)!!!!

That would be windshield number 2.

 

I'm getting over 200+ temps off the hood after shut off but didn't think mine was melting till I ran my finger over the top of the scoop this week. Turns out its not visible but you can feel the huge dip in the scoop. Guess I'll be calling this one in.

 

I figured 220 would not be a problem on mine with the engine temp plus the ambient temps. I'm thinking the AGS-R with a heat shield after changing out the scoop esp if I can get the MA to change to a CF scoop.

 

Yeah I was looking at the M7 heat shield however its hard for me to swallow $200 for something that shouldn't be happing to begin with. To me this is a design flaw and Mini should be looking at a bigger heat shield FOR me instead of just replacing the scoup until my warranty runs out.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

I think that the CF swap would be a way to go based on the time for a hood scoop to be changed and painted my nearest dealer is 168 miles away. Then once done I was looking at the heat shield for 200 or the M7 AGS-R Cold Air Intake + Turbo Heatshield for 600. Is the AGS-R for an additional 400 worth it?

 

Keep in mind that the CF Scoop in non paintable, At least that is what my SA is saying.

 

I think it depends on what you're looking to get out of it. I'm not looking to increase performance, just to make my scoop stop melting which is why I was just going to go with the heat shield. If you're trying to increase performance, by all means go with the intake. I'm sure the folks at M7 might disagree tho ;-)

 

The car handles great as it comes stock however it can always get better with a few mods..

 

Put M7's heat shield on after my scoop drooped. Dealer will replace it, but I don't want to do it again and again. Surface scoop temp drop was dramatic. I've got a IR/Lazar temp gun and it showed a drop of ~130 degrees. The shield still allows the turbo to cool down normally, unlike a wrap which holds in the heat and eventually cooks the bearings. Someone posted that $200 was steep. Do the math. The only current alternative is a true CF scoop at about $325 and, if you match paint it, at least another $100. And it still might melt. If you want to wait for BMW to come out with a cure, you might be interested in a leisure suit factory in Iowa I've got for sale.

 

3000 more miles until service showing signs of damage I will call the SA and see if I can change out to the CF scoop and then put on the heat shield from M7. Scoop is already starting to warp and its just 110 ambient temps plus the engine temps should take care of it soon.

 

Just installed the M7 over the weekend. A snap to install and well worth it IMOH

 

I just had my hood scoop changed to a CF scoop. It didn't cost me any money. As a matter of fact my MA offered it to me over the painted plastic scoop. He said it was cheaper in the long run and less trouble to them to go ahead and replace it with a CF scoop over replacing several times with a painted scoop.