Just a thought: Would it be possible to switch a just a cooper's bonnet with a mcs's? Anyone tried this? The chassis is probably different, but I think the dimensions are the same.

 

You mean swap the hoods??

An MCS will fit a justacooper but not the other way around... (height difference because of the intercooler)

Mark

 

^^^ great idea to just change the hoods. On the r56 I think it's the turbo that needs the extra space. I know the Cooper D hood will fit as it's the same as the MCS hood just without the scoop. Another option is a full CF hood but nobody makes it yet. Same for the hatch. Make someone could do I big group buy on a Cooper D hood.

 

Isn't the intercooler down on the lower grill? Maybe you meant the turbo unit itself...

 

Dude,

I'm such an idiot. I've got a customer's '02 in the shop and it's an "S". He wanted a "justacooper" hood until I found out it wouldn't work.

Generation I, not II..... what a moron. Sorry.

Let's back back to our discussion...lol.


Mark

 

I bet it'll work, the scoop just takes up valuable space right over the turbo...

 

ya know the hood scoop was an 11th hour add-on to the R56 MCS? Original drawings of the car, pre-release, had no hood scoop--but too many people clamored and complained and VOILA! We have hood scoop. Now look at where we are.

 

I have a MCS (July 2008 build). I've had the JCW CF hood scoop from day one, ...I do not have any sagging or warping, yet have noticed that after a drive my hood is so hot I can barely touch it. It's hot enough to burn your hand, ...forgot the "too long" tail pipe issue! -it's our hoods that are dangerous! What i've noticed is some very minor rippling effect on my clear plastic bra ..which I believe is from the extreme heat of the turbo. I did a search and found this thread ...

...so, to prevent further damage I too feel like I need to do something (I spent $700 on my plastic bra and don't want it destroyed).

Sounds like my options are:

1) open up more of the holes in my hood scoop grill
Negative Effect: Stock pressure is thrown off? Less air to radiator??

2) M7 heat shield
Negative Effect: ???

3) Way Motor Works heat Wrap
Negative Effect: heat trapped in turbo and not allowed to escape ..thus possibly seizing up the turbo bearings??

Sounds like the M7 heat shield is what I will order.
Question, can someone who has installed the M7 heat shield tell me if their hood is noticeably cooler after the install?

 

Well I usually don't make a habit of putting my hand on the hood of my MCS after a hard run.......

How bout' this... Another owner wrote that he took a laser thermometer to the hood scoop after adding the M7 and he was getting readings of 100 deg lower than without.

I've had mine on for about 6weeks, ran it hard up and down the Rockie Mountains and a community rallye, and have had no issue

 

Ok maybe I was stupid but after a short spirited run with another NAM member who has the heat shield installed I was able to touch their hood however mine was untouchable. I waited to long to think about installing a shield and now have the droop so after my service run in about a 1000 miles and a new hopefully CF hood scoop will install the M7 Heat Shield.

 

Put the M7 shield on a month ago and am quiet happy with it. Dropped scoop surface temps from +250 to ~125 F. Also put their Ram2 scoop on as the JCW CF scoop costs $$$ and had read reports that they were sagging, too.

I wouldn't worry too much about a more open scoop effecting radiator air flow. The scoop would have to be as big as the grill to equalize air flow and would still vent out the bottom of the bay. I've had no change in coolant temps and it's been +100 F. the last few days. Don't sweat the bugs, I worry more about birds and small dogs !

DON'T WRAP THE TURBO! It will eventually cook the turbo bearings.

One "problem" with the M7 scoop. It dropped inlet air temps from 30-40 deg. over ambient to 10-12 deg. over in stop & go driving. With that, I wrapped the inlet tube with aluminum faced thermal tape and have now dropped the temp difference to 5-6 degrees! Even the melting scoop fiasco can have it's rewards.

PS: To save your clear bra, you may have to insulate the entire hood.

 

One thing to keep in mind, warping is not happening to all the scoops. Part of the problem is how the scoop is mounted; if the center is too tight, the scoop warps.

I had my scoop replaced about a year ago. It's a regular, stock scoop and the shop installed it without cranking down on the center stud. As a result, the car was returned to me with the center of the scoop standing a bit taller than the hood next to it. However, there's been no warping, even through the terrible heat So Cal has been having over the past two weeks.

 

I beg to differ. My first scoop went 14K before sagging. While waiting at the dealer to have it replaced, 6 more MCS's came in for service. Every one had a drooped scoop! I kindly pointed this out to their owners. Ambient temps are nothing compared to the heat build up in the bay of a stopped car that has just been running. There's no excuse for a cheap plastic "decoration" on an otherwise very well engineered car.

 

Suit yourself. Like I said, my scoop was replaced at 8,000 miles and it hasn't warped since. Based on how it's mounted, I think it has remained straight because it was properly mounted, without excessive strain placed on the part during installation.

 

I'm in for a Cooper D hood if someone can confirm that it fits :-)

 

Ken,

Where was your scoop deformed? I ask because you said that because they didn't "overtighten" the center stud, it didn't warp. My scoop warped on the upper level of the scoop, not the bottom where the bolt is that gets tightened.

The part of my scoop that warped (the top part) is only held in by snap in clips....

Apparently yours was warping on the lower half??

Mark

 

that's where mine is warped-- the bottom (nearest the MINI badge) is fine

 

Then if that's where everyone's is warping, then tightening or over-tightening as the case may be is a moot point because there is no stud/bolt on the upper level of the scoop.... it's only held on by clips.

Maybe Mini changed composition of the scoop, who knows.


Mark

 

thanks, ...my bra is only on the lower portion of the hood where it's most prone to get rock chips. Placing an order for the M7! -My other 2 cars don't get this hot ...my Porsche is a turbo and it has a better system for keeping the hatch cool (large vents above the turbo across the rear hatch let all the heat out quickly).

I am afraid the amount of heat on my hood is going to ruin the paint, clear bra and possibly warp my scoop at some point ..so rather than take chances I think the M7 heat shield should solve the problem.

 

I was about to purchase the M7 heat shield, yet just got an email from MiniMania ...they sell a similar heat shield for about 40% of the cost of the M7:

http://new.minimania.com/InvDetail.cfm?item=G2NME2307

Anyone use this one? It's not as sexy as the M7, yet if it works, it's a lot cheaper.

 

A few months ago I bought an M7 heatshield (except from Way Motorsports instead of M7)

This one...



I assure you there is a reason why it's more expensive. This is an excellent piece. It does what it's suppose to do, fits perfectly and a year from now, what's an extra 100 bucks in the long run.

The one you're looking at from Minimania doesn't look like it has the insulation and then on top of it, it has holes??? How is that suppose to deflect any heat?

I'd spend the money and buy the better (IMO) product.

Mark

 

The MiniMania heat shield is 68% of the M7's cost, not 40%. From their add, it appears to be nothing but a thin piece of stainless steel with no insulating material. It may well work on the car in the picture as the turbo appears to be wrapped! The aerogel insulator that M7 uses has a thermal efficiency rating of ~97%. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

 

okay okay!!
Now I know your guys thoughts on the Mini Mania one!

trying to save a few $$, -having my Porsche engine re-built w/all racing/upgraded performance parts ain't cheap!!! So was trying to skimp on the Mini -my bad.

M7 it is.

 

Hey Mark, you beat me to the "mark" by 8 minutes! Amen anyhow, and besides, your pic is better than mine.

 

Yeahhhh, what he said...