Alright, so I finished the install maybe a hour ago and I think my butt dyno says this system is a winner. I will say again though, that AEM's intake requires more effort to install than the DOS system. Yes, the DOS system requires you to remove the bulk head and cut a notch out for the hood release and what not, but ****, I absolutely hate putting together the intake housing, sorry, just me griping a bit.

Having gone with, initially, a DDM Street Intake, then to the DOS, I think the AEM system is the best of those 3.

Here are my thoughts on primarily the DOS and the AEM though. The DDM Street is just an inferior system that doesn't breath "cold" air in anyways, so I never felt any real gains from it.

I do think the DOS system works, but I didn't feel immediate gains as I did with the AEM system. I think that the idea of a "true" cold air intake system is accurate in what it does because it is fed air in from behind the bulk head, but I think it also has its shortcomings because of where it's at. Sure it gets fed in air, but the entry of the air from the driver side apron cover, with the hood closed, isn't being fed proper cold air.

With the AEM system, at least the air is being fed directly from the hood scoop and into the intake housing. With this method, I think AEM's system is able to feed the intake all the cold air it wants.

My butt dyno isn't always accurate, but between 2500-4000rpm I do feel the difference from stock, to DOS, to the AEM CAI. Now, if someone wants to pay me to do a dyno comparo between the DOS and the AEM, then I can definitely do that @ MD Automotive to dyno my car. Most performance magazines such as European Car Mag utilize their dynojet for their hp shootouts.

That's what I think and I'm sure I'll get a crap load of people coming in here and telling me I'm nuts and I'm wrong or something, but I do like the DOS system, but for now, AEM seems to be just right....

 

Tuner after tuner and dyno after dyno prove the above to be terribly wrong.

JCW aibox + High Flow drop-in has always made the highest HP and TQ numbers.

Until there is REAL proof like logs of everything going on while the intake is on then i am just going to say AEM has reinvented something MINIs come stock with....

 

Awesome! I'm glad you're happy with it. You're right, you definitely feel the mid range increase. I am happy with this intake all around. The build quality, the perfomance gains and the effective yet quiet sound gains you get vs. the stock or other aftermarket intakes. One thing that became old fast was the blow off. Loved it at first, but over time, it started to bug me. With the AEM, you don't get what you would say out of the ddm, but you do notice an increase in blow off noise vs. the stock, jusssst right for me.

 

Yeah, the DOS is loud since it's through the bulk head, but the intakes whooshing does get old quick. And quite frankly, it's kind of sad if it's louder in the cabin that your exhaust. I think for the price, I like it more than the DOS system and it also comes with a turbo heat shield, so definitely a good buy, relatively speaking.

It can't beat the price of the intake system on a BMW, which was essentially duo cone setup for $100, but among the expensive intake systems for the MINI, this one with the addition to the heat shield is an overall good buy.

 

Yes we have it in stock
http://www.waymotorworks.com/aem-col...-cooper-s.html

 

Im the one that bought the extra intake off LaForze and I happen to also have the BSH OCC installed as well . If you are wondering about fitment, it's a bit tight. I have the can on the firewall and it is contacting the metal piping of the intake.

 

What size reducer did you use?

 

I dont really remember sorry :/ I even lost the picture showing my measurements it probably was smthing like 9cm to 7cm. not sure though:/

 

Oh hey man! How you liking the car?

 

Lovin' it so far! Went upto Angeles Crest this weekend to stretch her legs a bit and see what shes capable of. The turbo just loves this 50-60 degree "California Winter"

 

I just bought a 2013 mini cooper S on Monday and I'm loving the car so far. Can anyone confirm this works on 2013's? Also was there ever a response from AEM about their mild weather warnings on these? I had a CAI from AEM on a 00 civic hatchback and I've sucked up water before. I don't want to deal with turkey basters again.

 

Hey just to to clear up any weather concerns. I just drove about 70 miles through a white out blizzard with my AEM intake and everything seems to be ok. There was mad ice build up around the scoop but no restriction and the element seems to be dry. However for the extra little security I plan on picking up the hydrophobic sack to wrap the cone in from AEM for further piece of mind. The AEM intake was well worth the money!

 

MINI Dynamics has the AEM Intake in stock and with their January 2013 coupon code of NEWYEAR13 - you can get an additional 10% off the price.

http://www.minidynamics.com/AEM-Cold...ni-21-699c.htm

 

I'm making some calls now. If I can find a dynotuner around here I will do a before and after of this intake over stock. I'm still confused/not sure about what should be used to tune the mini cooper S.

OK so it appears RENNtech is down the street from me and this is what I'm going to do:

1. Do a dyno run with my 2013 cooper S that's bone stock and 423 miles on it
2. Purchase the AEM cold air kit, install it, do another dyno run with no tuning software
3. Drive the car to over 1,000 miles and go back for their Renntech tune which more info. can be read about it here(http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/723)

 

You should buy the intake and have it handy. Then do back to back runs. Otherwise different day dyno runs will throw in too many factors. Not saying I don't appreciate you doing this for all of us but just trying to clean up the testing protocol so nay sayers won't have an argument.(or at least one less argument ;p)

 

I don't want to pay the shop to intsall the intake or do it in the blazing sun in a parking lot(Florida). Plus you could say the engine was cooler without the intake and after the AEM was installed the motor was running hot. My car has 423 miles on it. People throwing out X factor's and several "if and thens" I could care less about. When I come back with the AEM installed I'll drive normally to the shop which isn't far at all from my house on a different day.

Edit: just got off the phone with AEM and the cliffs are to install at my own risk but they do take returns as far as fitment for 30 days. Has anyone installed this on a 2013? By the way if you live in California they are looking for a 2011-2013 mini cooper s's to donate the car for testing. I would imagine you get the intake for free or a massive discount for donating.

 

I offered to donate my car (N18) as I live and work in the area. We had a set date but they canceled as they have said there is more interest in a FR-S intake. They said they'd give me a call back by the end of December but that has yet to happen.

They might still be busy with the FR-S kit.

 

Well I can't wait any longer to make the switch to this intake, I'm buying it without all the answers. It looks way to logical not to make an improvement, just keep in mind under actual driving conditions there may be some added boost due to frontal air pressure that a dyno test doesn't simulate.

I know that we used a similar AEM intake on a Ford Focus 2.3L that I was skeptical about but it really worked. The only downside based on that experience is they promised but never delivered on a CARB certification. I wouldn't trust that they will necessarily follow through , but I do have a friend in the emission engineering business who says it really doesn't take that much of a test to get an air resources executive order approval.

The best price I found right now was at AutoAnything. With a reduced price of $304 and then 15% off coupon it was only $259, who can resist that?

http://www.autoanything.com/air-inta...2A3793110.aspx

 

Is there a 15% off code, or you had a coupon from something else?

 

I just searched for the latest coupons and picked the best deal, in this case a 15% off on $150 or more:

http://www.dealigg.com/story-AutoAny...ng-Coupon-Code

 

I also took advantage of AutoAnything.com 15% off deal for $259.xx shipped. Will have the package by Mon-Tues. I was going to just replace the stock accordion hose to the turbo with a metal or silicone hose first, then get one of the shorty 2011+ intake kits later, but seeing everything that came in the box and the way the system works together so well, and including a turbo heat shield and their patented performance license plate frame (+5whp right there alone....) I couldn't pass up that deal. Ill be eating ramen and drinking tap water for a few weeks, but I can deal with that.

 

Thank you!

 

this post made me lol. i read through the install manual for the aem 2010 kit and it looks to be the same for the 2013's so screw it ill pick it up. I sold a GSR hydro tranny today for a honda for 400 bucks so i might as well put it into the mini.

 

I wouldn't jump to conclusions the AEM works with the 2011+ N18. THe turbo inlet hose/pipe is different than the older rubber one on the 07/10 N14. You might be able to rig up the hood scoop and airbox to work but the hard piping section wont work right from everything I have been able to gather.

 

Received my AEM intake kit today. Unfortunately all I will be able to do is look at the stuff in the box for a week or so until the weather improves. A chilly -3 without the wind chill out here in the Chicago area this week. :-(