I'm curious about the placement too. Look at Post #43 in this thread by DavidB, he has the insulation and heat shield from the factory. And look, it is over the turbo and it is a bit smaller than yours. I think someone else in this thread just mentioned the rear placement of the heatshield is for a Mini ONE D ? Maybe they confused the two? I dont know, but like I said the pic in post #43 doesnt look at all like what you had done...hmm..

 

From my MA:

"I spoke with ************* in service and insulation varies from model to model.

I just checked in stock:

Cooper S- no insulation
Cooper S convertible no
Coupe "S" no insulation
Roadster base convertible no
Countryman "S" YES insulation
Cooper base model no

I am sure there is an engineering reason just do not have that answer. I do not think they overlooked the installation."

FWIW

 

I think this is to avoid to fly out from bonnet over the road and run over by other cars.

 

I am still waiting on word back from Germany on this issue. I did get the insulation installed and it works great. While I was at dealership today I was looking at a S Countryman, NOOO!!!!! Insulation. So far there is no answer for why one car has insulation and another doesn't.

 

My 2011 Countryman S All4 has the insulation but my 2012 JCW Roadster does not.

MsBrit

 

Hi all! I'm a former R53 owner who bought a Coupe yesterday. I spoke with my local dealer's parts genius who surmised the following: The info he collected on the part number indicates that the insulation is factory-installed on cars that have factory stripes. "Factory" is the important word here. Some cars have "factory" stripes that are actually intalled at the port. In these cases, it is highly probable that because the car leaves the plant without stripes, it doesn't get the insulation.

He's doing some investigating to see if he can dig up the part for me. If I learn anything else I'll let you all know.

Either way, this Coupe / Turbo noob is happy to have read through this thread. Thanks for sharing your information everyone! For those keeping track, I'm a January build with an N18 engine, delivered to PA with "factory" stripes.

 

Jenn - If you get the part number of the insultaion panel... would you mind asking your SA if it also fits the 2008 MCS?

 

yay go jen...dig out that info ASAP

jen is my Coupe advocate/Philly Mini mentor

and we both got our new Coupes this week!

packimocity

 

Will do, Paul! I'm working with someone at MINI of the Mainline so I'll be sure to post all of the information I can gather here when I get it and I'll send it to you as well.

I should also note that my contact suggested I contact MINI USA customer service to enquire about the situation, as others had suggested.

If this is a case that the insulation should be installed with factory stripes but the stripes aren't being installed until the car reaches the port, it could be the beginning of a set of issues for many future owners. If this is true and we can collectively help MINI sort it out, it's good for all of us!

(And you're too sweet, Pac. Thanks for the kind words!)

 

Could you also ask about the heat shielding please? As in, why do some people with the insulation also have heat shield and some don't? See post #43 in this thread

Thanks!

 

Will do. I'll keep you in the loop on what they say and what they suggest. Hopefully we'll have some sort of answer soon! :D

 

Hi Jenn, I see Paul wants to know if the heat shield will fit his 08 MCS, could you please double check if it will fit a 2012 MCS as well.

I have the clear bra install already and now every time I come home , I pop open the hood and let the heat escape. I don't want the heat to destroy the clear bra.

Thanks.

 

I haven't had any trouble with my bra or strips and I have no insulation.

 

Thanks John. That's good to know.
Do you have the 3M clear bra ?

 

yes and custom 3 m strips

 

Follow-up.

I had emailed MINI USA customer service and received a call from them on Friday at about 5:30. That was a thorougly ineffective conversation made up of niceties and no information whatsoever.

I spoke with my super awesome Parts Genius at MINI of the Mainline a little while ago and he said that the insulation is in. The part numbers indicate it is for a D (I believe it was) so we'll make sure it matches up and go for it.

Oscar attended his first rally on Sunday and when he arrived at the starting point after 40 minutes of motoring in about 80 degree temps, the bonnet was so hot I couldn't touch it and it stayed that way throughout the 45 minutes I hung out in the parking lot. I have a feeling that in five years without it, I'll be looking at a car that looks like this. Eek.

 

I understand.

Without the insulation seagull 'lime' had poached itself on my bonnet after a 15mile drive home in my 2012 N18 MCS.

Despite my best effort the paintwork is still not right.

I queried the lack of insulation with a MINI service adviser and ended up having to buy it myself.

I now see that it's for a MINI D with the turbo at the back of the engine because the reflective layer is situated there rather than the front where the MCS turbo is, but it keeps the bonnet cool.

Bad, hurried, lack of sensible testing and thoughtless design IMHO. Or an I being cynical?

 

Eww thats bad. Carbon fiber tends to last 3-5 years before the clear coat starts crapping out, you really have to keep up with it or it'll start hazing bad.

As for the insulation, my Coupe S has it, and the car did come with factory stripes. The hood still gets warm but not scorching hot. I added the NM heat shield for the hell of it and now the cars hood is cool to the touch. No warmth at all.

Was it necessary....nope, I just wanted to buy something for the car

 

It's crazy how some have it and some don't. Like it all depends on what goodies are laying on the floor when they put it together. Maybe I should change his name from Oscar to Scrapple? Ha!

That pic is just a random illustration from the intertubes. Now that we have N18s I can't compare it to the R56 longevity. I'd rather err on the side of caution than wish I had. And IMHO, a $30K car should come with some protection, ya get me?

 

Totally agree with you.
But nowadays, car companies are just out there to maximize their profit.
You will be amaze to hear how they try to take 5 cents out of their building cost.

 

I know it was random, I was just agreeing heat from under the hood also plays a part of it too. I have an 07 dodge diesel that didn't come with insulation under the hood. I thought nothing of it, now 5 years later and the clear coat is gone and the hood is just horrible. I'm royally pissed about it.

Different car maker and beast altogether but same concept. I do agree with you, as expensive as these little cars are, they should all come with insulation.

Since N18's are new, 2011+, I'm assuming all of us with N18's are still under warranty...I would complain to the dealer and get the insulation for free if mine didn't come with it because it's total BS imo.

 

Oh - the random photo note was more for posterity than you. I just didn't want a thread lurker two years from now to think that was evidence of some actual known MINI issue. :-)

I don't have a problem with a company "nickle and diming" things. That's how they make a profit, pay employees, continue to sell cars. But at least be consistent about it. If there is a real reason why we should have it, then I'm sure that they will want to know so they can correct the issue and have them installed appropriately in the future. It's cheaper to distribute and consistently add a cheap piece of insulation than it is to repair problems when they occur. If it were my business, I would feel that way.

 

Hi All,

I talked to the head guy in Service and he thinks it should be on all Ss... I'll let you know what he finds out. I gave him the part numbers from above (thanks for that!).

We still have not picked up the car (Roadster S) yet, but it should be back from the body shop this evening and hopefully be ready tomorrow. I'll let you know if it has the shield or not.

Thanks to all for all your work on this!

Franny

 

Hi All. If you feel the need to buy R56 MCS under-bonnet insulation yourself, as I did, please be aware that the current offering doesn't appear to be designed for the S versions due to the air-scoop.
I think I'm going to cut an air hole (or drill air holes) in mine to restore air flow and hope to get the best of both worlds.
If I'd been more aware I might have ordered the previous non-LCI version first, to see if it fits. It might seem to be more fit-for-purpose. Anyone done that?
Hey-ho, isn't hindsight wonderful? Bless you MINI for the opportunity...

 

Would you mind posting a pic or two of your result for us people who will have to do this ourselves and don't own tools? I swear to God. Between this and the endless valvetronic faults, I feel like I've purchased the most expensive DIY project on the market. I'm about to throw in the towel.