I bought the foil heat shield when the Coupe was delivered. It was installed by the dealership and the prongs were inserted into the scoop. If you can look into the scoop, you will see a white nylon prong that the shield will fit around and slide the shield toward the front of the car. The rivets will line up with the holes in the hood perfectly with no effort. Air can go thru the scoop to the engine but not much. Look at post #68 for the proper installation of the shield. The turbo area above on the hood stayed cool to the touch but behind the scoop it was very warm. I then purchased the insulation mat and now everything stays cool to the touch. I had to remove the foil turbo shield because I didn't want to cut the mat to install the shield. I may do it later.

 

DAVESTER I wouldn't advise cutting into the mat. Under the black fabric layer is a very flammable grey cotton-wool type of layer.
I think the insulation you have will be more than sufficient. I cut an air-hole in mine and ended up having to 'bin' it...
It's a pain that the turbo foil's in the wrong place for an N18. Parts aren't cheap + to compromise further stinks a bit!

 

I wonder if installing the heat shield over the insulation would be better or not ---

 

IMO combining both is good if you can do it without cutting into the black fabric which I doubt...

If not, as you've pointed out, black fabric keeps the whole bonnet cool whereas the turbo shield effect is localised...

 

Hi All,

I have a bit to report... I had the Dealer install the large black shield and when I got there to pick up they car they had cut a 2' square opening in the middle it -- and not well. The gray foam inside was coming out and they had exposed the very part of the bonnet I wanted to insulate. They said it was to let the scoop ventilate. I informed them the scoop is mostly for show and showed them that it is partially-mostly blocked. They were actually really cool about it and went and ordered another part and installed that with no modifications.

We drove the car home last night - 45 min or so and I checked the bonnet temp right after shutting the engine off and it wasn't warm, it was actually cool! Amazing difference! Before I couldn't touch it for more than a fraction of a second and now it is great. I also had them replace the factory silver stripes because they were already ruined from water spotting - it had eaten through the top layer of the vinyl and the detailing shop couldn't remove them. They were like that when we picked up the car the very first time.

I'm really glad I stuck to my guns on this and got it installed. It also gives the inside a nice finished look. I'm really happy with the results!

Franny

 

Franny B, I think you've done the right thing.

1. When I cut a hole in mine I found the grey foam (it's like cotton wool?) burned easily when exposed to a naked flame and was able to carry on burning unsupported! (this insulation was the part listed for my MCS but more suited for a MINI D)

2. Has your insulation got the silver heat-reflective layer above the turbo at the front now? I'm trying to get this part for my N18 MCS but because it's listed as an option for the N18 Roadster (same engine and same bonnet part number) my SA can't find the part number because BMW/MINI in Germany say parts aren't interchangeable between the two models It seems to me to be the most-suited part IMHO.

 

What I find interesting is the n18 must run hotter or the air flow is different in the engine bay.

One thing that kind of is a pain is the window washers do leak if they have been used and the fluid bubble out when parked. I am tempted to insulated the tubing but one thing about it is it won't freeze up in the winter.

 

My N18 seems the same as my previous N14 underneath the engine, so no air-flow difference there + the holes in the air scoop in the bonnet are the same too; some blocked out.

I've measured OBD temps and they're in the within R56 range quoted on here (103C/217F -> 107C/225F now I've had the thermostat renewed).

I've got a feeling that there could be some extra 'programming' in the N18 to enable the fan to run-on more easily after shut-down to save the plastic scoops from melting or ease turbo overheating(?)...

It all seems to be a bit hit-and-miss to me!

 

So is the Coupe the only car not to have the hood insulation? I have a Dec 2011 build with no insulation/heat shield. I drove a 2012 Countryman S and there was the hood insulation.

 

Nope....I have a Coupe equipped with factory stripes that's an April 2012 build and it came with the insulation.

There just seems to be nothing but randomness with this issue.
Some cars have it some don't.

 

The Countryman is built in Austria by different humans so unless the flaw is with the system, which I doubt, the Countryman would be irrelevant. I suspect that it's a case of human error.

Oscar's stripes were installed at Oxford, not the port or dealer, and no insulation. I'm curious to see if Felix will have the insulation. He's on a boat that will set sail in about 90 minutes. Don't ask why I have two Coupes. That's a long story.

 

JenniferL, I know your saga from Coupe owners in FB! It would have been nice if you could tell them to put the damn insulation before shipping Felix

 

Ha! It would! I'm curious to see if it will be installed on Felix. If it is, I'll gladly add what I purchased for Oscar to a charity auction we have in August as part of a huge annual rally. Other local Coupe owners are curious as well and they don't have it either. If it's not installed, my super awesome dealership said they'd transfer it over to my new beastie.

 

JenniferL, can you verify that the insulation you have for Oscar is the same as DavidB's picture in post number 43 of this thread? I want to have it done on my Coupe and that appears to be right one with the heat shield above the turbo. Could you post the Part number if it is indeed the same?

 

Me too please, adcam + JenniferL; I'm looking for that part number for my '12 MCS 'hardtop'.

I understand it's listed for the 'Cooper S Roadster N18' but there seem to be two numbers. It's either 51487334336 or 51487307579.

A partsperson at my dealer in UK thought it might be the latter but because the parts had to come specially from Germany (apparently) he wouldn't have been able to return the wrong part and wanted me to pay for both. (I suspect a certain inability to think out of the box...)

So I had to be satisfied with his excuse that they don't encourage interchange of parts from one model to another (despite the fact that the bonnet is the same part number and the engine's the same)

Thanks. We're getting closer, I feel.

 

51487307579 is listed by RealOEM for the R58 coupe and this is pictured in post#1

Perhaps the other is the one with the reflecticve strip above the turbo.

Can anyone confirm, please?

 

Paging JenniferL

 

Hi! Sorry. Life happened.

Nope. Mine doesn't look like the photo in post #43. Mini looks like this. I had circled the clip points so that an R56 owner could compare.

Parts numbers for this set up:

51 48 7 266 543 Heat Insulation w/ heat shield (1)
51 48 1 915 964 Expanding Rivet (11)

 

I am so freaking pissed! My mini does not have this insulation and I am in Texas, the hottest state lol. I ordered mine and production date is 4/12...... My dealer is saying that insulation is only for production on coupes ending 3/12....... And I need to pay 178$ for it.......dealers are all crap. I plan to never have it in to the dealership for anything, I will pay out of pocket before I give them any business.......

 

Wait. The dealer said they installed insulation up until March and then from April on, they did NOT install it?

 

Service manager at Mini of Austin said it was not on mini produced after 4/12, not part of my VIN #....... I gave them your part # and they said that was on coupes produced up until 3/12....... Bull!!! I have never owned vehicle without that, seems like a safety issue as far as a fire retardant goes, just frustrating dealing with stealership........i will order but want to find OEM without getting from dealership. Sorry to be on a rant, but my blood is boiling......I ordered the titanium heat shield for the turbo and the small insulated metal for hood for under the scoop, but that was before I saw this post and realize I dont have what I SHOULD have. I also asked service manager if than when my hood paint starts to peel or stripes would that be covered under warranty ( I was being a smartass ) and he said no that would be environmental. This is the one thing I hate about being a female, is being taken advantage of like I dont know any better.

 

20/7/12
I've bitten the bullet, spun a coin in my head and + ordered part # 51487307579. It'll be here in 3-4 working days since it 'has to come from Germany'. It ought to fit but not have a reflector at the back. If it's got any on the front, that'll be a bonus!

I'll report back.

 

I don't think the dealer has good info. My build is from the middle of Febuary, no insulation.

 

With the people who don't have the entire black insulation under their hood..

have any of you considered the WMW Turbo Heat Shield as another option instead of getting the run around from the dealer to try and get the insulation?

I know it'll work because I use something similar for my Turbo Diesel Dodge.
Should keep the hood relatively cool.
Helps keep heat where it needs to be.
It is very common for turbo applications to have thermal blankets aka 'lagging'

Hence why I just placed an order for one

 

Yea, I just put my titanium one on about 10 min. ago......going to put the thermal adhesive backed insulator on hood tomorrow, that goes under scoop.....I was just hoping that this keeps the hood as cool as the black thermal stock one......I guess I will soon find out!