Can someone help me on choosing wether to get a turbo heat shield or the carbon fiber hood scoop. I really have not experienced the warping of the hood scoop but the pealing of the sticker stripes did occur. But that was just minor.

Now my question is, does the heat shield protect any other part besides the hood scoop and is there any other advantage of having it? And if its purpose is to just protect the hood scoop, then is it more practical to just buy the JCW carbon fiber hood scoop and disregard the heat shield?

 

There has been some recent reports of heat shields potentially trapping the heat too well and causing the valve cover to warm up too much and start melting. While these reports and small in number, I'd still play on the safe side and skip the heat shield. I had an AEM heat shield and have since taken it off after seeing a couple reports of valve cover damage.

I'd go with the carbon fiber hood scoop. More durable and cooler looking

I would also pick one of these up:

http://www.waymotorworks.com/mini-co...5-r56-r57.html

 

I picked up a heat sheild for underneath the hood of my R56 from the local dealer for $24. It's a piece of shaped metal that goes on the mounts used for the piece of insulation that is already attached to the hood(so now you have insulation and a little metal shield above the turbo). They used to go for $70 but BMW has made it a cheaper part (I think it is made of lighter weight material). I thought it was cheap insurance and it is OEM so should be ok for the turbo.

 

I would go with the scoop. we have yet to have any problems with them and the do look cool . We have them for $351.96 http://www.theminipartstore.com/oemp...130415378.html