Bonnet Heat/Deformed Scoop
#26
01' V6 Maxima I've seen as high as 140F on a 95F day. You don't jerk you hand off the hood like you do on an '07 MCS. You can keep you hand on the hood as you think, "that's pretty warm".
On my '07 MCSm, you touch the bonnet area around the scoop, then jerk your hand back and say, "Holy cr@p, that's hot as s#1t... someone could suffer a serious burn from this".
Then you think "where's that IR thermometer I got for Xmas last year". Then you start checking temps all over the Mini's bonnet, the spouses hood, the neighbors hood...
So far my Mini is in first place with highest boonet temps of any car I've measured.
On my '07 MCSm, you touch the bonnet area around the scoop, then jerk your hand back and say, "Holy cr@p, that's hot as s#1t... someone could suffer a serious burn from this".
Then you think "where's that IR thermometer I got for Xmas last year". Then you start checking temps all over the Mini's bonnet, the spouses hood, the neighbors hood...
So far my Mini is in first place with highest boonet temps of any car I've measured.
#29
Opening the scoop does help a little, but I don't think it's the correct solution. I started a thread in the 07 Coupe Talk similar to this one. I've asked NAM to move it under the Stock Problems/Issues.
Here's the link: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1775896
Here's the link: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1775896
#30
There's also another thread where bonnet temps are mentioned, along with the driver side A-pillar getting toasty warm as well.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=112726
I hear MiniDivision lurks around this forum. I would love to hear from them regarding these two issues. I'm more concerned about the extreme bonnet temps then the A-pillar being warm.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=112726
I hear MiniDivision lurks around this forum. I would love to hear from them regarding these two issues. I'm more concerned about the extreme bonnet temps then the A-pillar being warm.
#32
OK I got my MT-exp Micro Temp Digital Infrared Thermometer $49.95 at Pep Boys !
Temps taken after 30 mile normal drive ,never over 4000 RPM s
hottest spot on Bonnet -203 F
Under Bonnet
Turbo - 276 F
Plastic Coolant Reservoir - 195 F
Tail Pipe after 10 min. -a cool 127 F
Hot spots next to gas pedal 110 F that surprised me !
Temps taken after 30 mile normal drive ,never over 4000 RPM s
hottest spot on Bonnet -203 F
Under Bonnet
Turbo - 276 F
Plastic Coolant Reservoir - 195 F
Tail Pipe after 10 min. -a cool 127 F
Hot spots next to gas pedal 110 F that surprised me !
#34
#36
Has anyone thought about placing a sticker like this on their bonnet to warn others?
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/hot/-/p...t_/pg_/c_/fpt_
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/hot/-/p...t_/pg_/c_/fpt_
#37
#38
He got back with me a few days later and said Mini doesn't have a fix for either issue at this point. I don't know if that means they are aware of it or not... or willing to acknowledge it.
I filed a safety complaint with NHTSA regarding the bonnet temps. 235F seemed excessive to me. I suggest all '07 MCS owners also report the issue as well.
The NAM user MiniDivision has yet to reply to my request for information regarding the excessive bonnet temps.
Their response is usually:
I'm with MINI USA. I've passed this message on to a MINI National Customer Relations Representative who will be in touch with you soon.
Come on MiniDivision! Give us a response please.
#39
I remember Arnbut doing the thermometer thing a month or 2 ago. He had a thread here and Mini2 as well. He contacted Mini NA, etc. Did the footwell temps. As I recall they told him that's the way it's built, it's hot but we can't change anything, see ya later bye bye.
Arnbut had his 07 MCSm (manual) replaced with a MCSa (auto/CVT). He said the new one runs cooler (140ish). That's most likely due to the CVT transmission cooler requireing the fan and/or water pump to run longer after parked. In addition to the hot bonnet issue, his MSCm had a multitude of other issues as well.
#40
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hot Springs Village, AR
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Okay, I put mine in. I used "Structure: Body: Hood" as the component, and listed "1" as the mileage of "failure." Unfortunately this complaint form is designed for a single incident, so it may not get picked up. I did reference "temperatures well over 200 degrees" in my complaint.
Last edited by daffodildeb; 09-29-2007 at 09:26 AM. Reason: Correction--"mileage" instead of "date"
#41
Join Date: Dec 2006
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This engine would be ideal for cooking on. If you think I'm kidding, I'm not--there is a whole book (can't remember the title) on cooking on car and truck engines, with food wrapped in foil. I actually tried this on vacation a couple of years ago, but it didn't work well due to the configuration and lack of heat in our rental van. Bet it would be different in the MINI, though.
#42
Arnbut had his 07 MCSm (manual) replaced with a MCSa (auto/CVT). He said the new one runs cooler (140ish). That's most likely due to the CVT transmission cooler requireing the fan and/or water pump to run longer after parked. In addition to the hot bonnet issue, his MSCm had a multitude of other issues as well.
#45
Jinxy,
Where did you buy your car? I noticed that you Ordered 6/29 -- Delivered 8/1. I ordered mine from Tate on 6/30 and picked it up on 8/31. My hood does not get hot at all. My WRX hood got way hotter than my MCS. I drive 30 minutes to work everyday. Hood never gets hot. Do you have the holes in your scoop like I do? Makes a huge difference.
There's no way I can burn my leg on the tail pipes. They don't stick out far enough. Take a look...
Where did you buy your car? I noticed that you Ordered 6/29 -- Delivered 8/1. I ordered mine from Tate on 6/30 and picked it up on 8/31. My hood does not get hot at all. My WRX hood got way hotter than my MCS. I drive 30 minutes to work everyday. Hood never gets hot. Do you have the holes in your scoop like I do? Makes a huge difference.
There's no way I can burn my leg on the tail pipes. They don't stick out far enough. Take a look...
#46
I wonder if un-corking the fake hood scoop would help lower engine compartment temps. I've seen somewhere on here where people have made or are making the hood scoop functional in hopes of increasing HP, but it may be a better benifit in just keeping overall engine bay temps down. Anyone on here have there hood scoop functional and try measuring temps?
#47
#49
Though I haven't felt heat like any of you are describing, I'm popping out the partially vented grille in the scoop when I install the Alta CAI I have on order. I definitely recommend doing it. It certainly shouldn't hurt anything. You can always dremel out some or all of the blocked vent parts if you prefer to keep the grille in. As for the original question in this thread, I'm very curious about this as well. I wish they published a rev log for the ECU software.