So this week we got a lot of work done to my girlfriend's MINI. We finally installed the Alta 3" Catback exhaust, removed front bonnet stripes (in preparation for something new), and yesterday we finally got around to installing the Alta Intake.

First hand, the intake is really nice, and I did like the setup, however it did not work properly. We started the car, and after a good 4 minutes we decided to take it for a test drive in the parking lot. It sounded good from afar and in the cockpit, the stock BOV was audible, and overall it sounded healthy.

We then decided to take it out on the street. My girlfriend told me that it felt like the car was struggling to get up to speed, so I took over the reigns for a bit. The car has lost all power, it took forever to get up above 4K in first gear, and through all the rest. This is definitely not working right. So we decided just to put on the stock one and it the throttle response lag was completely dismissed.

What is the problem? The MAF was treated well and not damaged either. Is this a faulty system, or what? I purchased this kit directly from Alta.

 

was the maf sensor installed correctly? Maybe you accidentally reversed it, it has an arrow indicating airflow direction. Thats the only thing I can think of, sorry.

 

I did not do that because the clip for the cable is on the top, and I remember it being on the top when I installed it. Thanks for the suggestion though

 

Is it possible for the filter to have been over oiled from the manufacturer?

 

Check for air leaks.

Also, many times the foam filters seem to be too full of oil. Do remove extra oil.

 

The silicone tube from ALTA that connects to the filter isn't a very good fit. Make sure it's on there as good as you can get it, and make sure no air is leaking out. Also, check for holes in the silicone or an over oiled filter.

 

For sure check for an air leak after the MAF, and make sure the MAF is plugged in all the way. If the MAF was installed backwards, the car wouldn't start. Do you have any CELs?

 

When it was installed, I made sure that it was secure, especially when the car was running to see if inlet air was escaping - it was solid and there was no air leaks from what I felt.

What are CELs?

 

CEL=check engine light

 

No there was no CEL

 

I can't imagine the filter would be so saturated in oil that it inhibited engine performance in the way you're describing. I would pick up some MAF sensor cleaner from the local auto parts store, give the MAF sensor film a bit of a squirt, and try it again. You may have gotten oil on the MAF sensor causing the reduced performance. If you're still having a problem, I would disconnect the battery for over an hour to reset the car's ECU. It's a long shot, but your ECU just might need to get used to the new air filter since it's flowing air a little differently now.