My MCS mini was delivered with the standard car color'd Bonnet scoop. I ordered, received and installed a chrome replacemnet, looks GREAT.

The original scoop had holes in it. The chrome replacment came with no holes in it. So I swithed the black peice of plastic on the inside of the scoop, and put the one with holes onto the new chrome scoop. I'm not sure I really want to do that, as it seems it would let water into the engine compartment?? On the other hand, the air flow I would imagine would help cool the turbo which gets very hot, and is located right below the scoop.

So the questions is, does your have holes in it or not?

You have to look VERY closely to see them. It just looks like black plastic, but if you look closely, every other space going across is "punched out" (making a hole).

And, is it better with or without the holes??

 

Water is going to come through the radiator. I wouldn't worry about sealing the scoop.

Later R56s have holes. It has to help when you shut the motor down. I'd think it's better with some venting.

 

I just took mine out all together.

 

Aye, the early production runs of the R56 had a completely non-functional hood scoop (it was sealed) the newer production runs are not sealed up but they aren't necessary since it isn't needed with the turbo instead of supercharger.

 

No worry, the gap in your hood lets in a lot more air than those little holes.

 

So it sounds like my orig. scoop (being from a "late" production run a few weeks ago) got the holes But my replacement Chrome scoop was made earlier and hadn't got the holes... So probably good I switched em.

Anyone want to buy a DS replacement scoop with no holes? ;-)

 

I'm convinced that the holes were put there by marketing so they could address the phony scoop criticisms of the first batch of cars.

imo, using the hole-less plate which came with your chrome scoop would be the intellectually honest thing to do (ie, acknowledge that it's just a phony cosmetic scoop ).

 

I have seen a post where a chrome scoop melted due to lack of holes.

 

LOL!!!

Then ALL of them would "melt". The chrome one is no different than the regular one, just chrome color'd. Both are plastic.

BUT, I can say they do get HOT!! Feel around your scoop after some driving....

 

Since it let's air in and out of the engine compartment it is not fake, There is so much "for show" stuff on MINIs --- in fact the whole appearance is for show --- that I find it absurd people hang on the "phoney" scoop thing.

 

Yeah, weeks after the R56 went into production the BMW supercomputers finally finished the thermodynamics calculations and spit out the answer -- the optimal design needs .0001% more air flow!

 

LOL!!!

But seriously, I find it VERY hard to beleive they would change it cause a few people complained it was "fake". Hell, in that case, we would all have a one touch opening sunroof, windows that went up by holding the lock botton on FOB, Daytime running lights that didn't use the Xenon's....

They probably noticed a bit too much heat getting built up, and after some Super-computer computing, figured out a few holes could reduce the temp a bit. Nuttin wrong wit dat!

 

I would guess its more a function of shutdown cooling. You certainly do not want to be actively cooling the turbo especially the exhaust side. The turbo will work better with the highest temperature differential between the two. Luckily if you pay attention any air added is behind the turbo and would be blowing on top of engine to the intake which cant be a bad thing. They really should just open it up and direction the flow more directly on the intake box. I would guess the that vent would help some for shut down too. The MCS sure seems to hold a ton of heat on shut down. For that reason I have been propping up my hood after every trip during the break in period to hopefully minimize any heat soak from that burning hot exhaust manifold.

 

But not too many holes, mind you. The hole count and locations were carefully selected after exhaustive testing to provide just the right amount of cooling but not too much.