North American Motoring

Mini Cooper S 2007-2013: Cold Air Intake Reviews and How-to

Installing a cold air intake system in your Mini Cooper S is a great way to improve the sound and performance of the car. It’s a labor intensive project, but certainly something you can do at home. Here’s how.

By Jeffrey Bausch - July 1, 2016
Contributors: Bryan Wood

This article applies to the Mini Cooper S (2007-2013).

The 2nd generation Mini Cooper S has a sweet turbocharged motor and a sporty look, including an aggressive hood scoop, but unlike the 1st generation cars, that scoop is blocked off and just for looks. Many of the aftermarket cold air intake setups you can buy for this car fix this issue. The more expensive units include a funnel that directs air from the scoop back to a newly opened airbox with a free flowing filter. Even without paying for that specially molded funnel, many DIYers have installed a free flowing filter and opened up the scoop for more air flow. When Mini themselves produced the John Cooper Works edition, they used almost the same design for their ram air system. While the reasons for installing one vary, there are three main benefits: (1) It feeds colder air into the intake manifold, (2) it reduces the inherent restrictions that come with the car’s stock systems, and (3) allows more intake as well as turbo noise to escape.

The AEM cold air intake complete with ram air scoop
Figure 1. The AEM cold air intake complete with ram air scoop.

Table of Contents

How to Install Cold Air Intake

Mini Cooper S 2007-2013: How to Install Cold Air Intake

Materials Needed

  • Ratchet
  • Extension
  • 10mm socket
  • 7mm socket
  • Screwdriver
  • T27 Torx
  • T25 Torx
  • 4mm Allen key

Step 1 – Remove the upper air box and filter

For this example we are using the K&N Typhoon cold air intake, which does not include a ram air scoop. Other systems are mostly similar, but there will be some detail differences in the installation. Refer to the instructions that come with the kit, or the website of the manufacturer.

  • It is always a good idea when working under the hood to first disconnect the negative (black) battery cable.
  • Unplug the mass air sensor electrical connection.
  • Unhook the vacuum line from the air box.
  • Loosen the hose clamp that secures the intake tube to the mass air sensor.
  • Loosen the three screws that secure the upper air box housing to the lower housing; when they’re out, remove the upper air box housing and air filter from the car.
  • Unplug MAF sensor, and disconnect vacuum line
    Figure 2. Unplug MAF sensor and disconnect vacuum line.
  • Loosen hose clamp on MAF and pull intake tube out
    Figure 3. Loosen hose clamp on MAF and pull intake tube out.
  • Unscrew airbox top screws
    Figure 4. Unscrew airbox lid screws.
  • Remove airbox lid
    Figure 5. Remove airbox lid.

Step 2 – Transfer MAF to new intake

  • Remove the two screws that secure the mass air flow (MAF) sensor to the upper air box housing unit.
  • Remove the MAF sensor and set aside.
  • Install elbow in factory intake pipe.
  • Install silicone tube on elbow with hose clamp.
  • Check that O-ring is still on MAF.
  • Install MAF in new CAI airbox lid.
  • Attach cone filter to MAF with hose clamp.
  • Secure MAF to silicone tube with hose clamp.
  • Install new CAI airbox lid to factory lower airbox.
  • Reconnect MAF electrical connection and vacuum line.
  • Remove MAF from factory airbox lid
    Figure 6. Remove MAF from factory airbox lid.
  • Install MAF in new CAI upper airbox
    Figure 7. Install MAF in new CAI upper airbox.
  • Install new filter in CAI airbox lid
    Figure 8. Install new filter in CAI airbox lid.
  • Connect the MAF to the factory intake tube with the new elbow
    Figure 9. Connect the MAF to the factory intake tube with the new elbow.

Step 3 – Test and tighten

  • Reconnect vehicle’s negative battery cable.
  • Double check that everything is tight and properly positioned before starting up vehicle.
  • Start car and listen for odd sounds like whistles or air leaks.
  • Tighten as needed.
  • Take the car on a road test and listen for odd noises while driving.
The K&N Typhoon installed
Figure 10. The K&N Typhoon installed.

Featured Videos: Intake Install

  • 2nd Gen Mini Cooper S 1.6L AEM Air Intake Installation

  • 2nd Gen Mini Cooper S 1.6L K&N Air Intake Installation

Cold Air Intake Reviews
Alta Performance
K&N Typhoon
AEM Cold Air Induction
DDM Works Race Intake
GruppeM Sports
Racing Dynamics Carbon Fiber
Price
 $275 $225-270 $400 $450 $550 $800
Filter Durability
 50,000 miles 100,000 miles 25,000 miles 100,000 miles 100,000 miles 100,000 miles
Filter Type
 Foam Oiled Cone Dry Cone Oiled Cone Oiled Cone Oiled Cone
Warranty
 5 years Million Mile Limited Limited Lifetime None None None
Ram Air Scoop
 No No Plastic Aluminum Plastic Carbon Fiber
Performance Claim
 10hp, 10lb-ft 11.1hp 14.14hp, 11.3lb-ft None Yes None
Best Quality: GruppeM Sports Cold Air Intake

Best Value: DDM Works Race Intake

Alta Performance

Alta foam cai

Price – $275

Filter Durability – 50,000 miles

Filter Type – Foam

Warranty – 5 years

Ram Air Scoop – No

Performance Claim – 10hp, 10lb-ft

The Alta Performance cold air intake is the only one here that comes with a foam filter element instead of a cone type. It is widely known that the foam element flows more air, but at the expense of not filtering as well, and more intake and turbo noise. If you are looking for the whoosh of the turbo to be much more prominent, this is the system for you. One major downside of this system is that it does away with the lower airbox, and leaves the filter exposed to the hot air of the engine bay. Opening up the hood scoop will allow air to flow to this filter, as it is a bit higher up, right against the hood. The claimed gains in power and torque are quite good, but would likely only apply until the turbo gets hot. Best for buyers looking for a lower priced system with maximum turbo sound.

K&N Typhoon

K&N Typhoon

Price – $225-270

Filter Durability – 100,000 miles before replacement

Filter Type – Oiled Cone

Warranty – Million Mile limited warranty

Ram Air Scoop – No

Performance Claims – 11.1hp

One of the top-notch and most highly recommended among cold air filter systems, the K&N brand is well known among Mini Cooper owners, and for good reason—the company makes good, reliable products. Reviewers consistently rate these air intake systems highly, and cite easy installation as well as improved sound/performance of their vehicle post-installation. The K&N system does not come with a hood scoop, but does attach to the factory lower box, so the filter is shielded from much of the hot air in the engine bay. This is made to be used with the hood scoop opened as well, and the performance gains were tested in that configuration. While there is no scoop with the K&N kit, the design makes it possible to add one of your own creation if you would like. Best for buyers looking for a name brand cold air intake with a reputation for quality.

AEM Cold Air Induction System

AEM cold air intake

Price – $400

Filter Durability – 25,000 miles before replacement

Filter Type – Dry Cone

Warranty – Limited warranty

Ram Air Scoop – Plastic

Performance Claims – 14.14hp, 11.3lb-ft

AEM was one of the first companies to design and make a functional ram air intake for the R56 Mini Cooper S. This cold air intake truly is a cold air system, drawing in air from outside the engine compartment and directing it back to the air box. The plastic ram air scoop will not heat up and affect the air temp like a metal one would either. Best for buyers wanting a low cost true cold air intake with a functional hood scoop.

DDM Works Race Intake

DDM WORKS CAI

Price – $450

Filter Durability – 100,000 miles before replacement

Filter Type – Oiled Cone

Warranty – None

Ram Air Scoop – Aluminm

Performance Claims – None

If you are looking for a cold air intake with a working hood scope made entirely of aluminum, with no plastic parts, the DDM works system is for you. This nicely made airbox and hood scoop combo uses a genuine K&N filter element as well, so you know once you install it, it will be good for the life of the car, as long as you wash and oil it occasionally. At $450, it isn't cheap, but it is practically indestructible. They will also sell you just the ram air scoop if you have the Alta, or K&N CAI installed and just need to get the cold air back to them. Best for buyers looking for a durable system, with a real working scoop.

GruppeM Sports

GruppeM CAI

Price – $550

Filter Durability – 100,000 miles before replacement

Filter Type – Oiled Cone

Warranty – None

Ram Air Scoop – Plastic

Performance Claims – Yes

GruppeM does not mess around, and this may be the most well engineered system available. There are no performance gains specified, but horsepower and torque are increased. This system used a real functional scoop, engineered to get the most cold high pressure air from the hood scoop back to the air box. A stainless steel heat shield is added to the factory low air box and a whole new top section much like the K&N intake is bolted to it. They also use a real K&N filter element for long lasting power gains. Best for those who don't mind spending and want the best engineered system available.

Racing Dynamics Carbon Fiber

racing dynamics CAI

Price – $800

Filter Durability – 100,000 miles before replacement

Filter Type – Oiled Cone

Warranty – None

Ram Air Scoop – Carbon Fiber

Performance Claims – None

Easily the most expensive system here, the Racing Dynamics cold air intake has something the others don't, and that is real carbon fiber. Not only is it lighter, and practically indestructible, it is also a great heat insulator. Unfortunately, they offer no dyno sheets or power gain claims, but with a real K&N filter element, functional ram air, and carbon fiber insulation, it surely must be at least as good as the rest of them. Best for buyer who must have carbon fiber and want a cold air intake with real ram air.

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