[gazah]

just doing my research here!

i've found that www.fabre.com.au in lakemba have the pipercross CAI kits, but was wondering...

* has anybody come across any other kits available within sydney/australia
* has anybody bothered to 'order-in' from overseas?
. [i like the open rear on the alta, but dunno where to get one!]
* has anybody had any good/bad dealer experience with the kits & servicing/warranty
. [i'll be dealing with alto @ artarmon]

any general comments on the quality/fit/look/performance of the pipercross would be good also! [specifically, i've been told [contrary to the photo below] that they don't have a rubber seal around the heat-shield, & was wondering whether it was a real issue!]

cheers guys

gary

[bkwalker]

hey ive been thinkig the same thing recently...

i have basically been looking to import a rogue intake.. which have good performance figures.. 9.3horsepower = 6.9KW

thats gonna cost $430 to import and that includes insurance..

the pipercross is about 160 i think... a lot cheaper.. BUT ive heard from reading on forrums that it is a good idea to stay away from spongey type filters.. (like the pipercross) mainly because they just flake away

the rogue on the other hand is made of cotton i think.. and is meant to be better

BUT geez that 430 is a killer for a filter though!

[gazah]

www.peakautomotive.com.au = AU$395 + AU$82.50 per hr to fit [~1/2hr]

Pipercross from www.fabre.com.au = AU$385 [? Fitted]

www.RogueEngineering.com = U$239 + U$35 Shipping Uninsured [Add U$20 for Black]

www.bmpdesign.com / www.promini.com = U$169.95 + U$45 Shipping

www.altaminiperformance.com = U$199.99 + U$?? Shipping [Add U$60 for Silicone Hose]

www.mini-madness.com = U$239 + U$105 Shipping [Fixed Regardless of Order Size / Presumably Insured]

mini.thepilo.com = U$147 + U$?? Shipping

dunno where you got $160 for the Pipercross [or did you mean U$?]... but it makes the others not THAT expensive in comparison!

maybe we need to pick a model & organise a mini group-buy!?!

i must say the alta has stood out for me... probably because i not only like the look, but having it open at the rear to the windscreen-base air vent on the passenger side not only seems logical, but also seems to improve efficiency!

any further input appreciated...

cheers

.g

[gazah]

& it would seem a purchase in the not too distant future would seem wise, what with the AU$ looking so good!

.g

[bkwalker]

ok.. ive researched this topic heeps..

and i have heard that basically rogue is the best.. alta i havn't heard much on.. but i dont think the performance is as good..

and i thought the rogue was US$282? plus 38 for shipping and insurance?

pipercross is that price u just said.. i double checked..


while im at it.. feeling doing a whalen group buy?! haha

[bkwalker]

oh uve already got a whalen... ps.can u tell me about ur mp3 player.. price.. how it works.. can u get smaller then 80GB because that sounds just stupidly large to me.. thanks!

[Tigger]

I think that all decent intakes will produce similar "power" increases and throttle response. Maybe the sound will trick you that theres a lot of difference. End of the day, I still recommend Pilo for value, but Alta looks the biz, rogue/madness seems to provide that "9hps" that everyone thinks really makes their car go faster...

[bkwalker]

i dont necessarily think the 9hp will make the car faster then others.. but why not go for an intake that claims more HP... thats my argument.. i guess the all do the same thing.

[gazah]

no digital camera, but here's a scan of my whalen... a VERY worthwhile purchase!


click to enlarge!

.g

[gazah]

it's fantastic...

the base unit is as big as a removable hard-drive, & infact comes with a 5.25" bay mount for your pc!



it slides into a host unit that i've got stowed away in the little cubby hole in the right side of the boot... & plugs into the cd-changer prep using a Connects2 adapter, giving it both power & a connection to the HU! this keeps all the normal MFSW controls intact!

i then run the cable for the satellite display up around the back seats, up the middle & the display is currently secured up under the toggles! i'm currently waiting on a decently priced bracket for the centre uprights!





the unit interfaces either through the IDE hard-drive slot, or a separate USB2 adapter & shows up in windows as a normal drive! this is where the 80Gb comes in handy, 'cause i now use the DMP3 as a weekly remote backup for my entire PC! i also use it mainly for hi-quality mp3s of my own cd collection [rather than net crap!], so once again big storage is a bonus! there are smaller sizes, but they use 5200rpm drives [to keep heat down... no CAI here! ] so downgrading size really doesn't save much!

i bought mine through lee.harris@dension.com, & was impressed with both the service & quality of product! they also now have headunits that either control a remote unit, or accept a tiny hard-drive in-dash! if i remember rightly, price was ~AU$1000-1100 incl GST etc... not cheap, but not far off an mp3-compatible cd-changer!

long-winded i know... but i love talking about the unit, i think it's fantastic!

now... hows about a group-buy on CAI's? ...anybody? ...bueller?

.g

[bkwalker]

wow... that looks like a sweet hook up you;ve got yourself there!
sounds a bit pricey to me so i think i will hook up my ipod somehow.

but this CAI, thats the pipercross right?
what do u think? u think this is the way to do it?

[gazah]

the more i read the more i reckon i'll go either the rogue with the drilled airbox mod, or preferrably [& at about the same price!] the alta with incorporated airbox changes!

www.vividracing.com have the alta setup for U$249.99, so i'll see what they'll do for shipping, & how they'd approach a smallish group-buy!

i got word back from Mini-Madness regarding shipping & have included it above!

.g

[gazah]

Available CAIs FAQ
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28817

Detailed Alta Install Info
http://www.mini2.com/forum/engine-drivetrain-tuning/29252-alta-intake-installed-preliminary-testing-results.html

AirBox Modificaion FAQ
http://www.minicooperonline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&ac tion=viewtopic&topic=4301

.g

[bkwalker]

thats exaclty what i thought.. rogue looks the best.. as i said though.. i wont be doing any mods till ive got some spare time though.. im very busy right now.
but rogue seems to be the best looking..

i was talking to a guy with the full hartge kit on his MCS and he had a pipercross and got it removed and got 'peak performance' in parramatta to fit a custom made intake which suits his cars mods..

this is also something to think about further i guess..

[Boo]

Peak Performaces cold Air Intake box is a true cold air box unlike many of the others that just take their Air from inside the engine bay. I think it is a BMP and i am definitely going to swap my Pipercross out for Peaks as soon as i get back cause the setup i saw was the BIZ

Peak also sent one of their guys over to the US to source all the new products coming out over there for the Mini.

[CanberraCooperS]

Boo you might want to make sure you get he second generation BMP design one... the first one was exceedingly noisy and actually reduced engine Power. The Second Gen version looks great in that it collect air from the cavit at the back of the engine bay (base of windscreen) where it is under high preasure after being forced over the bonnet. It also collect through the factory CAI pipe. If you could combine Alta's Silicone Piping with the BMP second Gen air intake I think you would gain over 10hp.

[bkwalker]

that looks pretty good.. but ive heard the same.. that is the first BMP isn't any good..

[gazah]

just got an email from mini-madness, & should be able to get their intake kit for ~U$180 + shipping for 5-10 units!

i'm busy for a coupla weeks, but will look further into the potential for a group-buy thereafter... express interest here, or PM me if you think you might be interested! i'll see how the debate/controversy over different brands goes, but will look into group-buy prices on other kits if there seems enough interest! once again, express your views here!

?? distributing them on the september drive-day would even further reduce local shipping costs!

.g

[bkwalker]

that sounds good gazah,
mini madness is the same as rogue right?
i dont think i will be able to make the sept 21 drive...

[gazah]

yep, rogue = mini-madness!

i'll check for the best price one i get around to organising a proper group-buy... as i said, hopefully in a week or so!

also... i'm not so sure on the BMPdesign/promini kit! although the second generation is open @ the back, it still seems open also to ALL under-bonnet [aka hot] air! correct me if i'm wrong, like if the open end protrudes into the under-windshield cowling or something! i know one benefit is the ability to fit a strut brace without modifying a heatshield!

??? i dunno ???

.g