[minimort]

Hey, I was just wondering what is out there as far as aftermarket intercoolers go for the MCS, I've seen the GRS one and the Alta, just wondering if there are any other options available. I'm looking for something air to air, to keep ease of installation down. Any help would be welcomed. Thanks!

[AvatarX]

Check this out: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71208

Personally, I installed am ALTA Large intercooler as I have a 19% pulley. However, I do notice a big difference. I was in traffic the yesterday and did not switch on the air con as I am quite ANAL. When I reached the office, I placed my hand in front of the intercooler outlet on the bonnet and BOY was the air coming out of it HOT!!! I tried to move the spray nozzle around to face the Intercooler but it was too hot to handle. The same goes for the Intercooler itself so you go figure. Maybe, I should have opted for the Water-To-Air Intercoolers as I do Street driving ONLY.

[RallyMINI]

Although there are several Air-to-Air Units out there, I would first recommend an Air-to-Water Unit. You will get more consistent cooling, and you can drive it harder for longer before suffering some heat-soak.

But, here is the list I know of...

BBR Conversions - http://www.bbrgti.com/mini.php - Has a VERY nice Air-to-Air Unit with Full Plumbing. Best I've seen, plus they make a 275bhp conversion kit! They HAVE to be good to pull that off!

www.minimania.com - had a nice air-to-water unit which barely occupies any space, and cools a lot better. I don't know if they sold out, or don't carry it anymore, but they did have a nice one (though I am making an even better one right now).

I seem to recall more people making intercoolers, but a quick search seems to indicate a lot of them have given it up.

Best of Luck
ciao
RM

[GRSmotorsport]

Quote: Originally Posted by AvatarX

Check this out: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71208

Personally, I installed am ALTA Large intercooler as I have a 19% pulley. However, I do notice a big difference. I was in traffic the yesterday and did not switch on the air con as I am quite ANAL. When I reached the office, I placed my hand in front of the intercooler outlet on the bonnet and BOY was the air coming out of it HOT!!! I tried to move the spray nozzle around to face the Intercooler but it was too hot to handle. The same goes for the Intercooler itself so you go figure. Maybe, I should have opted for the Water-To-Air Intercoolers as I do Street driving ONLY.

Water-to-air intercoolers or charge coolers as they are more commonly known are only any good up to 14psi, The problem with a charge cooler is that heat sock is experienced when stopped in traffic, once on the move it takes about 4-5 miles for the water in the system to cool down, where as with a intercooler the charge air is been cooled instantly and of course its less complicated i.e. nothing to go wrong. When cars run high boost the water can't be cooled down quick enough because of high ACT's, this is why you don’t see rally cars using them!

[RallyMINI]

I am not sure what sort of charge-cooler you are refering to...the ones I have seen use an electric pump to circulate water through the intercooler, out to a seperated heat-disipation unit, and back to the intake area.

The reason this is such an assett for the MINI is that the MINI does not have sufficient airflow over the existing intercooler to actually cool the engine under hard driving. Many threads have discussed the heat soak problems associated therein... you cannot get enough intercooler into the airstream to really cool this engine well. At least not for any reasonable amount of money (I have seem crazy intercoolers with alternate air-path redirects for cooling...silly though.

By circulating water through the intercooler, you are able to move the heat more effectively, because there is less restriction around the alternate intercooler locations. I have seem two different front-mount locations, as well as some under the car, etc.

Your point about heat soak in traffic isn't really relavent, because and air-to-air system will soak faster...so your still s.o.l. Yes, if you are in traffic long enough the water may get hot enough to require a longer period of time to cool, but the rest of your engine will be at the same temp, and it won't cool any faster.

Really the ideal situation here is a large front mount intercooler with clean ducting to and from the engine bay. Given that this isn't really possible with the current packaging constraints, a water-to-air "charge cooler" offers the best performance for hard driving (raceday) conditions). If your worried about heat soak in traffic, your probably barking up the wrong tree...

RMout

[RallyMINI]

Rally cars don't use them because they have HUGE front mount intercoolers, with no limitations imposed by AC, headlights, frame, pumps, etc. If a rally team had to campaign a MCS, I would bet they would look at charge-coolers..right until they realized they are banned from comeption.

[GRSmotorsport]

[quote=RallyMINI]I am not sure what sort of charge-cooler you are refering to...the ones I have seen use an electric pump to circulate water through the intercooler, out to a seperated heat-disipation unit, and back to the intake area.

The above is a charge cooler, in England anyway.

I make charge coolers as well as intercoolers, charge coolers are every expensive to make and do not work above 14psi, the amount of heat generated above 14psi make the charge cooler water system very inefficient, the only way to combat this is to use the biggest possible re-rad you can, unfortunately there isn't the room on the mini to do this because of the design of the front bumper, its best to keep thing simple like a intercooler which has been designed right, the down side to any intercooler on the mini is the size of the opening in the bonnet, even if you make a large front mounted intercooler most of this is covered up by the front bumper which makes this inefficient because no air can get to the core.

An intercooler has less heat soak in traffic due to the design of the core releasing the heat quicker. An Water-to-Air system takes much longer to cool down because of the heat generated in the water.

I've seen charge coolers on race cars, and have seen mechanic's putting their fingers in the water reservoir, they soon took their fingers out due to the water being really hot!! and have even seen ice cube been put in the reservoir to cool things down

[skipshot]

I've mounted the Alta Top Mount Itercooler on my JCW 2003 Mini. Watch this one as I'm probably going back to the original unit until I can go with a front mounted water to air. I'm in touch with Alta at this time and will wait for their response. Maybe they can come up with a fix as this one is just a big bug catcher so far. I'm sure there is actually less air flow that the original.
The problem is that the intercooler is almost double the thickness. it actuall sits halfway up into the scoop opening at blocks the incoming air from going over the top and down the intercooler.

[DDTUNG]

The GRS IC doesn't block the hood scoop opening.

DDTUNG

[kyriian]

rdr is another one that's coming soon and i hear it'd be cheaper than the competition

heard randy webb also got a new front mount that'd suppose to be very good.. but the price.................

[jlm]

any air-air intercooler in the stock location is going to have airflow limitations and at the very least will require an efficient gathering and directing of what does come through the stock hood opening.

IMO, a water/air unit could work well with a remote radiator, although the system is more complex. One thing I would add is an electric fan to maintain cooling regardless of car motion.

[GRSmotorsport]

GRSmotorsport Mini intercooler is the same thickness as the original , surface area is much bigger

[DinkaDonka]

Should Have bought a GRS , i noticed the same thing with the ALTA one last weekend but not with the GRS , fitting this quality piece of kit this week

Paul

[onasled]

.... just recieved my Alta today and am a bit surprized to see that the ends are cast rather then boxed SS. Heavy for one. Anyone else seen this????

[Balzac]

The solutions here are all fine and dandy, but when will someone really solve the problem.

Can we just get a modified hood ( bonnet for you UK brethren ) ?

I see companies selling Caron hoods and hatches, so why not modify one and put a larger intake scoop with a modest hump ( insert corny joke here ) that works with the Coopers lines / look ?

Maybe a relief cut out of the back of the scoop and angle the cooler 30 degrees forward and let air pass through the cooler out the back of the scoop over the hood. ( OK maybe it would cook the paint )

Anyway, I don't see why someone hasn't done this yet, or have they, and I am just not well informed.

[beatbox]

BBR.GTI do an enlarged bonnet intake scoop,they say it reduces intake temps by up to 10 degrees.looks a cheep and easy mod! Anyone using it?

[dgszweda]

beatbox,

I am interested in this as well. Does anyone have one? Have they seen lower intake temps?

[kyriian]

Quote: Originally Posted by beatbox

BBR.GTI do an enlarged bonnet intake scoop,they say it reduces intake temps by up to 10 degrees.looks a cheep and easy mod! Anyone using it?

it's probably the same one sold by mini mania, is it going to make that much of a difference? i doubt it really

http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NMA1310/InvDetail.cfm