I'm trying to find out if the DDM intake is worth the money for my 2007 mini Cooper base model It's 200 something dollars so I wanna get some people's opinion on how they are working?
Saw your other post asking witch is better DDM or free flowing. I can't help but Ill give you a bump. Once everyone wakes up you'll get some help.
Okay thanks MCS02 I'm thinking the free flowing air intake is better for the base model if what I've found so far
No. I put a K&N replacement filter in the stock air box in my R53 over a year ago. Three months ago I replaced it with a DDM CAI. Is the sound coming from the supercharger intoxicating? Yes! Does it look cool? Yes. Is there a big seat in the pants boost in power I can feel? No. Pay attension to the advice you are getting from eveyone. Concentrate on making your car quicker, not faster. An R50 is never going to be a hot rod (for that matter either is my R53), so enjoy your car for what it is. Spend a few bucks on some suspension mods and go challenge your buddies through a spirited run on a nice curvy road. I guarantee you'll have a smile on your face.
He has a R56 so no SC sound for him. But Ronbo is right on an R53 a CAI is worth the money just fot the SC sound! If you go with a CAI it needs to be fully inclosed so it gets all its air from outside the engine compartment. But I will defer to the R56 guys they know more about your justa then me.
Ask the maker for a dyno sheet showing the power HP upgrade from the XYZ high flow air filter. Bet you can't find any. The stock intakes do a good job. The job of XYZ is to get your money. :wink: If there is a gain it will be minuscule. Do what you wish it's your car, but spending money on driver training or suspension will give you more bang for your buck. Like Ronbo I spent money on a zoot air filter assembly & man it's swell, but according to my butt dyno it gives no extra power. But it looks & sounds sooo cooool. :biggrin5:
The OEM stock system does a really good job of bringing cold air to the intake on the engine.... Testing has shown no improvement in power comparing aftermarket to stock.... Aftermarket can give you more intake sound...
With any base model MINI a clean air filter is the best HP increase. A DDM or K&N is just $$ overkill for a base model.
Like Dave says it's all about winter tires. With a set your MINI will do great in the snow. Your MINI rides on 4 contact patches about the size of the palm of your hand. That makes those 4 tires very important. Most likely your insurance deductible is more than those 4 winter tires will cost. :yesnod:
Ooops...had model wrong! Point I was trying to make is that the shortfall of performance gain from a CAI is not worth the price you pay.
I had a friend that owned a mini Cooper S 2006 and he said it had **** control during the winter that's why I asked MCS02 cause I was thinking about getting the S but got put off by the turbo cause it's like 7,8 months of winter over here
Check out your local craigslist listing for a set of snow tires and wheels. I just got a steal of a deal on a set for my R53 this past weekend. Dedicated snow tires make a huge difference in how your car will handle and feel in the colder months.
I live in the south so we only get snow once or twice a year. No one gets snow tiers down here. You should see it when it snows here its mayhem! Crashton and Dave.0 live where it snows so I would listen to them. My Mini does well when it snows as long as its not to high because its has been lowered.
Yeah I'm sure it snows more where I am lol I live in Alaska but they are helping me a lot and appreciate it