The 2007 MCS Non-Functioning Hood Scoop

cristo Feb 15th, 2007 Link

I guess it will be up to aftermarket vendors to come up with some parts that put the scoop to some positive use.

Reply

mike Feb 15th, 2007 Link

hmmmmmm, will the cooper hood fit on the cooper S?

Reply

Gabe Feb 15th, 2007 Link

hmmmmmm, will the cooper hood fit on the cooper S?

I asked that same question of the “powers that be” and got this response; Keep in mind that there is a turbo sitting up front in the Cooper S bay, right in front of the grill, so hood scoop aside, there are likely other issues.

Reply

FrankInMiami Feb 15th, 2007 Link

But I have also read that the R56 JCW test mule has experienced problems due to excessive engine heat. Something has to give, either the”silly “Pedestrian laws” or the overall performance potential of the car.

Reply

The Blue Canary Feb 15th, 2007 Link

But these laws are not in the US right? So I wouldn’t be shocked to see someone in the US come out with something.

Reply

Pete Feb 15th, 2007 Link

We’re working on it right now.

Pete MyMini/Minspeed

Reply

Kennedy Feb 15th, 2007 Link

So here’s the thing… I am not aware of any stipulation in the pedestrian laws that state there should be X-amount of room between the bonnet and other things inside the engine bay. The way the pedestrian “friendliness” is tested, they shoot dummy headforms against the bonnet to simulate head-strikes and measure the severity of the impact (as well as test the bonnet/bumper with dummy legforms).

Since the R50/R53 were relatively poor performers for the head-strike tests I do wonder how much conservatism there was in the R56 design. I just can’t imagine that a well-designed plastic or molded rubber duct would have that detrimental of a result on the outcome of the pedestrian tests. Instead, I would guess that the components to receive the scoop’s airflow were placed somewhere where complicated duct routing became the bigger issue.

I would love to see the duct have some usefulness and woudl gladly pay for a JCW part that brought some functionality back to the scoop.

Oh and yes, the pedestrian regulations are only in effect for European market vehicles.

Reply

ChrisW Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Lame fake ducts should be reserved for lame domestic autos (Mustangs, etc.). My shame for MINI regarding this automotive faux pas has not lessened with time…

Reply

Jon Feb 15th, 2007 Link

There will no doubt be aftermarket solutions to this unfortunate injustice released, making this scoop into a functional ram air delivery system to a cold-air intake.

This unused scoop is perfect for just such an application. I’m sure vendors like m7, Webb Motorsports, ALTA, etc. are probably already hard at work on this modification.

Be patient.

Reply

Gabe Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Lame fake ducts should be reserved for lame domestic autos (Mustangs, etc.). My shame for MINI regarding this automotive faux pas has not lessened with time…

Does that include the large fake air diffusers on every Cooper S since 2002?

Reply

GoodFinder Feb 15th, 2007 Link

I guess they weren’t testing the MINI’s in Texas in the August heat when they said the engine doesn’t need any further cooling!

Reply

MCS05 Feb 15th, 2007 Link

My ‘05 is the end of the line for me. I just can’t get past the scoop. Maybe over time, not now. A nice hood vent would have been slick.

Reply

ChrisW Feb 15th, 2007 Link

“Does that include the large fake air diffusers on every Cooper S since 2002?”

Fake is fake. The phony hood scoop was just the icing on the half-baked cake. :)

Reply

Josh Tuck Feb 15th, 2007 Link

You’re correct, they were testing it in Death Valley in August. ;^)

So is everyone who thinks the hood scoop is superfluous going to remove the exterior chrome bits, Mini badge, ambient interior lighting, dead pedal, back seats, spoiler and one of the exhaust tips? They’re all pretty useless too.

I think it looks great, and everyone should chill out on this hardcore approach that EVERYTHING on a car must serve a purpose. Does beauty count for nothing?

Reply

Derek Feb 15th, 2007 Link

You’re correct, they were testing it in Death Valley in August. ;^)

“But it was a dry heat”…

Does beauty count for nothing?

Although there is something about the ‘eye of a beholder’ or whatever, Josh I think you raise a very valid POV: form may be a higher ‘order’ of function. It does look good.

Reply

Drew M. Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Josh Tuck, the reason people are upset about this is because it once was a functional and very important part of the MCS. If the back seat went from functional to tiny, or the steering wheel went from sporty to truck-like… you bet you’d be hearing complaints about that too. Thankfully, MINI has done a decent enough job redesigning the car that there are few changes.

I do find it dissapointing that the scoop can’t be used by JCW for a ram-air induction. I’m not too sad though, because I knew from the first pictures I saw that the fake scoop would serve a purpose once the aftermarket got a hold of it.

Drew M.

Reply

MauiMac Feb 15th, 2007 Link

“Unfortunately that also rules out any use of the scoop in the upcoming JCW model due out sometime in 2008.”

Are you sure they won’t bring a functional hood scoop to the US (and other non-European countries?)

Reply

Bud Feb 15th, 2007 Link

There are at least a couple of issues worthy of comment:

a)If the elevated scoop protrusion has been proven to increse the severity of pedestrian imapct injury the obvious solution would be to eliminate it entirely thereby achieving even greater compliance. Let “safety” take precedence over “beauty;”

b)How can a functional open sccop vs. a decorative non-functional scoop make any difference? They both break the vertical and horizontal planes;

c)As has been mentioned, U.S. models are presumably built to meet DOT and NHTSA standards which may differ significantly from European mandates;

d)Arguably heat greater cooling is not necessary. This contention may be viable under a specific set of optimal environmental conditions, but given the broad range of climatic variance greater cooling capacity would seemingly be a major engine durability asset:

e)If there is greater need to differentiate the “S” from the Cooper perhaps a larger intake valance beneath the front bumper similar to that used on the turbocharged ‘07 MINI D would provide both model differentiation and greater cooling.

BMW has attempted to re-create an authentic vehicle by drawing upon a remarkable BMC heritage that succeefully married performance and efficiency. It may be time for the “CAD-ets” manipulating the next design iteration to refocus to “keep it real” while keeping the “fun factor” in tact.

Reply

Wessy Feb 15th, 2007 Link

So here’s the thing… I am not aware of any stipulation in the pedestrian laws that state there should be X-amount of room between the bonnet and other things inside the engine bay.

I believe I read somewhere that the Euro pedestrian protection regulations do require a minimum amount of clearance between the underside of the bonnet and the engine block — 4″ maybe? I’m not sure — but I can’t remember the exact figure. Anyone know more specifics?

Reply

Bud Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Gabe,

I submitted a reply which failed to preview or appear in the column? I attempted to re-submit and was advised of duplication? Please advise. Thank you.

Bud

Reply

Bud Feb 15th, 2007 Link

There are at least a couple of issues worthy of comment:

a)If the elevated scoop protrusion has been proven to increse the severity of pedestrian imapct injury the obvious solution would be to eliminate it entirely thereby achieving even greater compliance. Let “safety” take precedence over “beauty;”

b)How can a functional open sccop vs. a decorative non-functional scoop make any difference? They both break the vertical and horizontal planes;

c)As has been mentioned, U.S. models are presumably built to meet DOT and NHTSA standards which may differ significantly from European mandates;

d)Arguably heat greater cooling is not necessary. This contention may be viable under a specific set of optimal environmental conditions, but given the broad range of climatic variance greater cooling capacity would seemingly be a major engine durability asset:

e)If there is greater need to differentiate the “S” from the Cooper perhaps a larger intake valance beneath the front bumper similar to that used on the turbocharged ‘07 MINI D would provide both model differentiation and greater cooling.

BMW has attempted to re-create an authentic vehicle by drawing upon a remarkable BMC heritage that succeefully married performance and efficiency. It may be time for the “CAD-ets” manipulating the next design iteration to refocus to “keep it real” while keeping the “fun factor” intact

Reply

Bud Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Gabe,

No advice required. The posting issue has been resolved. Thanks anyway.

Bud

Reply

Motoring Advisor Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Here’s my take… the car was never supposed to have bonnet scoop in the first place. The R53 was always going to be turbocharged, but the supercharger was the best thing at the time, hence the need for the scoop. Now, with this great new twin-scroll turbo, the scoop is not necessary.

I am sure we all agree that the Cooper S bonnet scoop had, without question, become a signature part of the R53. It only made sense to carry it over to the model… functional or not. I can’t see the S without it.

Reply

Brian Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Everyone, that scoop is there for the second Turbo.

Reply

Ralph Feb 15th, 2007 Link

FrankInMiami Feb 15th, 2007 wrote: “Something has to give, either the”silly “Pedestrian laws” or the overall performance potential of the car.”

I’m sure that the use of “silly” was not meant to put down safety but instead only disappointment in the cars (Minis) appearance.

As a Safety Professional (I’m in Occupational Health & Safety) we work very hard to ensure people come home to their families and loved ones every day & night, health and safe. Unforunately I’ve heard many times that Safety is either silly or gets in the way things.

I’ve seen many of those same types of comments on this site over the last couple of years, devaluating Safety, and yes it does disturb me to read those types of comments.

I would take Safety over “silly” Performance any day and so would most Fathers and Mothers when it comes to their families (especially children)

Safety Advocates and Professionals have fought and worked hard for decades to protect people from serious injury or death. If it wasn’t for those people we wouldn’t have Seat belts and safety glass, better reinforced car body, impact crash testing and yes Pedestrian Safety standards.

Reply

RoccoRocket Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Josh Tuck Feb 15th, 2007 Link You’re correct, they were testing it in Death Valley in August. ;^) So is everyone who thinks the hood scoop is superfluous going to remove the exterior chrome bits, Mini badge, ambient interior lighting, dead pedal, back seats, spoiler and one of the exhaust tips? They’re all pretty useless too. I think it looks great, and everyone should chill out on this hardcore approach that EVERYTHING on a car must serve a purpose. Does beauty count for nothing?

I did really didn’t care for the scoop when I took the first 2003 MCS for a drive. But there wasn’t a better way to get air to the intercooler. I remember thinking, ” it would look better without the hole.” I still believe Coopers look better than a MCS. If you don’t need it, in this case, dump it.

Reply

Jack07734 Feb 15th, 2007 Link

The dead pedal and the back seat usless????? Not on either of my MINI’s. I use the dead pedal every time I drive.

We all know that the chrome is there to enhance the air flow over the vehicle.:-)

Cheers, Jack

Reply

Vanwall Feb 15th, 2007 Link

While funcionality isn’t really an issue with me -if it looks good and doesn’t detract from performance, hey, that’s good enough for me – I always wanted a proper NACA duct on the ‘S’ anyway, preferably offset. The center scoop always reminded me of some of the more unfortunately styled Fairthorpe cars of yore, but it was discreet enough not be glaring. Now that it’s merely a caprice, I see it as necessary one, for continuity’s sake with the lineage of the new MINI, and if it’s gonna be there, heck punch it out and get some air goin’ in there. I’m sure the desert rats out there would appreciate any extra cooling, and having had some electronic glitches over the years in my Cooper when travelling in AZ and lower Cali – and I know I’m not the only one, either – I’m not so sure BMW has taken into account long term hot weather issues, and besides, a hood scoop kinda implies it’s gonna scoop….air!

 BCNU,
Rob in Dago

Reply

drew Feb 15th, 2007 Link

guys – not to be obnoxious or anything – but who cares? does it really matter? does it affect your mind that much to know that the really cool look of the cooper s might be purely visual? does everything have to have a function?

seems like making a big deal about nothing at all…

Reply

iNomis Feb 15th, 2007 Link

I’m not sure you’re going to get any cooling air to the engine by opening that scoop. It really depends on how much air is coming in the nose and how much is allowed out elsewhere. I sure hope there is some good data sold with any mods that claim to make this scoop “functional”. Though it’s harder to detect, bad function is worse than fake. Can we all agree on that?

Reply

Ryephile Feb 15th, 2007 Link

I’m not too concerned with the mostly-non-functional hood scoop. I look at it as a tool where if I need a source for some airflow in the future, I’ll look into tapping off that. Otherwise, it’s a carry-over design cue from the R53, just like the faux rear bumper vents Gabe mentioned.

Reply

DesignIt Feb 15th, 2007 Link

It’s all about honesty.

As a product designer I’ve always tried to use honest materials and appropriate design for each product. It’s the little things that work together to reveal the personality of the product. Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, sometimes things don’t work out during product development. For example, the hard core Lotus Elise has two fake vents on the rear end which were planned to be air extractors, but didn’t work in the final product.

I also know from experience that a large percentage of people simply don’t care. Fake woodgrain, fake convertible tops, fake stitching on molded dashboards, fake allen bolts on interior panels, fake landau irons, fake exhaust pipes, fake scoops and vents, and even fake lug nuts molded into plastic wheel covers. Once you cross the line, how much dishonesty is too much?

I’ve been avoiding any negative comments because I think the Mini designers did a fantastic job with the difficult criteria that they had to work with. I would be very surprised if the Mini designers didn’t argue passionately against the fake scoop.

All that being said, I would rather look at this whole issue as Mini’s (accidental) gift to the aftermarket. Within a few months I’m sure there will be plenty of solutions to this issue.

Reply

R56LVR Feb 15th, 2007 Link

Wow. You people have one h3ll of a lot of time on your hands.

Reply

Bavarian Racing Green Feb 15th, 2007 Link

…i agree with the idea of chilling out on the scoop…

…i do hate it, as do i hate the slightly wall-eyed face created by the angled headlamp assembly…

…however, as is human nature, my hate is simply fuelled by my exhorbitant love of the r53…

…i wanted my r53 to be improved, better interior, seats, less rattles, more power, better MPG…

…well MINI delivered on almost all of those things but missed the magic formula with the face…

…for those that agree with me, remember the 911…

…they tried to implement those goofy pseudo-round headlights 5-6 years ago…

…iconic design will not stand for such sacriledge!!!

…do not give in to hate, for it leads to the darkside…

…instead, let MINI know what we want for the NEXT gereration, the clubman, and the moke…

…and focus your praise for what they continue to do right…

…piece out…

Reply

O(=^=)O Capn Feb 16th, 2007 Link

I saw the R56 for the first time today and a few impressions,

You can so put a forced air induction on that puppy. That will be so cool. Yeah, I asked if you could swap a MC bonnet with a MCS bonnet. The MA didn’t know.

There was a bonnet rub on the front passenger(US)side of the car from what looked to be an air conditioning filling hose cap. It does look like it will be ease to fix though. (44 miles on this car and it had rubbed through to metal)

Laser blue is a really cool color!

I miss the supercharger whine but the engine sounds really nice and powerful.

The thing that really made the biggest impression on me was the “Fob” Key.

The key, proximity door opening, push start is way cool. The door handles look just like the R50/53 only with a small additional button where your thumb would go. To use it, simply have the Fob near the door, Push the button with your thumb and the car unlocks, then open it just like a R50/53.

The Fob has a valet key built into it that comes out and is able to open the door if the fob is dead. Reinsert fob into “fob hole” and it recharges!

The secret glove box above the glove box is unaccessable (sealed) when you have the iPod adapter put in.

The center stack is still not so pretty but looks less “Playskool” with a higher build quality than the pictures allude to.

That is a huge Speedo! Would like to see one with nav.

Reply

CooperS-lightningblue Feb 16th, 2007 Link

The engine needs to cool down faster than it does now. Last Tuesday it rained here in Holland and I saw steam coming from the hood for 1,5 hours!! The bonnet is incredibly hot after driving the R56.

If a cat decided to go sleeping on the hood he will be grilled…

About the Hood Scoop, I think some MINI-tuners will come with a solution to make the non-functioning hood scoop functioning. The only problem is the space between the bonnet and the engine. When you make the hood-scoop open all the dirt and stuff from the streets will come onto you’re engine-block and fry. So it has to be closed or else it will become a very big smelly mess.

I’m curious which tuner/person is first and what their/his solution is!

Reply

Rakey Feb 16th, 2007 Link

A nice new tale from the marketing people on its reason for being.

Obviously if you consider the design brief of the R56, this was to create a new MINI but to convince the consumer that it was almost a facelift rather than a new car, to keep the overall look the same as the last car this meant the Scoop had to stay.

For me, I don’t have a problem with it, I do think in design terms that if there was no function for it then the bonnet would have looked better without it, but it didn’t stop us from buying a MCS.

Reply

lmaxey Feb 16th, 2007 Link

Pedestrian saftey increases dramatically when the pedestrian learns to STAY OUT OF THE ROAD and out of design consideration. Thank you for allowing me this brief outburst.

Reply

RB Feb 16th, 2007 Link

I haven’t been here in a long time, why did you even bring up the issue… too stir the pot?! It’s beyond me why some folk have a problem with this item it’s kinda kool looking whether it works or not. To me the Cooper looks plain/lame without it. But rave on all you fake hood scooper haters, rave on!

Reply

ichor Feb 16th, 2007 Link

just put some KITT blinkenlights in there and be done with it.

Reply

daniel striped MINI Feb 16th, 2007 Link

…wouldn’t a pedestrian stand less chance of injury when being hit by a car without a hood scoop, than by one with a gaping hole in the bonnet?

it would seem to me that the opening would allow more opportunity for ears, fingers, glasses, etc., to be caught…

i agree that the scoop is iconic to the MCS, but i do like the stealthier idea of a smooth, uninterrupted bonnet also…and if it’s safer, why wouldn’t it be mandated?

Reply

AlwaysOpenCharlie05 Feb 16th, 2007 Link

Josh Tuck- couldn’t have agreed more.

Reply

R56LVR Feb 16th, 2007 Link

Iconic to the Mini Cooper S?! Nonsense. Paddy’s car didn’t have a bloody scoop? Watch your hyperboles there, Mister.

Reply

Rednwhitecooper Feb 17th, 2007 Link

Well, if you want my opinion on weather or not the Cooper hood will fit on an S or not…

Look at the engine bay of the new Cooper and S.

See the weatherstip around the edge of the engine bay? I really doubt that has changed from the Cooper to the S. so the engine bay is the exact same size. The turbo sits low, so its a non issue.

It looks to me as if they hood is exactly the same with a slight difference in shape near the front on the S to make the lines flow into the scoop nicely instead of a scoop just slapped onto a Cooper hood.

Reply

GadgetGav Feb 17th, 2007 Link

My biggest beef is not that the scoop is non-functional, but that it is an air brake. I saw one yesterday for the first time at the launch party and the plastic grille material is solid. On the previous generation car, they did that with the fake diffuser in the back and that annoys me too. I was going to swap it out for real mesh, but found that there’s a solid metal part behind it anyway, so there wasn’t any point. On the new S there is a hole through the sheet metal, but then it’s blocked with solid plastic. I would at least remove the plastic, maybe replace it with real mesh (aftermarket please help here!) or as others have suggested, just put a Cooper bonnet on an S. The ‘iconic’ status doesn’t mean much to me, the only car that had it was the ‘New MINI’. You don’t see twin fuel filler caps on modern Ss do you..?

Reply

GadgetGav Feb 17th, 2007 Link

Kennedy said: “I am not aware of any stipulation in the pedestrian laws that state there should be X-amount of room between the bonnet and other things inside the engine bay.”

Actually, that’s exactly what the new Euro pedestrian crash laws say. There is now a minimum distance between the outside skin of the bonnet (hood) and the first solid part of the engine underneath. Some manufacturers such as Citroen and Jaguar have come up with ‘pop up’ systems that raise the bonnet in the event of a crash (kind of like an airbag on the outside), other manufacturers have raised the whole bonnet – look at the 07 Camry or the 07 MINI…

Reply