MINI Fixes Sagging MCS & JCW Hood Scoops
Due to the design of MINI’s 1.6L turbo engine, much of the heat generated by the engine ends up being emitted from the side closest to the hood/bonnet. One unforeseen consequence has been that the plastic hood scoops on the “S” model have actually warped due to excessive heat. In fact over the years MINI has noticed the issue and even made the non-fuctioning scoop slightly functional by opening a few holes in the black faux mesh. However in the end MINI has decided to change the material the scoops are made from. So from March ’10 buils onward MINI will be producing a new “metalized” plastic scoop (with metal infused into the plastic) that will be standard on the MCS and JCW models.
Update: What does that mean for current owners with saggy scoops? We don’t have 100% confirmation on this yet but MINI will likely be dealing the problem within the normal warranty guidelines (i.e. it’ll be covered). If you’re out of warranty we’d guess that it’ll be handled on a case by case basis.
<p>Good move I think, still makes me wonder if a functional scoop would make any sense to help cool the under hood temps on the R56, while the car would not gain any extra breath I would think it could help with heat soak.</p>
<p>Cool! Good to know because now that I have an R55 JCW Clubman, I’ve noticed a melted hood scoop which deformed the shape.</p>
<p>I wonder if they will sell the new one separately so I can replace mine?</p>
<p>Does this drip feed of information about improvements to March ’10 builds onwards (revised engines, now this) mean the R56 refresh will be in production from March and not the end of the summer? Can’t see why BMW would introduce some changes in March then more 5 or 6 months later…</p>
<p>Ummm, metalized plastic to reflect heat? Really? It’s nice they’re working on the issue, but it just sounds like they’re spraying a thin coating onto the existing scoop. Count me as hopeful, but dubious.</p>
<p>Gabe’s article did not say that the new design part will retro fit to all R56 – 55 MCs product. Should we assume that it will? Just asking – R55 with slight color change here.</p>
<p>I removed the black plastic mesh part from my ’09 JCW scoop a long time ago to open up its intake port completely. I’ve had no problems with the scoop sagging/melting.</p>
<p>You can actually infuse metal particles into the molding process…This will make the internal structure stronger and more resistant to heat shrink. They use all sorts of material, and glass is a comon one. However, I would go as far as to assume that the metal mixed plastic will be most pleasing in the exterior automotive application. ie, shiney paint :)</p>
<p>I hope they also fix the chrome hood scoop as well. The chrome, which might be a thin layer of chrome over plastic, blisters and peals. I’m on my 3rd hood scoop with my 2008. I have the dealer replace it for me. That scoop sits right on the turbo and it gets blistering HOT. Maybe an all metal one would solve the issue. The chrome stays nice on exhaust parts, motorcycle engines it’s metal and stays nice.</p>
<p>Will dealers have these soon? My R55’s chrome scoop is warped and blistered badly. Wonder if the heat is what caused the bonnet stripes to fail too? All in all, not a terribly confidence inspiring face of the car.</p>
<p>Will MCS’s that are ordered now be part of March builds?</p>
<p>Let’s patent this half-baked solution as “patently ridiculous!”</p>
<p>Everyone knows that turbo motors produce much more heat than both their normally aspirated and supercharged counterparts. Thus, it is astounding that BMW engineers have opted not to simply open up the damn scoop to restore its functionality. This is the most obvious and cost-effective fix. Moreover, it would quell the recurring objections to the faux design.</p>
<p>While their at it, why not make the thing metal. After all we’re not talking 6Al-4V titanium, tantalum, or some other exotic high temperature alloy — just a piece of cheap mild steel sheet metal. Of course, the ultimate aesthetic solution would be carbon fiber, cost considerations aside.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Will MCS’s that are ordered now be part of March builds?<</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That depends on where in the US or world you are. With most of the US, someone ordering now would be getting a car produced in March. However your dealer will be able to give you a specific build date if you order.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>You can actually infuse metal particles into the molding process…This will make the internal structure stronger and more resistant to heat shrink.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This is exactly what MINI has done.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Gabe’s article did not say that the new design part will retro fit to all R56 – 55 MCs product. Should we assume that it will?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes they will.</p>
<blockquote><p>While their at it, why not make the thing metal. After all we’re not talking 6Al-4V titanium, tantalum, or some other exotic high temperature alloy — just a piece of cheap mild steel sheet metal. Of course, the ultimate aesthetic solution would be carbon fiber, cost considerations aside.</p></blockquote>
<p>European pedestrian impact laws mandate that they items such as hood scoops are plastic.</p>
<p>well that would explain why my scoop flew off while driving down the highway. I replaced it with the CF model, which should negate that issue in the future.</p>
<p>(I didn’t want to wait 5+ days for a new scoop to be painted, so I guess I get win win)</p>
<p>I’m so glad that the scoop on my R53 has a purpose other than to sag.</p>
<p>Great news! That means my March built R55 JCW (aka Chubb’s) will have a metal infused hood scoop. Better yet, after the garbage vertical black plastic is removed from within it will aspirate the engine. Not as well as Stitch’s R53, but well enough. We should be happy that they are acknowledging these issues, it took them ages to correct the cold start issue that plagued my 2007 R56 and had me pulling hair daily!</p>
<p>Go to your MINI dealership – they will replace it at no charge provided you’re still under warranty (I’m a MINI SA.) I have changed a few owners to the carbon fiber scoop as a goodwill gesture – the cost of the CF scoop vs a new stock scoop plus paint (they come primed) are pretty close, so they let me do that as a goodwill gesture. Something to consider mentioning to your SA… :)</p>
<p>I have a Chili Red/White JCW with white/red sport stripes (ala MINI Challenge). My scoop has the stripes (and clearbra) wrapped in. I would not even want a CF scoop as a replacement. It would spoil the look.</p>
<p>Offering a CF scoop as a warranty replacement is not applicable/desirable in all cases.</p>
<p>@Gabe: Do the laws require “plastic” or do they require a deforming material? They should allow rubber as well, right? Seems you could engineer a metallic one that would deform and comply with a pedestrian law.</p>
<p>Good news! (And despite some work experience in the auto industry, I am still amazed how long it takes for field failure data to trigger a corrective design implemented via “rolling change”.)</p>
<p>Completely understand if the CF scoop doesn’t fit with your MINI’s appearance – you could always have them repaint this new “metallic” scoop to replace the one you have in there. I haven’t come across these new scoops as of yet – when I do, I’ll post back with my opinion</p>
<p>I would think the problem with just opening up the scoop completely would be incoming water. The R53’s scoop didn’t just dump on top of the engine, it was blocked by the intercooler, and rain hitting that wouldn’t be a problem generally, but an open scoop brings in more than just air.</p>
<p>Not being a fan of faux, I was hoping the MINI design team would decide to do away with the scoop altogether, as they appear to have done on the R60 S. Surely a cheaper option would be to simply use the Cooper D (turbo) bonnet. Just as it does on the D, this would serve to conduct the heat from the turbo across the whole bonnet so no issue with hot spots, and of course melted plastic scoops.</p>
<p>Wow. I was just a couple of days from buying a new scoop to replace my warped one.</p>
<p>Still personally after seeing the massive temps on the R56 hoods I would rather have a little water on my engine that to melt my faux scoop and badly discolor my stripes.</p>
<p>Went for club runs more than once with R56s and can say I was amazed the heat on the front of the cars. To me this would generally heat soak the engine to the point were it would take a long while to clear.</p>
<p>Metallized??? What the heck does THAT mean? Chrome plated plastic is still plastic. It will relax and warp just as badly as painted plastic.</p>
<p>Jeez I’m sick of BMW’s crap. Anybody have the Quandt’s home address…?</p>
<blockquote> Stitch
I’m so glad that the scoop on my R53 has a purpose other than to sag.</blockquote>
<p>HAHAHA Nice.</p>
<p>Functional plastic parts in high heat areas typically spec a fibre-reinforced nylon where the fibers (metallic or otherwise) can in some engine locations provide resistance to stress deformation; previously aluminum would be specced for such high heat stress applications or at least generous adhesive reflective heat shielding. A good example is the intake manifold (usually fibre-reinforced nylon) compared to cold-side induction plumbing (can often just use polypropylene for the rigid sections). First person to read the material recycling code on the underside of the new scoop will be able to clarify more specifically.</p>
<blockquote>Metallized??? What the heck does THAT mean?</blockquote>
<p>@SixSigma: Read the comments. It’s all explained.</p>
<p>You would think that MINI would get a grip of a few of their more seious issues BEFORE a sagging piece of hood … like non penetrating rust on the tailgate … still no fix for that !!!!!!</p>
<p>SixSigma… Tell that to all of the plastic non warping parts in your car.</p>
<p>I have not been following this issue closely so perhaps someone can help me out ….. when did this problem first appear ?</p>
<p>Unforeseen consequence? It’s hard to imagine that a group of engineers would not have anticipated that when you put a piece of plastic directly over a turbo with an operating tempature of a few hundred degrees, the plastic would melt. That’s clearly what happened, since these things have been melting and sagging for three years. It just shocks me that they did not have a better design from the beginning.</p>
p>@scotteast:</p
<p>What makes you think that “engineers” are the ones currently running the show at MINI in Munich and Oxford? The company is being run by ego driven bean counters and savvy marketeers.</p>
<p>The hood scoop in my ’08 R55 Clubman has also warped and will get it replaced in ther next service pit stop.</p>
<p>HOW DO YOU KNOW they are infusing metal into the resin? And what would the advantage be? Conductivity? No. That would make it worse. They need to switch to a different resin or go with a true metal part.</p>
<p>Oh BTW, metalizing means to treat the surface with a metal coating. Google it yourself.</p>
<p>Can the black plastic venting part me removed so I can Dremel out the holes, without having to remove the entire hood scoop?</p>
<p>Problem first showed up with the first R56 turbo cars. It’s good that they have a solution. It’s bad that it took almost 3 years to get it.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>Too bad there is no “scoop delete” build option.</p>
<p>@ SixSigma – I agree with you that “metallizing” must be a deliberate choice of words — the term does technically refer to a “skin” of thin metal molded over a non-metallic core (in two molding operations or even a single molding); with such a design, the purpose of the metallic skin would be to reflect radiant heat and thus keep the structural core of the part at lower thermal stress levels and so free of deformation.</p>
<p>Given the little information we have we can only speculate but we will be able to see the new scoops soon enough.</p>
<p>This was interesting – there has been some discussions on TotalMINI on the heatshield cover on the underside of the bonnet and there seems to be a bit of difference between the R56S´s.</p>
<p>My Laser Blue R56 S is an early production car (built October 2006) and one of the first R56 S in Sweden. My car has got approx 80% of the bonnet covered with the grey heatshield material, and some of my MINImates have got around 40% covered (later built cars) and the latest ones does not seem to have it at all?</p>
<p>Could this have some sort of connection to this problem with the scoop?</p>
<p>Good to hear this and great timing too (I was getting close to giving up on a fix and taking my dealer up on the offer to just have my scoop replaced this week knowing it would probably melt again). Now I’ll just wait till these hit the dealers as replacements and the old parts flush through the system (which will probably take a few months).</p>
<p>There are a lot of high temperature plastics out there, I’m guessing if BMW has gone out of its way to change the material they will have made sure there won’t be any problems this time around. The fact that this was even done would indicate that the cost of the countless warranty replacements finally got to a point where it got their attention.</p>
<p>For those who haven’t seen this, it isn’t like the scoop melts away and disintegrates. It starts sagging on the top towards the very back. I don’t think this is something that only affects some Cooper S’s. It may affect some sooner than others probably due to local climate and driving habits but I think within a couple of years pretty much every car with a stock scoop will be exhibiting this (it took about 15 months on mine). If it is not, it’s because the owner already swapped it. The fact is though that it is one of those things that a lot of people may never really notice or pay attention too, and it doesn’t really affect the function of the car. Which is probably why this has remained a low profile issue.</p>
<p>My 2009 r56 JCW had the problem of hood scoop warping. after being replaces twice, I talked the dealer into a carbon fiber hood scoop. Problem solved.
When I traded the r56 JCW for an r55 JCW I transferred the carbon fiber hood scoop to the new car. the carbon fiber hood scoop now has about 45K on it and it is perfect.</p>
<p>So in a nutshell talk your dealer into the carbon fiber hood scoop and your warping problem will be solved.</p>
<p>Dealer replaced hood scoop on my 2007 Cooper S, but forgot to put in the black plastic insert. Since I live 100 miles away they are going to mail it to me and I will attempt to put it in. Some instructions would be helpful. Thanks.</p>
<p>I have a 2009 jcw with 70 k miles because the turbo runs so hot it caused the exhaust manifold bolts to shear allowing a leak. this pust very hot gasses up and onto the valve cover, the net result was a hole melting in the valve cover and oil everywere.</p>
<p>Just found out today from M& that their M7 Aerogel Turbo Heat Shield does NOT fit the 2011’s. The rep said that it will be a couple of months before they rejigger them.</p>