9 replies to this topic

[drmikenz]

hey guys,

i'm currently looking at buying my first mini, i'm not very mechanically minded so apologies in advance. I've found a very nice (and quite expensive) one which has had a reconditioned mg metro engine put in it. goes very quick but the noise on accelerating is pretty loud (and i ride motorbikes!). Sounds a bit like induction noise i've had on some older carbed bikes, a loud 'roar'. the current owners reckon its to do with the k&n air filter (doesn't quite look like a pancake one on bikes, more like a squat looking cone) and that if i replace it with a standard filter the noise should settle down alot. Now i'd hate to spend heaps of cash only to find i can only drive the car with earplugs in. does this sound like something that will become alot quieter with a standard filter ?

[Tommyboy12]

It will be alot quieter with a standard filter yes. But there are minor performance benefits to a cone filter. Especially if the engine has had work done on it.

[mike.]

I know the induction noise from cone filters is loud, but minis are loud in general anyway.

You could refit a standard air box with some 20mm holes drilled in it and with a K&N element fitted inside it - This is what has been proven to give the best power for minis (unless they're highly tuned) and this would reduce the inductions noise aswell.

[octagonalpaul]

A standard filter would make it quieter, though a performance filter such as the K&N will usually be fitted to help increase performance, allowing more air to be used by the engine. The car may have been set up to run this filter and therefore going back to a standard one could leave the car feeling worse to drive without setting it up again. I personally like the induction sound, the noise could also be down to the exhaust system, depending on whats fitted

[wolfie]

cone filters dont increase performance on N/A minis, do a search its been covered a few times.

if you want quite and performance fit a standard airbox with a k&N replacement element, for a bit more performance drill some holes round the side.

Edited by wolfie, 15 February 2011 - 11:08 AM.

[bobs]

Stop giving out inaccurate advice on K&N cone filters!

cone filters dont increase performance on N/A minis, do a search its been covered a few times.

^ Completely agree, they look nice, but pointless noise.

Sticking a standard air box on and K&N replacment filter will cure the noise, (sometimes you need to remove a bit of plastic on the bottom of the box to fit over non-standard intake manifold, take the elbow intake off and drill a few air holes at the front on the otherside) the rest is easy to tweak/tune on the carb afterwards, if needed...

[AVV IT]

Stop giving out inaccurate advice on K&N cone filters!

cone filters dont increase performance on N/A minis, do a search its been covered a few times.

^ Completely agree, they look nice, but pointless noise.

Sticking a standard air box on and K&N replacment filter will cure the noise, (sometimes you need to remove a bit of plastic on the bottom of the box to fit over non-standard intake manifold, take the elbow intake off and drill a few air holes at the front on the otherside) the rest is easy to tweak/tune on the carb afterwards, if needed...

Yup I agree too, K&N cone filters are really only for those seeking lots of noise and engine bay aesthetics. Putting a K&N high flow element in your standard air filter box/housing will give the much same performance as a cone but is much, much quieter. In fact I believe that there have been tests that showed the element type to actually slightly outperform the cone type!

I've recently swapped across from the cone type to the element type and the only difference I noticed was the noise!!..... it's so, so much more bearable now!!

[wolfie]

Yup I agree too, K&N cone filters are really only for those seeking lots of noise and engine bay aesthetics. Putting a K&N high flow element in your standard air filter box/housing will give the much same performance as a cone but is much, much quieter. In fact I believe that there have been tests that showed the element type to actually slightly outperform the cone type!

I've recently swapped across from the cone type to the element type and the only difference I noticed was the noise!!..... it's so, so much more bearable now!!

The back to back tests that one of the tuners did for miniworld or minimag a few years ago showed that cone filters gave less power than a standard setup iirc

Edited by wolfie, 15 February 2011 - 03:17 PM.

[drmikenz]

thanks guys. the engine is standard reconditioned metro just with port and polish but no race cam or anything. its been in a few shows so i think the filter is just for show. its got extractors on it as well but its the induction noise thats really bothersome so great to know it can be fixed. was worried i'd be miniless for ever

[TopCatCustom]

The problems do not lay with the K&N filter, it is because they are often fitted straight onto the carb with nothing else. This means you have a very short inlet which can reduce torque and a rubbish inlet to the carb with no radius to smooth the airflow, which will provide poor airflow. I'd bet a normal K&N cone filter fitted onto a 2-3" stub from the carb inlet, with a nice big radiused inlet or stub stack inside would increase power as they are assumed to do, but are almost never fitted in this manner.

Of course all that is common knowledge to anyone who has Vizards bible!!!