The cracked intake tube is a common issue that plagues some MINI owners. You are correct in stating thereare many components that need to be removed to get to the part in question. Once you obtain the dealer only part, the replacement is relatively straight forward. As I stated earlier on, obtain and replace the rubber seal at the same time...

Best of luck!  Jon.

Hey all,

As  follow up to this issue. I bought it in to this shop. It looks at the intake duct spilt at the seam. So have to take the whole front end of the car a part to replace it so getting the shop to do it because its already there.

OttawaMCS03 (hey Chris!) - that's correct. When I reassembled everything after the valve R&R, I could see the supercharger intake tube wasn't connected. I can push the throttle body towards the supercharger and see the seal mating up, but it doesn't stay there. It's a floating seal, which is kinda dumb IMO, but it is what it is. 

The guide we followed is here: //helix13.com/inst/dtbpvins/DTBPVINS.htm  From what I can and correct me if I'm wrong S40 it he back end ( where the screw hole is) of the super charger intake tube that is no longer connected. I hope this helps show what happened.

FireBro17 - couldn't figure out how to PM on this forum :(

Did you replace the tube yourself? If so, can you post a basic how-to? I'm fine with "remove this, then remove this, be careful not to break this" level of detail. 

I've actually found a few online sources for the part, but haven't compared prices to the stealership. Sometimes it's worth the extra few dollars to be sure you're getting the correct part. 

I replaced that tube on my '05 R53 a year or so ago. It was cracked at one of the factory plastic welds and was found only during a smoke test. I suspect you're correct in thinking it may be broken somewhere... This is a dealer only item last time I had to check on the part. Be sure to replace the green rubber gasket at the supercharger fitting.

if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Throttle body to supercharger.

I could see that it wasn't connected, but couldn't seem to get it to stay in place. It moves very easily, which is why I suspect it's been broken. 

Not sure we can help, but....

When you say 'intake tube' - do you mean the tube from the airbox to the throttle body? or from the throttle body to the supercharger? or the bellows in the intercooler??

Let me know.

Ken

Hey all,

I'm not actually a Mini owner. *ducks*

But I am a pretty big fan, and spent a good chunk of this past weekend elbows-deep in a Mini. My friend is having a problem with his '03 MCS, and I need help from you experts.

I replaced his bypass valve over the weekend. The original valve was stuck open, due to a broken spring. The job was a huge pain - no freaking room to move around in those engine bays, and the BMW spring-type hose clamps drove me nuts, but... got it done.

Or so I thought..

His engine runs like crap now, idles all over the place. Throws codes (don't remember what they were offhand, but that's not important). On further inspection, his intake tube wasn't connected. I'm pretty sure the pipe was damaged while I was wrestling things out of the front end. It moves around quite easily now, I think it's only held on by a couple of vacuum lines. 

I have found a few sources online for the part - but can anyone point me towards instructions for removing and replacing the intake tube? Surely someone has done this job..

Thanks all!