TPE Precision Cold Air Intake Airbox Kit R53 - Automatic Gearbox

Please note that we are either awaiting stock, or this item is custom ordered in. Please contact us for the latest lead time.

The Ultimate R53 Cold Air Intake - now for Automatic gearboxes!

This is a true plug-and-play cold air intake, engineered to deliver performance without sacrificing efficiency for sound. Although, we’ll admit… it’s probably the loudest intake you’ll find for the R53 MINI.

Airbox

• Massive 85 mm internal diameter airbox.
• Integrated battery support.
• Smart use of the back panel to enhance intake sound and increase internal volume.
• High-quality, high-flow filter.

Intake Hose

• Massive 85 mm diameter at the airbox side, smoothly tapering to 61 mm at the throttle body.
• OE-style step provision for seamless airflow and minimal turbulence.
• Tapered design to accelerate airflow for improved throttle response.
• Silicone construction that won’t collapse or choke at the mid-section, as seen with many aftermarket hoses.

Performance Gains

• +14 WHP and +1.5 kg-m
• Gains across the entire rev range.

To ensure accuracy, all dyno runs were completed on the same day using the same tune, fuel and hardware.

Test Car Specification

• TPE Precision Charge Pipe
• TPE Precision Non-Ported Intake Manifold
• TPE Precision Prototype Exhaust
• TRS Performance ECU Tune
• 16% pulley
• 550 cc injectors
• Intercooler

The only change during testing was swapping the OEM unit for the TPE Precision Airbox Kit.

Why It Matters

R53 MINIs are known for high intake temperatures due to the intercooler’s placement and core size. Exposing the air filter to hot engine-bay air only makes the intercooler’s job harder, which is why most open-cone kits are a compromise. Metal heat shields are not much better, as they absorb and retain heat.

Our Approach

Our intake creates a proper thermal barrier to keep hot engine air out, while still amplifying the signature R53 supercharger sound. Through smart use of the back panel, we increase internal volume while feeding the filter with additional cold air.

We intentionally manufacture our intakes from advanced plastics, not metal. Plastic does not act like a thermal battery, while metal shielding absorbs and stores heat, exactly what you don’t want when chasing lower intake temperatures.

With our design, the filter is consistently fed by cold air from two locations:

• The stock bottom opening of the airbox
• The back panel

Proven Performance

In testing, our airbox outperformed the OEM system in every scenario. It delivered consistent horsepower and torque gains at the wheels, with repeatable results even under heat-soaked conditions. The added bonus is the M45 supercharger sound, unmuffled all the way to 7000 RPM.

The Intake Hose

An intake is only as good as its connections. That’s why we designed a bespoke silicone hose to match our 85 mm internal diameter airbox. The hose tapers smoothly toward the throttle body while retaining the OEM-style step geometry at the connection point, helping create a seamless, low-turbulence transition for maximum airflow efficiency.