my car has a cotton air filter cone (aftermarket i believe), can this be washed under the tap or anything just to increase flow that little bit?

 

K&N Air Filter Cleaning Kit from Halfords Price £12.99

Solvent to soften oil and loosen dirt. Oil to re-coat the fabric gauze. I'd only do this every two years or so. Just tap the dirt out of it by slamming it onto a clean, flat surface a couple of times a year.

 

Or refit standard air box and get a KnN panel, much better as you will be drawing cold dense air instead of underbonnet warm air

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^+1

^^^ He's right you know

 

if i could manage to get an hks mushroom filter cheap, what would that be like? (noise, pwer etc.)

 

I/K's do not usually give any more power until other modifications means any extra air can be utilised effectively. They can reduce power though. By drawing in air directly from the engine bay, intake temperatures are increased. And think of all that oily dirt that usually resides in there. The OE intake and panel filter on a Scoob is very well designed and good for easily over 360bhp and solid reliability.