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[kurvhugr]

I know a few of you attempted to establish MC exhaust reference threads in the past. Unfortunately, none of them stuck around near the top of the forum. But we really need a thread like the MCS version that's been running for years, so here ya go.

I'll gradually post everything I can get my hands on here in post #1. You can post whatever you like and any time you post (or pm) new info that fits, I'll copy it into this first post so the basic stuff is easy to find right up front, and stays up to date (hopefully). Any time I get something wrong, please let me know!!! You'll also see a lot of place holders for information I haven't found yet -- help me fill in these blanks. It will take me a while to fill this out -- please be patient.

Anyone new to the game may not realize there are some exhaust-related differences among the first generation non-S models, so I'll start with some general model and model year info. I plan to include info on some of the exhausts that are no longer sold, since they come up in the marketplace, eBay, etc, once in a while -- some of these are good systems and sought after, but some are off the market for good reasons.....

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General model year info
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The non-S MINI Cooper, MINI One and MINI One D (Diesel), were all designated as R50s, while the S was given the product code R53. For some reason, all MINI convertibles (S and non-S) are R52s.....go figure.

There were a number of changes made throughout the gen1 model year production run (which ended with the '06 models), but I think the only change that affected the exhaust came along with the "face lift" in July '04, when the rear hangers were altered (turned 90 degrees, I think). I understand the convertible (which also debuted in July '04, right?) has a slightly different exhaust configuration, and with some (all?) aftermarket systems you may have to specify "convertible" to get the one that fits -- you vert owners need to be careful about what you buy.

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OEM/Stock Exhaust
I imagine some of you who are just starting to think about mods don't know what your stock exhaust looks like yet. Here's a diagram from realoem.com -- if you haven't found realoem yet, it's definitely worth a visit <click here>.
Review: n/a
Price: ________
Description: Other than the tip it's not much to look at, but for most of us, if it's under the car and never seen unless it's on a lift, who cares? The bulk of the system is all in one piece from the manifold to the tip. The original tip looks like the bottom of a Coke can -- MINI offers a replacement tip.
Pipe diameter: 2" (I haven't had one for over 5 years, so I'm going on memory -- is this right? Anyone...?)
Weight: ~29 lbs
Video/audio: n/a




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Billy Boat
Review:
Price: ?
Description: Stainless - 2 sections w/ a slip joint.....other details elude me. I'm starting to think this one is disappearing.....it won't be the first. It's no longer listed on the Bavarian Autosport site (where I once found the pic below) and though B&B still have a pic of it on their website, they don't list it as available. If you find it (or any additional info) somewhere, please let me know.
Pipe diameter: ?
Weight: ?
Video/audio:

pic lifted (obviously) from Bavarian Auto - hope they don't mind


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Borla
Review: _______
Price: $668 (msrp)
Description: Stainless, 3 sections w/ slip joints, muffler and resonator, 4" double-walled slash cut tip
Pipe diameter: _______
Weight: 34.5 lbs (can anyone confirm this?)
Video/audio:





Here's a video clip.

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DUZ

Review: _______
Price: No idea, but I bet it's the most expensive MC exhaust available.....but, like the Saclam, you have to get it here from Japan.....
Description: Like the Saclam, I've never heard of anyone actually having one of these for an MC and I don't know ANYthing about them other than what you can see in the pics, but it's interesting and different (go ahead, tell me it ain't!), so here's a pic.
Pipe diameter: _______
Weight: _______
Video/audio:



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Eisenmann
Review: _______
Price: There are 3 options, each with different pricing -- see description and pics for explanation.
$769 (msrp, fits as stock, direct bolt-on replacement)
$1045 (msrp, central system with twin, center exit tips)
$1068 (msrp, central system with 2 split (not center exit) tips)
Description: This one is not a catback, it's closer to an axle-back. It won't replace the entire stock system.....only the rear section. You cut your stock exhaust pipe, slip this one over the end of the mid-pipe section, and clamp it on. Since you use the front part of the stock exhaust -- which has a resonator -- this system has a resonator. There are 3 different versions. All are stainless. The simplest (and cheapest) version is a direct bolt-on replacement for the stocker, with an 83mm tip (don't know what it looks like - haven't found a pic yet). The other 2 are both straight-through central units with a mufflers that fit into space currently shared by your spare wheel (if you have one) and stock exhaust can. You also have to mount an additional hanger bracket, but it appears to use existing bolt holes (see the installation pdf). These 2 central units come in either a twin center exit (w/ 2 single-walled, angle cut, 70mm tips) or dual, split tips in the same size but straight cut. Also remember that if you plan to use a center-exit or dual exit exhaust, you'll have to do something about your rear bumper apron..... One more complication: according to Eisenmann, all 3 of these come in either "Sport" or "Race," which affects flow (Race flows better), performance (better flow means better numbers) and sound (Race is louder, naturally).
Pipe diameter: stock (I assume)
Weight: _______
Video/audio:










Here's an installation pdf - I'm afraid it's in German, but the pictures aren't!

There's a stationary YouTube clip here

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Hamann
Review: _______
Price: $837 (for the version shown in the smaller pic below, from Bavarian Motorsport)
Description: The Hamann systems appear to be axle-back (cut your stock main pipe and clamp the Hamann exhaust to the stock mid-pipe). There are 4 versions.....I'll try to describe them, but some of this is guess work until someone chimes in with better info. I think they are all straight-through systems that run down the centerline and require you to remove your spare wheel (if you have one) and probably attach another hanger mount. 2 versions look like the pic below with 2 twin single-walled straight cut 70mm tips that exit the rear apron on the passenger side like the stock system (though it looks like you have to trim the apron a bit to make them fit). I think one of these 2 has raised lettering on the tips. The next version has the same type of tips but they're split, with 1 exiting from each side of the rear apron (again, requiring trimming of the apron). The description of the last version says it comes with "4 raised stainless steel tailpipes (70mm)" -- I think that's 2 tips left and 2 tips right.....probably.
Pipe diameter: stock (I think)
Weight: _______
Video/audio:





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Helix
Review: I haven't found any reviews, but there's a short write-up by Helix in the NAM Reviews section (here) and I commented on it in my own review of the R Speed exhaust (here)
Price: n/a (no longer offered)
Description: All stainless, 3 sections connected by slip joints, includes a resonator, straight cut double walled 3" (?) tip
Pipe diameter: _______
Weight: _______
Video/audio:





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JCW Sound Kit
Review: Here's a short review on MotoringFile
Price: $1100 (msrp)
Description: This one is a kit, not just an exhaust - includes catback, intake mod, ECU remap and JCW badges - the intake remains closed like the stocker so no increase in sound at the front of the car, but it includes something I think is called a "sound pipe" to carry some sound from the intake to (and through?) the firewall - the exhaust is stainless, 2 sections connected by a slip joint and clamp, and includes a resonator, plus a dual-walled slash cut 3" (?) tip. The bottom pic below shows the JCW exhaust next to the stocker.
Pipe diameter: stock (I assume)
Weight: _______
Video/audio:








And a video clip here
Here's another

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Larini
Review: _______
Price: $550 (I try to stick to msrp, but can't find it for this one and I can only find it offered by one online vendor at this time, so this is their list price as of 2 Sep 08.)
Description: Stainless, 2 sections w/ slip joint, strap hanger for muffler allows some adjustment for fitment. Single-walled, straight cut tip -- unusual in my experience as it's angled up slightly and has an outward rolled lip -- bulk of tip is 3.5"; 4" max at the end due to the outward rolled lip.
Pipe diameter: 2" (same as stock)
Weight: _______
Video/audio:





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Magnaflow
Review: _______
Price: $610 (msrp)
Description: Stainless, 2 sections, slip joint, resonator included, straight cut 4" tip
Pipe diameter: 2.25"
Weight: 25 lbs (?)
Video/audio:




YouTube vids 1 2 3

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Megan
Review: There are a few here in the NAM Reviews section.
Price: $380 (msrp)
Description: Here's a little-known fact about the Megan for those of you who missed it. The guy from Megan who put it together came on NAM and asked us what we wanted in a catback exhaust. He even took our suggestions! As you might imagine, there was plenty of cooperation.....imagine a manufacturer actually asking us how we would like something built! Then he found a NAM member willing to volunteer his MC for prototyping and test fitting. Looks like the collaborative process worked -- folks seem to like it.....or maybe it's the relatively low price.....probably both. Anyway, it's all stainless, 2 sections joined by flanges, muffler and bullet resonator, slant/slash cut 3.5" single-walled tip.
Pipe diameter: 2.25"
Weight: 31 lbs
Video/audio:





Stationary video clip here

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I ran out of space in this post, so please scroll down to my next post (see post #4) for page 2.