I got a Red r53 '04 from a friend, and I have had great fun driving it. Until... Just the other day the exhaust snapped just behind the pre-cat when I hit a pothole. That got me looking around the web for answers, and I found this page. I have already found great info.

I want to avoid the OEM part as these seem to fail at this point. My current plan is to get one of each of these and have someone weld it up for me:
http://www.meganracing.com/product.a...d=346&catid=22
http://www.meganracing.com/product_d...d=1121&catid=8

Also, the lock on the passenger side does not open with the clicker. I bet I can find good advise in this site for that as well.

Any suggestions on preemptive repairs or best bang performance upgrades are welcome.

~Art

 

Welcome to the NAM forums! You'll find numerous options for performance upgrades throughout the site.

Your options for the exhaust modifications seem reasonable, but I wouldn't totally discount the OEM replacement exhaust systems that you'll find throughout the site. If your friend got 10 years before something snapped, that's certainly a reasonable lifespan for an original exhaust system.

 

Thx for the reply.

10 years is not bad I guess. I also found that the hydraulic motor mount had blown some time ago (oil spill as pictured around the web, but covered in dust). I figure that it is plausible that this contributed, or maybe caused the failure. I also found a muffler shop that trimmed the shield of the pre-cat back about 1/2 inch, and welded the thing back together ($45)

So new plan: Hold off on the exhaust, and buy all new motor mounts and reinforcements... and maybe a 15% pulley while I am in there?

http://www.waymotorworks.com/powerfl...shing-set.html
http://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-eng...6-r50-r53.html
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-sup...shing-set.html

 

Welcome, if you have questions feel free to just call the shop and ask.

 

From one central Texan to another, welcome. As stated above, you absolutely can not go wrong with anything that Way Motor Works sells, and if there's any questions you have about a particular direction to take your MINI, just call Way. He's one of the most knowledgeable MINIacs on these forums and has never steered me wrong.

Also, feel free to come out and join our drive in the hills of Central Texas on October 5th. PM for a link to the info if you'd like it.