As far as i know, there was definetelly a slight change, I believe after the 04 model year.

I have a Remus exhaust for the MC and if I remember correctly it is for 02-04's ... they even discontinued making the one I have and now only make the ones for newer model cars.

Here is a closeup pic of the tip if it helps any for the design of it. Oval and kind of meaty looking.

 

I really don't think there's a difference, especially since every manufacturer I've checked and most vendors list MC exhausts as fitting 02-05 or even 02-06 in some cases. I have a feeling the vendor (website?) that listed the Remus for only 02-04 may just have been a bit behind in updating. After all, if you bought an exhaust in 03 I'm sure it would have said 02-03, and could have continued to say 02-03 well into 04 or until someone noticed and updated the site. I've seen it happen with a few other items and once even called a vendor to check and was told something like "oh yeah, that's out of date, we're just lazy."

 

Oh, I'm tryin', but that's just plain sacrilege! I hunted for months for one of those before giving up.

 

I think you hit the mark on the price point. This is a pretty competitive market where pricing and quality will move your product.

You've got me second guessing the replacement of my JCW Sound Kit, simply because you've widened the gap in pricing. Before, I was able to talk myself into the more expensive system because certain features offset the difference in price (in my mind). Now the difference is so great, I'm most likely going to go with Megan. I can't wait to hear the sound.

BTW, what is the typical install time/price for an exhaust? Do you have a list of local installers we can refer to?

 

Shouldn't be more than $80... David, I'd use Pronto Muffler in Plano...

 

Thanks, Scott.

 

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hook up with Steve of Megan Racing in order to fit my Cooper for a prototype exhaust.

It certainly was interesting watching the setup being created from scratch. Even more interesting was after I got home and opened up the pics, I noticed that even the cat has a MINI wings logo embossed on it!


click either pic for larger version

I didn't get a chance to hear it though, having had a tooth pulled a few hours earlier didn't put me in the mood.

Hopefully this will help give Cooper owners another choice when it comes to exhaust choices.

-J/C

 

Are those two faux exhaust tips on either side of the backup light?

retroom

 

Uh . . . no, that's the Sport Link.

 

Tick, tock. I can't wait to hear it.

 

HA! and I thought they were the little machine gun dealies....

 

I've gotten the "James Bond" comments a couple of times.

Back to the Cooper exhaust though, I PMed Steve with some more pictures from that day. I wasn't sure whether I should post them myself on account of his markings, numbers and notes to the manufacturer, etc. (not knowing if it's "confidential" stuff or not)

 

I'm behind on this...what is a sport link and what is the purpose of it?
Thanks,

retroom

 

Sports Link is a rack system for the MINI created by the now-defunked company MINI Fini. They system allows you to quickly attach and interchange all sorts of racks to it, but the most common is the bike rack.

It's a great accessory but super $$$$$.

 

Mini Fini is coming back (new owners in Ohio) but not fully operational yet. http://www.minifini.com

 

I alologize for saying (in post #102) I don't think there are differences between the model years. I still don't know of any specific difference, but someone in another thread reported trying to install a system and finding that he had to significantly modify the hangers to make it fit.

Steve - have you looked into this?

 

I saw a post like that too, but it was in reference to an MCS exhaust. (You're not thinking of that one are you?) It had pictures where you could clearly see the "Y" and two mufflers.

 

Here's the thread. <click>

 

I hadn't really paid attention to that one before. Thanks for the link.
Since my Cooper is an '03, you have a valid concern.

I did notice that when I went in for the fitting, the muffler guy fabricated some hangers as they went along. It was like watching an artisan at work.

 

It ought to fit my '02 then.

 

Yeah, I looked into the fitment issues for the different years. As far as I can tell there was no issues with the hangars that I could find. Hopefully it will fit all of the current generation Mini's.

Okay, a few things... sorry I've been away. I don't know if you guys have seen it or not but one of our drift cars decided to understeer into a tree at 80MPH. I've been working on that thing day and night; when I get back into the office, I'm swamped. My apologies.

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Mr. Calderon at Speedway Muffler. He is truly a scholar and a gentleman who also has a creative side to him as you can see expressed in the photo's he made available to us.

The skilled man who helped us with the prototype was Serge. He owns Speedway Muffler and I HIGHLY recommend him and his crew to work on your Mini's. I have been going there for quite a while and they have worked extensively with us in all of our exhaust needs. If it can be done... they can do it.

We ran into a few issues...

First, man... there's not a lot of space for a muffler in the Mini without removing the heatshields. We were not able to use the muffler I had first inteneded, instead we used a common Offset/Offset muffler as the standing prototype, and when the hard prototype comes in, there will be a custom unit in place that is 1.5" taller than the one we used. The tip will still be at the lowest point to hide the body of the muffler of course.

It was going pretty smooth, but then when we put the under-chassis brace on, we realized that it would hit the Mid-Pipe. So we had to put a SLIGHT bend in it. So the Mid-Pipe isn't perfectly straight.

The brace also limited the size of the resonator to I believe 14".

Besides those two bits, everything else went perfectly fine.

I was wondering if you guys wanted a Titanium Burnt tip? That's an option that wouldn't be hard to do.. so let me know if you guys would like that. It would be different and kinda take away from the "Stock Look" but it would also be a nice Tell-Tale sign to the eye.

Either way.. let me know. Now the images...



3" Slash Cut tip... seriously if I didn't write it out like this, the Factory would Freak.


My 2nd Grade penmanship.


Too long?!


Our stubby custom 3" Tip... Titanium Burnt? or Not?


The piping matches perfectly with the outlet of the OEM Cat.


The new muffler will be exactly the same shape as this except for being 1.5" Taller.

Naturally the exhaust will be COMPLETELY 100% T-304 Stainless Steel and have clean welds. Let me know what you guys think of the tip being Burnt Titanium...

 

Congrats on getting this far!

I think the burnt Ti tips would be cool. Do they show dark any more/less?

 

Do you have a sample pic of a Ti Tip?

 

Well done. I really hope this works out on the first try.

Put me down for one "no" vote on the burnt TI tip.

ps - Sorry to hear about the drifter - I hope the driver is ok....?

 

I think I might have one at home.
While I was waiting around, I noticed a burnt tip in the shop so I snapped pics 'cause the colors looked cool.