Megan Racing is considering an exhaust system for the base model Mini Cooper and we would like to know what you guys would like to see in an exhaust.

Of course the exhausts will be T-304 Stainless Steel, but we would like to know...

What size piping?

What style Muffler? (Canister/ Oval with Tip)

We feel it is important to listen to the needs and desires of the Mini Cooper community before we even get started on this project to better suit your needs. Please let us know so that we can begin development for your cars.

Thanks.

 

No bigger than 2.5", Tip less than 4". Muffler type doesn't really matter to me. I want a good deep mellow sound at idle, a good roar at WOT. No drone at highway speed, under 24lbs with 4+ HP increase. And a price around $400-$450.

Not asking for much am I?

Steve

 

light, around low 20s.

maybe Porsche sounding[I like the sound of Porsches, dunno if it's possible?]

oval tip

 

.

 

Usually we find that the best size for the NA cars with a smaller motor such as the 1.6L is 2.25" piping. We plan on having one resonator in the Mid-Pipe that gives the car a smoother mellow tone and doesn't really effect performance all that much. It also keeps it away from the "Raspy" Mid-Range that is often associated with a higher-flowing exhaust.

Our exhaust systems that are comparable in size and construction often go for about $350.00-$400.00 MSRP so the price will be extremely competetive for the quality and performance.

Our Cat-Backs are often pretty light considering they are made of Stainless Steel. We would probably have to stick with the Canister-Style muffer though if you really wanted weight savings which would then take the "tip" off. It's good though to use a Canister Style because then we can use "Silencers" that can be removed depending upon your mood or driving style.

Porsche's have a distinct exhaust tone, just as the Subaru's and old Beetle's do because of their Flat-Motor designs. The opposed motors sound beautiful in my opinion, but their tone is difficult to reproduce using a NA "V" or Inline motor.

Please keep the suggestions coming...

 

sounds like it's gonna be a quality product, I'll have to wait for it to come out before coming to a decision on what exhaust I'll buy.

 

I'd say match the JCW Sound Kit in sound and sell it at a fraction of the price and....

 

IMHO, look at the Helix... The Helix sounds great and makes the best power of any other system out there... Plus, it's among the lightest.

2.25" sounds right to me...

 

Ok, I've been looking at exhausts for a long time -- I've even bought 4 catbacks (so far) for my MC -- but I can't decide what you might mean by "canister" vs "oval." I also can't imagine what you mean by "which would then take the "tip" off" regarding a canister-style muffler. I guess the terms aren't quite stupid-proof enough for me ... please help me out. tia

 

We don't so much want to go for a "copy" of the JCW exhaust or any others for that matter. We will custom fabricate and then reproduce from their as we do with all our products.

The Helix is a beautiful design indeed. The reason that it is so light and offers significant gains is because it does not incorporate a resonator. Resonators help to keep the noise levels down and smooth out the tone; I always figured that most Mini Cooper owners wouldn't want an exhaust that was too loud, so therefore I figured in incorporating a resonator. Would you guys prefer no resonator?

This is a Canister style muffler...


It has a removable silencer...


This is an EXAMPLE of an exhaust that uses an "Oval-Style" muffler and a tip.


Naturally we can change the style of the tips as well as single or dual.

 

I'd be fine without the resonator as long as there was no drone at highway speeds.

Steve

 

I like that.

The Helix DOES come with a resonator - I know, I had one for a while. Here's the pic from their site.


Unfortunately, even with a resonator, I had a terrible in-cabin resonance boom around 3.5-4K. It was also loud enough to wake neighbors (AT IDLE), etc. After dealing with the Helix, my number one request is no in-cabin resonance. Don't read that wrong; I LIKE a lot of feedback (sound), but unless you've actually experienced true resonance boom you probably assume I'm just talking about disliking a lot of exhaust sound ... NOT so.


Now I get it. I guess I don't actually care about the type/shape of the can, but I do care a bit about placement ... my list:

 

The tip should exit from the stock location with no modifications needed to the rear valance.

Steve

 

I was told that the Helix didn't have a resonator, my mistake. Thank you for clearing that up for me. If the interior resonance is still pretty loud then the size of the resonator will have to be larger than their current design. Unfortunately that means it will weigh more. We do use a larger muffler than that though.



That's our current MCS exhaust system. We'd be using the same size muffler which has more packing than the Canister-Style and will produce a more mellow tone and less resonance. We often use this style with more conservative cars such as the Lexus IS250.

The Canister mufflers are a more deeper and aggressive tone, however they have quite a bit of interior resonance.

The piping is pretty much decided so far at 2.25"...

So far I've gotten...

Oval Muffler w/ 3.5" tip. Resonator. (Will produce a mellow tone but more higher pitched.)

Canister muffler w/ 4" tip and available Silencer. Larger resonator. (Will produce a mellow deep tone. But weigh a little bit more.)

Canister muffler w/ 4" tip and Silencer. Resonator. (Will produce Deep aggressive tone, be lighter but have some serious interior resonance.)

There are so many trade-offs with exhausts.... we need your help in letting us know exactly what you guys are looking for to offer the product to the Mini Cooper community.

Thanks guys.

 

I, too, would prefer not to see so much of the can below the bumper. Flanges vs slipjoints would be nice as well. Lighter is gooder, too!
Thank you for putting the effort into the MC, the oft neglected stepchild.
Now, about that CAI for the 05/06

 

I don't like the cannister look.
Many of the hondas, etc. around here have that style exhaust
(usually without resonators). I call them "fart-cannons" because
of their obnoxious, raspy loud tone.
I liked the R-speed exhaust for the MC best, but it's no longer sold.
The link to it still exists (gotta search for it, not accessible through the site)
http://rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?dept...2&prod=M20-105

 

Yup, the R-Speed is great! I started to get a terrible metallic buzz/rattle from mine - the resonator was coming apart inside. Since they don't sell it anymore I couldn't get a replacement section, so I had a local shop cut it out and weld in a straight pipe. Without a resonator it's louder, but it's still not harsh, raspy or buzzy and still no resonance boom! You'd expect this might be possible with a heavy duty, performance robbing muffler, but that's not it. I don't know how they did it (and I'm not willing to disect mine to find out), but the R-Speed definitely breaks the rules. I wonder why they stopped selling it? The only thing I don't like about it is a lot of the can is visible (I keep saying I'm going to paint it black) and the tip looks too much like the stock tip.

 

I really wanted the RSpeed exhaust, and called them a few months ago to see if it was still available. They told me that the MINI community is a fickle bunch, and exhaust system components must have "Milltek" etched into the metal in order to sell. Similarly, suspension components must have "H-Sport" stickers in the box.

The exhaust is manufactured in Germany, and is still available there, but they didn't tell me who makes it or how to track it down.

MeganRacing: I just bought the MyMini Sports Exhaust, which very closely resembles the RSpeed exhaust, and I think that's the look to go for: very subtle, both in looks and idle-tone, but willing to make a statement under throttle.

I have to agree that there are probably few Cooper owners who want to hang coffee cans off the backs of their cars.

If you could manufacture the tip to resemble the soda-can tip from the stock system, you'd probably have a big hit.

 

Hmmm.. thanks for the feedback. I was looking deeper into our exhaust systems and noting the differences between the canister and the Oval-Muffler. I know I will be able to use a smaller resonator with the Oval muffler due to the amount of packing that comes in the muffler. I can definitely hide the muffler by using a longer neck with the tip. The bends will be smooth of course and it seems that everyone likes flanges so I'll go with that.

So it looks like so far...

2.25" piping. Resonator. Oval Muffler. Single Tip.

What size of resonator would you guys recommend for this car based on the experiences of the past? Trade-off being... Power & Noise for Weight & Deeper Tone.

What's this "soda can" tip you speak of? Start givin me some images so I can find out what style of tip I should go with. Sizes and what not.

The bigger the tip, the deeper the tone but then it becomes less subtle.

Let me know guys.

 

Noooo! Not the soda can! He's talking about the stock tip that looks like the bottom of a soda can. I think that was one of the R-Speed's problems, it looks too much like the stock soda can tip. I definitely think you'll do better with something more like one of the tips in your oval-style muffler example (post #10)....I know I'd prefer it....

 

The best thing (in my opinion) about my car is that it looks bone stock to the naked eye (I'm back on stock wheels & brake calipers right now), but there's a whole lot going on behind the scenes.

What I want in a performance part is the option of building the ultimate sleeper. I don't want to look all riced out, and will avoid any parts that make my car look "tuned".

 

I think a nice tip like the JCW kit would be cool, not over the top, but it doesn't look stock either.

 

The JCW kit tip looks great - I'll second that.

 

-2.25" Piping
-Resonator (What size?)
-Flanges
-Oval Muffler
-Single Tip
-Slash-Cut Round

This sounds to be about right for you guys so far? I need to know TWO THINGS now.

1) What size resonator? (Length)
2) What size Tip?

This is coming together nicely; I appreciate the input you guys are giving me to develop this exhaust for you guys.

 

OK, how 'bout a compromise: choose your own tip?

Seriously, what would that add to production costs? $.05 / unit? Then you'd have the best of both worlds: the guys who want a stock-looking car could order the soda-can (or retrofit the stock one, since it is held in with a screw), and the JCW crew can pretend they spent $2000 for a "sound-kit". Heck, you could even do empty Folger's cans for the rice fans.