I just had Eric at Helix put in the 15% reduce pulley and JCW exhaust. I waited a year to decide on what mod to do first. From all my research everyone recommends the pulley. With the new pulley the car lunges forward just from a tap on the pedal. The supercharger screams over 4000 rpm. But the real disappointment is the JCW exhaust. I can’t hear it at all. I hear the supercharger the most. The JCW exhaust at idle is so silent I can hear myself breath. It is a shame I look forward to getting this exhaust. (I should have bought the N1 Invidia, maybe next year.) The big question what is the next good mod to put on the lovely Mini. Is it the software or should I work on the suspension. I also have the CAI.

 

Give the exhaust time to break in, then it will sound like this:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=2

If you want a bit more volume, you can remove the resonsator pipe!

 

upgrades are always fun! Though you posted in the wrong forum, this is the R56 mod section.

 

I am sorry dorkboy it is my first thread.

davisflyer have you heard a jcw exhaust without the resonsator?

 

Yes, my MA has the Alta v.2 15% pulley, DDM CAI and the JCW exhaust without resonator. When I drove it it had a bit more presence while cruising, though I wouldn't call it drone. At WOT, it was much raspier, with a slightly deeper bark, and tons more burbble. The only downside is that after a cold start, for the first few minutes until it warms up, it sounds a little ricey, but that goes away very quickly. The cool thing about this mod is that it shouldn't cost much to repalce with a straight pipe, and then if you still don't like it, then you can move on to something else.

Here is a video I found of a GP w/resonator removed. This is how it sounds on a cold start:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=1

 

I have a magnaflow and love it. The Invidia and Borla sound very similar to that of magnaflow with Miltek being a little different which has more of a higher pitch sound compared to the deep sound of Magna/Envida and the Boral ones.

 

I just did 15% alta 2.0,milltek cat,and alta cai.Sound is phenominal(front and back)-my 2nd milltek(one on a cooper).rrrrrreeeee,blub,blub,pop,pop!

 

blissful are the magnaflow that loud?? I don't get to see other minis that much unless I am at the dealer.. but I do love the tips on the Invidia

 

Thread moved to 1st Gen Drivetrain (Cooper S) forum.

 

glad to see your happy with the 15% pulley and glad to see you went to Helix. As for the exhaust wait for the JCW to break and maybe you'll get a better sound, but i got the Invidia N1 and dont regret it, best sounding MCS exhaust by far!

 

Thank you Edge....

 

I think the JCW is starting to have a burble when I let of the gas(very nice). I hope it start growl with wot, thebillman.

 

I really disliked my OEM exhaust; it sounded like someone crushing an empty coke can. IMO, the JCW sounds real smooth.

But as always, do what pleases you. That's what the MINI is all about.

 

Congrats on pulley and JCw Exhaust! I also had Helix's 15% and a used JCW Exhaust Eric had installed there back in Jan. I agree with you on the JCW not sounding too loud. You only really hear it inside the cabin around 4k. I'm contimplating removing the resinator now. Although NJ injection will fail me, but hey I also have tint and I shouldn't!

 

I will stick with my JCW Hwydsgnr.
I rather work on other mods. A nam member points out to try a header first before changing the exhaust. I call Helix about the OBX header. What better way to improve my sound and hp at the same time.

 

Thanks Marco, the guys at helix are awesome. Nice to have someone local. I was going to remove the resonator also, but someone told me when he remove his resonator on the JCW exhaust the sound was ok in the beginning (backfire). After awhile the exhaust sound annoy him. I come to the conclusion of installing a header will be my next engine mod; I have heard it will give your exhaust more throatier sound. And I shouldn’t fail NJ inspection because I will be using my OEM cat.

One note on the tint in New Jersey, on my last car I had too take off the tint from the front windows tint , in order to pass inspection. I guess I will only put tint in the back windows ala JCW GP look.

 

+1. After 5k miles, the exhaust sounds sweet.