has anyone added a new muffler just for some more sound. I do not have enough money on hand to purchase a whole new exhaust, and do not think the cost/preformence gain value is worth it on the mini, but I would like some more sound. Has anyone changed this up or has any safe, relativly cheap solutions ideas?

 

well im in the same boat as you. don't want to spend a lot on a system. so i thought of going to my muffler shop and getting a cat back straight 3" tube that connects to a magnaflow. if anyone has something like this please let me know how well it works.

 

Hi this was my option... take out the mufler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJlD8gJvDUI

 

i like that, A. how did they do that [did they take out the muffler and add straight piping? . B. legal? C. would a regular auto shop do this?

 

I have a Labree catback without mufflers on my S4 wagon. Basically, he took the regular catback and welded in a pipe in place of the muffler. The difficulty was in tapering the tips (mine are 4") to the exhaust section.
When all was said and done, my catback ended up costing about $300 more than the standard but it's worth it because I have the best sounding S4.
The only real downside is a drone at about 75 mph in 6th gear.
I heard the sound clip of the MINI without a muffler and am concerned about the quality of sound from the MINI 4 compared to the Audi V8 which is quite spectacular unmuffled.
Hopefully, I'll be able to hear some modified MINIs in person before taking a flyer once I have mine in a few months.
As far as legality, you're not removing any smog device so your only concern would be excess noise and that you can manage to some degree if you want to around town.

 

A)Mufflershop probably, unless you have access to tools to do it yourself
B)Ya, why not.. Unless you violate sound level's in your area, chances are you'll be fine.. I was running an open dump for a few weeks, I've had many cars before that were louder than the mini with no problems.. - Worst you can get is a ticket for loud noise..
C)Yes - a mufflershop, some meineke's, a local exhaust shop/mom and pop shop would be your best cheapest route, unless you know some friends that know how to weld and you purchase some exhaust piping from autozone (which is harder to weld than regular exhaust piping, because of some coating around it)

Is it worth it..