>>>>it really doesn't matter how many bends you have in the piping as long as they are mandrel bends... as long as the manufacturer didn't use "el cheapo" machine to "pinch-bend" regular piping, which a lot of local shops do.
>>
>>
>>That's not true. Every bend, mandrel or not, is going to add resistance to flow.

And that resistance is affected by the angle of the bend.

>>However, the lack of a resonator and the fact that it uses a "Y" split vs a "T" give this exhaust the potential to perform well despite its large number of bends.

Which gets us to the six-of-one-or-half-a-dozen-of-the-other scenario. Bear in mind that if we were truly consumed with exhaust flow resistance, we would cut our battery boxes and put on straight pipes with a couple of inline mufflers to eliminate bends altogether.

 

>>as far as the scorpion exhaust goes, its mere mystery makes it enticing.... no one has actually dynoed it or given any performance reports... i would like to see a video clip of a car equipped with it. we have seen video clips of the UUC, Milltek, and Borla.... time to build the library.
>>
>>i too, would be interested in how this compares to the Milltek. Some other exhausts out there are just too loud and this sounds about right from descriptions.
>>
>>-ABT-

I see a correlation between the Scorpion exhaust never getting any play on this site and the likelihood that the sponsors don't sell it. Every one of the few Scorpion topics has died within just a few posts, except for this one which I resurrected. Interesing. It's not as if someone posted test data that clearly stated why the Scorpion is less desireable than the ones about which members can't stop talking. If someone had, the dismissal of the Scorpion would make sense. Note that the principals are silent on this topic.

I am going to give bavuto a call and see if they have them on stock. I live just a few miles from Portsmouth. I wonder if, dissassembled, it will fit in my car.

 

do me a favor, when you get it, can you please DYNO before/after, and maybe get video of your car driving with it (from outside and inside?)

that would be great!

-ABT-

 

I'd have to find a place. I don't know of any around here.

 

This thread about Milltek pretty much drives the point home. Is an exhaust really worth $800.00 or more?

 

>>This thread about Milltek pretty much drives the point home. Is an exhaust really worth $800.00 or more?

I think this is the link you meant


_________________
'04 MCS IB/W on order with 16" SSR's wrapped in Yoko's standing by!

Stock 16" V-spokes & run-flats for sale!

 

It's been a long time since college...but...I believe mandrel bends in an exhaust CAN INCREASE flow. And a totally unrestricted exhaust like a straight pipe loses torque like there's no tomorrow. That's why it's tough to look at an exhaust and try to figure out HP/torque gains. The Scorpion certainly has unusual bends and no other company has bothered to copy it yet.

 

I just called bavauto and had them check their stock. The rep told me that they had four left.

 

>>Here is a pic of my car with the exhaust:
>>
>>
>>
>>

Hey, I like that plate! Pretty ingenious!

 

i don't get the plate.... what does it mean?

...and yes, $800 for an exhaust is ridiculous....
the rates excuse is B.S.... they just underestimated
how well they'd sell so they are jacking up the price.
I think they are already making a decent margin on the
exhaust at $700 a pop...

you don't hear about ANY other product having that
problem.

Milltek is getting greedy.

_________________
<<sig>>

 

This whole mandrel bend, curve issue is pretty ridiculous. I bet if you throw up any pipe on the Mini you will see the same numbers. Everyone wants to measure hp, someone should be measuring the backpressure of these systems compared to stock, that is the real performance measurement. Everyone has different numbers on all these exhausts, and all the magazine tests out there have shown basically no increase in performance. The exhaust bottleneck on the Mini is in the exhaust ports and the cat, not the catback exhaust. Regardless of all the explanations on flow, no one has ever shown that these exhaust increase flow and by how much.

I think the Scorpion looks really good. The price on the other exhausts are ridiculous. And all everyone has indicated is a seat of the pants dyno, which to me is nothing. the only people who have shown numbers are the vendors or sellers of the exhausts. The real selling point to me is the warranty, finish and sound (and of course the price).

MCS20004,

Maybe we should try a group buy. Would bavarian auto be interested in bringing back the $495 price if we could get 10 people? That would be quite interesting.

 

>>This whole mandrel bend, curve issue is pretty ridiculous. I bet if you throw up any pipe on the Mini you will see the same numbers. Everyone wants to measure hp, someone should be measuring the backpressure of these systems compared to stock, that is the real performance measurement. Everyone has different numbers on all these exhausts, and all the magazine tests out there have shown basically no increase in performance. The exhaust bottleneck on the Mini is in the exhaust ports and the cat, not the catback exhaust. Regardless of all the explanations on flow, no one has ever shown that these exhaust increase flow and by how much.
>>
>>I think the Scorpion looks really good. The price on the other exhausts are ridiculous. And all everyone has indicated is a seat of the pants dyno, which to me is nothing. the only people who have shown numbers are the vendors or sellers of the exhausts. The real selling point to me is the warranty, finish and sound (and of course the price).
>>
>>MCS20004,
>>
>>Maybe we should try a group buy. Would bavarian auto be interested in bringing back the $495 price if we could get 10 people? That would be quite interesting.


very good point. whats 1 or 2 hp anyway? not worth 300 bucks! i am more interested in how it sounds at this point than the dyno numbers.... anyone have this exhaust that can shoot a little video of inside/outside the car with it? sound is a HUGE deciding factor for me.... and i would be interested in that group buy...

 

>>MCS20004,
>>
>>Maybe we should try a group buy. Would bavarian auto be interested in bringing back the $495 price if we could get 10 people? That would be quite interesting.

That crossed my mind. However, the place is a BMW performance shop, so they're probably real bastards about dealing with the penny-pinching MINI community when they can sell platinum shift ***** to 7-series baby-boomers for $500.00 a pop.

 

>>>>MCS20004,
>>>>
>>>>Maybe we should try a group buy. Would bavarian auto be interested in bringing back the $495 price if we could get 10 people? That would be quite interesting.
>>
>>That crossed my mind. However, the place is a BMW performance shop, so they're probably real bastards about dealing with the penny-pinching MINI community when they can sell platinum shift ***** to 7-series baby-boomers for $500.00 a pop.

I might agree with you except that they were willing to put it on sale once for $499. My main concern with the exhaust is drone. Is there any drone associated with this exhaust? I would still love to hear a sound clip of the exhaust.

 

Also, does anyone know the weight of the exhaust? That is also a nice added benefit of the aftermarket exhausts. Shaving an extra 10lbs is always nice.

 

>>Also, does anyone know the weight of the exhaust? That is also a nice added benefit of the aftermarket exhausts. Shaving an extra 10lbs is always nice.

Most likely it's about the same weight as the other exhausts. It does not have a forward muffler, and the two rears appear to be larger like those of the Borla Street. I really prefer not to have the forward muffler. Here are the shipping costs I got when I put in my address in NH about ten miles from the shop:
19.95--FedEx Express Saver
30.76--FedEx Second Day
44.94--FedEx Next Day

 

Wow!
This thread came back from the dead! I haven't been here in a while, it was funny to see this thing living and breathing after all this time.

I have had the Scorpion for some time now and let me say right up front that I am very happy with it. I have not had it dyno'd, nor am I planing on any time soon, so I can't speak of HP gains (other than my earlier comments that it certainly was no slower).

There is NO DRONE. I gave a friend who has a Magnaflow on his S a ride and he really liked the Scorpion better (the 'Flow as too way to drony for him).

Best of all, I paid $499 for it and installed it myself (saving even more), it is a quality product that has held up to about 10,000 miles with no problems. The tips look great, AND... it sounds fantastic.

I think the reason that this system hasn't received more attention is that the vendor is not pushing it. No one from Bavarian is posting dyno results or video of this exhaust. In addition when it was announced there were several other exhausts that sort of eclipsed the Scorpion.

Randy and the other active vendors were all promoting their hit picks and the Scorpion went mostly unnoticed. One of the previous posters sounded like he was pointing to some sort of conspiricy, but I think it was just market saturation.

Anyway, cheers to all, I'm sure you will enjoy it if you take the plunge.

 

I would love to hear sound clips of this exhaust. It is a reasonably priced exhaust system and unless one is all out racing where every one hundredth of a second could win a race, then the HP gains from one exhaust to the other will not make much difference.

The vendors are selling expensive exhaust systems as fast as they can. Do you really think they will promote a less profitable system? What have the vendors done with testing on this system? From what I read on this thread, no one has dyno'd the Scorpion exhaust. Why?

 

>>I would love to hear sound clips of this exhaust. It is a reasonably priced exhaust system and unless one is all out racing where every one hundredth of a second could win a race, then the HP gains from one exhaust to the other will not make much difference.
>>

>>The vendors are selling expensive exhaust systems as fast as they can. Do you really think they will promote a less profitable system? What have the vendors done with testing on this system? From what I read on this thread, no one has dyno'd the Scorpion exhaust. Why?
>>

Because if the Scorpion gives comparable test results to the other exhausts, then how will the the vendors continue to sell the other exhausts for $100.00-$300.00 more? Let's face it, it's not in the vendors' interest to publish true scientifically-gathered results for all these exhausts. Each of the exhausts would need to be tested on a number of cars. So far that hasn't happened. It's not a conspiracy; it's just business.

 

For anyone who doesn't feel comfortable saving so much money, Bavarian Autosport also sells two other exhausts starting at $200.00 more than the Scorion:

-Bavarian Autosport Tri-Flo Performance Exhaust System - Twin 3" Elliptical Tips $749.95


-Bavarian Autosport Tri-Flo Performance Exhaust System - Twin Round DTM tips $849.95

The page claims a 7-9hp gain for each. Heh.

 

That does seem like a great deal on a Cooper S performance exhaust. And it's 304 stainless, nice. I think a member might try contacting Bavauto.com about a group buy. If they would be willing to well for the $549.00 WITH shipping, I might be interested. Here is the hyperlink for the website. Enter your Mini make and year, exhausts, performance exhausts, and Scorpion is the last one on the page. at the bottom....


www.bavauto.com/shop.asp

_________________
2004 MCS - Pepper White/ Black

 

OK, but if I call them, I'd like have a number of buyers to hand them. How many are seriously interested?

1. Me.

 

I am serious, and have the cash ready.

 

>>I am serious, and have the cash ready.

Good luck to you guys that are going with the scorpion. At about $550 it is pretty good and if you can get 4 or 5 buyers then you should ask for a break on the price or free shipping- just ask. Good experiences you have will be good for business for them.

As for the lack of press for the Scorpion it boils down to No active vendor support for this low volume product even though it is quite popular in the UK. If one of the independent mini tuners would take the time to get a test unit and dyno it and review it then we would elevate it's status to "MINI exhaust flavour of the month". Milltek raised their price so that one is loosing ground now.



_________________
Send a PM to minihune Mele Kalikimaka & Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

 

I will talk with Bavarian tomorrow in regards to a group by and will post here again. I live within 5 miles of them and lets see what they can do for us.