Where do you live to have it leave Portsmouth and then delivered to Portsmouth?

TOO FUNNY

 

I stopped by RSpeed today to make sure everything was a go for my install on Monday. It is sitting in my garage floor right now, so I am excited about getting it on the car. I really like these tips. At this point, I am leaning toward these being some of the best if not the best tips I have seen on a Mini exhaust. Definitely a ton better than you would expect on a $500 exhaust.

I did send a polite e-mail to Bavarian Autosport showing them the pictures of my package as well as my complaint on no one having any knowledge on the exhaust that they sell. This really just adds a few more notches to Randy's service in my opinion. I asked about the exhaust on his site and he gave me more information than Bavarian did and he doesn't sell the exhaust. I feel guilty using his knowledge and not buying from him, but with only four left at Bavarian and the possibility of the price increase I felt I had to grab it. I am really going to make a more concerted effort to buy from the likes of Randy instead of these larger shops when I can. Customer service has gone down the tube. Not to say Bavarian was totally bad. The order was processed quickly and came to my house in lightning speed, it just felt that I was talking to a shipping clerk instead of someone who had a passion for the Mini. Anyway, photos and a review will come on Tuesday.

 

My exhaust showed up yesterady, a day early

The package arrived damage free & well wrapped. Here's a close-up of the etching on one of the tips:


I'll install it as soon as my MCS arrives (~two weeks) and give impressions then.

The sales reps were great with at least trying to work with me on a deal. I wish they would have given us the group buy or at the very least a group discount, but I guess that was up to management & they weren't game.

 

>>Also I wouldn't suggest using any type of exhaust goo on the joints as someone else had mentioned. This will most likely cause more harm than good.

I'm not disagreeing with you, 02s79fj40, but what do you mean by that? What harm could an exhaust sealant cause?

 

>Where do you live to have it leave Portsmouth and then delivered to Portsmouth?
>
>TOO FUNNY

I live a few miles from Portsmouth, but there is no way I was going to have time to go get it before today. And frankly I was concerned that those involved in this discussion were going to scoop up all of the remaining four that bavauto had in stock before I could get mine, which would have been ironic since I am the one who revived this thread. No doubt that the next batch will sell for at least $100.00 more. So I decided just to have it shipped.

 

>>I'll install it as soon as my MCS arrives (~two weeks) and give impressions then.
>>

I got the ramps and jackstands on the way home last night. Tomorrow I do the installation.

 

>>I stopped by RSpeed today to make sure everything was a go for my install on Monday.

dgszweda1, how much are you being charged for your installation?

 

I think they said my install was $70

 

Are they going to weld it?

 

I am not sure. I did not know that you used clamps until it came. I will discuss it with them on Monday. They have installed a decent number of various exhausts on Minis and a tremendous number on Miatas.

 

As much as I like to work on cars, even suspensions, I've never been too keen on being under them. If I knew of a shop around here, I would call and ask for a quote. Last night I bought two 6-ton jackstands. I'm thinking of getting two more today. I drove the front of the car up onto the ramps this morning to see if I could get at the flange bolts connecting the pipe to the cat to see if I have the right socket size. There still wasn't enough clearance for me to fit, on or off of the creeper. The jackstands, even in their lowest position, would provide more clearance.

 

Now that I've had a chance to see the kit in person, I've decided not to use an exhaust sealant on the slip-fit connections. The connections are actually well designed - the female ends flair and have slits cut into them so that a tight fit should easily be achieved using the supplied connection parts.

mcs22004,
I doubt you'll have any difficulty doing this yourself, especially if you're experienced workin with suspensions. Once you have a enough clearance to work (which it sounds like you're taking care of) just relax and take your time. As with most exhaust installs, loosley finger tighten everything first, check & adjust anything that might rub, then tighten from the cat back.


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

 

Funny, I decided the same thing about the exhaust sealant. I figured I'd at least try it without.

I bought two more 6-ton jackstands, so I should be all set for tomorrow provided I have the right sockets for the flange bolts and that my compact floor jack will lift the car high enough to get it onto the jacks.

Are there good central jacking points in the front and rear so I don't have to do one corner at a time?

 

I just put the exhaust in the back of my Mini for my trip to RSpeed tomorrow. It still amazes me the room in the Mini. The exhaust fits with no problem. I did decide to weigh it before I loaded it. Randy stated 35lbs, but I got 31lbs dead on, with still the shrink wrap and cardboard around the tips. I didn't want to unwrap everything before I got it to the shop. That also included the bolts/clamps. So I would assume somewhere right around 30lbs. So we are getting about a 14 lb savings. Not as much as something like the quicksilver, but definitely inline with most others out there.

 

Completed my install a few hours ago.

Removing the old exhaust was a pain. Getting the flange bolts out took two hours because they had rusted severely in the 4 months since the car was built. The mufflers and exhaust hangers off took another 1.5 hours. The part that is attached to the top of each of the mufflers was rusted to the extent that chances are that they would have broken within the first year.

The Scorpion went on easily, but keeping it pressed together while I tightened the clamp was tough. Still, it was easy to get the whole thing centered so that there are no rattles. I had no idea how much to tighten the three clamps. I hope they're tight enough.

The real problem is that the Scorpion flange bolts are too short. The nuts are only threaded about half way onto the bolts. Assuming it holds for the week, I'm going to grab some longer ones from the hardware store and put them in next weekend.

It sounds great--not particularly loud.

 

>>Completed my install a few hours ago.
>>
>>Removing the old exhaust was a pain. Getting the flange bolts out took two hours because they had rusted severely in the 4 months since the car was built. The mufflers and exhaust hangers off took another 1.5 hours. The part that is attached to the top of each of the mufflers was rusted to the extent that chances are that they would have broken within the first year.
>>
>>The Scorpion went on easily, but keeping it pressed together while I tightened the clamp was tough. Still, it was easy to get the whole thing centered so that there are no rattles. I had no idea how much to tighten the three clamps. I hope they're tight enough.
>>
>>The real problem is that the Scorpion flange bolts are too short. The nuts are only threaded about half way onto the bolts. Assuming it holds for the week, I'm going to grab some longer ones from the hardware store and put them in next weekend.
>>
>>It sounds great--not particularly loud.

MCS22004,

That is the lamest review. :smile: We need more! more! Don't tell me you are out enjoying it. How is the sound compared to other exhausts (if you have heard others). Is there a drone? Looks good? or not?

Enjoy it. I hope mine goes on a little easier tomorrow. Although I will have two people and it will be on a lift. Hopefully no rust, although in Atlanta there shouldn't be.

 

I installed my Borla Race on Friday and ran into same type of removal problems with my stock exhaust. My $0.02 to anyone doing this install is to lube the rubber hangers with silicone grease. The hangers are a pain in the a$$ and slow down the install because of removal time. Scorpion sounds like a good deal hope you guys enjoy !

 

I purchased the last Scorpion exhaust from Bavarian Autosports and had it deliverd on Friday. To my displeasure I noticed that the hanger position on my car was different than those on the mufflers. There was a rumour that Mini/Bmw had changed the position of the hangers on the 2004 models, well I guess they are true. My car was built JAN 16 2004. I was going to do the install on my own but will now have to take it to a muffler shop. The difference from previous models is that the inside hanger is now positioned running from the back of the car to the front, not side to side as before. Looks like the hanger on the car may be able to unscrewed and mig welded in the right position or the hanger on the muffler needs to be cut and welded in a new postion. I hope this helps evryone out there.

 

>>To my displeasure I noticed that the hanger position on my car was different than those on the mufflers....

That sucks!! It looks like have to find a shop to perform the welding for me now...

 

sound clips anyone?

 

>> I purchased the last Scorpion exhaust from Bavarian Autosports and had it deliverd on Friday. To my displeasure I noticed that the hanger position on my car was different than those on the mufflers. There was a rumour that Mini/Bmw had changed the position of the hangers on the 2004 models, well I guess they are true. My car was built JAN 16 2004. I was going to do the install on my own but will now have to take it to a muffler shop. The difference from previous models is that the inside hanger is now positioned running from the back of the car to the front, not side to side as before. Looks like the hanger on the car may be able to unscrewed and mig welded in the right position or the hanger on the muffler needs to be cut and welded in a new postion. I hope this helps evryone out there.

My MCS is a 2004, made in 10/2003. All four of my exhaust hangers were positioned so that the holes run front to back, and the hangers swivel side to side. I wish I had taken a pic now. Anyway, the brackets on the Scorpion also ran front to back , so it lined up with the hangers correctly.

So when you say "the inside hanger is now positioned running from the back of the car to the front", are you referring to the holes or the swing angle, which is perpendicular to that of the holes?

 

>>MCS22004,
>>
>>That is the lamest review. :smile: We need more! more! Don't tell me you are out enjoying it. How is the sound compared to other exhausts (if you have heard others). Is there a drone? Looks good? or not?
>>

Sorry, I was out enjoying it. Frankly I was too tired to recall all the gory details. I just wanted to knock back some beers and go to bed last night after the job.

>>Enjoy it. I hope mine goes on a little easier tomorrow. Although I will have two people and it will be on a lift. Hopefully no rust, although in Atlanta there shouldn't be.

I have no idea how it compares to other exhausts in terms of sound because I've never heard another exhaust in person. Sounds good to me. It's kind of quiet--probably like the Milltek, which I believe is $200 more. Sounds great when I lay into it, like on the ramp to get me onto 495. More to come.

Amazingly, my half-on flange bolt nuts did not vibrate off on the commute this morning. Could one of you please do me a huge favor and get me the size and length of the flange bolts, so I don't have to pull one of mine for reference when I buy longer ones? I know the head and nut size is 17mm, but I don't know the bolt size. Thanks.

 

>>Amazingly, my half-on flange bolt nuts did not vibrate off on the commute this morning. Could one of you please do me a huge favor and get me the size and length of the flange bolts, so I don't have to pull one of mine for reference when I buy longer ones? I know the head and nut size is 17mm, but I don't know the bold size. Thanks.

The bolts that came with my kit are:
25 mm long (threaded area)
31 mm long (inlduing head)



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

 

>>The bolts that came with my kit are:
>>25 mm long (threaded area)
>>31 mm long (inlduing head)
>>
>>
>>

Sorry, I need the size of the bolt, as in the "#" designation or the diameter of the threaded part of the bolt.

Thanks for the length though. So the bolt is 1 inch. Just so everyone will know, that is too short, so the bolt size info I requested would benefit any of us who are doing our own installations. 1.25" would allow the nut to be fully threaded onto the bolt and 1.5" would give an extra .25". Does anyone else think there should be lock washers on these bolts?

 

>>Sorry, I need the size of the bolt, as in the "#" designation or the diameter of the threaded part of the bolt.

The diameter of the threaed portion of the bolt is 1 cm and the bolt head reads:
F S
A2-70

I hope this helps!