I installed my Dinan exhaust on my '06 today. Absolutely love the sound.

However, the popping, gurgling or backfiring (for lack of better description) has really increased. I've read many posts or articles saying that late '05's and '06's do it "on purpose" from the factory.

I talked to one of our vendors and said that though he had tuning available, it wouldn't help with the popping sound.

Obviously the aftermarket exhaust has less backpressure so of course it will make the sound more.

Any way of removing or quieting the popping sound? I read a lot of posts and in one post, there were so many people that loved that sound, they purposely changed exhaust just to hear that sound.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Mark

 

Hey Mark.. I did the one ball on my 05 and it burbles much more too.. However, it doesn't bother me at all, and Mini told me the same thing..Does your steering moan when the car just begins to move in 1st gear? Mini said that was normal, but I heard there was a recall to change tranny fluid for that issue..

 

The popping/burbling is a result of an ECU tweak begun in 05, if I remember correctly.

Not really any way to "fix" the problem itself (only treat the symptoms; noise) short of a tune.

- Matt

 

The pop, spit and gurggle is one of the many cool things that makes our cars unique! I for one love it and my exhaust accentuates it and that makes me happy!

It comes from the first gen mini race cars. They used to spit and pop around the racetracks. The ECU is programed to dump a small amount of fuel in the cylinders when you let off the gas. This is what causes it.
If your that offended by it there are tuners that can tune it out. Personally I would never dream of such blaphemy!

 

all 1st gen MINI's do this, no recalls. that's just the way the power steering motor sounds

 

My Dinan S1 does this all the time. It's normal. I tend to hear it a little more when the exhaust is cold, but I can make that burbling sound just by taking my foot off the gas or during a quick down-shift. Heck, I sometimes do either just to hear it....

 

......so what's the problem??
-c'mon.
-Put a header on and really learn to embrace the sound!

 

Yup. I had a one ball done and the burble & Pop was MUCH louder and more frequent. The one ball was done poorly though and I had to replace the system and did a Magnaflow. The Magnaflow is nice and deep tone, but not nearly as much burble and pop. (Since I've got a resonator again) I've heard some systems take a thousand miles or so to 'break in' and change in sound a bit so maybe I'll get a bit more eventually.

 

about the only two options you have are add a resonator (or swap out to a different one, if it has one) or revert back to stock

 

Wow, I surprised how many people like that sound.... I love the gurgling sound but the popping/backfiring sound can get annoying.

My understanding is that the factory programmed a little extra fuel in the system and the popping is that fuel igniting after the exhaust stroke. (or something to that effect)

Point is, it's on purpose. Not sure if that's the actual reason, just something I read on the know it all web.

Mark

 

Oh, I think the popping is the best part, really sweet. As far as getting rid of it, the only real options are new system or adding a resonator.

 

any gasoline engine with a free-flowing exhaust and a rich condition will do this -- you probably hear it most from bikes or cars running catless. If you have a standalone ems im sure you could tune it out since you can lean it out by throttle position and such, but i would just learn to love it. It's great.

 

the popping and burbling is one of the main reasons I love my 05 Cabrio S. I want MOOOOOOOOORRRE!

 

Crush... it's a MINI.... that's what the little dudes do... part of their character... I'd cry if mine went away... I love the look of disdain I get from my SUV-owning neighbors as I burble past them and they walk down the sidewalk...

 

I'd like even more pop and burble from my '02 with Magnaflow. Can the ECU be updated by MINI to be like the '05s? Or, when I get a custom tune can that be tuned in?

 

I just installed a Dinan exhaust friday and I love the sound. I would say that if it wasnt for the supercharger and intake whine it would almost sound ricey, but with the whine it complements the exhaust nicely.

 

Preform a resonatorectomy available from www.minspeed.com

 

I noticed you had a CAI, did you already have that on there? I wonder if it makes any difference in the sound of the exhaust. I did notice that after the pulley install, the sound got better. I guess with more volume being forced into the engine, there would be more backpressure coming out? Logical?

Anyway, it's sounding better and better to me.

Mark

 

I was in a run in Litchfield, CT last week and I was behind a couple Dinan tuned R53s. Their exhaust sound was beautiful. The pops and burbles were really amplified compared to the stock exhaust on my R53. I had the same questions when I bought mine two years ago. I wasn't expecting a brand new car to make that kind of noise. Once I understood what it's there for (nothing!!), and that it wasn't a problem, I wanted everybody to hear it.

 

Ya I got the CAI first then the pulley then then the exhaust last, a few days after putting on the pulley. The CAI did add a lot of noise to the motor, then when I added the pulley and exhaust it's a ton louder.
I did notice a couple of things though. One being that when the car isnt warmed up if I rev the motor it almost sounds like the car is going to die, I dont know what thats about. Two the fit of the exhaust left a little to be desired, the hanger next to the battery box keep rubbing making a annoying squeaking sound that I had to fix. Over all the exhaust is nice but I def need to get a tune for the car. I was thinking about getting a tune in a can from Dinan but I dont know if they have one that will work with my setup.

 

Which CAI did you go with? I've read till my eyes bleed and it seems there are so many choices, not one stands out.

If you had to do it again, would you go with the CAI you chose or would you go with another?

Thanks,

Mark

 

I went with the Dinan CAI because besides the JCW it's the only plastic one, for cooling, and it has a good seal, unlike the metal CAI's I doubt they even seal. I am very pleased with my CAI and if I had it to do over again I would def get the same thing.

Marshall