Not in chicago so I can't help with letting you hear it.

It does get rid of the rear cat and replaces the resonator that was just downstream.

We don't have emissions down here so I can't comment on that, though I would imagine that once things have heated up it shouldn't be an issue.

 

Is anyone getting a rattle from the exhaust? After about the first month, I've been hearing a rattling noise if I don't don't shift perfectly or if the tires slip on takeoff. Not entirely sure where it's coming from, but it sounds almost like its coming from the passenger side. I was also thinking that the rubber mounts weren't strong enough to hold the exhuast and it was vibrating against the rear bumper. Hopefully someone has a fix, it's driving me crazy.

 

My guess is it's either hitting the metal plate that bolts under it on the body of your Mini, or the rear bumper valence. Before I welded mine no matter how well I clamped it, it would eventually shift/loosen and start to hit that metal underbody plate. Then it would come off completely.

 

Getting a similer rattle on mine. I'm pretty sure that it just needs to be weleded up. When installing my new sway bar we had the car up on the lift and could see where the joints were leaking. At some point I'll have to get everything welded up but I want to do that after I address the slight droning issue.

 

what exactly is loosening? the exhaust at its joints? I looked under the car and had someone start it and can see that its hitting the metal plate because there is almost no clearance between the two. I was thinking of adding some washers between the car body and the metal plate to increase the gap so that the exhaust wouldn't smack into the plate.

 

Usually what happens is, even if the clamps are tight from the torque/twist of the motor itself the pipes will gradually pull apart by the second or first clamp from the front of the Invidia system so even if you have good clearance it'll sag even if you clamp it well. I got it up to the body nice and tight, clamped it together really well then tack welded the lower part I could get to. Then I took the whole system off and welded around the whole pipe in those sections. No more loosening, less drone, no leaks, no hitting that plate. If you have to pay an exhaust shop to do the welding make sure they bolt it in place FIRST and use wire/gas for welding stainless, not for mild steel!

 

Hey guys, I just installed the Invidia today. As most of you agree it sounds and looks killer. I do have an issue with the alignment of the system. The tail pipes are visibly tweaked to the right. I played around with it for awhile and couldn't get it to align perfectly. Also it seems like my tips are protruding out way more than some of these pictures I have been seeing. Has anyone come across these problems? Ill be back, Im going to drive it again!!

 

If you try rotating it at the very last joint between the middle section and muffler section, it points the tips in either direction. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but hopefully you know what I'm talking about.

 

Thanks for the response Thumper. I will take a look at that joint.

 

BIG PROBLEM WITH MY INVIDIA

I dropped my car off last friday to INSKIP MINI because it wouldnt start.

Turns out my Cam Sensor Wire melted through.
What caused this to happen?

The Flex Tube on my Invidia was leaking, and the hot exhaust gas was burning the wires.

Ill take pics of it this weekend.
The wire mesh was all twisted and fraying.

It sounded like it was a leaking a couple weeks ago, I just didnt pay too much attention to it.

 

duuuuuuuuuuuude!, thats wat caused it??? uh oh...
are they gonna cover it for you?
...you better get that **** welded together afterwards =\

 

Found a store that sell them for a lower price then JSCspeed
$569 shipped
http://www.streetrays.com/store/inde...oduct_id=31061

 

Anyone having any major issues with invidia other than the ones stated in this thread?

 

No issues other than the one time the rear section disconnected itself.

Never happened again. The Invidia is great, has an awesome sound...I get compliments on it often.

 

Excellent thanks Thumper!

Do you do anything special to stop fix it? Ordered mine due to your thread here and want to see if I should do anything special for the first time install.

 

Nope, just make sure you tighten the clamps down tight!

And then it would probably be wise to re-check them after the exhaust has heat cycled a few times.

 

Just installed my Invidia system and had only one issue. The front pipe was touching the front cross member spuratically. Making an aweful noise. Sounded like a rattle at times and then mechcanical at other times. Its a VERY close fit in that area and hard to see when installing. The gap is about 1/4 " or less. The suspension movement causes the pipe to contact on and off at this point. I rotated, pryed and tugged until I widen the gap as far as it would go. No problems now The exhaust is not that loud really. I installed the Borla sport system on my wife's R-56 and it roars !!! Both sound great though.

 

ThumperMCS,

I have been wanting to buy an exhaust for my 2009 Turbo Mini Cooper S and I was about to go with a Magnaflow exhaust. It sounds great and they said that installation would be pretty easy since it bolts right from the down-pipe. The only problem is that it cost $740.00. Then they want $125.00 for installation and then they need $40.00 for shipping. Basically, that will run me just under $1,000.00 for everything after taxes. That is alot and I was going to do it when I got the money, but after reading this thread from you and others and listening to the sound clip I think that I am going to buy the Invidia Q300 Cat-Back, just exactly what you got. I believe I saw somewhere, where it cost $569.00 and since it bolts from the down-pipe which I believe and you don't have to worry about cutting up the stock exhaust this will probably be my best bet.

How much did it run you and what was the site that you ordered it from? You also said that you used ramps to uninstall the stock and install the Invidia, but my question is, did you only use two ramps to lift the front or lift the back or did you use four ramps to lift then entire car so that you could uninstall and install? I also believe that the Invidia systems bolt right down from the down-pipe, I just want to make sure this is true, am I correct or do you have to cut the stock exhaust? Thanks.

 

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...aust&scoring=p

No need to cut anything and it'll bolt right up to the downpipe. Just remove the vband, take the old exhaust off the hangers. On mine I used 4 jacks first time, I've gotten away with doing 2 in the front though. Personally I picked mine up @ streetrays http://www.streetrays.com/store/inde...oduct_id=31061

As Thumper mentioned be sure to tighten the clamps down

 

I was one of the first ones to buy it so I got it for real cheap. I bought it from JSCSpeed.com

My driveway slants downward into my garage which is flat...so I put the two ramps right where the slant meets the flat part and drove the car onto it. It's very easy to install....yes it bolts right up to the stock dowpipe, eliminating the 2nd cat.

You won't regret getting it! It's completely straight through (you can see right through the muffler)...it sounds so darn good. (Get's better with time too)

 

ThumperMCS and Rovy,

Thanks for getting back with me so quick. I am not definitely satisfied and I will be getting the Invidia Q300. Especially, since you both have down it yourselves and everything has work out and it bolts right to the down-pipe. Awesome, I cant wait to get it.

Is there anything else you guys have installed that I might what to get? I am definitely buying and Alta Short Ram Intake. Did any of you buy a SRI?

 

Intercooler and tune.

Intake is just for noise...don't expect much hp gain.

 

Yepp. We shall see what Alta has to offer now tune wise

How's the helix fmic treating you thumper?

 

Been nothing but great!

An absolute necessity out here in the desert!

 

Thumper and Rovy,

I also would like to know your thoughts on intalling aftermarket parts on your car when the warranty is still valid. I know that it could be risky, since if anything goes wrong, they would pin it on you for installing aftermarket parts if it can be directly related, but have any of you installed parts with the warrranty still good?

The reason I ask is because I just got in the mail from Mini that on all 07's, 08's, and 09's that the fuel pump could possibly go bad, so they are warrantying all those years for 10 years or 120,000 miles and even if you sell the car the warranty can transfer to the new owner. So if installing an aftermarket part and something goes wrong, I don't know what would be becoming on my original warranty and the fuel pump warranty when the pump could be directly related to the exhaust. Even though the pump is not mechancially connected to the exhaust, they could pin it on me anyway. What are both your thoughts? Thanks in advance.