Magnaflow just released their catback for the R56 Cooper S... Based on all of our experience, it'll rock. In fact, Magnaflow is the only exhaust that we carry anymore (although we can still get others on request).

It won't be the quietest cat-back on the block, but hey, loud pipes save lives!

Look for it on our website soon... MSRP is ~$918.

P.S. Yes, they're working on a Clubbie version, too.

 

lol $918... suddently ALTA and Strassentech are cheap

 

Yea, and I'm guessing this Magnaflow is basically the same thing as that all the custom folks have....only double or triple the price.

 

^^ its probably fully polished for some bling factor... which is completely pointless since all you see are the tips.

 

Completely agree.

 

txwerks - that seems really expensive. As others have said a custom magnaflow is quite a bit cheaper. Based on your products you don't really seem like the type to push pointless expensive bling. Knowing that makes me think that there's a reason for the price. What's the justification for the high price? What are you getting for $918? Thanks.

 

This is Magnaflow's complete cat-back exhaust, not something we manufacture specifically... We carry Magnaflow's off-the-shelf systems, which we prefer and think are the best on the market, hands down. Fit and finish are spectacular, hardware is top-notch, and they all come with a lifetime warranty (which is not something you get from a DIY or other offerings). They also offer a great sound and excellent performance gains... The other benefit is that they tend to be among the LIGHTER offerings for aftermarket cat-backs (the R50 and R53 systems are considerably lighter than OEM and/or any other readily available aftermarket setup).

While it may be "bling" in the tunnel, the system was designed specifically for the R56. There's something to be said for an engineered cat-back versus a DIY, where a company like Magnaflow spends time and money tuning their system on a dyno, tuning the sound, etc. In countless exhaust shootouts, Magnaflow is usually at or near the top in performance gains as a result of their dedication to their R&D process. It's more than just slapping a Magnaflow muffler in the midst of OEM bits (which might give you the sound you want, but isn't an engineered system designed to deliver maximum performance while also being tuned to produce a refined, powerful sound). Likewise, we've yet to find any other company that offers a product with quality and longevity like the Magnaflow systems (except perhaps Borla, but Borla's harder to deal with in our opinion).

So, while it's "more expensive" than other DIY setups and aftermarket offerings, you do get Magnaflow's extensive R&D, their name, and their backing on the product via a lifetime warranty. If you have an issue, they take care of it, period. To us, it's worth the extra $ for such a system - to others, it's may not be as important. Anyway, the point is that since we feel that their products are hands down the best on the market, we carry their stuff... Sure, we could make our own exhaust systems, but our specifications would necessitate the same standards that Magnaflow employs and would be just as costly, so why reinvent the wheel? In the past, we've had issues with nearly every other manufacturer's exhaust product (e.g. welded baffles inside cans breaking loose, etc.), and many of them don't stand behind their offerings (not singling anyone out, mind you, or implying that anyone else doesn't make a quality product, but that's just been our experience)... Since we believe in offering the highest quality products, this falls right in line with our philosophy...

FWIW, we run nothing but Magnaflow cat-backs on our track cars. Mine's been on for 4 years with nary a problem, and Dr. Mike's has been on for 3 years or so - these cars are daily driven and pounded routinely on the track and autocross circuits.

 

^^

power gains from catbacks are pretty much negligible...

warranty? sure magnaflow may back up your exhaust system, so do most shops (at least mine does). Lets say you do happen to have an issue with your catback from magnaflow... you have to disassemble, then ship it back to the manufacture to get it fixed... shipping isnt gonna be cheap for something as large as a catback. Plus, what are you gonna do while the exhaust is being shipped back? most catbacks require you to cut the stock exhaust system off meaning you wont be able to drive anywhere while the exhaust is being fixed. If you get a shop to take care of it that backs up their work, they could have it fixed in an hour.

the only real benefit i see is the sound tuning but of course that is highly subjective. Id love to hear what this kit sounds like but i HIGHLY doubt it will sound 600 bucks better.

 

how much HP can you really tune out of an exhaust over a less credential aftermarket exhaust company? 1hp maybe 2hp? is that worth extra 600? HELL NO...my last car was on 01 M3. I went with Magnaflow , becasue: weightsavings over OEM ( knocked off almost 45lbs), sound ( purring like a ferrari at 3700rpms M3 rpms not ferrari, it was almost like a whistle sound ) and look and quality. most important PRICE, i paid for it about $1000, YES, $1000 for twice the amount of pipe (2.5"dia.), and 2 huge mufflers ( middle and last muffler ) and 4 nicely polished tips. Dont quote me on this one, but i believe MSRP on this baby was about 1300. Lets see what we have in a MINI: one pipe,perhaps one resonator ($30) and a optional rear muffler and a couple of tips ( the most) hmmm...$920???? i dont think so. For $920 i would rather get meistershaft piece

http://gthaus.com/ehprice.php?selMak...&Submit=Submit

 

I happen to be on their website the other day looking for part#s and there's two videos on the magnaflow website. it's a bit confusing, some pictures are R53s but the video and the page is R56 and the dyno is from a R53...

I dont mean to crap on the thread but honestly, i can't hear a substantial difference between the factory and the other custom magnaflow vids you find on YT.

 

From our brief conversation with Magnaflow at SEMA, the expected release wasn't until January... I would assume that they are still cleaning up their website, hence the confusion. For a company that launches as many products as they do, it takes awhile for their site to catch up.

Power gains from cat-backs are negligible? Depends on the application, what we're comparing to and how serious you are about making power. If it's so very negligible, tell the SCCA autocross guys and gals about it (many do think they're nuts, though - hah!). They'll test every single cat-back (and Supertrapps) until they find one that makes the most power for just a 1-2 hp edge. Grassroots Motorsports did an R50 cat-back shootout several years ago, and there was a very significant delta between stock and aftermarket offerings. More recently, they tested every one they could get their hands on for an STS2 Miata and settled on one because it made 1-2 more whp. We test and do the same - every pony counts, period, if you're in competitive motorsports. For the street driver? Probably doesn't matter. But, we know Magnaflow is good stuff.

All of the MINI Magnaflow cat-back systems bolt up DIRECTLY to the cat - there's no cutting, it re-uses factory hangers, etc.

We quote MSRP on Magnaflow products (although we have a bit of wiggle room), because Magnaflow has a very stiff MAP (Minimum Advertised Pricing) policy - you violate it, and they won't sell you anymore. Yes, you will find them cheaper on eBay from fly-by-night operations that are violating the MAP policy. Magnaflow polices this and does shut them down, but then these retailers will re-open under a new name and do it again... So goes the cycle of other people screwing reputable and smaller vendors (and not to start a flame war, but Tire Rack is one of the worst offenders in this regard).

I won't defend the product anymore, as there's really no need to - it's a great product, period. It should be obvious to the community that everyone has their own opinions about what constitutes a "good" exhaust and for what "price", which is fine... This is how a lot of inferior and cheap Chinese products get sold. Quality isn't cheap, which isn't to say other offerings aren't quality bits, they may be - but we know Magnaflow is a known good. Just jumping into this thread to slam the product based on price alone isn't really productive, is it?

We were simply announcing that we'll be carrying the product, rather than expecting to have to debate the merits of a said stellar product (which it is, no doubt, based on our experience with Magnaflow products). Some people may have wanted to know that there is yet another option for a cat-back system, and I am certain that there will be buyers regardless of the price (contrary to the reaction posted so far, which is nothing but complaining about price that we really have little/no control over). We're not into screwing anyone over, after all.

So, in conclusion, yes, you CAN spend less on another exhaust (this should have been patently obvious already)... No skin off our backs at all, so buy it and enjoy it, or enjoy the process of making your own DIY solution. And yes, you might be able to find the Magnaflow for less $ from a vendor breaking the MAP policy - in that case, save a buck if you want to, but do know that you're screwing vendors that specifically support the MINI community out of sales (being certain other vendors will also offer the Magnaflow R56 system). Same goes for pretty much any other parts you can get from ImportTunerWarehouse.com or whatever and your NAM-supporting, MINI specific vendors, though.

Back on topic, the Magnaflow R56 cat-back system is now available for it's "insane" price. We use Magnaflow. We like their stuff because it freakin' rocks and we sell stuff that rocks. In our opinion, their stuff cannot be beat for the price. Based on experience, it'll be light, extremely well made, sound great and handle being pounded on the track. Shrug. Take it for what it's worth...

 

tx, based on your candor, and maybe I'm just drinking up the koolaid, I appreciate your approach to products development and product selection. I thinks that's enough of an answer for me. It's a high end system that's track tested tough. Hence the high end price. Probably not the right product for me but it is what it is. Thanks for taking the time to explain things.

 

Koolaid is good... with Tito's Handmade Vodka and a splash of soda in it...

 

For what its worth, I have the magnaflow system (R53) and love it, its not as light as the single muffler systems though (Alta)

 

The secret of the txwerk's success has been spilled!

 

how does the kit bolt up to the stock cat? if your talking about the downpipe sure, but everything from the second cat and beyond is welded...

 

I'm trying to get my hands on the install instructions now for verification... Dyno sheets aren't published yet.

R56 cat-back videos (take off and drive by):
http://www.magnaflow.com/04sound/spo...S/08minis.html

Forthcoming Clubbie system videos (take off and drive by):
http://www.magnaflow.com/04sound/spo...niclubman.html

 

well it definitely sounds nice, not nearly as loud as the DIY catback.