Hi everyone, im gonna change my stock exhaust from my r53 03 but after seeing many videos on youtube from many r53 with different kind of exhausts, which is the best exhaust for my r53?
JCW, Magnaflow, Miltek, Alta, Borla, Supersprint? i like better sound than stock but not too loud, i like this sound from this video with magnaflow exhaust

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=miez89...eature=related

 

Pretty sure that the Magnaflo is one of the loudest of the non-race systems. It is also rated for the highest hp gains. There are many reports of a 'drone' occurring at average cruising speeds (~3,000 rpms). The video that you linked shows the Magnaflo on an R56, not an R53. Totally different systems. Make sure you find a sound clip from the R53.

For an R53 there is also a 'one ball' conversion which is one of the least expensive mods you can do. A manufactured connection pipe is available from several sources for about $125, plus installation. Or you can go to some place like Midas and for $70 - 100 they will cut your exhaust system and bend a pipe to fit. Do a search under 'one ball' for more info. Better sound, a little more hp and torque. A bargin.

SuperSprint is a beauitfully made and great sounding system, but it is also one of the most expensive. I do believe that there is no 'drone' with this system.

 

Try the one-ball then go from there. Maybe choose an exhaust after that. Thats what I did. You can't go wrong with the one-ball for now untill you make a final choice. If you can find a friend or another mini driver with an aftermarket exhaust that would be best, you could listen to theirs first

 

Trying to find someone with an aftermarket system to listen to is a great idea. If you live in or near a large city, see if you can find a local MINI club and go to a meeting. Walk around, looking at all the exausts and ask to hear 'em.

 

Start with the one-ball, then ask around about a custom exhaust shop and check out their work, then go aftermarket.

Will probably stop after the first step........

 

One Ball is a good idea - I believe it can be done for around $100, and reportedly provides a sound similar to stock but slightly louder.

If you have a bit more cash on hand and you're looking for a bit more HP, you could look into the Milltek system. I have it on my MCS, and I love it. It sounds fantastic (not raspy or ricey at all) and is very civilized 90% of the time. When you get on it though, you can really hear it - which is nice! I believe there's a thread in the Mods forum that has a bunch of referance video of various exhaust systems on the MINI, see if you can find that. I also have a video or two of my Milltek that I think are pretty accurate that I could upload if you'd like.

 

I'm running the Alta 2.5" single-sided exhaust system. It's a bit louder than I'd like for daily driving, but it sounds deep and throaty... definately not cheap sounding. I've had to mod my exhaust system (use a smaller resonator) a bit to fit in with some other parts I've got on the car, so it would probably be a bit quieter if I hadn't had to do that.

 

you can always go custom get a magnaflow universal muffler, 2.5" piping all the way to the rear, dual 3" tips in the end. T-H-R-O-A-T-Y

 

hands down the miltek is the best!! much more free flowing than stock! great sound not too loud and best of all no droning! I had a Magnaflow, Alta, and "custom" exhausts and the miltek is THE best!

 

Ok, not trying to hijack this thread BUT what is this "drone" I hear about all the time. I have an aftermarket exhaust and I guess I am wondering if I am hearing a "drone" and dont even know it OR maybe I hear it and like it!

 

I don't know if you can say that one brand is "The best". Certainly the Miltek is very popular with a lot of MINI drivers, as are the other big names as 999 Mini states. It really is a matter of personal taste and that's why listening to the different brands is a great idea. I went with the ALTA after comparing all of the above at a MINI get-together. All of them give pretty much the same HP gain.

BTW, 999 Mini, coincidentally, we have some friends from Alpharetta visiting us today.

 

I have basicly this same system, but with a Magnaflow resonator on too. Sound is awsome.

 

its a sound that the exhaust makes under the car kinda like a weird humming sound! not all exhausts do this but from my experence the Miltek was the only one that didnt. I like my exhaust to have some bite when hearing it from outside the car but I want to be able to talk at normal levels in the car. the worst I have heard was a guy that removed the battery box and ran a straight exhaust with 1 muffler no resinator! it was louder in the car than out!

 

Drone occurs on some exhausts due to their design. It can happen at certain speeds and rpms, depending on the system. It's a constant sound the exhaust makes that can make the car either unbearable to drive or uncomfortable to drive. It just depends on you as the person if you can tolerate it.

 

Milltek, just right!

 

Milltelk also gets my vote.

Although I really like my JCW exhaust with RMW header. Quiet at low RPM, but screams like a banshee above 4500RPM

 

Miltek all the way.. i have the catback for 1 year and am now runnning the full system with headers. It rumbles on idle... perfectly quiet when cruising and sings when you hammer it! No droning.. I know a few people that have had a droning exhaust and all changed them, it's not worth it as you will buy a different one down the road - you might as well just go headers back

The quality of the Miltek is also very high.. I haven't had any issues and it's gone through 4 Ontario (salt salt salt) winters. When mounting try to get the tips a bit past flush with the body.. it expands quite a bit when hot.

phil.

 

ok thank you everyone, i think first i will go to the aftermarket, and put my new pulley, JCW air intake,spark plugs and the one-ball exhaust,
they have to cut one muffler of my stock exhaust and that's one ball exhaust?

 

yup! You will REALLY like it

 

Ran stock system on my '06 "S" for a while, then went "one ball", finally went with Miltek after tons of research... My only regret is that I didn't go directly to the Miltek system. Looks great, very solid mounting, sounds smooth. Should have by-passed the one ball....

 

oneball-mod.jpg?t=1230926882

 

Passed on the one-ball? I mean cmon', its $75 dollars.

I am sure the Miltek is great but there is VERY little downside to trying the one ball for awhile while he makes his decision.

 

yes exactly, it's been only 1 week after my purchase of the mini haha, so first the one-ball will be the best i think, and will save a bit of money, and after that will make the decision of the exhaust, but after seeing many videos, many answers and so will go definetely to the Miltek, Magnaflow or JCW
how many HP will gain my cooper s 163hp from 2003 with the one-bacll exhaust, 15%pulley and airfilter? this is the first stage for my new r53, after this, in the future will change headers, cam, cyl head, injectors,new exhaust and retune

 

My local shop actually charged $40 for my "one-ball" mod.... so you might want to ask your shop what they would charge before ruling it out?

 

I had a 2003 R50 with a Magnaflow Catback (not a custom one). It was rediculously loud and droned like no ones business, I was 16 when I put it on. Even then I thought it was too loud. I'd imagine itd be insanely loud for the R53 as well.