Hey all,

I am searching for a good exhaust system for my 2002 Mini Cooper. I'm pretty sure I want a full cat back exhaust, and a nice intake. Any suggestions?

I don't want it to be super loud or noisy...

 

For intakes take a look at: http://www.webbmotorsports.com/intake-mc.php

For cat-back exhausts: http://www.webbmotorsports.com/exhaust-mc.php But stear clear of the Magnaflow as many consider it "loud".

 

If you like the Borla, you can get it for less than $500 (though not through an MCO sponsor)

check http://flowfaster.com/catalog.cfm?st...sub=11&m=1 for the MINI Cooper Borla system @ $485.

 

i have the borla and i am very happy with it. fairly inexpensive, easy to install, good quality, and the sound is great when using an intake,

 

I've actually seen a custom Magnaflow system that didn't look like a grapefruit cannon or sound *too* loud. You can see it here. No sound clips, but it's a bit quieter than my Borla.

 

I tried the Borla and found it to drone too much. Highway driving was really unpleasant. Otherwise the sound was quite nice. I also found the tip design didn't really work on the Mini - a bit incongruous. I sold imy Borla and got the Remus - which is a rear section only. I'm very happy with the Remus. Sounds beautiful, no drone, and looks very sharp and harmonious with the Mini's rear.

Check out Gabe Bridger's review of the Remus here: http://www.bridger.us/mini/exhaust/
He nailed it.

 

>>Hey all,
>>
>>I am searching for a good exhaust system for my 2002 Mini Cooper. I'm pretty sure I want a full cat back exhaust, and a nice intake. Any suggestions?
>>
>>I don't want it to be super loud or noisy...

Before you make any decision, you need to check out Supersprint
Supersprint is the only manufacturer that offer a complete system from Cylinder head to tail pipe with choices of tips sound levels, and various tubing diameter. Supersprint is O.E. for many European Tuners, and even O.E. for many of the ralley teams in europe. We have 3 levels of sound quality for just the Cooper S. If you like quiet we have it, if you want loud we have it.

Page Title See why Supersprint is better

Later if you want to go fast we have that too! Check out Blue Thunder, and our new addition Silver Sonic!Silver Sonic & Blue Thunder in Action

 

I've seen magnaflows on ebay for $300 or less...sure its loud but it sounds soooo cool I really like the canister look of the 'flow. The other exhausts out there look just like the stock exhaust but with a chrome tip.

 

Yeah, I hear what you're sayin'... See, my thing is, I don't want it to look like it has more power, but I want it to drive like it does ... I didn't expect this to be such a hard decision, haha...

 

>>I tried the Borla and found it to drone too much. Highway driving was really unpleasant. Otherwise the sound was quite nice. I also found the tip design didn't really work on the Mini - a bit incongruous. I sold imy Borla and got the Remus - which is a rear section only. I'm very happy with the Remus. Sounds beautiful, no drone, and looks very sharp and harmonious with the Mini's rear.<<

Well, check any Cooper exhaust thread, and you'll get me and XAlfa's diametrically opposed opinions on the Borla. I couldn't be happier with the Borla on my Cooper. I don't get a drone, and the sound is just louder enough and deeper enough to sound really great. It improves the exhaust note tremendously, yet doesn't raise the eyebrows of my parents when I pull into their driveway. And I think the tip looks fantastic! I think it really fills out the rear view of the car, and it looks so much more substantial than the "grapefruit cannon" Magnaflow (thanks dbwildo!).

Obviously this is ultimately a matter of your individual opinion. Just about any exhaust is going to have its champions and its detractors. Whether or not you get a drone seems like it may have to do with the install, and how far the tip extends back from the rear valence on the car.

Good luck! If you happen to be anywhere near Boston, I'd be happy to let you check out my car.
Chris

_________________

 

Haha, thanks Chris, I appreciate the opinion, and the offer. Unfortunately I live it California. What kind of intake do you have Chris? I'm wondering if that affects the sound too, which I imagine it would.

Also, XAlfa, what type of intake are you running, if any? Thanks!

 

Ok guys, so if I want to get the Typhoon K&N, where's the best place to get it you think? I live in the Southern Cali area, but I'd buy it online given a good price.

Thanks!

 

I dont know of any shop in so cal that sells them, check out the vendors here on MCO I'm sure many of them carry it! Good luck :smile:

 

Get the Borla. Period. It's the best quality, not too fast-n-furious loud, it doesn't drone on the highway AT ALL, and has a million mile warranty. After looking and listening to pretty much all of the exhausts, and talking to MANY owners, the one people were most happy with over the long term was the Borla Street.

 

Disagree:

The Borla is generally considered to be too noisy, with a pronounced drone on road trips that will drive you nuts. I've heard this complaint on both the street and track versions of the Borla.

I have had the Quicksilver on my MCS for 3 months now, and I love it, even if it was a bit pricey. It has a nice exhaust note that's a little louder than stock, and there is absolutely no drone on the highway. And in addition, it is 20 lbs lighter than stock, and neither the Magnaflow nor the Borla can claim that. It comes with a large exhaust canister that looks really nasty, but I understand that there is also a 2-barrel version available.

The US distributor is Mini-Madness in Portland, OR.

Roger in New Orleans

 

Awesome, thanks for the input...


What kind of intakes do you all have? Input on those?

 

blackdogmini, rcorby...

Please keep in mind that KiLO is asking about an exhaust for the COOPER. The MCS Borla exhausts are entirely different from the Cooper one.

I have the Moss intake, which I installed a while before the exhaust. I notice the sound of the intake coming from the direction of the engine; I doubt that it substantially affects the sound of the exhaust.

 

I love the Borla! the drone is really non-existant, and if it starts to drone it means that I'm in need of a downshift like going up a super steep grade in 5th. I went with the Borla because of quality and others recommendations I'm glad it's the choice I made. The sound is perfect....

Until, with the K&N typhoon, you get on it...HARD! then watch out! My Roxy makes all kind of noise at WOT or when hard under power through the gears! not a bad sound, I actually quite enjoy it

If you want to check it out, I know you are in OC. PM me here, email me at db@dbmini.us or IM me at dsb106 via Yahoo! or AIM. I'll help ya out

 

>>Also, XAlfa, what type of intake are you running, if any? Thanks!

I've got the stock intake.

It's totally possible that I got a "bad" Borla unit. I checked the install and tried lengthening the system a bit, but no difference. I had a real "boom" in the interior around 3.5-4k rpm under open throttle. This didn't work for me as I'm doing a lot of highway driving in the 80s.

 

Just a reminder so we can all be discussing the same thing for Kilo.

This is about an intake and exhaust for a Mini Cooper not MCS.

Althougth there are many many options. You need to decide on budget and how much you want what you buy to be based on looks or performance.

Despite all of the claims the intake for the MC is quite limited maybe 3 or 4 HP tops out of a drop in filter and likely to be less. But it is easy and cheap.

Of the drop in filters I like the Green Performance filter through Turner Motorsports. $44.
Otherwise Uniform filter and K&N filters are available for under $50

For cold air intake then consider Viper Pipercross for about $285 from Diamond Racing. It's the only truely closed air design. Everything else is open and you have mixed hot and cold air entering the cone filter. Some are quite good looking intakes though.

For exhaust you have to decide on Cat-back or not (which means cutting in which case check out the Devil by Diamond racing-they even have a intake and exhaust special with both for $549)
I like the Helix cat-back exhaust for the MC for about $549. Adds up to 8HP and has a good tone, excellent fit and finish and you can talk to Eric at Helix13 for free if you have any questions. 1-877-HELIX13

 

Very cool, thanks guys. I know forsure I want to go with full cat-back exhaust. That's interesting, I didn't know that the Viper was the only true cold-air intake... The K&N is a lot cheaper though, I think that's probably all I really need. I'm debating now, but that's a good thing

 

Well... I didn't see my choice represented here yet. But after a week of researching here on MCO and on Google, I placed my order last nite with Rspeed. I have met these fine folks before when it came to modifying my Miata and they are all about a quality product. I ordered their exhaust and their $80 intake (I like that it's not too flashy under the hood). Hope to have it UPS'd here to Raleigh by Friday so I can go to it this weekend.

In my seach for exhaust, I was most tempted by Remus as an alternate. But for me, the price difference b/tn Rspeed and Remus was very little - about $50 right now. And the Rspeed exhaust is cat back - unlike the Remus. What I would like to know more about is the Devil exhaust. The price is attractive, and I think that once more folks know how it sounds, etc., it should sell pretty well. I would have taken the risk of trying it, but my significant other doesn't want something too loud. "She who must be obeyed."

 

Cool, you'll have to come back and report on how you like the exhaust/intake

 

The RSpeed is a beautiful exhaust, and very nicely priced. I had almost decided on it, but then a local race shop had a great sale on the Borla.

Here's a great thread from a while back about Cooper exhausts. Lots of good links.

 

I'm partial to the RSpeed, in fact, after 7 months and (I think) about 14K miles I LOVE this exhaust!

I tried the Helix and found it too loud for me....there were minor fitment issues as well but decibels broke the camel's back. I'll say maybe I got a "bad" Helix system like XAlfa says he may have gotten a "bad" Borla. But mine was bearable at first (except for the same resonance boom in the interior in the 3.5-4K range) and rather than mellowing it kept getting louder with age. Let me be clear though, the Helix sound QUALITY was fantastic, it was the QUANTITY that eventually beat me down.

I swapped the Helix out and put an RSpeed on in March. It was kind of strange to me that the sound was quieter than stock at first....I was disappointed. I also noticed a nasty smell when it warmed up. I talked to Peter at RSpeed and he assured me this would be over quickly - some sort of burn-in - and he was right. It still sounds fantastic. It's mellow at idle but obviously different than stock. Once you're underway though the volume and character of the sound depend entirely on how open the throttle is. It sounds like an old school Brit sports car to me when I'm driving sensibly but step on it and get the revs up and watch the heads turn! There's absolutely none of the dreaded resonance boom. You also get a nice burble on decelleration. The fittings are all flanges and it fits perfectly. My only gripe is I wish the can was gray/black like the Remus....what can I say, I think mufflers should be heard and not seen. Anyone in/around Southern MD wants to hear the RSpeed, let me know!