Hi,

I've been reading this forum for a little while now and it has answered a lot of questions that I had, so I decided to become a member

I'm looking for a new exhaust system/ muffler. The main reason is for a better sounding exhaust, but also for a small performance increase. the full exhaust systems such as borla are a little pricey. I was wondering if it is possible to just buy a glasspack muffler and have it replace the current muffler? I went to an online performance parts store and selected the year/ model car (2002 MCS) and it showed several different glasspack mufflers that were compatible.

Is the site correct in that I only have to get the muffler and have it installed? And do you have any ideas if it would sound good and how much the installation should cost?

Thanks,

Joe

 

don't go cheap on exhaust. Hook yourself up with a magnaflow, oneball, or megan racing full exhaust. Just a muffler won't do much for you besides sounds, and most of them don't sound that good anyway. Just get a catback system and then sometime down the road get yourself a header.

 

Glass pack mufflers are Not the way to go.
To put it simply, they are showing you "universal" parts.
On a Mini, the exaust is not a simple stright back... As said before, get a cat-back, or have the one ball mod done. If you want a quieter exaust, the look at the JCW...or jcw without the resonator...for a bit more sound.
It comes down to $$$. Listen to the exaust thread...find one that sounds good, buy it, and have it bolted up.
If you have a trusted custom exaust shop, they can likely fabricate something nice, but the sound may or may not be to your liking, you will not know till it is on the car. Just buying universal ricer parts, bolting them on, and hoping for the best is not the way to go IMO.
Since the car is almost 10 years old, IMO just replace it all...a catback. The rest might be getting ready to fail...heck graft in a new part, then maybe have other parts go...that would suck.
The routing of the exaust on the "s" is kinda odd, and that is why folks do not recommend "universal" parts....you would likely end up with subpar performance, and a few thunks and clunks for not fitting properly.

 

You can find the name-brand CAT-Back exhaust systems on eBay... I saw an Invidia CAT-Back system on eBay last week for $550... Normal price is much, much higher...

 

I agree with snapshot on this...don't go cheap! If you do this right you can have the following: more HP, lighter weight, great sound. Having said all that, I recommend getting a Milltek. Not cheap, but a superb exhaust. I have pics in my thread. Hope this helps

 

Okay, thanks. I kind of figured a muffler wouldn't be the best option. I think I'll wait a little bit to save up some more money and go ahead with a cat-back like you all are suggesting. Thanks!

 

The actual Muffler on the cooper S is not bad...it is the piping+design that is the weak point....a single muffler+a single resonator, and some spaghetti piping....the JCW, and most aftermarket one gets rid of the crazy routing of the exaust, and goes to a simpler 2 muffler design, with or with out a single resonator....
IF you look at the exhaust when off the car...you will laugh...here is the stock...and the oneball
mod.

Here is a well respected catback....


Much straighter...a small resonator, 2 mufflers!!

 

Another great option is to check with a local custom exhaust shop and have them give you an estimate on a custom system with a Magnaflow muffler. Cost a lot less than the aftermarket ones and sounds just as good.

 

check out scorpion exhaust from http://bavarianautosport.com
cat-back system for under 600 shipped.

 

Joe-Mac<<<>>> Go to 1st gen parts in the marketplace. Do a search for exhaust systems. You'll find systems for 25% of their original cost w / some even less expensive if YOU can pick-up as they're quite costly to ship . Most ARE excellant systems discarded by guys w / some bucks who just want something different. Otherwise the "one -ball mod" IS your best bet re: $$ OBEY

 

Joe-Mac<<<>>> Go to 1st gen parts in the marketplace. Do a search for exhaust systems. You'll find systems for 25% of their original cost w / some even less expensive if YOU can pick-up as they're quite costly to ship . Most ARE excellant systems discarded by guys w / some bucks who just want something different. Otherwise the "one -ball mod" IS your best bet re: $$ OBEY

 

Borla Race = yum.
G4 if you want maximum horsepower gain (12+, honestly), but kinda loud and crackly.
JCW for quiet performance.
Do NOT go universal (+1 on that).
Magnaflow straight-thru mufflers are loud, period.
There are whole threads on this, search around...

 

Not suggesting the straight-thru mufflers, just the same ones they offer on their custom exhaust. Local shop did them on several MINI's with very nice results and they were a third of the cost of the Magnaflow system but with the same muffler.

 

As some of you may have read in the vendor announcements .......

The ALTA Performance Cat Back Exhaust is back!

The ALTA Performance R53 exhaust system sounds, looks and of course performs the way the factory system should have. The exhaust note is pleasant and lively at idle while giving a sporty, throaty growl under hard acceleration. All of this without annoying resonances at high idle or while cruising the interstate!







Here is the Dyno graph of two runs with an 06 Mini Cooper S. The MINI was equipped with only the OEM intake system but was using a 15% supercharger pulley. No modifications were made between runs except the installation of an ALTA catback exhaust system.


Any questions? Just Ask.

 

ohhhh. Alta R53 exhaust is back! If only I had the money...

you guys do loans?

 

 

Do you still see the problem of the exhaust moving around when it gets hot and not being centered at the rear valance?

 

No, that was several generations ago.

 

I just enquired about the chrome system with oval tip at our local ALTA supplier and was told it was discontinued !!! that was just last week.

I will be calling them back tomorrow.