hi guys my name is Larry and Im from Hong Kong (currently living in New Zealand though) Ive got a few question regarding after market exhaust for my Mini

any help would be much appreciated.

So here is the story with my Mini. Ive got my Mini around 4 years ago, unlike America, the Mini scene in New Zealand dosen't really exists, there are tons of Minis on the road, however there are no online forum or club like NAM in New Zealand, so Im pretty much alone when it comes to modify a Mini in New Zealand. So I gained most of my info about Mini on NAM (thanks so much guys ) Than I got the following engine mods for my Mini:

Alta V2 -15% pulley
Alta air-intake
after market ignition leads and colder range plugs
Mini delta 4-2-1 exhaust manifold with deleted cat

The car runs pretty sweet with these mods however Im experiencing problem when I got an after market exhaust

My first cat-back is a Quicksilver super sport system.... (it was first installed with the stock header) I took the car to a local exhaust shop to get it fitted. But straight after the installation, I can hear the exhaust rattle like crazy . The exhaust guy told me that there is nothing they could do about i. So I bring it to a few different muffler shop and try to get it fix, but
no one seems to be able to fix it. So I decided just to live with the rattle.

The worst thing happened when I bring my mini to the track.... after a few laps, the exhaust drops I ended up have to drag the muffler back to the pit After some attempt by a few muffler shops to repair it, the exhaust finally turns into shXt, with the exhaust mount on the muffler teared the muffler casing apart

Than I moved on to use the X-force exhaust (an Aussie brand but I believe the exhaust is made in Taiwan.) The exhaust have some fitments issue and melted my rear bumper and the guy from the muffler shop even dare to told me that how it fits so nice together with the melted bumper WTF?!

However this exhaust seems to be much more quieter and it doesn't rattle. But when I bring my Mini to the race track, the exhaust drops on the ground again, and the annoying rattle comes back. I checked all over the exhaust and found out that things inside the muffler is falling apart and caused the rattle.

Now Im after a new exhaust, so i was just wondering what sort of exhaust would you guys recommend for a Mini that goes to the track every month?

I did quiet a bit of research here and seems Milltek is the most popular choice here, but a few members seems to have problem with them. Also, it seems most users reports here are from users driving their Milltek equipped Mini on the street only.

Also, I found out my Mini seems to run a bit lean (I notice the exhaust tips are very clean for both of my exhaust) and back fires quiet a bit. Do you guys think this might be the cause for the damage of my exhausts? Or its just the exhausts that I've had are just bad quality?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

Wow, I am not fully understanding the part about your exhaust dropping to the ground. I think your issue is with your exhaust shop. It sounds like they do not have a clue on how to install an exhaust system. I know a lot of guys on this forum have The Quick Silver exhaust system and rave about the quality and sound.

I recently had a custom Magnaflow system installed on my Mini. I am very pleased. The sound is deep and aggressive. I also noticed my turbo spools up a lot quicker. Plus it cost me a little over $500.00. Guys have purchased almost the same system for $350.00.

Good luck and let us know how things work out.

AXO

 

thanks for your reply AXO.

Its just the muffler keep droping on the ground

Yeah thats what I thought as well... But over 10 mechanics and 5 muffler shop have worked on my exhaust before. Maybe Im just unlucky ay?

Yeah, that was the reason why I got the Quciksilver at first.
and I forgot to mention, pretty much most of the welding point of the muffler cracks and leaks as well.... So I guess Im just a bit unlucky

WOW... $350-$500.. that sounds like a good deal. So is your custom Magnafow an entirely custom exhaust using Maganflow mufflers or is it a modified Mini Magnaflow system?

hmm.. I better search for some Magnaflow dealers in New Zealand

thanks very much AXO

 

I ordered a Magnaflow as well. They're free-flowing, performance oriented and sound great as well. Here in the states a lot of guys buy from performancepeddler.com because of their excellent prices. I got the exhaust and tips for $185 including shipping.

I'm not sure how much shipping would be to New Zealand but I'd say it's definitely worth a look.

As to your current system I agree with AXO, sounds like an installation issue as opposed to a Quick Silver issue.

 

Thanks very much for the link sooper cooper.
Ive searched on their website, it seems they don't sell any exhaust for Mini anymore.

Ive searched for Maganaflow dealers in New Zealand, but it seems no body seems to do them here.

There are not much choice if I wanna get my exhaust locally.

1.) Borla, but it costs me around USD$1400
2.) Remus also around USD$1400-$1500
3.) Milltek USD$940
4.) Get a custom cat-back exhaust from with a single sided muffler like Quicksilver. The guy (his shop is have quite good reputation) have never worked on MINI before, but provide life time guarantee for the exhaust USD$980...
5.) Get a custom cat-back exhaust from a Muffler shop suggested by the local Mini dealer USD$560... This guy is recommended by the local Mini dealer but he can't give me any guarantee for the exhaust.

I quite like the life time warranty provided by the exhaust guy here, but as he never work on Mini before, Im not so sure is it gonna be good.

What do you guys think???

 

hm... for the Quicksilver exhaust problem, I guess you guys are right. The first mechanic who put it on my car is totally useless...

But I for those leaking welds on the muffler, I think is more of a quality issue with the exhaust... maybe Im just unlucky and got their worst exhaust ever made.

+ I don't really appreciate their customer service. (I got it directly from Quicksilver England)

Before I pay them I get e-mail replies within a day.
After I pay them no more reply on enquiry about arrival dates, tracking number etc...
I never get any e-mail reply for over two weeks. At the end I ended up have to ring Quiksilver in England. The guy said the guy that was suppose to look after my order was on holiday and the exhaust would arrive in two weeks....

but at the end the exhaust arrive 3 months later

And interestingly the parcel was from USA not England.
And the exhaust was packed in some sort of random steering rack boxes.. that was already half broken when the exhaust arrives my door...

So even if they have such high reputation in the US, I will never deal with them again.

 

i am currently in the mists of analysing and "testing" multiple exhaust possiblity for my R53 using a software. Should be done in about a month max.
if you are going the custom way, i would wait until i'm finish and if you want i could send you the measurements for the exhaust you would like afterwards

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...st-thread.html

 

Given your pervious experiences with exhaust installations, I would be hesitant myself to start down the path of a custom magaflow exhaust.

The guy with the guaranty sounds interesting. But I am not sure if he will honor it after you track the car.

 

Thanks so much for the offer mgrant

but I've decided to give the Milltek a try. Hope everything goes alright..

Slinger688... the custom exhaust guy said the warranty would still be valid even if I track the car. But sounds too good to be true ay?

Now I decided to go for the Milltek, and the exhaust would arrive in 10 days.
I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes.

Thanks so much for the help guys

 

and good luck with your exhaust project mgrant please keep us posted on how you go with your custom exhaust

 

iv`e got full stainless janspeed on my r53 with other mods this sounds more like a tuned track bike really pleased with the sound n the build quality

 

Thanks lowone. I initially thought about getting a Janspeed exhaust as well but too bad I can't find anyone still sell them. Good to hear that It goes well in your car.