Drivetrain Exhaust...likes and dislikes
#26
06-09-2012, 10:20 AM
6th Gear
Opinions are all over the place in this thread, but just thought I'd add my $.02...
I absolutely love love love how my JCW exhaust+RMW header sounds. It's near silent when cruising around, zero drone...but once you're on it, it can definitely turn heads. I was worried that staying with the JCW exhaust would be too quiet, but simply not the case, it sounds fantastic. Have had many compliments on the sound/tone also.
I absolutely love love love how my JCW exhaust+RMW header sounds. It's near silent when cruising around, zero drone...but once you're on it, it can definitely turn heads. I was worried that staying with the JCW exhaust would be too quiet, but simply not the case, it sounds fantastic. Have had many compliments on the sound/tone also.
#28
06-09-2012, 03:43 PM
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53LVMini, here are some pages of my experience with the Alta exhaust that you may find of interest:
http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/a...taexhaust.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/a...aexhaust2.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/a...aexhaust3.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/a...taexhaust.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/a...aexhaust2.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/a...aexhaust3.html
#29
06-09-2012, 04:23 PM
The paint on the passenger side is holding up fine. The paint on the drivers side is coming off in a few areas, but the carbon deposits hide that. So all in all, they still look very good. Now if only the rattle in the muffler would fix itself 
I'd be happy.
I also have the single oval tip. I need to remember to clean it up and post it for sale here some time.
I'd be happy.I also have the single oval tip. I need to remember to clean it up and post it for sale here some time.
#31
06-09-2012, 09:20 PM
I sure do appreciate all the comments on your exhaust. I went with the Miltek and I'll give you my take on it...
It arrived nicely packaged and in perfect shape. There wer NO instructions what so ever. Installing it was pretty straightforward, but some tips on removing the old would have been nice. I got the job done, and the new system fit perfectly.
Fired it up and I am very pleased with the sound. Sitting at idle and driving "normal" (whatever that may be) the exhaust is fairly quite. Once you start getting on it, the music comes to life!! LOVE the sound. Nice and deep, mellow tone.
Also looks awesome, no more VW Beetle looking tailpipes to look at either.
As for performance, I suppose it helps, but are you going to ride in a car with aftermarket exhaust and say "Holy s**t what a power gain!!" I don't think so. This was just another step on my way to a mild build up. I've done a DDM CAI, 17% pulley, colder plugs and now exhaust. (All from WMW by the way) I'm seriosly considering getting a tune from him also, just so I won't say "hmmm, would that put the iceing on the cake" I do think that that would tie it all together.
Next are some 18" wheels, dimpled and slotted rotors, EBC red stuff pads, and a 22mm rear sway bar. I've already purchased these items just haven't installed them yet. Till then.....Do it once...Do it right!!!!
It arrived nicely packaged and in perfect shape. There wer NO instructions what so ever. Installing it was pretty straightforward, but some tips on removing the old would have been nice. I got the job done, and the new system fit perfectly.
Fired it up and I am very pleased with the sound. Sitting at idle and driving "normal" (whatever that may be) the exhaust is fairly quite. Once you start getting on it, the music comes to life!! LOVE the sound. Nice and deep, mellow tone.
Also looks awesome, no more VW Beetle looking tailpipes to look at either.
As for performance, I suppose it helps, but are you going to ride in a car with aftermarket exhaust and say "Holy s**t what a power gain!!" I don't think so. This was just another step on my way to a mild build up. I've done a DDM CAI, 17% pulley, colder plugs and now exhaust. (All from WMW by the way) I'm seriosly considering getting a tune from him also, just so I won't say "hmmm, would that put the iceing on the cake" I do think that that would tie it all together.
Next are some 18" wheels, dimpled and slotted rotors, EBC red stuff pads, and a 22mm rear sway bar. I've already purchased these items just haven't installed them yet. Till then.....Do it once...Do it right!!!!
.
#32
06-10-2012, 09:47 AM
A new rattle developed after some time. It is a different rattle and definitely from the muffler. It isn't always horrible and sometimes isn't there, but to anyone that enjoys the pure sound of a nice exhaust, any extra noise is not welcome.
Unfortunately when I bought the exhaust, Alta only had a one year warranty and that last rattle happened outside of the warranty period.
Unfortunately when I bought the exhaust, Alta only had a one year warranty and that last rattle happened outside of the warranty period.
#33
06-10-2012, 02:54 PM
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Since everyone kind of strayed off from the 3 exhausts you requested for, I may have to jump in and promote the Super Sprint exhaust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpuZxctanKk&feature=plcp
A extremely refined exhaust. Louder than the JCW, but not too loud. No drone. Absolutely my favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpuZxctanKk&feature=plcp
A extremely refined exhaust. Louder than the JCW, but not too loud. No drone. Absolutely my favorite.
#34
06-10-2012, 07:41 PM
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#36
06-20-2012, 04:59 PM
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Alta exhaust. I like the setup and design, only thing is that i would suggest installing it yourself. Theres a lot of adjusting to be done to get the tip centered (not hard just time consuming and requires patience) and once you achieve that its awesome...and it sounds awesome! Also the tips are flush with the rear bumper which looks so much cleaner than lets say the Borla which sticks out and looks a bit much, but thats my opinion. You might also read around the forum about the Alta's ratteling somewhere, well i found where it comes from, the first v-band that meets the mid pipes literally rests right on the heat shield above which would make a rattle for sure. I applyed some chaff wrap on the area and safety wired her on (Air Force mechs eat your heart out at those pigtails). I was gonna go even as far as safety wireing the v-bands but thats a little too much lol. 
#39
06-21-2012, 07:20 AM
6th Gear
. I love the ones I have heard with the RMW shorty and JCW as well.
#41
06-26-2012, 07:28 PM
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Last edited by 53LVMini; 06-26-2012 at 07:46 PM.
#42
06-26-2012, 07:38 PM
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Here u go http://youtu.be/As6YWKZbLcU
#43
06-26-2012, 07:43 PM
Because exhausts tend to be pricey (except for the "one-ball"), you will, for the most part, read all sorts of promotions for the exhausts that people already have on their own MINI. (No one would normally admit that they paid several hundred dollars and were not happy with their exhaust.) The best advice I have for you is to go to a MINI club event and listen to the various exhausts there are---both from the outside and the inside if club members will oblige. In the end, it is the sound that will sway you one way or another. No narrative here or on a Youtube video is going to be able to capture what you will be able to experience in-person.
#44
06-27-2012, 05:51 AM
^ +1 on the "experience it yourself" part. I dunno about the rest, lots of folks are pretty honest about what they like/don't like.
I may have calmed down my "straight back by adding, no foolin', a straight-thru OEM muffler from another car! Zero performance degradation and the highway noise is almost gone. Have to break it in and report later.
53LVmini, you can "massage" that heat shiend on a fencepost using a rubber mallet, add a curve and give yourself some clearance, trying to find a pic... you may have to redrill the holes (not a big deal) but you gain about an inch!
I may have calmed down my "straight back by adding, no foolin', a straight-thru OEM muffler from another car! Zero performance degradation and the highway noise is almost gone. Have to break it in and report later.
53LVmini, you can "massage" that heat shiend on a fencepost using a rubber mallet, add a curve and give yourself some clearance, trying to find a pic... you may have to redrill the holes (not a big deal) but you gain about an inch!
Last edited by DixonL2; 06-27-2012 at 11:04 AM.
#45
06-27-2012, 10:03 AM
6th Gear
Here u go http://youtu.be/As6YWKZbLcU
#46
07-06-2012, 08:16 PM
5th Gear
Because exhausts tend to be pricey (except for the "one-ball"), you will, for the most part, read all sorts of promotions for the exhausts that people already have on their own MINI. (No one would normally admit that they paid several hundred dollars and were not happy with their exhaust.) The best advice I have for you is to go to a MINI club event and listen to the various exhausts there are---both from the outside and the inside if club members will oblige. In the end, it is the sound that will sway you one way or another. No narrative here or on a Youtube video is going to be able to capture what you will be able to experience in-person.
Its former owner had the rear section replaced by a local shop because, in combination with her header, it was too loud in the back seat for her daughter. Needless to say, I'm not sneaking up on *anyone*.... 
I finally got the chance to hear it from outside the car the other day when the mechanic pulled it into his shop to put my rebuilt power steering pump on. It sounds deeply beefy at low to middle RPMs.
I haven't had the chance to hear it from outside the car when really winding it up, but what echoes back off canyon walls and overpasses sounds pretty gnarly. 
It burbles and pops authoritatively also. After it was installed, I noticed a significant bump up in gas mileage as well as a noticeable bump in both torque and horsepower--probably less than 10HP, but definitely noticeable. It drones a fair bit on the highway....
C ya,
Dutch
#47
07-10-2012, 10:50 PM
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