only in certain states do they actually test your emissions...I live in WI and by law, your required to have a CAT, however we do not have testing here. The only way I could get a ticket, is if I get pulled over and for some ridiculous reason, the officer would look under the car, and notice no CAT, then I would get a ticket. So check the rules and regulations for your state b/c if you can go without it!

 

Good to know.

 

You'd surely be stuck with a stiff fine from the EPA if you remove your cat and drive on public roadways.

"Federal law prohibits removal or replacement of a properly functioning O.E. converter."
From here - http://www.catalyticconverter.org/law/

 

Here's my screamin yellow lil monster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8if7AW58uqY

 

WOW! that is scary! hahaha

 

LOL...thanks i'll take dat as a compliment

 

Does anyone have a Cross Titanium exhaust for the R53? I'm seriously considering buying it but I'm having troubles finding anyone who's actually owned one and heard it.

 

Sorry bud, never heard of it...

 

I posted this in another thread, but it should probably go here too.

Here is a sound recording I made of my Alta Exhaust. Two recordings under hard acceleration:
http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/auto/other/Alta1.mp3
The car is a 2006 MSC with no engine mods other than the Alta v2 2.5" catback (with dual tips.) The recorder was in my shirt pocket because anywhere else I put it, it rattled. The windows were closed to better hear the exhaust and not the noise of the wind rushing through the windows.

 

Supposed to be the lightest ext catback system for the R53...but very expensive thou...maybe the price was the main cause that no one has it?

 

On sale from Alta for $1199. Considering it started at around $1700, it seems like a good deal, but it's not a good deal if it's stupid loud or produces less gains than comparable, lower-priced models.

 

I have the ALTA exhaust... here is a link to the video of it.. I love the sound it produces. No rice, just pure tuner sound. Sounds just about stock until you really get on the throttle, which is good because I didnt want an exhaust that sounded like i just threw a fart can on the back and was obnoxious no matter how fast or slow i was going. I was really impressed with the ALTA exhaust. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u-aLioVcBA

 

hey guys, i have a volt exhaust (cheaper copy) of the magnaflow and it sounds great but i know where they cheap out. theres a rattle in the resonator and there were some fitment issues. kinda want a new one, the thing is the magnaflow and volt have a distinctive idle which i like, does any other ones have that characteristics? had the milltek, nice performer but i want some attitude to go along with it.

 

My ALTA is friggin rattling in the resonator! WTF!?!? Do you have a CAT on yours "crazyaboutmini"??? bc im wondering if w/o having a cat, if that burned/melted something in the resonator!?!?! i obvisouly dont have a CAT...jw if u had ne ideas or info that would be helpful in fixing this problem...thanks!

 

i have the stock cat welded onto the obx header... i don't think the volt resonators are good anyways- i saw another video of a red mini with the volt exhaust and it rattled just like mined. there was a thread about this guy's alta resonator going bad and alta responded to it... i didnt really keep up with it if it ended up fixed though but it seemed that alta wanted to help them.

 

hi
wish i had the time to research the site, as my question may have already answered, but.
Has anyone just gone to a local muffler shop and had them weld on a new set of mufflers, magnaflow? borla? etc??
Pice would be lower , would system be as good?
thanks
Boxcars

 

there was a thread about this guy's alta resonator going bad and alta responded to it... i didnt really keep up with it if it ended up fixed though but it seemed that alta wanted to help them.
__________________Awesome! thanx!

 

i love this thread!! oh...decisions decisions...

 

Although I'm picking the car up tomorrow, I was at the shop today and heard my Stratmosphere exhaust for the first time. All I can say is, "Wow!". I'm impressed. I could hardly tell it was modified by the idle sound alone but once you stand in it, it sounds every bit as sweet as a JCW IMO. I also like the exhaust tip appearance a lot more than I thought I would, and the fact that the mufflers are recessed so they are not visible from the rear is very welcome. Driving details later.

 

Awesome Kurtster! The same satisfaction came from the ALTA exhaust!

 

Are there any photo of this unit mounted to a car?

 

Which unit are you talking about!?! The Stratmosphere exhaust!?!

 

That stratmosphere exhaust is awesome. I have had then one ball mod exhaust, the Alta exhaust and I now have the Miltek. Miltek exhaust ftw.

 

Some things to consider your motor will flow a maximum of 395cfm in volume of air. The stock diameter exhaust pipe can handle that no problem while maintaining the velocity of the exhaust gas (which helps control heat and assist the induction process to some extent). Going over 2-1/4" on the exhaust pipe will actually wind up costing you some power because of lost exhaust velocity.

The thing you have to watch is which muffler(s) you use. If you stick with a dual muffler setup have them put a Y in and run the same length pipe to both mufflers (IOW don't copy the stock setup).

You should also be careful which mufflers you choose and ensure:
1. Either the single muffler of the total of both can flow the needed 395cfm.
and
2. The total interior volume of your muffler(s) is right about 28 cubic inches (single cylinder volume plus 10%)

Hope that helps.

 

Ok my first video is really rough and was taken on the way home from Greasy's Garage. What a difference that 17% pulley and exhaust made! You can see the first video here, but I promise much better ones to come. Apparently there are videos/audio of a late model MINI with Stratmosphere, but none of the R53, so I hope to help others by posting many more clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNhvw1Ltk9o