OK, so after about a year of planning and scheming and lurking around the boards to suck up as much knowledge as I could, I finally did it. I’ve got a brand new ’04 Cooper S.

Pepper white. Black top. Still smells like the factory. I’m about 100 miles shy of the magic 1250-mile break-in period, so you can imagine the tremors I’ve been feeling in my right foot.

Anyway, so now that I can start airing it out a little, I’ve been thinking about the next logical step.

Mods.

A new exhaust first, and a short shifter while I’m under there. I figure these are relatively easy mods that will give me something fun to listen to and play with while I save up for the rest of it. (Sway bar, springs, intake, pulley, etc etc etc etc.)

But it’s not meant to be.

Magnaflow exhaust? Not for an 02/04 build date. I called Magnaflow and a guy named Danny said there’s no definite release date for a system with the revised hangers to fit an ’04. Keep checking, he says.

“But you are building one?”

“I guess. I dunno.”

Ditto the B&M short shifter. It’s coming.

When? No one seems to know.

Please, someone tell me you’ve heard something different on the Magnaflow, or the B&M. Give me a date. Something to hope for.

After a year of waiting for my S, I can wait for the toys. I just need to know there’s hope.


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WEll, welcome to the boards and welcome to the MINI family.

AS for your mod problem... I dont have any news to report to you about magnaflow however I have a 2004 MCS (09/03 build) and the magnaflow is suppose to fit my cooper. I have been leaning all the differences. I was not aware that the hangers have changed. Is this what Danny says from Magnaflow? I sent them a few emails and they didnt have anything good to say, but to check with a auth dealer.

You may be able to find a local exhuast shop that can bend you some pipes and make you a custom exhuast. Check into that.

As for short shifter- Check into helix. They have a kit thats almost ready for the 04 desgin. They should be shipping within a week or so. Give them a call / email. Their kit reduces the throw, but keeps the same shift lever. I am waiting for mine, but when it comes time to install I am going to reduce the stock shifter by an inch or so by cutting it and welding it back together. That way I have a shorter throw and stock... It will be bliss when it arrives.

It seems ever since I placed my order for my MINI all I have been doing is waiting. I feel your pain. Hang in there. Its worth all the wait for the wonderful toys.

Hi Goldcountry -

Thanks for the reply. I checked out the Helix - looks like people really like it. I'm a little gun shy about how hard the mod looks, though...grinding away part of the dust cover makes me nervous. The B&M looks easier somehow. No cutting or drilling.

And since I want to do the shifter and the Magnaflow at the same time, I've got some waiting to do either way. Ugh!

Maybe a sway bar in the meantime…? At least I know it’ll fit!

Anyway, thanks for the welcome. See you around.

I thought I read somewhere in my local MINI club site that a member had an 04 build date and bought the Magnaflow to figure out the hangers are different. I believe he took his MINI to a muffler shop and had the hangers bent to fit and it all came out great. You could do that if you don't want to wait.

I put my Magnaflow on in December of last year on my 04 MCS (build date of 9/03). I wish I would have spent the $45 and had it installed because one of the bolts at the cat froze on me when getting it half way off. After some liquid wrench, thrown tools, and some colorful language I finally got it off 45min later. Watch out for the rubber exhaust hangers as well. Douse them with WD-40 or it will be some real fun getting the tip of the metal exhaust support through the rubber hanger.

You'll love the Magnaflow, it's got great sound. Good luck!

Thanks for the info on the magnaflow. I have the 9/03 (2004) build as well. I will be sure to watch out for that. I should be ordering the magnaflow within a few weeks... waiting for some extra funds so my lady doesnt get too mad. She doesnt like when I am out in the garage all week and weekend. But she loves driving it though... go figure. Either way I gotta love her so it will work out.

I've got a 2/04 build MCS and ran into the same problem when I went to install my Scorpion exhaust. As it turns out, you can install a pre-04 exhaust without using the inside (changed) hangers. This is especially true with an exhaust like the Magnaflow because the entire rear section is one piece.

You can check this thread for pictures.

Thanks for the info. Lucky I fall under the old hangers with my 09/03 build. Anyone know why they changed the design for this? As well has the shift/gear box?

There's no telling, but I hope that's all that's changed for the '04s. I'd hate to run into another problem when I try to have a pulley put on!

I hear you squirrel. I have not done the pulley yet, but you make a strong point. I don't want to rip everything apart and find out the hard way about the pulley being changed. I have not seen anything posted on this, but I will do a search.

As for the shifter / gearbox.. that has changed for sure. I am still waiting for the new desgined short shifter kit from Helix. It should be here any day now. I am keeping my eyes peeled!!! Good luck with the magnaflow. I guess it will fit my build... so that works out for me. Maybe once I get back from vacation I will try and install the magnaflow... I will post some photos and let you know how it goes.

I beleive that the exhaust hangers are the only change. Cars Built after 01/04. I had a 03 with a magnaflow and should be getting my new one this week. I have heard that some folks have the hangers removed and then re-welded in the old positions. I am thinking about a Scorpion, but I want to hear one in person