I bought my MCS with the impression that it had a full cat-back Supersprint exhaust, but when I put it up in the air I was suprised to see that the previous owner decided to not pay the final $175 on the 63mm center pipe to complete the system. Instead he had the stock 57mm center pipe welded on.

I finally decided that maybe I should order the center pipe and let my shop do their handywork, but found out that the $175 price doubles with shipping.

So my question is how much does this hurt performance, to go from the improved 63mm pipe back to the 57mm center pipe? Would it be worth it to pay $335 just for this pipe?

Is there any other solution? Thanks.

 

it's JUST the striaght length of piping? If so, I'm sure just about any muffler shop could provide you with the length of piping you need. That much money for a straight length of piping is rediculous.

 

That's what I was wondering. It does have a little bend, but not much:

 

So can a muffler shop make this?

 

Got your PM...

That's a mandrel bend, and the vast majority of muffler shops will not have the equipment to do that. A crimp bend is what they'll offer, but that will inhibit flow more...

It's hard to say how much a 2.5" center pipe will increase performance. There have been concerns about needed back pressure, but the more I've read, post cat, the lesser the restrictions (few bends & larger diameter) the better.

 

In any event, yes, that is mandrel bent. My magnaflow doesn't have a bend there I don't think...If you need that bend, some online sites like...I believe Summit Racing and maybe Jegs and some others sell mandrel pre-bent sections. You could probably find one that matches that closely.

 

Both of the Magnaflow systems I've had/have do have that offset.
Don't forget the center hangers that are also integral to that pipe. I would not want to run a pipe without the support they provide.

 

While the larger pipe might aid performance somewhat dollar wise it would be very hard to justify. I'd rather see you direct that money to a mod that would give you more for the money. As an example a header - for that money you can purchase and install an OBX header.

I am basically running the system you have now - stock straight pipe connected to an OBX exhaust system (SS clone) BUT I have this hooked up to a header.

I felt a bigger change when I addd the header more so than when I did the exhaust!

 

BUT IF YOU ARE DETERMINED TO CHANGE THIS PIPE

check out the marketplace TonyB is selling a pipe for 50 bucks!

You owe me one Dude.

 

Any shop can weld those on pretty easily....so if you take to them to fab you up your system, just ask them to weld on some hangers

 

Actually, the pipe sold a few months ago...the thread was just revived...

 

Thanks Stricks for clarifying that... and thank you Bart for the good intentions (plug)!

The way the MINI's tunnel is designed, there's a few inch drop-off just where the tunnel narrows, and all exhaust systems will need to account for that. Also of note, the drop-off then needs reverse itself upward post tunnel in order to have the tip(s) exit the valence at the proper elevation. That is why I used a center/offset muffer, inverted...

 

I checked out Jegs and Summit racing, they seem to only have more extreme bends. I guess I will see if my shop has any ideas when they do my header. If they can't do or dont know someone who could make it for far under the horrible Supersprint price, then I think this one will go on the backburner and I will just live with the little bottleneck for now. The OBX header is on the way, so maybe I will just realocate this $ to getting MTH sooner. Thanks everyone for their help.

 

If you really do want to pursue this, you can pick-up a used exhaust system for pretty cheap sometimes. Several are 2.5" and have a resonator. If I ever go to a 3" straight system, I'll let you know...

 

For sure, just don't forget them was all I meant.
That and I doubt they'll do it for free

 

You section the bends to get the offset and curves you need. Takes know how (I don't have ) and a good amount of welding.

 

Oh, I get it. This my shop could handle, the crazy welders they are. Hmm.....

 

Yah, i feel like the bend in the mini exhaust system would be easy enough to replicate by taking certain sections from the summit racing pre bent pieces.....i have seen some super complicated bends made from these parts. The amount of work would be minimal to achieve an adequate bend for the exhaust on our cars Let us know how it goes

 

exactly.

 

The very small difference I felt in my buttomometer after installing a Borla complete cat back system, makes me think you would be hard pressed to tell any difference after changing only the center pipe of a cat back system.

 

That's what I have been wondering. I know very little about exhaust systems, only that improving the flow is the goal. I have no idea how much of a difference this little bottleneck makes.

 

What matters more are your future plans. It will become more critical as you add more flow requirements while adding more HP.

 

Like what I want to be when I grow up. Oh no I still dont know.

 

Its nota bottleneck as far as I am concerned. There was an articule in which stock, Magna & SS were compared. The end result was that the aftermarket systems only produced a couple of HP over stock . The articule points out that BMW did and excellent job designing the stock system.

2.25 MORE than does the job.

Look elsewhere for more poinies

 

Any idea how modified the car was? Like obehave said....it all depends on your future mods. If you open up the entire exhaust system and increase efficiency with the entire intake, you may be able to notice more HP than that especially if you add an ECU into the mix for tuning. Granted, it wont be 30 hp or anything...but it will be higher than 2-4 hp.