Good lord... the quality of those welds is

 

Question is.... Are you wiliing to pay $2k for a header...

 

Um, no... hahahaha... but they are works of art!

The JCW sport manifold is probably the best I have seen - still for the lofty sum of some $1350 USD... Love the looooong, small diameter primaries and the 4:2:1 design...

 

I also added a megan header to my cooper-s. the great thing about the megan is that it is a two part header that comes with a high flow cat. I took my stock cat and cut it off, and added a flange to it. If I want to put the high flow cat back on it's just a matter of four bolts to remove. you also can't beat the price it's much better than the 800.00 + price tag for a after market header with a cat attached, when you have a perfectly cat on your stock header

 

I'm running a Milltek (with a Borla Street exhaust). And, my impression is that Madness headers were Milltek last year.

I can't complain about how the header has performed, and Milltek was very helpful last year when I needed advice. So, I've had good experience with it.

I can't tell you how much the header alone contributes to performance though, because a lot of other mods were done to my engine at the same time I added the header (mostly 15% pulley, cam, head, evotech SW, CAI). The whole combination is quite strong.

 

What is interesting is that I am going the opposite route the most people. I am trying to do some things before I go to get a pulley on. I.E. intake and exhaust as of right now, and will add headers on in a few months or sooner. Then I will consider a pulley afterwards. Do not ask why I am going this route. I have no clue either. I guess I feel it does not hurt the warranty as much as if I were to add the pulley.

Garrett

 

The JCW header looks swell. BUT they are mighty proud of it to charge that much. And, still, I don't see any CARB notice on their site, either.

Doesn't anyone know what's happening with the Alta unit?

 

"Or does anyone know of one or more that are CARB-legal?"

theres the obx header which is carb exempt. hope that helps... but i just can't think of any other header that is carb approved. sucks theres no choices for us living in states that smog, but the obx is a good bang for the buck header (but its not the best out there).

 

Okay. Thanks to all.

Header is still lower on my list of things to do han, say, ECU. Soooo, if anything should change...

 

I wonder, why nobody is talking about the MTH header.. I think it's a masterpiece!

 

I have cut out the stock cat and made to fit in place the test pipe, sound awsome just the test pipe with my Borla Street Exhaust, but it get old fast so i add the cat back on.

 

Hi PooRacing,
thanks for the info!

 

Hi Willimini,

Thanks for the feedback on the Milltek.

Can you please explain your comment on the Madness?

 

Oh man, the SACLAM MAnifold is awesome!!!! I wonder anyone here has it?

 

Man, if someone has the money to spend that much for a header, then I wonder if they would be willing to adopt me and buy me one to!

Garrett

 

hahaha! You can try your luck here! marketplace?

 

Wanted:

Young man approx. 22 years old is seeking a wealthy person/family to adopt him and spend lots of money on his Mini In return....


Garrett

 

SALCAM...heeheeeheeeeheeeeeee *drool*
me wanty

 

I bought a package of Madness performance parts last year. The header that came with the package was a Milltek. That's the header that's on my car now.

 

Beware!! "CARB-exempt" does NOT mean "street legal" in CA. Quite the opposite. Off-road (as in race track) only. I just got off the phone with CARB, and "CARB-exempt" is a manufacturer's slick way of saying that the part/assembly is ONLY for use in a race car (i.e., in a VEHICLE that is "CARB-exempt").

I don't like it either.

 

ahh dang are you sure ? my friend's comptech system is carb exempt and he passed smog... if its true i better go to the same place where he got his...

 

Thank God I don't live in CA is all I can say...

 

FYI -- I don't know if anyone cares, but I got the answers to my own Alta header questions today from a So Cal Alta dealer (who called Alta while I hung on the phone). So here goes:
1) Although Alta's web page sez they "released" the header, it ain't so (no explanation why the misinformation) but it is scheduled to be "released" in "about two weeks."
2) It was news to the dealer (my interpretation of his reaction) that Alta even had a header project. So this apparently has not been widely ballyhooed to Alta dealers.
3) Re CARB: The CARB "Executive Order" (crimany, the bureaucrats LOVE to make up names that are self-aggrandizing!!) that allows the cat that's welded to Alta's new header a CARB "sticker" is only good for "OBD-1" vehicles -- that is, certain vehicles manufactured before 1996. The Minis are, I was told, "OBD-2" vehicles (and please don't ask me what "OBD" means -- I didn't know and I didn't ask) and the Executive Order ("EO") that applies to the cat attached to the Alta header only makes it legal if it is installed on an "OBD-1" vehicle. So you get a sticker covering the cat, but if the emissions weenie actually checks the state's database to see if that EO number is "for reals," you are toast because he/she'll see right away that it isonly good for a pre-1996 vehicle. So, it's a roll of the dice.

IMO, (in California) it would be better to put a Milltek or something else on and hope the inspector weenie doesn't notice that you have non-OE equipment. If he/she doesn't see the non-stock header, then your system just has to deliver emissions within the legal limits.

On the other hand, I thought for the $799, which the dealer told me is the MSRP, the Alta looks pretty good (you could run it without a sticker, and you'd be no worse off than with any other header).

As to its performance, Alta hasn't shared any test data o dyno sheets or any other objective evidence of its worth, so I guess for now, I'm leaning toward the "cut the pre-cat out" solution that some have talked about in these forums. Cheap and probably as good performance as most other "street" systems, since the Mini stock exhaust frankly is not all that bad.

Different story of course if you don't mind changeing out equip every smog check o risk paying fines from equip citations.

The beat goes on...

 

Unfortunately, yes, I'm sure. "Exempt" means NOT street legal.

On the other hand, the good folks at a dealer -- whose monicker I won't mention -- not too long ago suggested that most inspection weenies are likely to miss most stuff anyway. I'm inclined to agree.

Our tax dollars at work

So, I guess ya' pays yo' money and ya' takes yo' chances!! Good luck!

 

how about mth headers?