The above mentioned CompTech is $795 list. The fuzzy part is it shows a pic with a cat attached but doesn't say so in the print.
$795 with a decent cat would be a nice deal.
Without gets you back to the pushing $1K range once you add a cat and labor( for me at least) to weld it on.

 

I know Mini's are a relativly low volume vehicle, but over a kilobuck for a header is just wayyy too much!

But then I also think that $700 for a cat back is too expensive too.

Matt

 

Here, Here!... $1k is extreme for a production header. I can see that kind dough getting shelled out for a specialized, one-off race header or something, but not for something that a welder already has a jig for.

MCS exhausts are kind of silly, seeing as it's using 2 fairly standard sized mufflers. I understand that there's a fair bit of welding involved but for the most part, it's all just mandrel bent stainless tubing.

 

Also, some 4-2-1 headers would be nice for the Cooper owners...

 

I didn't mean to say it was in my ballpark, just that it's in throwing distance of other headers... that are out of my ballpark as well. I'm waiting for a header to be <$500 or test results of just removing the precat. Somebody needs to make a header that moves the header out of the 2nd stage (w/ TMIC, throttle body, etc.) into 1st stage (w/ pullies, ECU mods, intakes, exhausts). Accomplish that and my heart will be yours.

 

But some with the larger tubing may be a bit oversized for the flow from the base Cooper....

matt

 

Hello Matt,

That is actually a question I asked Larini myself, and they were absolutely positive,

The cooper and the cooper S should use the same header.

victor

 

You see this bothers me( no not your post :D ). One car is FI with 50 HP more base than the NA version.
I can see no way for the header design to be effective for each car.
There's been much discussion about how well the OEM header flows for the MCS. ( I didn't say great or ideal here so bear with me) so if it flows well for the MCS then it must not be ideal for the Cooper.

I think the Cooper owners are getting short shrift with aftermarket headers. I'm certain this is economy driven. Far more MCSes get tuned than Coopers. And both together isn't a huge market.
I keep seeing people say "Oh you'll get 5HP if you put a header on your Cooper" I find that hard to believe.
Has anyone seen a header do 5HP on a stock MCS? Even on a ~200HP MCS?

 

Looks like header that Mini Mania has on their UK website.
http://www.minimaniauk.com/web/Item/.../InvDetail.cfm

 

Any more info on the Comptech header? As I posted above, it looks like header that Mini Mania has on their UK website.
http://www.minimaniauk.com/web/Item/.../InvDetail.cfm

 

I found out some more details on this header.. still haven't gotten a dyno plot.. there's a long story behind that. Anyway, the header does come with a high flow cat and I found out that, unfortunatley, for this Mini header, the welding was outsourced.. which is very unlike Comptech. Supposedly it's not 100% the quality that Comptech is known for.. but it's defiantley still very good.

The header was originally made for Mini Mania (like a lot of other parts) and the overstock was sold to Seven. It does throw the Check Engine light because of the excessive air flow. The stock sensor see's too much flow and throws the light.. but I've been told that it doesn't degrade the performance of the car at all.. aka, limp mode.

NEWS:

A connection of mine is beginning his own very high end performance parts comapny, mostly Ferrari, Porsche, NSX, Aston, etc. He'll be producing original custom Carbon parts as well as a handful of very high quailty exhaust pieces. The good news is that he has an '05 Mini and will most likely be importing Saclam parts. They make a lot of very nice performance parts for Ferrari's, including a work-of-art exhaust. Sooo.. I may be able to get a Saclam exhaust and Header. If I do, I'll be sure to do a write up on both pieces with extensive pictures. Hopefully he'll be able to get them, and price them agressively..

Stay Tuned!

 

Do you know specs and brand of cat that this header uses?

 

Thanks for the info.
I'd like to see the Saclam part but once again aren't we talking about a $1K plus header?

 

I believe it's a Car Sound cat.. they tend to use various Car Sound models for the majority of their applications.. and this one looks the same..I'm not sure which model they use though.. probably the 43000 OBDII series..

 

Unfortunately I would think it would be in the "big dollar" category..

 

I talked to Ken at Mini-mania about who made the cat for the comptech/Mini-mania and he said that it was probably made by Magnaflow I think. He mentioned that some people have welded the stock cat to this header with no fault lights. By the way, does anyone here have a spare OEM Cat or JCW Cat?

 

The CAT is a Magnaflow part number 53005.

http://www.car-sound.com/catalog/universal/530.aspx

Have you had problems with the cat on your Mania header?
I have used Mania header and a OEM header with cat laying here in my office.
I may weld the OEM cat to the Mania header.

 

Here is some info about the cat used in the Larini header
This coud explain the $$$ cost

BMW Mini (all), Larini Sports Manifold and Cat



The Mini O.E.M. header incorporates four short, varying length, 1.25-inch primary pipes attached to a tiny, restrictive collector and flexible pipe section. This is followed by two 400-cell ceramic catalytic converters in tandem, offering an approximate 45% flow area, connected by 2.25-inch pipe work. This arrangement, in terms of performance, is inefficient.


Unlocking power from the Mini involves carefully tuning the header to work with the Cooper’s lively engine and the brutal Eaton supercharger of the ‘S’. The Larini Systems Mini Manifold and ‘GT’ Cat incorporates four equal length, 1.50-inch primary pipes, mated to a collector of increased length, followed by a high performance flexible bellow. Attached is a single, 200-cell, METALLIC super performance ’GT’ sports Cat, offering a flow area of approximately 85%, coupled to 2.50-inch pipe work. This arrangement is the performance ideal.

The two original lambda probes are retained in their correct positions for the proper operation of the OBD II (On Board Diagnostics II) system.


Larini Header Features

• Deliver extra HP and torque
• 200 cells per square inch for maximum flow with minimal backpressure
• No adverse legal, environmental or technical implications
• Guarantee a more free-revving engine with improved throttle response.
• Significant horsepower gains and a huge increase in torque.
• Engineered for maximum flow efficiency, using complex internal Cat ‘cores’ (Larini Metalith
• Parabolic megaphone inlet cone design guarantees even flow distribution across the Metalith core - whilst minimizing packaging length.
• Reversion pulse outlet cone activates catalytic material for full length of the Metalith.
• Ultra durable T.316 Austenitic stainless steel heat casing protects components from heat distortion.
• Mandrel bent pipe work allows a constant internal diameter, maintaining a smooth, constant gas flow. .
• freer flowing in comparison to the standard ceramic cats.
• Pipework, bosses and Cats are fully 'Mirror Finish' Polished.
• 100% Tig welding construction.
• Correctly positioned, heat-distortion resistant, CNC-machined stainless steel Lambda bosses and heat probe connections.
• Precision engineered for accurate fit.
• The original lambda probes are retained in their correct positions for the proper operation of the OBD II (On Board Diagnostics II) system.

Victor

 

Please repost.

 

That it has a CARB OE number? (He askes wishfully!)

Matt

 

If it does I want one

 

ted leist,
I have not yet installed the Minimania header because of what I have read about the OBDII light issue. Ken mention depending on the mods to the car already will determine if the light will be tripped. He mentioned to me that one way to avoid this is to weld the OEM cat to the Mania Header.

I am also inquring if anyone here has a spare OEM header or a JCW cat.

 

Its available TODAY.

OBX Header (200 bucks) + recycled stock cat = my total cost plus install was 400 bucks. Of course you can opt to purchase an aftermarket cat.

 

Sorry,

the Larini header does not have a CARB #,

as it is manufactured in the UK

Victor

 

Of all the aftermarket header + cat set ups available out there, does anyone know what will give you the best odds of passing the visual inspection and the sniffer test when it's time for the CA smog certification?