OK, I've finally got to listen to an MCS with a Magnaflow.

Thank you binkydognose!

First thing I noticed was how far the trumpets stuck out from the back of the bumper. Seemed like in pictures I've seen of other installations they appeared flush. More on this later.

Loudness/tone So to give all of you some relative sound volumn comparisons, listening to the Magnaflow at speed with the windows up and sunroof closed is just like listening to the stock system with the windows open and parked inside of a garage. Nothing too ear shattering. Just an increased amount of sound. Not as loud as a motorcycle, but nice.

The dreaded drone Hmm. This was interesting. At freeway speed in 4th, 5th or 6th, varying speed from 60 to 80 MPH I couldn't hear any droning. The exhaust sound was coming in loud and clear. We did two separate runs. One with him driving and one with me driving. Still no droning. Then when we stopped at a stoplight, I could hear I could hear a drone. Hmmm. Odd. It was something that you felt more than heard. Kind of like a puffing sound you get in some cars if you have only one window rolled down. Annoying, but nothing the HK stereo wouldn't be able to mask over.

Performance Honestly I could feel smoother power delivery. He also has a Madness/Rogue intake installed as well. But butt-o-meter didn't really have much to say. I couldn't feel much of a power difference, if any. Maybe if binkydognose and I drag raced, then it might show up.

Final conclusions For the daily driving, the response is smoother. The sound is meaner than stock, primarily from the volumn increase. The set-up did not impress me enough where it's something I'm going to have to put money out on right now.
Also, maybe there's something to be said for the extra length of pipe. You remember when I said the trumpets were pushed further out from the bumper than I had seen? I think it's like a musical instrument, where the length of the resonating tube will change tone. Maybe there's something to that with the length of the muffler. Anyone want to do some testing with the overall length of the exhaust install?

 

The dreaded drone does not happen all the time. Conditions need to be just right in order for it to happen. Once the weather is right for this to happen it will happen until the conditions change again. It seems that rain and alt are the two big ones.

 

Heya dominic, well written analysis.
It was a pleasure and of course you're very welcome. It was interesting to drive each others cars too. Mine's an August O2 and yours an 03 with half the miles, and we both noticed slight differences in steering and suspension feel. Almost like mine is minus sports suspension +! ACK!
I always get a kick out of non Dark Silver MINIs because they make dkslvr seem stealthy in comparison. I'm certain that you get LOTS more grins aimed in your direction. So I suppose I could consider the Magnaflow to be an attention compensation prop!
btw... I've been driving low in the seat lately after trying your adjustment style

 

>>btw... I've been driving low in the seat lately after trying your adjustment style :smile:

 

>>
>>>>btw... I've been driving low in the seat lately after trying your adjustment style :smile:

 

>>btw... I've been driving low in the seat lately after trying your adjustment style >>>


Hmmm....I have to keep mine high b/c it squeaks non-stop in the lower positions...

Is there something I could oil or something???

 

Is this a side-to-side squeak or an up-down squeak?

>>Hmmm....I have to keep mine high b/c it squeaks non-stop in the lower positions...
>>
>>Is there something I could oil or something???
>>

 

Try this for a sure fire drone test:

Drive in 3 or higher gear at 2500 RPM and drive up a hill, accelerating gradually to 3500 RPM.

Basically, you need to put a bit of a load on ther car to really get things droning

 

>>Try this for a sure fire drone test:
>>
>>Drive in 3 or higher gear at 2500 RPM and drive up a hill, accelerating gradually to 3500 RPM.
>>
>>Basically, you need to put a bit of a load on ther car to really get things droning

Ohh.... No hills to climb in PHX itself that are long enough of a slant. There's some just outside of PHX, but time was limited for us on Sunday. Thanks for the 411.

 

>>Is this a side-to-side squeak or an up-down squeak?
>>

Both. But I recently noticed it is more consistent side-to-side.

 

>>Heya dominic, well written analysis.
>>It was a pleasure and of course you're very welcome. It was interesting to drive each others cars too. Mine's an August O2 and yours an 03 with half the miles, and we both noticed slight differences in steering and suspension feel. Almost like mine is minus sports suspension +! ACK!
>>I always get a kick out of non Dark Silver MINIs because they make dkslvr seem stealthy in comparison. I'm certain that you get LOTS more grins aimed in your direction. So I suppose I could consider the Magnaflow to be an attention compensation prop!
>>btw... I've been driving low in the seat lately after trying your adjustment style


One of the weird things about the MINI is that of the ten or so I've driven, each one is different - braking, clutch uptake, shifting, power delivery - something on each car seems to be just a little bit different.

I think MCSHP must be right, the drone has to change with altitude, because I don't have it (and I live way up in the 6000' altitude range). I also think there is something to be said about mounting the system with the tips out from the valence - I've heard of that solving "the drone" on several cars.

I know this may sound silly, and that you've thought of it, but did you drive the car alone? The extra weight of another person really changes the feel of performance gains. I'm just surprised you didn't go - WOW, that really makes a difference.

I was down in AZ this week - absolutley beautiful country!!! We did a big loop with the boys: Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Shiprock, Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Moab, Arches and back home through the Rokcies and Vail pass. Northeastern AZ and SE Utah are amazing - over every hill, the view changes and is just more astonishing!

Randy

 

I think that the "complexion" of the sound has more to do with the mounting differences, with the length of tube ultimately defining the sound. As with a trombone sliding in and out to change the notes. I have heard the Mag on several cars now and while I can allways hear that it is indeed a Mag, they all sound different. Thankfully, I have no drone and my Mag is mounted way back. Oh well, that and $ 1.16 will get you a cup of coffee :smile:

 

Hey guys, don't stop on the seat squeek thing. Mine does it too. Only bad thing about the car. I can recreate it best by rocking fore and aft with my hips (no comments please). I have tried to oil every joint (with the seat in the car) to no avail. Has anyone isolated the problem area?

Randy, I appologize in advance if I am in any way am responsible for another "How-To". Your last was truly beautiful. I do not know how you find the time for it all.

 

LOL. To get a drone you should drive uphill. We dont want to have to induce drone. You only want to know if you are going to have it in day to day driving.