We spent yesterday doing some dyno testing on the Mania header with the cat and the MiniPilo intake.

You can see the numbers for the intake under the MiniPilo site updated thread.

Here are the numbers for the header:

6 horsepower gain on average
4 ft/lb torque gain on average

The dyno plot looks very similar to the London Stainless header, which surprised me. I really thought the Mania header would have made the curves higher lower in the RPM range. If anything, the London Stainless made more power lower.

The Mania header when overlaid on the London Stainless plot makes 3-5 horsepower less through the entire RPM range.

The header is an absolute beautiful piece, with perfect welds and quality fittings for the O2 sensors. Here's a shot of it:



The unit costs $750 compared to the London Stainless $1300, so I think it is a relatively good buy, even though it makes slightly less power. I talked with MINI Mania at length about the testing, and what we came up with was the design (4-2-1 and tubing diameter), and perhaps the flow rate of the cat (they are checking that for me) as the reasons for the difference.

The Mania header has shorter primaries that use a 4-2-1 design, and the final collector empties into a 2 1/4" outlet. In comparison, the London Stainless uses longer primaries that have a slightly larger ID with a 4-1 design, and the collector empties with a 2 1/2" outlet. The flow rate of the cat for the London Stainless is 200dpi.

The other noticeable difference between the two units is the sound. With the Mania header, the sound is changes with a slightly higher pitch and slightly more volume to the exhaust note. The London Stainless made no change whatsoever to the sound of the exhaust note.

I will be carrying this unit and just have to update the website. There is definitely a place in the market for it, and it really depends on your personal goals and budget as to which unit is right for you. They both provide gains, are both high quality in fit and finish, and neither will render your O2 sensor inputs useless (no Service Engine Soon light as a result).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Randy
720-841-1002

 

Was this tested with an exhaust sysyem hooked up to it? and what difference is their depending on exhaust systems?
Also, would you be better off using a 2 1/4" diameter exhaust system with the Mania and perhaps a 2 1/2" system with the London?

 

Good questions Brother, however, seems that the numbers would be comparable as long as the MINI was equipped identically, leaving the test product the only change. Most likely, only very slightly different power curves would result as you play mix-n-match with parts. The 2 1/4 versus 2 1/2" sounds logical; you wouldn't want to "choke" the London header with a 2 1/4" cat-back!

Cheers,
Ryan

 

I agree with Ryan, but here's the info anyway:

The test was done using the Magnaflow on both systems.

I totally agree with the 2 1/2" system bolted to the LS header - and that was in the works. I have a 2 1/2" to 2 1/2" resonator from Magnaflow that I was going to weld in place of the standar Magnaflow 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" resonator to test this theory, but I had to send off the LS header for a magazine comparo on tuner cars. When it comes back, I'll finish that line of testing.

Randy

 

Thanks Randy,

You may recall that at least a couple of us were eagerly awaiting this result. Now since you used the Magnaflow as the test exhaust, is it too much of a stretch to speculate on what power gains (from the header alone) you might have seen if you were using the stock exhaust?

Thanks again,

Chuck