For those considering a first step performance upgrade from the stock MCS I'd say that the JCW intake is an excellent way to get started. I had my dealer install it this morning and the "whining" sound that kicks in at around 4500 rpms sounds great. I found myself cranking it up through the gears (2nd & 3rd especially) to get to the 4500 rpms to hear that sweet sound again and again.. Got to watch out for speeding tickets....

 

Well limestonedan, that's just what I thought when I installed mine. Wait until you install that 15% pulley. That's when it really comes alive. So far no tickets....knock wood.

 

Chuck, have you upgraded your exhaust yet? If so, what did you go with?

Limestonedan

 

I expect the JCW intake will be my first "Major" mod and I'm also considering the exhaust.

 

I'm a bit conservative so the JCW intake was the best fit for me. As a next step in the upgrade process, I'm considering the JCW exhaust, Borla Street and Milltek. I'm leaning toward either the Milltek or Borla. Not loud, but a nice upgrade from stock. After that, the 15% reduction pulley, plugs, and software upgrade.

Anyone with first hand experience with Borla Street and Milltek?

Limestonedan

 

No exhaust upgrade for me yet. I'm still sitting on the fence. The JCW seems good, as for the Borla & Milltek I haven't heard them from inside the car. It's important to me that any exhaust I go with be livable on the freeway. Nothing too boomie for me.

EDIT >> Yesterday I drove from Georgia to Ohio & the quiet stock exhaust was very nice. Too much noise is tiring to me.

 

I agree with you on the highway noise Chuck. My thinking was to keep an all JCW intake/exhaust but there doesn't seem to be that much difference in sound between stock and JCW. I'm sure it's better engineered and all, but if I'm going to spend the money for an exhaust I want to also "hear" some difference. Something deeper, throaty but not nessessarily louder.... I will say that the stock pipes are sounding better the more milage I put on the car. I've got 3800 at this point.

 

limestonedan, if you like the JCW but want a little more sound, check out http://www.myminiparts.com/proddetai...=MMJCRE&cat=13. i have heard the system and it is sweet. not too loud, but a little more authority that JCW alone.

 

Thanks Bean, I'll keep that in mind. It looks like they also sell the JCW exhaust with the resonator eliminator as a package.

 

Have you noticed any performance increase with the JCW intake or does it just sound better at 4500 rpm? It would be kind of a lot of money to spend if all you get is better sound out of the deal. I can't imagine that even if you got 3 horses you could feel it.

 

the Milltek is an excellent exhaust and does what you're looking for; silent on the highway without any booming, a little louder & more refined during accaleration. There are many Milltek owners out there, it's well made and better looking than the JCW exhaust.

regarding the JCW intake; you could always remove the flap and enjoy the same amount of supercharger noise increase but at an even lower rpm, around 3,500...

 

Rontonio, I'm not sure. Tough to say. It "seems" like it wants to get up and go more. It is a lot of money but it's engineered well and is warranteed..

 

Thanks Cooldaddy. So I take it that the Milltek is not tiring or annoying at a steady 70mph on the highway?

 

Too me, I thought the JCW intake did feel a bit more peppy. Guess I'd really need to strap my car to a dyno to find out for sure. If you remove the flap from the JCW intake you'll also remove the only reason to have one. Quiet when you want & loud when you are hard on it.

Back to exhausts. I'm very hesitant to pay out big $$$ without spending time in a MINI equipped with one. If you pick the wrong one it's an expensive mistake.

 

you don't hear the Milltek at 70mph or any other constant Hwy speed... sometimes I wish for more sound but then again it sounds refined when it matters most to me; at lower speed, accalerating with the windows down...

 

not if you started with one and don't want to get a different intake. It's a zero $ upgrade... sometimes those are the best

 

Sounds pretty good to me. I have a MCSca which is a bit noisy on the highway anyway. Did you consider the Borla Street when you were looking at exhaust systems?

 

no, no experience with any other exhausts...

 

Not annoying at all. As already mentioned, It has a nice deep note, sounds throaty and not ricey I had a Borla before the Miltek and am much happier with the more refined note from the Miltek. The drone from the Borla at freeway speeds was enough to drive you insane on a longer drive

If you want a really nice exhaust note get the Miltek, and get rid of the run-flats (they are NOISY) so you can really appreciate that sound

 

Thank you for that. I was wondering if either exhaust produced a "drone" at speed and Milltek sounds like it's the better of the two.

I never drove the car with runflats. I took delivery of the car with Avon's (non runflats). I sold the runflats back to the service part of my dealer. I ordered 215x45x17's Avon's from Tire Rack and had them sent to the dealer and they put them on the car for me. They work pretty well.

 

Which Borla exhaust did you have prior to the Milltek? Sport or Street?

 

hey limestone, how much did you pay for installation and part?

 

The JCW intake was around $404 plus tax. The dealer had a 15% discount going on. the dealer charged $150.00 for the install.

Dan

 

wow, man if i wasnt so hung up on ruining the warranty id install it myself

 

Have you folks see our JCW filter kit upgrade? If not here's a link:
http://www.mini-madness.com/index.as...rodID=272&HS=1