I just got a Milltek exhaust installed on my 06 MCSa and have run into a couple quirks that I haven't seen mentioned in my pre-planning/research. I'm hoping the fine folks on NAM can give me a hand or two.

1. The tips when cold don't stick out at all. They are flush with the bumper. When hot they do stick out. I like the out look and all the photos I've seen on nam seem to be sticking out.

2. The muffler isn't on solidly. Meaning I can push it to the left or the right pretty easily by pushing on the tips. I noticed after driving aggressively the tips had slid over to one side and was causing rattling at idle. This seems weird to me since the stock never moved/slid around. What's the deal with this? Is this normal?

 

I'm getting my Milltek tommorrow and plan to install myself. In all my research I haven't heard of those problems. Sounds to me like a poor install.. When I install mine I'll let ya know what we encounter..

 

1. The logo on my Miltek are the same on both tips. It does suck to pay $700 for something and it be like that. If it's that bothersome I'm sure Miltek will take care of it.

2. That's normal. Mine are flush except when hot. When installing, the exhaust will only go back as far as the hangers will allow.

3. For some reason mine does that also. I removed this exhaust off my 03 and put it on my 06. It was solid on my 03 but the 06 it slowly creeps to the passenger side. I would have to think it's a MINI hanger issue.

4. I used washers. I guess it wouldn't hurt that the hangers are bent a little so long as it stays in place. Since I too have the issue of the exhaust sliding over and I used washers to gain clearance. The bent muffler hangers shouldn't have anything to do with the sliding.

Enjoy the new sound and in a week or so you'll notice the better performance.

 

My tips are close to identical. If it bugs you, you should ask them to swap it. I don't know which is "correct" though. Maybe Stratmosphere could suggest which one to send back?

Mine stick out about 1/2-3/4" cold, and at least twice that hot. There is a lot of expansion!! And I hear that is normal. Mine is also just about a bit off-center, to the left. I guess there is some variance from car to car.

I have not tried to move it around, and I did not install it myself, so I don't know about your other questions.

 

My Milltek logos are in exact locations, but one of them is quite blurry from factory. I don't really mind, though. My tips do exactly as you say from cold/hot and stick out a bit when cold. There are a few pics in my gallery that show it.

The sliding of the tips from side to side seems to be a common problem. I think its because the hangers on the Milltek dont have the end "bulbs/mushrooms/watchamacallits" that the OEM hangers have, which keep the piping in place. I don't have any pictures to show you though, they are probably in the DIY instructions around here.

(sorry for the overly technical post)

 

I have had my Milltek for about two year on my 04 MCS. I installed it myself and ran into the problem of the tips being pulled to one side (cannot remember if it was left or right). Like everyone else, the pull to one side was due to one of the hangars, when I released the hangar, I substituted the solid hangar with a flexible rubber donut exhaust hangar you can get from the auto parts store. It is large enough so that it is snug and does not pull the tips to one side and at the same time, do its part in holding the system up. I have had no rattle problem at all with this arrangement (3 original hangars, 1 donut hangar).

As to expansion, yeah, it barely stick out from below the valance when cold, but when it is hot, it comes out about an inch or two; very noticeable.

hope this helps...
-------------------
04 MCS EB/W

 

I went back to the shop and got a new backend so the logos not lining up problem has been remedied. Found out when putting the new one in that one of the rubber hangers had ripped, and coincidentally the same side that the muffler kept slipping to. Ordered a new hanger. Should install within the next week or two. I'll update when I have more info.

 

i polished the tips on my Milltek last year before the dragon. it took the logo off and looks a lot better. it comes off easy with any type of high speed buffing. that may help in the looks department.

 

Agokart: are the Milltek tips able to be removed, or are they welded on?

Mine look like crap after several winters; the salt is making them rust, even though they're stainless steel. And, no matter how much elbow grease I use, I cannot get the black soot completely off the inside. I wish to take the tips off and re-polish the outside of the tips, while painting the inside with some high-temp matte black paint, after this winter is over.

But if the tips are welded on, then I don't know what I'm going to do...

 

My tips were a little offset when fitting them. They were also very close to the plastic bumber. I shimmed the brackets with washers to get the necessary clearance and to get it centered. It wasn't a big deal to get right.

The expansion is normal.

 

the tips are welded on. so you have to do all the work with them next to each other. you just need to find the right buffing wheels to put on a drill. and your going to have to remove the bumper or lower the exhaust to do it also. i did the bumper as this give the exhaust a way to be held in place while you put force on it. also some jack stands under the back half will raise it up so you have a better working height.

as for the back soot, it's going to come right back after you paint it. unless you don't drive the car anymore.

 

agokart, did you used a dremel for the pollishing? If so, what type of wheel worked for you?

 

Milltek tells you in the instructions to allow for expansion. If the tips don't stick out enough or move easily side to side, it sounds like it's a bad install.

 

i use a drill to get a higher speed since most buffers are big. i used stuff i got here: http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...ORY&itemID=432

i used two different compounds and you will need a different wheel for each. read through it and see what will work best for your needs.

 

I did my own install of the miltek a few months ago and had no real problems. Used the existing rubber hangers but did add washers to lower the tips from the rear valance. Tips stick out maybe half to three quarter inch cold and well over that hot. I can only move the tips from side to side about a inch but they return to center when I let go.

I too did not like the tacky logo on the tips and used an aluminum wheel polish and some elbow grease and removed them, looks much better. I think it was probably much easier than trying to carefully get powered equipment in there.

 

Here's a kit one of the Vette vendors makes for polishing tips...

http://www.nakidparts.com/id41.html