This is strictkly a performance question -- money isn't necessarily a concern either, nor is noise. I've seen some people say that a oneball is good enough compared to a catback, so can anyone confirm? Which is the best for performance/cost:

- Oneball, OBX Headers, and Custom tips
or
- Milltek Catback


Seems like the oneball combination's certainly cheaper but is it anywhere near the performance of a milltek catback for $900?

 

One-ball plus OBX header should definitely net you greater gains than just a cat-back alone.

And not taking the header into consideration, the gains of the one-ball are pretty much on par with any aftermarket cat-back.

 

ditto.

I've had both and here's a few more pennies of thought.

The 1-ball is a great system BUT ya don't get new sexy tips and much extra vavoom over stock. If its vavoom you want the 1-ball falls short. If you like stealth this is the system - not loud and stock tips.

Catback - I opted for the OBX cat back for $299 and mated it up to a OBX header $200. Loud - you bet ya! new sexy tips (added SS viper tip) - you bet ya. More performance than 1-ball - perhaps but very little.

Header - OBX great bang for the buck - you will feel its addition (seat of pants). Regardless of what you do exhqaust wise - header up.

 

Thanks for the responses.. So with a oneball you can still add an OBX catback and OBX header on top of the one-ball already? It definitely sounds like I should install an OBX header but I'm not sure what purpose the OBX catback would serve. I'm not interested in sound. In fact, I'd prefer if it were the same noise as stock or at least not oboxiously loud -- I hate fart-cannon ricer honda civics and there are a lot of them in my area (South San Jose). I only want to do the tips for looks.

 

I had a custom system set up at a local shop. Left everything from the catalytic converter forward alone, and ran 2-1/2" piping from the converter back to a small dual-chamber muffler on the driver's side, then to a stainless-steel oval tip in the factory location.

With no resonator, larger tubing and only a small muffler, it's pretty loud and there's a lot of crackling/popping on deceleration, but it still sounds good and the price was right.

If I decide that it's too loud for everyday driving, I can have a removable resonator installed in the midpipe so I can switch back and forth on autocross days, kind of like the "test pipe" catalytic converter replacements you see.

 

NO - its one or the other - a 1-ball exhaust or a catback exhaust.

based on your comments above - the 1-ball w/ a OBX header and new tips will float your boat perfectly. Your tips will be limited to what MINI offers do to the exhaust ends but they offer a nice alternative to the stock tips.

 

Ahhh okay! Now I understand So I'll only be able to get MINI tips? Where can I find different tips that will fit my stock exhaust ends or what should I be looking for on mod sites

 

Not alot choices - Mini dealer has 1 option I believe. They are nice you should be happy.

 

I remember reading a post that was imported from Mini2 which had some psi readings and the one ball actually yielded the lowest back pressure. I am going to try and find it and if I do I will post it.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...+back+pressure

Post number 15 has the PSI readings.

Hope this helps.

 

These the ones? http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NM.../InvDetail.cfm

 

Not sure never paid much attention since I went to an aftermarket catback but if they float your boat you can stop looking .

 

Milltek! nuff said