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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Have the Alta Sport Tone Exahust on my 2003 JCW, and while it sounds great I guess I'm getting too old for the sound in the driver's compartment.....Had a box of "Hush Mat" in the attic for 10 yrs now, so insulated the boot lid and the inside lower plastic trim at boot entrance. On the 1st Gen, MINI actually made two small flaps in the body near the exhaust designed to allow some exhaust note sound into the pass compartment.....And theres two corresponding "windows" in this trim piece to pass it through from there. Hopefully insulating the lower trim on inside should stop most of that.....It was either this, or get a new JCW Exhaust system. Will try this for now, if not, will put this newish Alta System up for sale and buy the JCW set up.....What happens when you get over 55 I guess.....
Just a universal lip spoiler off Ebay in carbon fiber look. They come 47 inches so you have to cut 2 inches of each end. Easy to find for about 12-15 dollars.
Have the Alta Sport Tone Exahust on my 2003 JCW, and while it sounds great I guess I'm getting too old for the sound in the driver's compartment.....Had a box of "Hush Mat" in the attic for 10 yrs now, so insulated the boot lid and the inside lower plastic trim at boot entrance. On the 1st Gen, MINI actually made two small flaps in the body near the exhaust designed to allow some exhaust note sound into the pass compartment.....And theres two corresponding "windows" in this trim piece to pass it through from there. Hopefully insulating the lower trim on inside should stop most of that.....It was either this, or get a new JCW Exhaust system. Will try this for now, if not, will put this newish Alta System up for sale and buy the JCW set up.....What happens when you get over 55 I guess.....
Those little windows and flaps aren't for exhaust noise, they're to allow for flow through ventilation in the passenger compartment. All vehicles have vents with flaps like that in the rear for this purpose. They're usually hidden behind the trim more, but are almost always behind the rear bumper.
Those little windows and flaps aren't for exhaust noise, they're to allow for flow through ventilation in the passenger compartment. All vehicles have vents with flaps like that in the rear for this purpose. They're usually hidden behind the trim more, but are almost always behind the rear bumper.
Correct, and with most cars you will find them built into the quiet areas of a car like front door jams and vented into the fender wells, however. MINI made them in such a size while stragically placing them in an area to purposely bring in the exhuast note into the cabin...
For example, if you look at the rear parcel shelves for the "S" model and "Non-S" you will notice that the "S" model's parcel shelves have a criss/cross patterned plastic insert in the middle...
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It was put there to allow the exhaut sound from the "S" model to enter the cabin from the back....And if you knew anything about BMW's as I do.....you would know with that manufacturer ( who also made MINI ) Exhuast sound it's such an important consideration with respect to body design that BMW engineers installed "electronic sound enhancing devices/speakers" in the rear compartment areas which "artificially" produce/create FAKE engine sounds in the rear cabin which are comensurate with how the car is being driven...
Over the last couple weeks, I’ve been trying to diagnose the issue of severe rattling in my exhaust system. i previously thought it was the resonator of my Stratmosphere exhaust, but I finally discovered it was in fact the catalytic converter.
After finally removing the header, I looked at the cell itself, and realized it has dislodged itself, and simply floats around inside. There doesn’t appear to be any cracks, or broken pieces anywhere though.
Now to figure out what to do from here. Do I patch it up via screws or something, or do I spent the nearly 800 dollars for a new header and cat?
Finally got around to adding direct port WMI. I’ve been using a single nozzle in the charge pipe for the past few years and figured it was time to add four to the intake runners.
Installed a WMW stud conversion kit, swapped the CAI back in after my smog test last week, cleaned him up and drove out to the coast! No beach access but the drive was nice!
Adjusted the single ball exhaust, though it's still a bit off. I think I can fix the appearance from this point with a new tip. Also got the summer rollers on the car today.
Correct, and with most cars you will find them built into the quiet areas of a car like front door jams and vented into the fender wells, however. MINI made them in such a size while stragically placing them in an area to purposely bring in the exhuast note into the cabin...
For example, if you look at the rear parcel shelves for the "S" model and "Non-S" you will notice that the "S" model's parcel shelves have a criss/cross patterned plastic insert in the middle...
.
It was put there to allow the exhaut sound from the "S" model to enter the cabin from the back....And if you knew anything about BMW's as I do.....you would know with that manufacturer ( who also made MINI ) Exhuast sound it's such an important consideration with respect to body design that BMW engineers installed "electronic sound enhancing devices/speakers" in the rear compartment areas which "artificially" produce/create FAKE engine sounds in the rear cabin which are comensurate with how the car is being driven...
Interesting info, so they are dual purpose. Our R53 is missing the parcel shelf, so I didn't notice the vents. Still not a good idea to block them up, however, as they do serve a purpose other than enhancing the exhaust sound.
Don't forget BMW's use of vacuum or electronic flaps in the exhaust to bypass portions of the muffler to enhance the sound during higher load conditions, as well.
If the car wasn't 17yrs old, and the hidden flap vents in back weren't curled up now from age ( basically open all the time ) I wouldn't have considered it. And as body gaskets and sunroof gaskets throughout the car "looosen up" over time, it make these vents somewhat obsolete. So far no "cabin compression" issues when closing doors.
When the rear bumper and carrier are off will probably just seal it up these flaps altogether just to keep moisture out. Somewhat doubtful I can get them replaced.
