Recently the sound of my Exhaust on my MINI GP seems to be a lot louder. However it's kind of wierd. When I start the GP up after it's been sitting for awhile, the exhaust doesn't sound that loud. After Driving around for about 30 mins or more, the exhaust sounds louder. The "back-firing" sound is even louder. Another thing..when I'm in 3rd Gear at around 3K rpm, it sounds like it's Gurgalling (kind of like someone rinsing the mouth with Scope). Now since the exhaust doesn't get louder until after I've driven the GP around for a little bit, tells me that there are no holes in the exhaust or muffler. Also, I put in 91 or 93 octane (depending on where I fuel up). Last but not least..the exhaust gets louder no matter what the temp. is outside. And oh, it's the Stock Exhaust that came originally equipped on the GP.

So please tell me if this is normal or what's going on!

Thanks.

 

As far as I know, your stock exhaust is the JCW.

When this sound happened to me, there was a vacant bung in the back of my M7 Intercooler. MINI sounded bit like a sherman tank. Plugged it like it should have been and all was back to normal.

Could be you have a bit milder leak at the intercooler couplers or other location. Takes only few mins to pull the IC and check the vac lines under there.

 

Can you tell which end of the car it's comming from? It sounds like an exhuast leak but that's odd they you dont hear it all the time.

 

It is hard to tell without hearing the exhaust but another guess could be that the resonator is failing internally. Sometimes you tell by hitting the resonator and listening for any rattling within the resonator.

 

I hope Im not missing something here.. but from what I am reading, this is normal. Is the sound something differant the the normal burble that was programmed into the cars in 05?? It gets louder over time. My GP is louder then my wife JCW.. for now.. But hers only has 10k on it.

 

Well I recorded a video of the sound. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXwtuOySnQA

The main reason I brought this subject up was because I had never noticed this before. The exhaust always sounded to be the same. Didn't seem to get louder, until one day...

 

That sounds too loud for a stock GP or your mic is amplifying the sound. I'm suspecting some of your exhaust joints are lose or the header is lose.

 

From old school days, it sound like a head gasket.. But I can imagine that going bad so soon.. how many miles on car.. and has any mods been done to the engine. Header? resinator eliminated? if it is still under warranty, have dealer check it out

 

The GP has roughly 38K on the Odometer. I have not done any mods to the GP of any kind. I did get a warranty on the GP when I bought it.

If it's a head gasket..wouldn't I notice oil somewhere?? Just Wondering.

I'm going to take it to a Dealer soon and have them look at it.

Another thing though..After the GP has been sitting over-night, it has some trouble starting when I turn the Ignition. It's been doing this for about a week now.

 

That doesn't sound right. My exhaust sounds a little different after it warms up, but not like that....

 

I've also noticed a smell (maybe smell of Coolant) but I'm not quite sure of what the smell is. All I know is that it seems to be coming from the Engine Bay area. I'm going to call the Dealer on Monday and get this checked out ASAP.

 

That's not good, could be a head gasket. Might want to consider getting it towed.

 

It's idling smoothly and revving fine, so I don't think it's something serious, but it definitely sounds like an exhaust leak. The strange smell you notice may be someting in the engine bay getting too hot due to exhaust gases leaking out where it shouldn't.

Did you scrape on a speedbump recently? That could have cracked the exhaust or header.

 

If it is an exhaust leak, wouldn't the sound be the same all the time?? I've had cars with exhaust leaks before and I know what they sound like. The exhaust note is the same, from start up to warm up.

I did however call the dealer today and made an appointment.

 

How is the engine under load ? Does it pull as good as it did before you noticed the new exhaust note ? Any other symptoms like poor gas mileage ?

Any chance you can poke your head below the side skirt and have someone else rev the engine ?

If you had an exhuast leak at the manifold you should get some codes from your 02 sensors. The 05 and later model manifolds do get pin hole issues but then you have no codes.....so maybe it's more of a problem further down stream from your post cat O2 sensor.

There is a clamp which separates your center resonator section to the rear silencers. I would give that a good look too.

 

i thought a loud exhaust note on the GP, is not only desired, its compulsory.

 

The GP still pulls good and Gas Mileage has been about the same (Depends on where I drive).

QUICK QUESTION: At what RPM does the Horsepower Power of the Engine actually kick in??

I would have to take the GP to a shop in order to see the Underneath because the car jacks that I have, will not fit under the GP. So there's no way I can check the underneath myself.

 

It would depend on what mods you have to the drivetrain.

Mine pulls ok up to 3K then really pulls hard from 3,800 RPM's on up.

Should still be able to see under the car w/o jacking it up unless your lowered. When you get a chance, invest is a set of Rhino Ramps

 

well my GP is stock..for now

I'll be sure to get some Rhino Ramps.

 

Well I'm at the Dealer / Shop now to find out what's going on with my MINI. Before I came here, when I set up my appointment through E-Mail, I gave them the Link to the You Tube Video. The Service Manager noticed that the Exhaust note did change after the engine was warmed up.

I hope it's nothing to serious but I'll find out in a few.

Will let you guys know what the problem is.

 

Okay so here's the Verdict:

Exhaust Leak at the Center Section of the Exhaust. One of the clamps that holds the Exhaust up, snapped off on the exhaust side.

They gave me a Address and Number of a shop that does good work on Exhausts and told me to go there before I purchase a new Exhaust.

Sorry for doubting those you said it was a Exhaust Leak..You were right. I didn't think it was because it didn't get really loud until the car had been driven and warmed up.