Thanks for posting that - I am afraid that this sound would get annoying to me - I wanted some extra rumble on acceleration, but I don't want obnoxious crackle on decel - I might pass on this mod - of course I'd still love to hear it in person - since I'm only getting sounds from my laptop to go off of.

 

Just to clarify my opinion of the JCW Resonator Eliminator pipe. I think the basic idea is great and the JCW exhaust sounds great with the resonator eliminated on MINIs that do not have the ECU programmed pop. I just do not like the snap, crackle, & pop sound on the MINI GP. However, the eliminated resonator is still probably better than stock (which is too quite). I just did not like the non-resonator JCW sound and ended up putting on the Borla Sport.

 

Great files, quikmini, thanks a lot for posting those!

I do like the sound of the GP with the resonator eliminator! Now I'm debating between getting the part or getting a good shop to do the mod. The part would have to be welded and custom fit anyway to make it better than a slip joint and a clamp. So, now I just have to find the shop with the right size and variety of exhaust pipe and capability/inclination to do the job correctly!

 

pbraun,
There are a few advantages of buying the pipe $125 from myminiparts.com and having a shop weld it on.
1. The pipe has the flange for bolting to the exhaust just after the cat. The flange is already installed at the correct angle.
2. The pipe has the hangers for the middle exhaust mount. Again, already at the correct location/angle.
3. Since I had the eliminator pipe, my muffler shop only charged $28 to cut the stock exhaust, make a extension piece (that replaced the kinked/compressed portion of stock pipe), and weld everything together.
Note: Peter at myminiparts is aware of the installation problems that I had on my GP so if he knows you are trying to weld the pipe on a GP, he might discount the pipe price because he does not need to include clamps or the extenstion piece. I would talk to him before you decide.
I would not plan to clamp the pipe onto the GP because of the high chance for a leak and you still have the kink/compressed section of stock pipe.

On the other side of the decision.
I am sure a muffler shop, that does custom work, can cut out the resonator and weld in a straight pipe for about $50-$75. The only trick is keeping the flange and middle hangers at the correct angles and locations when welding in the straight pipe. The disadvantage with this approch is that it does not remove the kink/compressed section of pipe, near the Y for the mufflers. Of course the muffler shop could also replace that section. Probably for another $25-$50.

Thus, if you know of a custom exhaust shop, they can probably remove the resonator and kinked/compressed section for around $100-$125. Probably ends up being a little cheaper than buying the pipe (unless you can get a discount) and having it welded onto your exhaust.
Good Luck. Let us know how you like the results.

 

quikmini : hmmmmmmmm....... I came back here to post a question like what size was the correct pipe/OD and wall thickness......

Now you have me thinking I do need to talk with Peter at myminiparts.

How hard was the kink removal section to make?

If you, or anyone has those dimensions, I may try to source the pipe myself, just for fun!

 

Peter

I have done this both ways and on my GP I went with the pipe from mymini and it slid over the present pipe on the car if you cut it right. The pipe is made so there is no fit issues at the frt flange which I had an issue with on the made up pipe. Hope it helps.

 

I am not exactly sure of the pipe diameter or thickness. The muffler shop had the correct pipe in stock.
Removing the kink/compressed section is more than a straight pipe. The replacement pipe must be bent to match up with the Y going to the mufflers. It is a little tricky to get the bend angle correct. If not correct the pipes will be angled incorrectly and point down or hit the body. My muffler guy had to redue (cut a wedge to adjust the angle and reweld) the bend because the exhaust tips where hitting the body.

 

quikmni
Did you notice any seat of the pants difference when removing the kink/compressed section on the JCW exhaust?
Thanks Steve

 

I suspect removing the kink/compression makes no or very little difference in performance or sound. I removed the kink along with the resonator so I could not tell. The kinked/compressed section just bothered me because I thought it was dumb. MINI makes a performance car with a performance exhaust but than puts a kinked/compressed section of pipe in the exhaust, just not the correct thing to do.

The other thing that I noticed with the JCW exhaust is a loud air whooshing sound (vacuum cleaner type sound) during WOT acceleration between about 6000 and 7200 RPM. Sounded like my Dad's old Ford station wagon at WOT. That sound really bugged me and I thought that the compressed section of pipe might have been contributing to the sound. After removing the resonator and compressed section, the whoosh sound was reduced but not eliminated so it probably had more to due with the mufflers. With my Borla exhaust the whoosh sound is almost eliminated.

 

With no resonator the exhaust sound much lounder. I like it alot. But I dont think you should do that to your JCW GP exhaust. I would buy a new exhaust. Thats what I would do for my GP.