Has any one here with a JCW kit removed the resonator that's located after the cat?. If you have, what's your experience without it....is it too loud?....how about back-pressure....I want to remove it but I'm afraid it won't do any thing to performance or sound. Sorry about all the questions. Hope someone helps.

 

Had my resonatorectomy in June and love it. The stock JCW exhaust is quiet, too quiet for what the kit is all about. Without the resonaotors the note is deeper and louder; louder than a Borla street and quiter than a Magnaflow. It is no longer has the "gentleman" sound JCW intended it to be but does have a pleasant rumble and increased attitude. I have not run a dyno and have since added the 210 retrofit kit so I can only attest to the sound and additional grins.
I know a few others that have the resonatorectomy, and all love it.
I give it just for sound quality and improvement alone.

 

Thanks BUZ.............I knew it...............

 

Hey BUZ...what's the 210 RETRO FIT KIT?...

 

The '05 JCWs are rated at 210bhp. The rerofit kit bumps prior year JCWs from 200bhp to the new rating with a two stage air intake, larger injectors, an ECU tweak, and a check for $525 plus 2 hours of labor and tax. Yes, it is worth the $$$$$.

 

I've been thinking about this as well. Buz, any droning without the resonator?

 

Do you have any pics?

 

I would be interested in how you replaced the resonator. Is there a part you can order or did you go to a muffler shop and have a custom piece made?

 

XAlfa,
There is no disernable drone from the inside, but there is an exterior attitude drone. No complaints or comments from passengers.

MINISPIDER,
There isn't much to photograph. The system has the same appearance as it does out of the box. Doubtful the mod could ever be visually detected.

Morris9982,
I was at Steve's Auto clinic haveing some H Sport stuff installed and made a comment about how the JCW exhaust was almost too quiet. Steve said his Eagle Muffler shop had done several JCW resonatorectomies with excellent results. Steve is guy who knows his Mini stuff and is very highly regarded in the SoCal mini community, he and his crew are the absolute best around shaming any dealer service department.
The resonator section was removed and replaced with a stainless steel pipe. The exhaust guy is true craftsman paying exacting attention to everydetail. The work is so good that it is not detectable; the pipe color is a perfect match, the welds are perfect, no scortching and as smooth as a baby butt. It took a bout an hour and cost $60 for the sweetest sound!!!!!

 

.............................Steve said his Eagle Muffler shop had done several JCW resonatorectomies with excellent results.



Mine was one of them........and I love it just like Buz does

 

I'll be next this weekend !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Do you have a contact for Steve's Auto Clinic?

 

Steve' Auto Clinic
16205 Nordhoff St.
North Hills, CA
(818) 891-6109

 

Hey MINISPIDER, did you get your resonactomy? Do you like it?

 

Thank you - thank you! I am calling Steve and making an appointment! I want a bit more sound out of my JCW too! Plus he can probably help me with an rear anti-sway bar install.

 

Thanks again! I am so jazzed - I have appointment tomorrow to get it done! Zooooooooom!

 

Great..... now we have a minimonkey talking to a minispider. whats next? talking minicockaroaches ?

 

YES I DID.....And the car is a totally different beast....the sound is deep and not too loud, with the burble (?) sound after each shift.....$30 bucks well spent !!!!!!!!

 

LOL, you forgot the f in the word shift and NAM bleeped it out.

btw thanks for the info. I may do the same in the very near future. But at the moment, it feels good to have a "gentleman" exhaust note. JCW foe life.

 

You won't regret it

 

I just got back from LA - and Steve's Auto Clinic. What a nice day... and got to meet some really nice, interesting people.

But the BIG news is I had my resonator (in my JCW exhust) removed and it's everything discribed here and more! I am so pleased with the "new" deeper sound... it's so awesome! Plus the burble sound is much much better now. But here's what I didn't expect... not only a NOTICABLE performance improvement... but an dramatic increase in gas mileage! Unless it was my imagination (and I think not) - I am now getting 5 to 6 miles better gas mileage on the freeway. The only possible thing I could think of... was maybe my foot is lighter on the gas because now I can hear the engine? Maybe.... nah! I doubt it. Because I still was flying home! The performance of the whole (JCW) car is much improved! I am very very happy.

Thanks Steve! And everyone else that I met there! I will be back for more fun soon!

 

It was great meeting you today! Have fun

 

Yeah - I enjoyed chatting with you too... and all the nice people! It certainly made the time fly by faster! I can't wait to got back and get my M7 stuff!

 

Yeah, those springs will give your car a very nice stance. You won't be disappointed... I loved the drive home, and to top it all off, I picked up my new wheels too :D

 

WHAT???? YOU GUYS WERE AT STEVES TODAY????? *****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I COULD HAVE GOT MY RESONACTOMY TODAY AS WELL

WHERE did you guys get the straight pipe from? Did you get the job done at his muffler shop???? Or did Steve himself do it? I wonder if he used the pipe from my stock exhaust that is sitting in his shop.

minimonkey, did they have to take the whole exhaust off to do it? or do they just cut it, replace, then weld??