I have been researching exhaust systems for awhile now and I keep running into the same problem- the extra "brace" near the end of the midpipe is somehow a problem with fitting the new midpipe.

How big of a problem is this? I have bought a TC Sportline exhaust (twin mufflers, looks like Borla, Miltek, etc.). I have heard of the brace having to be removed and refitted for cabrio exhausts.

Does anyone have any info about how the brace might inhibit the new system from fitting right and what I can do about it?

 

I've installed exhausts on two cabrios (one Borla, one custom-built). In both cases, the brace caused interference issues. Fixing it wasn't hard - I just replace the four factory bolts on the short straight section of bracing with longer bolts, and used a few slightly-oversized nuts for extra spacing. This lowered the brace by about 3/4" inch, which gave me all the extra clearance I needed. I'll post some pictures in the next few days.

Lowering the brace hasn't caused any strength issues - both cars involved have been autocrosses several times since the installation with no loosening or flexing.

 

I don't know how involved it was as I had a performance shop do the fitting, but I had a Magnaflow adjusted to fit my vert. It was a matter of them bending the mid-pipe.

 

I'd been planning to make this exact post, when I was closer to making an actual exhaust purchase. Thanks for putting it up before I did

Riquiscott, I'm very interested in the pictures. With the brace hanging "lower" on the car, any experience with less clearance under the car, is the brace any more visible with it hanging lower? I'm glad to hear you don't sense any strength issues so my mind is a little more at ease if I take that route.

 

Here's a picture of the rear brace with the "spacer nuts". If I remember correctly, the longer bolts I used were 10mm diameter, and I used 12mm nuts so they would just slide over the bolt, rather than having to be threaded on. You can see the four locations where I used two nuts on each bolt to give me the space I needed.

The car is lowered pretty significantly on coilovers, but the brace is nowhere near hitting anything on the road. I think the two nuts together only drop the brace about 3/4-7/8".

Sorry for the quality of the picture - it's full dark outside, so I was pretty much just aiming for the general area and hoping for the best.

 

Thanks for the pic, this gives me a really good idea of what to expect if I go that route.

 

does the jcw exaust fit with the brace in that spot too?
or does it need modifing?

 

I have the Megan Racing Exhaust on my '06 Cabrio Non "S". I took the stock pipe where it has a bend in it to miss the brace and welded it in the new exhaust. I know, I know, hate to start cutting up brand new piece but it was that, lower the bracked like riquiscott ( looks good by the way ) or let it continue to rattle while sitting on the bracket..

 

Thanks for the help! I figured I wasn't the only one who had questions about the brace. Riquiscott, where did you get the nuts and bolts that you used to lower the brace? What do they look like? That was a great idea and it doesn't appear to compromise the rigidity of the car either. The brace is annoying, but nothing beats top-down motoring.

 

I just installed a MagnaFlow exhaust on my 2006 MCS cabrio and had no problems whatsoever with interference. I didn't have to make any modifications. No spacers, no bending of pipe. It was a perfect fit. It was a Magnaflow Model #16662

 

Tha nuts and bolts are just stainless steel parts from the local hardware store. I don't remember the length of the bolts offhand, but I'll be working on my car this Sunday and I'll check then.

BostonCooper - that's great to know that the Magnaflow fit without any modifications. Most companies don't even make a cabrio-specific exhaust, and the ones that do usually charge an extra $100 for the convertible version.

 

I think it's sick that the delta for the cabrio exhaust is $100. It's a scam. They aren't changing that much!

 

I paid $599 for my exhaust and that included shipping. That didn't seem out of line to me.

 

I believe MINI changed the brace (or they changed something) on the '06 models and there is proper spacing now. Any change you have a picture, I'd like to confirm that with the previous picture to see if it's possible to tell where the difference. If it's just the brace, I wonder what's the chances of getting the proper parts for an '06 and retrofitting them to an '05.

Wow, excellent price, would you mind sharing the vendor you purchased from?

 

Sick indeed.

 

Nope, that was a good deal. I checked that system out on magnaflow.com and it doesn't mention it fitting the MCSc. It looks like you lucked out on that one. Nice!

 

I didn't know they changed the brace for the 06' cabrio. Riquiscott, did you install those two cat-backs on 05's or 06's, or one of each? Could you tell if there was a difference in the brace structure?

 

The JCW exhaust is a universal design to fit both cabrio and hardtop. It has a flattened section of pipe to clear the cabrio brace. Unfortunately for hardtop owners, the flattening isn't necessary and creates some flow restriction.

 

Both of the cars were '06s - one Cooper, one 'S'. I haven't looked underneath an '05 cabrio to know if there's a difference.

I think BostonCooper may have just been fortunate that the Borla exhaust for the 'S' fits both the hardtop and the cabrio. The exhaust I put on my friend's Cooper (non-'S') was a Borla as well, and it was nowhere CLOSE to fitting until we lowered the brace on her cabrio.

 

The system I put on my 06 Cabrio S was a Magnaflow, not a Borla as stated in the post above. I purchased my Magnaflow 16662 from hottexhaust.com and used the coupon code "hottsavings" for an extra 10% savings.

 

Ack - I started posting too early in the day, sorry. Just to summarize, the Borla exhaust for the Cooper will NOT clear the cabrio brace, but the Magnaflow exhaust for the 'S' *will* clear the brace.

 

Here are some pictures. I will post more in the next thread.

 

Here are more pictures.

 

One last picture.

 

Nice pics! I'm going to try to post some pics of the brace on my 05' and see if there's a difference. I'll have to take another look.