This is a review of the TC Sportline cat-back exhaust, probably the first. PICTURES POSTED a few posts down.

***NOTE: I have the MCSc, so there will be more issues with fitment than with the MCS***

Overview:

FULL 2.5'' S/S piping, resonator, twin cans, 3'' tips.

This is an "ebay exhaust", although I did not buy it on ebay (it's sold there)- I actually bought it off of Amazon for $259, plus $50 for shipping, bringing me up to $309. I saw this on ebay and dismissed it as a knock off for awhile until I heard someone on another thread related to this product said it sounded good...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=98774

I decided called up the company and said it was a limited time price (probably lied to me or something) and I jumped at it! One heck of a deal!
I took pictures of it uninstalled, which are in my gallery and it looked like it was of good quality- good welds, S/S was of a good thickness...

Installation:
...was not quite as smooth as I would have liked. I was sitting in the garage for a half-hour and the exhaust guy came in and said "this s*** don't fit". I was like oooh man, here we go. I look at it and the tips are not even in the cut-out part of the rear bumper (below and to the sides). They had to cut off some of the piping going to the muffler(s), heat the pipes going out of the mufflers (towards tips), and reinstall the hangers (which I knew would be a problem). Overall it took an extra 45 minutes I'd say. Original estimated price if it bolted on perfectly was $150, and the total came out to be $212.

Total cost: $521

Sound/performance:
As they were finishing a guy came into the garage and told me how much he loved MINIs and the garage guy fired up the car. This was what I was nervous as heck about (ricer sound). I was instantly relieved. Nice burble when fired up, and when he reved it, it didn't sound overly loud AT ALL. He backed the car out and said "It's not much louder", and the MINI lover said that it sounded nice, "not like a POS honda or a lawn mower"
Then I pulled out and man does it sound great! (note: first 90 degree day) Judging by youtube videos (I know its not too accurate), it kinda sounds like the Borla, and not as loud as Magnaflow.
I won't be able to get the car on the dyno (dad's car), but the butt dyno shows that there's definitely some power gain. I'd say probably 5-7hp/5tq, something like that, just a rough estimate. No noticeable loss in low-end, but there's definitely more power though the mid range. Doesn't get overly loud in higher RPM's either.

Overall: I love it. Sounds great. Noticeable power gain. Expect some issues during install (and a slightly cranky mechanic).

Pics are coming. Sound clip soon too.

 

BTW: There are at least two other people that I know of that have ordered or received this exhaust that should be able to contribute to the review in the near future.

 

Glad to hear it sounds good. I wouldn't mind something really loud, but this will be a step up from the one-ball either way. And I don't mind install issues, I have a beer-rate mechanic or two.

 

Thanks for the review. Now, I will wait for the money, and hope there are some left...

 

That was a great review MINIFVR. It's good to hear some positive news about an exhaust for that price. Hopefully the tc and the megan stay at a decent price so i can get my hands on one of themh.

As for the fitment, sorry to hear you had to spend extra money. However, you still landed at a price lower than any other mini exhaust out there even with installation issues. And to add to it, you have a great sound and some extra power to boot.

just one question though. Do you think becuase you had an MCSc is the reason it would not fit properly? I have an 04 MCS and would like to install it myself just to save some cash and to entertain myself.

 

I know that the brace did have some to do with the fitment issues, but I think there was more to it then that. For some reason the mufflers and tips were just way out of wack! That couldn't have been caused by the brace alone because the mech undid the brace and still the mufflers didnt fit.

I would make sure you have the backup tools necessary for anything crazy, but if I acutally had the skills, I'd entertain myself too! Good luck!

Thanks for the compliment!

 

Anyone else get it installed yet?

EDIT: NOTE: Someone else had this installed and did not have as many issues as I did. Clearly ManikMini21 was right in that the fitment prblems must have been due to the cabrio brace. I still hope this review helps!

 

Got-R-Done!! Took some cussin' though... Had to bend all of the hangers. Probably used up a half bottle of MAPP gas. Also got good use from my air ratchet and compressor. No trouble with the front brace, but I did have to trim the battery tray. Tips are not as straight as I'd like, but hardly noticeable. Took about five hours including the nap I took after lunch. Louder than stock but not excessive, still has the burble. Me likey!

 

MAJOR fitment issues! First I took it to a muffler chain, they couldn't weld on the SS. I took it to this other place that does all sorts of fabrication, and spent the entire day there. Issues weren't even with the hangers. That was easy. The one side went on fine, the passenger side would not fit. First the tips wouldn't get anywhere close, then the one tip was way high, then they weren't straight.

I'm still cheaper than any other exhaust on the market, but NOT by much! Some of the pain was with the place being relatively inexperienced with exhaust-work, but the fit of the exhaust was way off. In retrospect, I would not have bought this exhaust – even if I had an 02-04.

It is still not fitted correctly, but the shop was out of ideas and I was getting sick to my stomach thinking of the cost. We were able to compromise, BUT. Still uneven AND rubbing on my back valence. And after driving a bit it's rattling on a heat shield or two. We also had to trim the shield underneath the battery.

I'll be playing around with it sometime, but I'm not optimistic about it ever fitting well, and things are probably going to melt by the time I get around to it.

The sound? It sounds great. Butt dyno says it's flowing better than my one-ball. It also looked very smart before we started trying to fit it. Welds were nice, it's quality steel. I've gotten tons of compliments – from people who WEREN'T privy to the install!

YMMV.

 

RedSkunk
The passenger side wouldn't fit right for me either. That was the problematic side for some reason. I don't know why your muffler place couldn't weld the S/S, mine did. Like you said, your place might not have been as experienced or something. Try using a blowtorch and heat and bend the pipes coming out of the muffler to get the tips straight, then weld the brackets together- forget bolting them!
My tips are straight from the heating. Sorry to hear this....

The other day I was coming out of the gym and a guy was on his stomach looking at the exhaust! He was gone by the time I got to my car. This thing turns heads and I've gotten lots of compliments.

 

Yes, I'm thinking when I have some time, to drop the whole back, Y-piece plus two mufflers, welding the end, and then getting the hangers right. The tips actually line up fine, but they're crooked.

Stainless steel requires hotter welding equipment (dif. gas, amirite?), the chain stores around here can't do it. I'm not sure what's up with upstate NY. Everyone talks about just "hopping over to midas" or whatever. Whenever I try to go to these places, they show me the door!

 

I know that when I had mine installed, the muffler shop also had to cut some of the pipe going into the mufflers (on both). Then they refitted the mufflers, still sliding the tubing in, and then welded the Y pipe and muffler pipes together, instead of clamping them. I had to deal with the X-brace on top of alll of this (cabrio), so I don't know if cutting would help you some... Keep me posted with what's going on. Forget any Midas...they just won't do a thing.

Are the mufflers level, or is one lower than the other?

 

Man how can someone sell an exhaust that fits so poorly? What a shame... I guess this is what $259 gets you.

 

i have thought about getting this exhaust. Now I am not sure with all of the fitting issues...Is this exhaust for an 04 and earlier?

 

The hangers were 'designed' for the 02'-04'. I still wouldn't count on it bolting right on even if you do have an 02'-04' though. Maybe it would fit better- I'm not sure... If you get this exhaust, make sure you go to a good place that knows what they're doing. Be selective. I'm about to get some pics up, or at least in my gallery, and my place did one hell of a job. Looks FANTASTIC. (could have turned out badly)


Not so fast. I came out at a tad over $500!!! That's less than any other exhaust out there that I know of! That's including installation, which is at least $100 at most muffler shops. I came out way ahead of any other exhaust in terms of cost...and after having it for a week, it runs great, sounds great, and power is great. I still think I'm going to give the company a call and see what's up though.

 

Click to enlarge.

For the doubters...

RedSkunk- I hope this helps....

 

It's actually comforting to hear that yours needed to be cut and "rearranged" a bit too, because I started getting worried (and angry) last night that my place ruined the exhaust permanently by tweaking the passenger side muffler.

I'll be dropping it and tweaking next week. Mufflers look about identical. Pretty sure I can get it much better with some tweaking. Plus it DOES sound great and the car feels quite a bit better.

And shadup max.

 

Heat-bend/cut is about all you can do with SS- it can crack on the mandrel bender. It really does sound and FLOW a lot better.

Nice low sound, and doesn't go "BLLLAAAAA" at 4K. You can still hear the S/C whine (alta intake) clear as day.

I recorded a sound clip on my digital camera today, but the quality was beyond terrible. I'm **** about sound quality, so I don't know if I'll ever get a sound clip up! I need a better recording device.

 

No sound clips up yet of this? I have a semi-decent digi camcorder, plus there's autocross this weekend, so I should get some alright audio pretty soon. Will upload!

 

Did you get any audio yet?

 

Oh, right. HMM. I'll do some more right now, but won't be uploading it till tomorrow at the earliest (on dial-up, need to find some wifi). Did get a bit autox recording, can get a feel for the exhaust note. And I'll do some rev / idle stuff right now.

And have you driven yours on the highway yet? Mine drones.. Pretty bad..

 

[Mine drones.. Pretty bad..]

what do you mean?

 

At highway speeds (70+) it drones.

Two videos. The first is a standard reving bit, the second is some autocross.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPe8KsJfdK4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OIrb6JfYzE

EDIT: Don't mind the atrocious driving in the second, I was pissed off because it rained and I had no chance of improving on my times.

 

I'm so tempted to get one someday and install it at my friend's place for "MAXIMUM CHEAPNESS"

 

Ok. That sounded pretty good. In fact, better than expected! i expected some sort of ricey rattle rattle like a coffee can on the end of a trumpet. Instead that sounded pretty darn deep from what youtube could offer. Probably sounds deeper in person. The whole thing looks and sounds frekin good. I also like how the mufflers stick out as if your mini has got a steel pair!