before I start, I know that both of these are expensive (lets pretend money isnt an issue at the moment)

Ive been on the forums for a while now trying to do research on what type of exhaust to get. I read of a lot of people getting Borla saying its the best and very few saying anything at all about SuperSprint. I went into a shop the other day so I can do some more reasearch (learn a couple of things) and the people at the shop were telling me that if I wanted to get an exhaust and intake for my MINI (just a cooper non S) the best to get is a aFe exhaust with a SuperSprint full exhaust (including headers).

Now, I already learned from a couple of previous posts that aFe isnt really too great because the heat shield is "ok", so Ive already decided that I want a closed carbon intake (most likely BMC CDA). But the exhaust Im still kinda confused on what's good for the non S MINI. Im a firm believer of "you get what you pay for" so I know that the expensive exhausts are "usually" the better ones. I dont know if these people are trying to get my money or help me out.. (they were wrong about the intake, even though it could have been cause they dont know, so now Im doubting if theyre right or wrong about the exhuast)

Help please!! Thanks

 

Now granted this is just my $.02, but it goes as follows: I'll start with the intake. I have the DDM intake and I think it's great. Not too loud, the noise it makes actually sounds good, not the typical "sucking air" sound. Depending on how much more a closed carbon one is, I'd say go for the DDM. The K&N is decent minus the fact it has no heat shield for the same price. Now the exhaust, I still ride around with the OE pipes, no mods at all. I'm glad you posted this because I was just looking at some SuperSprint vids on YouTube and I have to say I don't like the sound. The Borla to me still sounds the best.

But, after hearing this, this is also an option in my opinion. Sounds good:

http://www.minspeed.net/R53MSMCE.htm

 

nothing wrong with the aFe. it's better than a drop in as far as sound and immediate throttle response. but the closed carbon will be better. many of us use the aFe and like them very much. guess it depends on your objective. any intake with a "heatshield"- aFe or DDM will be around the same it's preference.

i think your limiting yourself to only 2 exhausts when there are a few others that IMHO are as good if not better than the 2 you're looking at.

megan racing: few of us (including myself) have these and absolutely LOVE them. reasonable price too. hard to go wrong.

remus: another awesome setup.

blueflame: my original second choice but, pretty $$$. still i wanted it and the only place that carried it here (to remain nameless) never returned my emails and that really turned me off. he lost a customer for good that day.

playmini: my original first choice but, real hard to get here in the U.S.

in the end though, got the megan and have to say i'm really glad i did. as far as headers- not for me to answer.

 

What about RMW exhaust?

 

this is the 1st gen COOPER mods area. RMW would be nice if they do or would even fab one for an R50 but, a diminished return IMHO for the $$$. although not a bad idea if he wants to contact them and pay the $2000. but for the same $2000 for an exhaust that isn't going to net you that much on an R50 and assuming you are looking to mildly increase power and sound:

intake
exhaust
tune
sway bar
tires and/or wheels. all of this work could be doable for the same $2000 +/-.

then if that isn't enough you can go whole hog i guess and get a better suspension and move up to a better head, etc.

 

After checking around on Youtube, my vote goes MinSpeed.

 

If money isn't an issue i'd much rather have an RMW exhaust than either of those . Talk to Jan, I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a kit now that would bolt up to a Cooper, but there's no reason he couldn't make you one.

 

Hello Rusty, why would the RMW be different? Would you please ellaborate so we all know the value you are getting for the delta $$$ you are paying for RMW header?

 

The header itself uses equal length primaries feeding into a race derived full 4->1 Stainless Steel Burns Collecter



Quality is top notch and I think the Dyno #'s speak for themselves as far as whether the exhaust works or not. The price of the exhaust includes the header, a race flex joint, high flow cat, and a custom cat back exhaust (Using Flowmaster Mufflers). It really is quite the exhaust for the money .

My car is in the shop right now but when I get a chance i'll shoot some photo's of the full exhaust. It really is a work of art.

 

yes it is a very nice looking little beast.

 

And what's the expected gain from only the header running on the stock exhuast?

 

That'd be like taping a cocktail straw to one of those thick straws for a milk shake, what's the point of opening up the header if you're going to create another restriction at the catback?.

I don't have specific numbers for various combinations, but in my case going from an OBX header with the invidia exhaust to the full RMW V1 exhaust yeilded about 12 HP and 9 ft/lbs of torque.

 

It comes down to pulse scavenging for the most part. When the motor fires, exhaust gas leaves the exhaust port and travels through the header/ex. manifold. In a properly tuned header (ie-RMW), the pulse hits the collector and returns back toward the exhaust port in time for the next pulse leaving said port. Now, here's when it gets a little tricky. As the next revolution takes place, a slight amount of air and fuel is lost into the exhaust during overlap. The first pulse, if properly timed, will is essence "push" the second pulse of unburnt air and fuel back into the motor and aids in pulling any burnt exhaust gas out. Here's some great reading on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifol...ve_engineering)
http://www.ssheaders.com/header.htm

 

Your first link is dead .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifol...engineering%29

Good reading.

 

Hey, here are two clips of my MINI Cooper with Magnaflow exhaust and intake. The Magnaflow is very nicely price and suppose to give some of the best hp and tq gains for the Cooper!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfZlRb5nIIA (Exhaust clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBB7ffCKExQ (0-60 clip)

 

What'd you hit at the end .

 

I did not hit anything!!! LOL I had to stop to make a turn! Its all good!

 

It must of been some random sound lol!

 

I like the sound of the magnaflow actually!

What intake are you running? Just a drop-in filter? Or do you have the K&N with the tube and all?

 

but, and you know way more than me i imagine, how much can one expect to gain on the cooper with any new exhaust even the very best? i doubt he's going to see a 12HP gain like on rusty's S no? that's why i say IMHO a diminished return on a $2000 exhaust set up.

wouldn't a "good" exhaust, cai and tune provide about the same for way less $? and still leave a nice chunk to start on suspension upgrades?

don't get me wrong, i love my R50 and have probably spent more on the little mods i've done than i should have but, i also realize it isn't going to shoot flames and i'm fine with that. still a peppy little car and handles like a dream! i've gotten a reasonable small amount of gain- mainly in immediate throttle which is what i was after. i still want to get with jan to do a tune but, between his schedule and mine it ain't happening too soon. and i really want to do it out of curiousity. but, i know even though my car isn't crazy modded there's not a whole lot more i can do. so other than a tune- realistically i'm kind of at a stopping point. i could put on a better head and injectors, etc. etc. but what am i going to get? and there's a bunch more i can do suspension wise. i'm kind of at the point now where it's all about maintaining till the car drops. for all the money i could drop trying to scratch out a few drops of HP- i could stick away for a brand new S when my lemmy makes his last run. then the modding option are a whole new world.

anyhow when the OP pretends money isn't an issue i bet he wasn't thinking $2000 . if money really isn't the issue - i'll take one too . it looks like it is one quality build if nothing else and i'm sure on an S engine it's really worth the $. either way i hope he comes back and lets us know his decision and how the results turned out.

 

I'd say for the power difference you are looking at between the various exhausts, just go with the one you like the best (sound/looks)

 

Hey RJTROUT2000, here is my custom intake! Very cheap to make and easy to do! Plus it sounds good!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=130403

 

supersprint isn't that expensive if you get it from the right place

http://www.promini.com/product-exec/...earch_model/99

personally i have the magnaflow and love it

 

Hey , Im back sorry Ive been gone for so long Ive been out of town.

but from sound i really like the borla. i guess what Ive been reading for a while is probably right. Im not guna get too much out of the cooper so spending the extra $$$ isn't really worth it when i could put it into something else like suspension. (when I said PRETEND money wasnt an issue, it didnt mean I was guna spend $2000 on an exhaust lol but thanks for the help tho )

I'm not getting it yet. Im still doing my research. but if all works out i plan on having it by the beginning of the summer (near june)

I have another question . Don't know if its dumb to do or not. But the Borla sounds awesome but I LOVE the dual exhaust look. could it be bad to put it together with a dual exhaust? or is that just a bad idea all together?

 

That would be badazz if you could pull it off. It would be expensive and require some good fab skills but I'm sure it could be done somehow. Or, you could buy this:
http://www.remusexhaustshop.com/mini...505-p-784.html
But again, look at the price. For my money and the sound you get, I'd go MinSpeed Touring.