Well I bit the bullet and ordered the full turboback exhaust in Oval tip from Adam at Alta. I also ordered the boost tube kit, and turbo intake tube to go along with it. I can't wait to get it put on and unleash my mean MINI, and I want to say thanks to Adam for being easy to deal with and offering a great price to go along with his stellar service. Hopefully I'll be able to be preset at the installation so I can get some pictures for everyone and I'll report back with my thoughts and butt dyno results, haha. I also have the Forge CAI, so we will see how this really opens up the whole system and lets the MINI breathe!

 

sweet. warning your gas mileage is going to suck.... bc hitting the throttle is going to be too much fun =]

 

Got.pho, would the cat back hurt mileage?

 

I was kidding =] if anything a less restrictive exhaust catback or turboback should increase power which under the same driving conditions/style will = better gas mileage

 

Congrats! Make sure to post your impressions - power increase, sound quality, etc

 

yea the turbo back sounds soooooo goood!!

 

Grats! Can you let us know if you are having any CEL problems with the Downpipe?

 

Okay, that's what I thought. I was really very confused there for a minute, but then this is the first turbocharged car I've ever owned. So I'm still learning.

 

Hey, how much louder is the turboback vs. the catback? Does it have the dreaded "drone"?

 

I don't understand how people are complaining of drone. Either they are driving with the RPMS screaming high or they have ZERO tolerance of a slight buzz thats hardly noticeable. I have a custom 3 inch magnaflow exhaust from the downpipe back and I TRY to hear a drone and I cant seem to find any? My mother who easily gets headaches/migraines drives my car and never complains or mentions anything about the noise. So does my father?

 

Yeah I dont think drone will be much of an issue for me atleast. I can't wait to get everything on and take it for a spin, hopefully a good solid ECU tune will come out soon or if I can find a custom tune to really let all the power loose that my MINI has to offer.

 

good luck...I love this exhaust....sounds great...looks great...and my mini really moves with it....the installation was very straight forward(outside of removing the front heat shields, due to BMW putting bolts in the oddest places).....i'm a big fan of this exhaust....and all of alta's products/customer service....good luck

 

So after I get this all on I will have the Forge CAI, turboback exhaust, boost tubes and turbo inlet tube. Anyone want to wager a guess as to what hp I'll be seeing after all of its on?? Supposedly the Forge gives 2-5hp if that helps

 

no clue, but you can't add hp from bolt on mods, the more you have, the less effect they have when you install one.


on a side note, how was the install on the forge cai?

any difference on the butt dyno?

also, what's the sound like, does it allow the good ol' psssht of the blowoff like other cai's?

 

In for the pics.

 

My guess: 7 additional hp and a better sound.

 

I know that as you make the whole system more efficient you sort of hit a wall and don't really see the individual gains add up, but I know it should help. The install on the Forge was not bad, it was a really tight fit and took both hands to hold the pieces in place while I tightenend it all in. Probably took me an hour and a half after I had to go get the torx tool. The sound is really good with it, with the windows up and the radio on you don't really hear much difference, but with the windows down or on the dragon it sounds great. You get some blow off sound but not as much as like an Evo with a BOV. I like it because its not loud unless you want it to be, and it doesn't sound ricey or anything. I've been thinking about doing the BOV but I don't think I will want it to sound like that all the time.

 

You say your custom magnaflow is dp back, so you deleted the 2nd cat, yes? Unless you have a very nice setup with specific resonators or turbo tubes setup throughout your piping, or you dont know what 'drone' actually is? (no offense, im not trying to bust on you or anything), but I've got a 2.5" custom magnaflow DP back, 2nd cat delete, straight pipe back to a magnaflow muffler/tips. I get (what used to be a much louder, but still is now loud) drone from 3-4k rpms, which many people get. Now, mind you I am a college student who does NOT mind some drone, and even at this point i'm not complaining about my droning, but it can drone to the point where my conversation with my passenger gets cut out because its so loud.

Another theory is possibly your throttle control- i've learned to control this much better on long trips now, if you pin the throttle at about 15-20%, it will sound like there is no exhaust at all. though if you need to start accelerating (if its the highway) say 5th or 6th gear, the drone comes right in. And having had cat backs on all my cars, I wouldn't consider this drone a 'buzz'. So if you're really good at controling your throttle and or you dont accelerate very hard, then that could be why you don't hear the drone (another reason your parents dont complain) because they probably shift at 3k or under? Also, 'screaming high rpms' doesnt necesarily give drone, as mine goes away at 3.9k rpms while WOT. From there it gets a nice deep burble.

(This isnt a post to rag on you, just explaining what I learned since getting my dpback exhaust and thoughts about controlling the drone in the car, so that it is more informative to the OP)

 

Ah, I know what you mean, yea but lots of cars would drone doing that like my fathers classic mini with the stock exhaust. I thought it was people complaining of droning while cruising. My car has same setup as you mandrel bent with 3 inch tips. But I do drive VERY conservative If you ask for the drone you will get the drone!

 

Nice Nice, yeah mines 2.5" dp back striaght pipe with 4" magnaflow slash tips
I got a 20"x4"res waiting to go on, though its magnaflow and straight through, so its probably not going to do much. =\

 

I'm thrilled with my Alta turboback! It's another great mod, that inspires me to keep the car and not do something stupid, like sell it and get a JCW The last thing I need is to start all over again with car payments. The sound of the Alta is great and the additional performance is noticable.

 

I just got the exhaust from the brown truck man today and it was like Christmas, except for I had to pay for it. I unpacked it a little and it looks great, I really like the oval tip and it will give my MINI a unique look. I can't wait to get it on next week. I also got the turbo inlet tube today, and hopefully will be able to get it put it on tonight if the weather is nice.

 

Hopefully I will get my MINI back today, the installer apparently snapped a bolt while installing the downpipe but they are taking care of it. It was supposed to be done yesterday, but they are a bit scatter brained and forgot about my appointment so thats driving me crazy that I don't have it. I'll report back later today assuming it gets done!

 

did u get ur mini back?
im gona order the same parts this weekend so i want to know the end results.
dyno charts if possible.
thanks

 

Well it took the installer 2 days to get it on. A bolt broke when removing the old downpipe from the turbo and it took them about 6 hours to get the broken bolt out. The joint behind the resonator that attaches to the muffler section is at a bend and the vband clamp is really tight around the heat shield. My clamp was rubbing the heat shield and vibrating really bad and it took a little twisting and bending on the heat shield. I think they could have designed that section better, but oh well. Just make sure that you have the ability to wait on it longer than expected, I was told 3-4 hours and it turned out to be 2 days with 1 guy working on it all day both days. Other than that and waiting its a great sounding exhaust and my butt dyno says its a little quicker, I just want a tune now.