Hey guys,

So of course my CEL is there still even after an O2 replacement from MINI themselves. Everything was re-checked, but I can hear a tick and the v-bands seem like they arent holding well together.

I had a rattle when I was harder on my car, the V-band clamp itself and the last section of pipe from the resonator to the muffler was also rubbing on the heatsheild...the V-band clamp actually rubbed straight thru it!

What can I do about this? I have tried to adjust it, and that didnt work at all....I just went for a test drive and it still rattles.

Lame

 

there's nothing wrong w/ your o2 sensors, the Alta downpipe is just a POS, almost everyone who's ever bought one has the CEL problem, the cat is sub-par.
You should check the V bands, Alta had a problem with some of them being ] shaped instead of > so they weren't clamping properly. You'll also want to check the mid-car resonator where it & the pipe after it can clank against the brace.
You can try talking to Alta, I spent almost 7 months on the phone & internet trying to return mine. Alta's quality is second only to their customer service

 

Can you push the heat shield toward the body of the car more so it's not as close to the pipe?

I've got an Alta turboback that rattles too. Mine problem is that huge *** resonator rubbing against the brace underneath it. I don't care what they say I'm not cutting it. I'd call Alta and get them to help you.

 

the resonator actually isnt rubbing at all. Its the section of pipe that is behind the resonator before the muffler itself. Right where the kink to bend down is (right after the brace), the V-Band rubbed itself THRU the heatshield and I now have a bare metal spot there that needs to be addressed.

I think the only way to fix this is to get some fab work done at that section. That was a bad place to decide to put a v-band IMO

 

I think I've heard of this before. I might have to check mine out today since I do get a rattle hear and there, but usually think it's the resonator bumping against the brace underneath it. Whatever way you look at it, this is unacceptable.

 

I just called ALTA a few minutes ago to see what we can do before I have to try and hack up the system myself and have my friend TIG it back together properly. Its just gonna suck because now that I can see a bare metal spot (small) but still, I need to take that heat sheild off and coat it so I dont rust here in the desert!

Also, I did note one thing. That resonator REALLLLLLY quiets the system down! I had the resonator off yesterday to make adjustments and decided to start up the MINI. WOW was it LOUD!!!

 

If you haven't done so already, the car really needs to be on a lift so you have full access to the underside at eye level. You should be able to get the clearance you need by loosening all of the v-band clamps from the bottom of the downpipe back and the little clips that hold the rubber muffler hangers in place so you can twist each section until its not still hitting anything. When the system is really hot and the engine is pushing the pipe back, the resonator is very likely to hit the subframe brace even when everything else is lined up correctly. I don't think there should be any concerns about compromising rigidity, the car is very solid all the way across right above there. I think it is mainly there to keep the exhaust from totally falling off in the event that the rubber hangers fail... and they probably will eventually. I'm not aware of a v-band clamp QC issue, but if that is the case it definitely could be contributing to the system not lining up right and rattling. They should really be clamping the pieces together so there is zero play no matter how hard you are driving. If they aren't clamping right you'll probably see a lot of carbon stains on them where exhaust is leaking.

 

I spoke with Tech Support at ALTA yesterday and he wasnt sure why that pipe was rubbing much either. He suggested to turn the pipe 180 degrees around so its pointing down, but I cannot do that for 2 reasons..

1) I would also have to rotate the resonator pipe 180 degrees and
2) it hits the brace on the car when in that position its just too low.

It seems to be a lot of the pipe itself rubbing too! The v-band has scrape marks from rubbing also, but the resonator is not rubbing at all!

I decided screw it....Im going to my friends house in a few minutes to get this piece fabbed up and maybe just welded into 1 piece to remove that v-band connection altogether.

Heres a picture of the v-band rubbing:



The v-band shown is what rubbed thru my heat shield. and the pipe on the right of the picture (between the resonator and muffler) is what is rubbing some on the heat sheild below the gas tank!

Lame. Oh well. Luckily my friend only charges me 20 bucks for everything to fab it and TIG weld it for me.

 

So, for those interested ITS ALL FIXED!!!

I removed that v-band section (I had a bad v-band and it stripped completely apparently), removed the v-band connections themselves and had my friend TIG a piece of stainless to mend them as one. After one mess up, we had to re-cut and then ended up doing it right the second time.

Its now about 1/4" lower closer to the brace itself (I still have about a finger and a half I can stick between the brace and exhaust, and there are NO RATTLES! anywhere. The resonator is perfectly centered also!

Its actually much quieter now for an exhaust Im impressed. All for the v-band connectors we cut off and $20 bucks.....not bad!

 

I might just take this solution to an exhaust shop and have them do it... mine rattles as well, but only when I let off the gas during spritely acceleration...

 

Mine would rattle after a hard drive on it, or even on the freeway at 70+ mph I could feel it bouncing on the undercarriage (not a good feeling). Ever since the fix I have had NO rattles what so ever and no rubbing, or that feeling of the exhaust hitting the car.

Good times! Also, I noted it is MUCH quieter now that the exhaust isnt resonating off the car. Sounds much better