So I am considering doing some RMW stuff later this year. Definitely the cam, injectors, and a tune. I know a few people that have the RMW header (or any header for that matter) attached to the JCW exhaust. I talked to Jan at MOTD, and he mentioned that in order to install the header, the shop would have to cut and weld. No big deal, except from what I have heard, the JCW exhaust is somewhat in demand. Not to mention the fact that many people **** themselves when you mention modifying a GP.

So my question is, assuming I decide to sell the GP one day, how would seeing an RMW header welded to the JCW exhaust affect your purchasing decision? Assuming you were in the market. And how do you think it would affect a non-GP owner, and a non-MINI owner? Would it be worth it to go get some custom setup welded up instead, then get the RMW header welded to that?

Also, any feedback on this setup from people who have it?

Thanks for any feedback.

 

Funny I came across this post, I just sent an email to my local garage to see what the labor charge would look like for a header, cam, and injectors would be for my GP.... I have thought about not modding it, but I kind of want to...

As for your question, I would personally not care to buy a GP with a RMW header. If there was really anything else upgraded on it, like the cam, injectors, I would like to have the original paperwork to document the install.

That's my .02 though....

 

That's odd, my RMW header bolts directly onto my JCW exhaust. I wonder if the design has changed? You're speaking of the street header?

 

I think it might be worth it to just swap out the whole exhaust. That way when you want to sell it, you can just reinstall the factory exhaust without issue.

 

That's thinking outside the box!

 

Looking at a pic of the street header, it looks like it does. Does yours have the v-band? I will talk to Jan when I call to look at actually ordering the parts. Maybe he was referring to something else.

 

Ours bolts up to the stock exhaust as well. I do believe RMW has recently gone to a V-Band set-up which has its advantages and disadvantages.

 

If you buy one with the v-band (which I did and fully recommend), you will have to have the stock exhaust cut and welded. Really no big deal...when it comes to exhaust work, nearly anything can be done and anything can be reversbile if need be. While the exhaust shop is under there...have them remove the crimp in the rear of the JCW exhaust also, makes it sound so much cleaner. I wasn't sure that I'd like the header+JCW exhaust, but it has become one of my favorite combo's for the R53 now. Silent when cruising, zero drone....but very agressive note when you get on it, it turns heads....its perfect.

As far as re-sale, I personally don't think its that big of a deal. Once the buyer hears it they certainly won't care either ...but like I said, you can always put it back to stock by taking it to an exhaust shop.

FWIW...highly highly recommend the cam/header/injectors combo on the GP. Makes the car an absolute blast. I'm at 231whp/195wtrq with that combo...best of all it looks stock still, and almost sounds stock if you're just putzing around town.

 

Mine is a first gen header. Maybe he's changed the design to a v-band, which I am not familiar with.

 

I have to agree with all of this! Great combo. I wish I had thought to get bigger injectors at the time so I could have eked out a little more power.

 

Depends if you're looking at his race header or street header... the race header has a V-band and the street header bolts up to the stock exhaust. Mine is a 2004 back when dealers retrofitted the JCW. The retrofit JCW exhaust bolts up just fine to the RMW street header. I heard the later JCW's with factory installs have a welded center pipe to rear muffler section (mine is slip with a band clamp). Not sure if you need to slip it a bit for length adjustment.

 

Thanks for the great info guys. I tend to agree with you Thumper, and if I had anything other than a GP, I would have more than likely already pulled the trigger. I am just worried that the potential buyer will be super purist and even the welds will scare him off. Honestly, with the amount of miles I will put on the car, and the few rock chips and small dings, it probably wont matter.

Thanks for all the good feedback!

 

You can get the street header with a V-band also and like I said, I fully recommend it....

No leaks here!

 

I have the street header mated to the JCW rear twin cans, with a magnaflow in between. You can get the street header with the vband (just like Thumper's picture). It really worked out great, highly recommended. I don't have a GP though--just an MCS with RMW head, header and cam.

People have been modding the heck out of the GP--I understand your hesitation in not wanting to take it from stock, but on the other hand, it's the most mod friendly platform for the MINI. Unless you're keeping it low miles as a collector, i.e. basically garaged, I don't think a header is going to kill the value.

 

As a propective GP buyer, I know I look for unmodified GP's. In my opinion heavily modifed GP's (although fun) are usually driven really, really hard and unless I'm the one doing the modifications, sometimes you don't know what you're really getting. I'm all for suspension, brakes and even a super-charger pully, but any additional engine changes for me usually take a GP out of the market for me. To each their own, but that's just my opinion. That being said, it's your car and have fun with it!

 

I believe there are ways to tastefully improve the GP's performance. Although a blast right out of the box, the car is lacking in power from the factory in my opinion. Simply doing the cam & header, the car has come alive and performs how it should have from the factory. You could put someone who's never driven a GP into my car and they would just think that's how they all are. It doesn't feel like I 'messed with it.'

Other than seeing my Vibratechnics motor mount, you'd be hard pressed to even notice my car has been modified in anyway. Even with the header, all factory heat shielding is in place. I'll probably do the head next...and even with that, you still won't be able to tell the car has 260+ whp.

I didn't buy the GP with resale in mind (although the collectability/rarity factor is an added bonus)...I bought it because it simply is the best driving MINI ever made, not to mention the best looking, and I plan on keeping it indefinitely. So, I figure why not make it perform how I think it should perform? I take maticulous care of my car and while it does get driven how it should (in my opinion), it is never abused or beat on...always properly warmed up, 3-5k mi oil changes, etc.

As the R53 GP will eventually become rarer and rarer....the mere fact of owning a clean one (modded or not) will serve well. Suck's that they are coming out with an R56 GP...but I'm thinking the R53 GP will still be the sought after one.

 

That sounds good to me. I think I will go ahead with the cam, injectors, header, and tune. Now I have to decide which parts I think I can install myself. I can't weld, so the header is out, but I may be able to do the other parts. Does anyone have experience installing these? I'm sure you have to remove the intercooler. I'll try to dig up some threads.

Btw, how is that vibratechnics mount? I just had to replace my oem mount and I went with the TSW up top, and the BSH for the lower mount. I get some pretty significant vibration at about 1000 to 1300 rpm. And the mirror is pretty shaky between 2 and 3k. I am still tweaking it, but I was wondering if you had any experience with the TSW and could compare. Or just an opinion in general. Not to derail my own thread, but...I'm curious.

 

The good news: The exhaust will be relatively cheap for any decent shop to do for you.

The bad news: The cam can be finicky unless you really know what you're doing. I'd recommend a good shop do this for you, preferably one with a dyno, that way you can have the cam installed and do a remote tune unless you've got a tuning day or something lined up.

But personally, if you're doing the cam, and you've got the coin, I'd seriously consider a head too. You're already going down the slippery slope, and it will be MUCH cheaper to do the head/cam together than seperately.

 

Well I have heard about a tuning/dyno day possibly happening in my area soon. But the shop would probably be doing only tunes. No installs or anything like that. But I will check with them. On one hand, I want to do the work myself, for monetary and ego boosting reasons. However, on the other hand, I only have one car, so it has to be done right the first time before work on Monday. So, while I've done motor mounts and intakes and exhausts, I may leave these installs to the pros. Nothing like getting the engine mount out, and realizing that you don't have a bit to get the lower bolt out...oh wait, that happened to me. My biggest problem is not having the right tools.

But I digress. As for doing the head at the same time...that's quite a bit of extra coin for me. I don't know if I can swing that. It starts at like $2500 right?

 

Nothing is terribly difficult about the cam install, but you need to be very careful and confident when doing it or you can really mess things up.

Injectors are easy, you can toss them in just before the tune.

The vibratechnics mount is great! Vibration is definitely present, but I don't know if thats mostly due to the the poly bushings I have in the lower mount and the tranny mount or what. All I know is there is basically zero engine movement and I like that.