Just curious what everybody's favorite cat back system is? I know cat back won't make a huge difference in power but I don't want to deal with the check engine lights and emissions issues that come with a down pipe back system. I'd just like something that sounds a little nicer than stock without being completely obnoxious. Been looking at NM, Borla, Alta and a couple of others. I had a neuspeed system on a GTI years ago and it was pretty loud...I'd assume the NM would be similar? Also know that Borla makes two different cat back systems. Any opinions?

 

Akrapovic or FJCW. The others sound terrible, IMO.

 

Akrapovic would be great......however my wife might kill me and sell the car if I spend $1,800 on an exhaust system! It does look nice though!

 

Hey you want the best then you have to pay for it! I had an Invidia before my Akrapovic. I liked the sound, it's not too loud with a Cat. Plus the price isn't bad at all. However the exhaust tips are MASSIVE. Which I liked but some won't...

 

I am totally satisfied with my custom M: Catless Downpipe and CNT exhaust combo. Cost me under a grand and is music to my ears.

 

not totally sure this would apply, but I just had a downpipe-back Alta exhaust put on my R56 JCW. Fantastic. much deeper tone then the stock JCW exhaust. The snap/crackle/pop on overrun is more pronounced and the volume is about 40% louder than stock. A great sound, IMO.


I wanted something that did NOT sound like those cheaper fart pipes people stick on the back of their cars at some goofy, weird angle..:-)


And those massive 3.5" brushed aluminum tips look great... a nice departure from the typical chrome tips.


I was all set to get an Akropovic with the CF tips, but I heard one on a stock R56 S at MOTD recently. The volume of sound was no higher than stock to me, so I moved on. I am told that if you add their downpipe to the exhaust, you get a great, higher volume sound than stock...but those carbon fiber tips are so so nice....


good luck!

 

Are you ****ing high right now? The Invidia sounds amazing and so does the stock JCW. This whole Akrapovic fad is like everything else with MINI aftermarket. Somebody catches wind of it and then it is the best thing since sliced bread. It is way too expensive for a cat back exhaust. I own a compact econo box not a freaking Ferrari. If I wanted to pay those prices I would go get something that was worth the money.

 

I did say, "IMO". Everyone has different tastes. I have heard the Alta and a few others in our car group. I disliked it. Invidia is okay, not my cup of tea.

 

Any opinions on NM or Borla?

 

i have a magnaflow on mine and have been very happy with it.

has a nice low growling grumble....really does a lot to improve the sound, especially coming from a 4 cylinder.

 

How is it on a highway? Is the drone annoying? That's one of my biggest concerns.

 

If you are worried about drone, look for something with a larger resonator. That tones it down a lot.

Sent from me being awesome around my MINI!!

 

when i first put it on there was some drone right at 3K...but anywhere above or below that there is no drone at all.....but now that its broken in it is substantially less

i really dont even notice it if i have the radio on or the windows down....

i believe with the magnaflow, you do have the ability to leave the factory resonator in place, which should give you no drone at all.

 

I think all the aftermarket exhausts I've heard on MINIs sound good. Some may say some sound "ricer", but the fact is, it's a MINI, it will never be ricer. I like my JCW w/resonator delete. Nice sound and no drone on highway. I swear one of our 10mnth old twins mimics the acceleration sound too.

 

Akrapovic has a "clean" sounding exhaust and I liked it while I had it. Now with iPE Innotech and it's badass. Not in your price range though if you aren't considering Akra though! Good luck on your search! Invidia Q300 isn't bad but the tips aren't my thing. Way too big for my taste.

 

How about Milltek? Helix isn't too far from me and they push it over Invidia.

 

I'll have to take a video but mine's catless with a Riss resonator and otherwise stock exhaust piping. Sounds amazing; mean and snarly with 50%+ throttle and almost as quiet as stock on cruise.

Not to mention it was cheap and gained power.

 

Your best bet would be to find some other MINI's that have been modified and mooch a ride in them. Quality of sound is an opinion, and all exhausts have their own traits. I had a stratmosphere, and the sound was pure music when you were pushing it. The drone drove me crazy, now I have a factory JCW (the long resonator version). This is just a bit louder than stock, which is fine for me.

Some people love the NM, others hate it. The only two that I have consistently read good things about on NAM are the Akra and the fJCW.

See if Helix has a car around with the exhaust you are looking at. They might let you take a ride.

Also, the exhaust tone may change slightly with other mods (like a tune) that you do.

Have fun,
Mike

 

Getting subjective opinions on exhausts is a no win scenario. You can listen to Youtube videos but even the recording device may alter the sound somewhat.

I do have the Akrapovic and I like it much better than when I had done the 2nd cat and resonator delete.

 

I have the Akrapovic as well as the DP. I have a roadster and the fit was perfect. Sounds great. Very happy with it.

 

My Cooper S Hardtop sounds like 2 different cars with Catless DP/CNT Exhaust/JB+ and without JB+...
Added JB+ to my wife's Countryman S for the weekend and it sounded like it woke up the exhaust, just by adding a tune.

 

So would you go for the JB+ before doing the exhaust or intake? It's actually pretty reasonable in price compared to an ECU flash from NM or Renntech.

 

I'm all about performance. JB+ adds power. The exhaust does not compare in actuall performance gains. The exhaust will however only increase the effects of what your tune is attempting to achieve by decreasing back pressure, allowing your turbo to spool more efficiently. I would go for the JB+ first, so your Butt Dyno does not get fooled by a louder exhaust note, JMHO...

Now as far as a DP: I felt the gain with it on. Sounds dynamic. And even with JB+ off you can feel power up top, but believe me, you will know the tune is missing. I am going to post a thread in the next couple days, with the new Catless Down Pipe design I got from Mario. It woke up my MINI, for sure!

 

I have the full turbo back Akrapovic exhaust. Its expensive and its NOT worth it. If I had it to do over I would have kept my factory JCW exhaust.

Spend the money on some nice wheels.

 

I think that it is a personal preference thing, as you can see we all have our fav's and they are all mostly different.

Personally I love the NM Engineering "Downpipe Back" exhaust. It keeps the primary cat which is the one that is monitored. (the 2nd cat is not monitored and will not throw any CEL or codes as exit measurements are only read on the primary cat ...not really sure of the purpose of the 2nd cat ...but another topic). The NM downpipe back exhaust is a bolt-on exhaust, and uses all the existing mounting points. I installed it myself in my garage in about 2hrs. --most of the time was spent jacking my car up and getting it secure to go under it. ...I liked that it was bolt on should I ever want to swap back to stock. I could not find another system that didn't require cutting and/or welding.