Has anyone done this "mod" ?

Have seen a lot of Youtube video clips, sounds decent for how $$$ cheap
it is to weld in a straight pipe.

Just curious, if anyone has done it to theirs, if so what do you think...

 

Yup. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the higher pitched snaps and pops. But they can be controlled easily when you don't want to be obnoxious. I have no regrets, and glad I did it. They removed the factory part safely, which can be reinstalled, and welded in a piece.
Sound clip of my '06JCW:
http://youtu.be/qOowOnSmtyA

 

Awesome! exactly what I wanted to know

How much did the exhaust shop charge you for the job?

 

I had it done at a shop that works on MINIs a lot (2-3 every time I go there), they charged me about $120. They charged $76 (from what I remember for my 03S). Additional was do to stainless.

 

I removed the resonator on my GP and did not like the sound. It was a little too snap, crackle, pop for me. With no back seat or rear insulation in the GP I found it to be just a little too much. Gear head family members also did not like the sound for the GP.
I used a resonator delete kit that also removed the crimped exhaust section near the Y.
I tried a Borla Sport, that I loved on my 2003 MCS, but found it to have too much drone in the GP.
I ended up with a Milltek (Stratmosphere) cat-back exhaust.

 

I removed mine over 6 months ago. I like the deeper tone and the burble and pops. My son said it sounds a lot better and all of his friends that have heard it like it. It's not obnoxious and I do not get any drone. I had a performance muffler shop remove mine and was able to watch as he did it. He was VERY meticulous about making sure it was welded all the way around, he used mirrors and lights to look on the top. Best part, $30! And he can add it back in if needed. I would do it again.

 

Remember when listening to sound bits or listening in real life, you need to think about what year R53 and model you are listening to. The early year R53s did not have the extra de-acceleration pop that was added I think in 2005. Also it makes a big sound difference with no back seat or rear insulation in the GP. Exhausts on my 2006 GP sound much different than my 2003 MCS.

 

I don't care for the tone without the resonator...too crackly as others have said.

I did remove the crimped section though, really cleans up the sound. That combined with the RMW header....it sounds awesome. Many compliments on the sound

 

+1
I removed mine and went with a straight pipe, did not like it at all and went back to the resonator. I run an OBX header now with a Random Technology Cat, resonator and removed the crimped section. Quiet when I want it to be and badass when I drop the hammer! Could not be happier. I too get many compliments on the sound. I have a convertible so sound and no drone are very important to me.

 

Why would the crimped section been added in the first place?

 

It was added so the same exhaust could be used on the convertible that has an extra brace.