Has anyone replaced their mufflers. Not a exhaust system, just mufflers. I was just wondering if you could replace your mufflers with some aftermarket units, and what they would sound like.

 

If you replace just the muffler/resonator, you'd most likely have to go for an aftermarket universal muffler. Since I removed my battery box, I made a straight exhaust and used both a Dynomax VT muffler and more recently a Borla Turbo. Depending on the muffler you choose, you might want to get a resonator as well. The Dynomax VT was fairly loud (removed the trap because of the rattling) and the Borla Turbo (straight thru) is louder and deeper sounding, but tend to drone at highway speed.

The main thing with replacing just the muffler and resonator is that you are limited by the space available. You basically have to look at the space there is and take the inlet/outlets into consideration in order for everything to fit nicely underneath.

 

I've looked at doing this also....replacing just the mufflers on my JCW exhaust. The problem is the space you have (not much), and the mufflers than you can get that will fit in there. By the time you buy two mufflers, and have a shop shoehorn them in there and make everything fit like it's supposed to....you going to spend close to what a full exhaust system costs.

 

After discovering the broken muffler strap hanging under my car the other day and seeing the rusted out mufflers, I began considering my options. I've decided to go with the Borla "touring" version of a cat-back system. My car is a '02 and if I have the ability to fix it to a new level of wow, I'm going to try to do just that.

 

Biggest issue is...
The "can" or "ball" on one side is the resonator... The other is the muffler...
On the jcw, an resonator is the pipe leading to the y-pipe that goes to the two mufflers...
The shape and routing is pretty unique....no standard "universal" units fit...
So a creative custom solution can work...but going to a single muffler makes a highway drone in many cases....
Remember...
The mufflers are STAINLESS STEEL, but have a mild steel heatshield that rusts and peels off...the pipes are also stainless....

 

Well, Ive had a used JCW system on it for a while now, just not satisfied with the sound. Id like to have it sound more aggressive. Im not paying $1000 for a aftermarket system. First I think I'll replace the resonator with a straight pipe and see how I like it. I may relocate the battery and go with my own design from the cat back single pipe. Im a good welder so I can do it myself. My mini is just a play toy for the weekends ,not a daily driver. I just thought more people would have tried different mufflers. I'll be sure to update on my work.

 

I know theres a few people that have done custom muffler setups with magnaflow. and I was originally going to do that. then I got a super deal on my catback, nearly 50% off, and decided to do that. ive seen 3 resonators in line, then just dumping out the back. ive seen a resonator and glass packs. ive also seen actuall mufflers set up like the JCW. just need to find off center/off center shorter mufflers.


as a weekend toy, the glass packs sound really good, but they are loud. even with my glass pack bikes, I don't think I could do the mini with them. hatchbacks amplify sound in the cabin, but if I had a separate car, absolutely. these cars sound amazing near straight piped and straight piped. just uncomfortable to ride in the 2750-3250 rpm range which is most of highway travels

 

Cool, thanks for the replies.