I put it on yesterday morning. The fit and finish were spot on, everything went together perfectly. Only hard thing about the install was getting those two rear rubber muffler hangers to let go, even with lubricant. Think it took me and additional 30 minutes for install for just do those! Going back together was much easier! Everything slid into place, torqued to spec and whamo, a nice new shiny exhaust! Started it up and thought, holy crap this is loud! Then it settled down and was quieter than my stock exhaust I think. Driving at 45-52, 62-68, super quiet as stock, I can't believe it. They said it would be basically drone free with the Automatic tranny and they were right. But as soon as you give it gas, WOW. Super grins and all the pops and burbles that I myself love!. Took it to my friends at the dealership to show them and they were very impressed. Said I should take it too the dragon for the exhaust sound off to try to win it this spring, lol. It just seems to me, even without a muffler, the perfect exhaust. Very quiet when driving normally, no need to turn up the radio, but again, when you punch it to pass someone or get on the onramp, all hell breaks loose and I think it's a more fitting exhaust for the already bonkers JCW. It's raining today, but would like to get some video to show the sound off.

Plus I did measure the stock JCW exhaust and it is 2.75" diameter mostly, but it is flattened down to 2.5" just past the support brace compared to 2.5" all of the way for AWE tuning exhaust.

 

 

VROOOOM! They are great, but be forewarned they seem to attract the long arm of John Law!

 

Nice, no muffler. I remember somebody replacing their exhaust with a straight steel pipe that cost him $150 total. Said it sounded great too. How much was that bad boy?

 

$795. Very nice easy install with no drone.

 

AWE makes great stuff - glad to see MINI owners are taking well to their product.

 

I hope that won't be a problem for you with State inspection.....depending on where you live it may not pass emissions.

I know how sweet a car sounds with only the resonator though....not really all that loud actually. I'm sure you'll have a horsepower boost as well!

Enjoy!!!

John

 

At least in NC, I haven't had a problem passing emissions. Not even with my other minis that have the Quicksilver exhaust which removes the second cat.

 

Here is a quick rev video to pass the time. iPhone doesn't pic up the sound as well as I had hoped.

 

I would expect it to be way louder with no muffler. Shows how little it does.

 

The iPhone doesn't really pick up how loud it is. one of the workers at the dealership said she could feel the sound of the exhaust when I revved it. It is very quiet driving for sure. Just gets angry whenever you goose the gas pedal.

 

This a 2 liter engine and it won't produce the sound of a big block V8 and it is not under a load. The best sound with this engine is when you decelerate after a hard run and all the popping and gurgling. The sound is basically the same that I have with the PRO exhaust from mini. If I need a righteous sound I crank up the 6.2 liter monster in the Corvette let it warm up and you can feel it and hear it 1/2 mile away! However, it seems to be a copper magnet!

 

Can't argue there love the throttle lift off pop and gurgle. My friend had supercharged C5 corvette that had, I believe, Super Trap exhaust and was stupid loud, but sweet sounding.

 

I'd like to hear in person the difference between your exhaust sound & Dan's JCW Pro exhaust! I'm sure that both sound great, but which one has less back pressure (yours most likely). I'm not sold on only one side of the exhaust working with the flap closed on the Pro Exhaust. Maybe that's the reason for the smaller muffler...it might make up for the restriction of the stock muffler with two pipes. Would be nice to see the specs on these systems.

 

If you are any where near Winston Salem North Carolina, I'd be happy to let you try my car out.

 

That's very kind but I'm in PA....not coming south anytime soon...would like to...been wanting to attend Vintage at the Vineyards there in May for years.....always a great gathering of vintage Bimmers!

Maybe get a Go Pro & post up on YouTube? ;-)

John

 

We will be at the MOTD and most likely at the Tarheel Blue Ridge Parkway event and maybe a few others in the Carolinas. I would like to hear the differences in person of both. I am still having issues getting a dyno date. I have contacted 4 different places so far and only one returned my inquiry so far.

 

I'm waiting on the GoPro 5, then I can get some good sound/visuals. Just need a release date for it. My Classic Mini was at Sheldon Vineyards here in NC for the British Car show last year, was apparently the only one there next to all of the Austin Healeys and Jaguars. You could always come south to the red neck riviera called Myrtle Beach SC, I go there sometimes to see my folks down in Murrells Inlet.

 

I'll have to see when the Tarheel blue ridge trip is, may be able to do that. Any time you can make it around here, you are more than welcome to try my car JC.

 

Maybe we can do a twisty run together with the exhausts open, Blue Ridge mini symphony or the like!

 

That would be sweet, Spring is coming fast

 

Congrats to OP. From an installers perspective, I agree that fit and finish on AWE products is unparalleled in today's market. They click together like Legos.

 

Agreed! Ive installed more than a dozen of their systems and never had an issue.