First off, to all who say there is no performance gain with a header, you obviously dont have a header. Definetely some more torque, I notice it most dramatically when cruising at about 85 in 6th gear..... put your foot to the floor and off you go.... I cant speak for whether or not the header gives a significant bump in performance to a stock S, but to one with mods like mine it definetely has advantages.

Anyway, let me cut to the chase. I installed the Miltek header tonight onto my already in service Magnaflow. The install was a breeze (except for my step dad dropping one of the bolts into the engine and it taking us 30 minutes to find it).... 2 minutes under the car to undo the necessary bolts, 5 minutes up top, and the old header drops right out. The hardest part of this install is lining up the new header with the gasket and the bolt holes.... needless to say, not very hard. Doing it a second time, this whole install could be done in 45 minutes (from jacking the car up to putting it back on the ground).

So, here are a couple sound clips for comparison.... these were takin with a shitty shitty digital camera so the sound quality isnt great.... it sounds awesome in person.

(right click->save as)
Before - Magnaflow & Stock Header
After - Magnaflow & Miltek Header

Let me know whatcha think!

 

It sounds that the exhaust gas is flowing more freely after the you install it!?

Sound good !!!1

 

Definetely. At that point all the crap was still burning out of the header, so it was a bit rattly.... sounds absolutely amazing now

 

Oh man !!!! I check out all your Mods!!! Is there anything stock in that MINI ??????

 

Throttle body, head, cam, and intake manifold.... dont worry, those will be gone soon Oh, clutch flywheel & seats also.... again, Ill take care of those soon Need to get an LSD in this sucker too

 

Keep us posted

 

Of course Also switching out to a 19% pulley + injectors next month... gonna have my unichip dyno tuned with those mods. Cant wait to see what sort of numbers show up

 

OK, I must need better speakers. I could not hear a change.

 

I totally agree those that criticize probably don't have one because it opened up my car significantly. I have a 19% (from 15%) and injectors on order as well I am switching from Unichip to GIAC. I am starting to evaluate heads now and that will probably happen before the "Dragon."
It sounds like we have the same disease. The Unichip/GIAC experiment is happening to try and remedy the uneveness/stumble/flat spots/yo-yo/jerkyness that even though has gotten significantly better is still there and frustrating.

I think Stephen Stills said, "keep on keeping on"

 

Yup, sounds like we are in the same boat

 

I agree with Twitch. The exhaust doesn't sound much different, but the motor does.

 

could you redo it with the new header:smile: ?

 

Done Check out the new videos here.....

http://www.motoringcentral.com/mov/Magna+miltek.zip

If you are curious to see what an HAI sounds like these are good vids to check out

 

Is that an F-16 on approach? No it's the HAI....HAI sounds Sweet.

Wish the vids would have been during the day.

 

Too many cars during the day at any given area where I live to get a good run in and a safe place for my bro to stand with the camera.

 

.... actually the HAI sounds about the same as my Alta.
My videos are on the link "** Click Here for info on My MCS **"

Yea, it would be real nice to actually see your car!
Sounds sweet though.

 

I had the Alta and I can tell you that in person they sound nothing alike. There are a couple differences....

First off, the outside noise of the supercharger really is MUCH louder... If I had a side by side comparison I would show you. Second, the interior noise is MUCH quieter.... I can barely hear the supercharger with my windows rolled up. Its hard to tell from video clips, but trust me :smile:

 

I DO, I DO ! I trust you!!

 

JCampos,
I'm glad that you like your Miltek header and Magnaflow combo.

While your perception of increased performance is valid there is very limited objective evidence that adding a header will result in much added power on dyno (several sources including RDR and Helix13). Randy Webb has reported some positive results with the Miltek header on dyno.

I have heard in person a header with no cat and Magnaflow and it was really loud. The owner removed it after a few days. Headers with no cat while loud may show loss of power or no added power on dyno.

I personally have the Miltek header and cat-back exhaust and like them. On the track at higher speeds you probably get some high rpm benefit. For autocross, the speeds are too slow to really get much benefit.

 

I notice most of the gains in the 3500-5500 RPM range. Definetely more torque there. If I had a dyno readily available I would have done a before and after, but I dont. Were the RDR and Helix cars modded or stock? I DOUBT the header would do anything to an unmodified car, but this is exactly what my car needed. Next is AGS, TB and intake manifold... ill report back on that when its done

 

Both RDR and Helix are very experienced with dynos for MINIs and I think they were done on modded cars (pulley,exhaust and intake).

Definitely the header isn't a mod for those with few mods or for owners just starting to do mods. Since it is expensive, other things are better done first.

In a highly modded MCS then I think one can see more of a benefit. In an MC I don't think it will have as much impact as in an MCS.

 

Ya, mine is fairly well modded (click below to check it out) and there is much more to come

 

She's a screamer! So that's what it sounds like to unsuspecting victims when they are about to be run down.

 

Yep... listen to "going_away" to put yourself in the seat of countless rice and Mustang drivers