Hi everyone! There was a thread I was posting on with my questions, but they told me to create my own post, so here it is.

I purchased my 2nd mini last week. First one was a R53, this one a F56. (I miss my supercharger.) Anyway, this F56 looks like someone didn't want to put the OEM muffler on and either removed it because they hit something, or tried to go the performance route, but doubt they ever bothered tuning it. Here's the thing. I'm beyond my days of trying to get everything out of a car you can get - and just want to enjoy it, but not while waking up 4 houses in any direction at 5:30am on my way to work!

So I'm trying to figure out what setup I currently have and slowly work back to stock, unless anyone has better ideas to quiet this down? Here's what I know:

1. I have the stock downpipe/cat and looks like the OG o2 sensor is still there. They welded the pipe out of the cat back (ugh):






2. A resonator is where it should be, but don't know if it's stock or not.

3. A muffler about 1/3 the size is in place of the OEM muffler.




4. There appears to be an additional mass air flow sensor up top by the air box. Does anyone have any idea why this is the case? Curiosity got the best of me and I moved the wire over to this other sensor and the car seemed to run rougher overall.




5. The CEL light is on.


So here's my questions:

1. Does anyone have any thoughts on just replacing that muffler with an OEM one to try to fix the P0420 code causing the CEL light to be on?
2. I saw someone on YouTube with some kind of OBD connector that wirelessly connected to his iPad to clear engine codes and reprogram settings. Can anyone offer advice on which to buy? I'd rather put cash towards something like this than paying $250+ to have a dealer turn the CEL off.
3. Is there any value in keeping this crazy loud exhaust setup - not having a clue what the 'tune' should be to get the engine running smoother? Again, I don't care about additional power over running good (and quieter!)

Truly appreciate anyone's advice on this! I fear my only solution is to go to Mini and buy the muffler and test a theory. Can only imagine how much one of those cost!

- Joe

 

So looks like the welded pipe is after the v clamp so you should be able to unclamp and be able to take off the rest of the exhaust.

Your pictures do not show a resonator from what I can see. You appear to be missing the secondary cat as well.

Fixing the muffler will not fix your check engine code.

I use the bluedriver Bluetooth obd2 scanner on my mini. Able to clear check engine lights, read codes, as well as register batteries.

Have no idea what that secondary input is on your intake. Is it always open to air? could cause car to run like crap since airflow/debris getting into engine after the MAF.

 

Below is what your exhaust should look like. One end should have a smaller cat and then a resonator tube. Full size muffler in the back.
ebay listing

 

The MAF sensor with the green goo should not be there. Looks like they cut a hole to install one where there should nt be one.

 

Yeah that was my first thought, why is there a second MAF sensor mounted in the intake tube with nothing connected to it?

 

yes, should not have second maf?

 

Yeah that second MAF looks to me to be an "aftermarket enhancement" where "aftermarket" was someone thinking they were going to move the MAF and "enhancement" was the same someone thinking it was a way to accomplish... "something."

 

That MAF situation would have me very concerned.

Just FYI welding an aftermarket muffler to the stock midpipe is extremely common on these cars as upgrading the midpipe usually causes a lot of drone.