After reading many threads on the subject it seems that some Minis have the SG and some don't but I haven't seen any documentation on which models or years have or don't have it..
Does anyone know what the real story is?

 

From my experience, only early N14 engines (2007-2010) had the noise / sound tube. I believe LCI JCW models with N14 engines did not have the tube. N18 engines did not have the tube.

If your car, indicated by your signature, is a 2012 Clubman S, you have an N18 engine and no sound tube.

 

There are many posts from folks with 2011 and 2012 Minis that say they have them.

Here's a thread that talks about a 2012 R56 that has it,
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-revealed.html

Forge Motorsport (UK) offers the noise generator delete pipe for both the N14 and N18 engines.The Way Motor Works Noise Maker Delete Hose is one of the many MINI Cooper Parts and Accessories that we carry and will fit the following MINI Cooper Models and Years:
Gen2 MINI:R55-S MINI Cooper S Clubman: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

R56-S MINI Cooper S Hatchback: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

R57-S MINI Cooper S Convertible: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

R58-S MINI Cooper S Coupe: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

R59-S MINI Cooper S Roadster: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

 

The original post in that thread is from 2009! That vintage would have the N14 engine. I am convinced that no N18 engine was supplied with a sound generator tube.

Also, the aftermarket is not a reliable source for which OEM equipment was supplied. Just because they claim the pipe will fit either engine, doesn’t mean those engines came with the sound tube. There was a transition period where the throttle inlet tube still had the restrictive coupling that looked similar to the sound tube fitting, but no sound tube was used. My car had that style throttle inlet coupling. I replaced it with the NM kit, which opens up the diameter of that pipe for better flow.

 

You sir are correct. I stand corrected.

The thread I referred to goes into 2012 where a couple of people with the N18 got off topic talking about replacing hoses, but not the sound generator.
I got started on this subject with a friend who has a 2010 and was asking me about the delete kits. I started looking around and got caught up in Google Syndrom.

 

The noise generator was on the N14 cars, and I've seen it on a few early N18 cars. But there isn't a perfect cut and dry split I can find on the N18 cars that stopped having it.

The Noise delete hoses will fit any of these cars no matter if it did or did not have the noise maker as the throttle body and the crossover pipe are in the same location. That is why vendors list it to fit all the models. It won't make the throttle response improvement on the cars that didn't have the noise maker because we found the air bleed for the noise maker reduces the throttle response, but when it doesn't have it the new silicone pipe isn't going to change it.

 

For what it's worth, there's a $2 delete alternative, at least for N14 cars. Just take off the resonator at the midpoint of the tube along the back of the intake manifold and the hose that connects at driver side of the firewall, insert a 1.5 inch PVC cap into the end of the remaining rubber hose (it's a tight fit, but will go in ) and tighten the clamp. From inside the car it sounds at least as good as before the delete. At a minimum, it's a good and cheap way to test whether you want the delete.