After auto-x the car this past weekend, I noticed the exhaust pitch got louder, and louder. It was so raspy as I was nearing work, I detoured over to MINI. I talked to the service advisor (since I was out of warranty) and he said they would put it on the rack for 30min and check the torque on all of the exhaust bolts and look for a leak- free of charge. After that, if undetermined, the clock would run and I would pay. 30min later, all the bolts torque was checked, and all were good, but the catalytic converter was blown open - literally busted at the welds. This is on a stock exhaust, 52.5K miles on the car.

Said they had seen this once before on a Mini S. Said the driver auto-x'd it every weekend and put a lot of abuse on the car. I make #2 for them with this issue.

Nice that it is covered under an 8yr / 80K warrany.

Anyone else??