I am a happy owner of 2006MCS, besides installed TSW springs I am looking to do some performance upgrade. I come across a used but great condition JCW exhaust and they are asking for $450 installed. I am wondering if it is worth the money or should I start with the 15% pulley instead. thank you in advance for all advice.

 

I'd vote for the pulley; it's not only cheaper, it will actually provide more power by increasing the amount of air and fuel you're stuffing into the cylinders. All the exhaust does is let the combustion product out easier.

Basically, get the exhaust if you want sound (nothing wrong with that!), but the pulley will give you more zoom.

Read this:
http://www.motoringfun.com/2007/03/2...eed-15-pulley/

(My '06 MCS has 15% pulley, smaller belt to prevent slippage, JCW intake, and unichip to smooth out a flat spot in fuel delivery. All installed by previous owner, but having driven a stock MCS too, i definitely can tell the difference.)

 

I somewhat agree with bratling. A 15% pulley is the biggest bang for the buck mod there is for your MINI. Highly recommended. The next mods to do are an exhaust & intake. They are important too. Getting more air in & exhaust out does produce more ponies.

I have the JCW exhaust on my MINI. For me it is perfect. Not too loud & it doesn't drone at highway speeds. You can get a 15% pulley anytime, but that deal on the JCW exhaust may only be there for a short time.

 

You know, Crashton's got a point about limited availability. I might go for that JCW exhaust now, just don't expect it to help your performance much until you've done the pulley and intake to feed the front end of the system!

Big range on what you can spend on intake ... cold air intakes can be had for under $200, but the JCW intake (which opens up for more flow over 4500rpm) is around $600.

Also, please don't think I'm putting down exhausts. My other vehicle is a Ducati ST4s with carbon fiber Sil Motor pipes and no other mods. It's just for the aesthetics -- acoustic and visual. Well, and they weigh about 20lbs less than the stock steel cans do. According to the scales at the track, my bike weighs 522 lbs fully wet, and it puts out ~110hp... its power to weight ratio is already awesome and it totally howls as it passes 10,000rpm, so I don't really have any urge for more power. It's all about the sound and the look. :-)

 

I have the JCW intake also & I like it too. They are much less than $600.

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...er_intake.html

IMO intake & exhaust are not mods you will feel in the seat of your pants at least in a MINI. You will feel the pulley. All 3 items make for a nice balanced engine.

110 HP between your legs has to be a real rush.

 

That is a good price on the JCW exhaust. You can usually find them used for about that price but not installed. I thought the JCW exhaust was too quiet on my 2006 GP (even with no rear seat or rear insulation to block the sound). I had a Borla Sport on my 2003 MCS and thought it was great but it is on the loud side. I currently have a Milltek on my GP. It is slightly louder than the JCW exhaust.

 

That is the problem with exhausts, one mans just right is another's too quiet, or too loud. I recommend anyone who wants to change exhaust systems to try & listen to one first before going through the trouble to buy & install one only to be unhappy with the results.

 

thank you guys!!
that got me thinking to get the pulley and the exhaust all done at the same time. Even i am happy with the performance with my current stock set up (I am not looking for drag racer - I sold my 350z for my mini), I just cannot stop myself to think it can be better. I recently change the oem run flat to Nitto NeoGen and I love the way it ride (so smooth and quiet now). Need a few hundred more miles to break in to find out the handling part.

 

$450.00 installed and you don't have it on your car yet? You can get a pully later. The combination of the pully and the exhaust will be a great seat of the pants improvement in the power you will actually feel. More air in / More air out === Power.
Ronnie948