I have an 03 cooper s. My factory exhaust is falling apart and needs replacement. Looking online I have come across a few cat back kits. Magnaflow, borla, OEM ect. Im not looking for a rice burner. I just want a good replacement that won't break the bank. I'm also looking to install it myself. Can anyone give a good recommendation? Thanks

 

Stratmosphere. Similar to Milltek but less expensive. Louder than stock or JCW exhaust but a nice sound without cabin drone. Still on the expensive side at $800.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/stratmo...3-hardtop.html

 

How loud do you want? Remember, ANY aftermarket performance exhaust will have an element of 'drone" since you'll hear the exhaust more and it'll be a single tone while on the highway. Some drone more than others. The Magnaflow and early 2.5" G4 systems are VERY aggressive sounding and, while the G4 generates huge power gains (12-15 verified HP), it's also a mite loud.

For the Borla (either one), Milltek, Stratmosphere and JCW, plan on about 5-7hp. For the earlier Magnaflow, pwoer increase rounds to zero as the exhaust pulses bang off each other. Sounds raspy too. (sorry if I offend Magnaflow users, not intentional).

The G4 Race adds 12-15hp up high in the rev band, the G4 street (2.25") adds 10-12 with slightly more torque down low. Both are quite aggressive sounding.

OEM's are available cheap, and are, well, as quiet as OEM's. Check marketplace often.
Borla's are nice, the Street is somewhat subtle, the Race is a little more aggressive. both give a nice growl between 2000 and 2700ROM, and smooth out some on the highway.
Magnaflow doesn't flow well, and makes lots of noise.
Lots of folks think the ideal setups for both some power and some live-ability are the Milltek and JCW.
I have a friend with the Stratmosphere, it was very quiet on install but is now about as loud as a Borla Race, though she does mainly HPDE's and high speed track days and so is not a good "street" comparison.

Hope that helps...

 

check out the scorpion cat back from http://bavauto.com/

here are a couple vids on youtube of mine http://www.youtube.com/user/miniblucabrio/videos

 

I've a deal, freebee, 2002 MCS cat-back vgc. 40k. miles.
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Replaced with a Milltek.

 

I plan to change the exhaust in the future when i get a 2004 2006 MCS.
My reason: make engine sound more sporty but not obnoxiously so, add 15 hp thereabouts. Thats about as far engine mods i would do.
My concern:

Is it important i also change the 15% pulley, cold plugs, air intake along w/ the exhaust of choice all @ the same time to max out the potential of the exhaust upgrade?

Also, is there such thing as matching the air intake brand with the exhaust system ? For example, would a K&N Typhoon air intake system match better with a Borla Street exhaust or Milltek ? *these are the two brands am considering.

With that in mind, do i have to re-program or buy a new ecu chip ?

Thanks in advance.

 

I have a new in box Borla for your year(2002/03). PM/email me.

 

Completing my earlier:

Ideally, a pulley, intake, and exhaust are installed together. Since you're removing the intake to install the pulley anyway, do both at once. It's a great pairing that doesn't really change the live-ability of the car. The pulley alone is the best performance mod you can make for power. (don't ask why I did it last!)

All the intakes do about the same thing (any differences really round to zero). All add some nice sound and maybe 3-4 horses. Altas are perhaps the loudest and aren't frankly that loud (just add whine, most folks like 'em), and full-box systems (JCW and a few others) are the quietest.

Intake + pulley = 15-20(ish) VERY noticeable, easy-to-live-with hp.

There are significant differences in exhausts. I'm giving them roughly in order of decibel level, least aggressive tone to most.

The JCW Milltek, Stratmosphere, and Borla Street, are probably more up your alley, reasonably sporty sounding and add ~4-7 hp each (maybe 10 when combined with an intake, as the results are NOT additive). I believe I have them in order of sound level (less aggressive to more), but they're all pretty tame as far as performance exhausts go. The Alta has a tendency to go off center, off color, and off tone and some folks aren't happy with it, others are.

The Borla Race is slightly louder, not obnoxious, but noticeable, might add 1-2 hp over the Borla Street. The old Magnaflow is a no-go: raspy, loud, doesn't add much as the exhaust pulses are kinda at war with each other on the way out.

The only exhaust (except a straight pipe) that might give 10-15hp all by itself is the G4 2.5" straight-back (under the battery box) system but it's rather obnoxiously loud. The G4 2.25" system is pretty aggressive but possibly more live-able, at 8-12hp gain by itself.

Remember, ALL non-OE exhausts are louder than the OE, and to some people that's all it takes to call it "drone" on the highway. Your best bet is as follows: Do the pulley and intake. STOP. If you love it, don't change. Find a good used OE exhaust and replace your rotting one. If you want more sound, do NOT buy one based on what you read. Find a way to hear them (there's an exhaust sound off at MOTD this year, or visit any Mini meet and ask around). Noise to me may be music to you, and vice versa.

The exhaust is really the next biggest restriction and really lets the pulley-intake combination do their job. You will notice the difference, but will your ears thank you? It's a lotta money to spend if you end up not liking the tone. Ask around and listen to as many as you can.

 

Hi Dixon

Many many thanks for the information regarding the tweaks I've mentioned above.
Some question for clarification:

what exactly does drone out mean ?
when one changes cold air intake + the pulley, in addition to increase in hp, does it also somewhat alter the stock sounding granting you don't change the exhaust ?

miniac-thanks for the offer on the exhaust but i haven't decided yet on which Mini to get so i will consider the exhaust later after the car. Thanks again.

 

Intake (CAI, or Cold Air Intake) absolutely adds growl, as well as on the R53 models adds volume to the supercharger whine (makes it sound all Italian-Jobbish). Many folks stop at the intake/pulley as that's "enough" for racy sound.

Drone = annoying single-pitch sound on the highway that seems to resonate in your head, the car, or both. Think "waaaaah" in a really annoying way.

 

Thanks DixonL2- i will do as adviced: pulley and CAI first. Then observe.

 

I have a 2006 OEM exhaust in perfect working order if you are interested in staying stock. PM me!

 

%$#@ I was just in Memphis, too! Though I don't believe I'd be able to take that as "carry on"...

Note that the 2005-6 hangers are different from the 2002-4, but they can be adapted to fit.

 

Oh man, bummer to hear! A carry on might be an issue. Haha! What brought you to the MEM?

 

I have a new in box Borla for your year(2002/03)

 

Was in MEM teaching an inventory management class for my company and a couple med device clients in the area... and while I couldn't carry it on I'd have cut it up and brought the pieces in my checked bag, just needed the main pipe really! Actually it'd be a shame to cut up a perfectly good exhaust when all I need is the main pipe.

 

pm