Ok, one of these is much less than the other.
I don't have a big budget at the time, and haven't don't any real mods.
I plan on doing a black out, leaving some chrome on my black mini either way.
Do any of you have a custom exhaust? Can you tell me Which one an do a little review? I had my eye on the Magnaflow 11366, it fits because it's 11" long. I've seen a video and I like the sound.
That will cost me a little under $300
Either that, or I buy lowering springs, and save the rest for something else, eventually I'll get the exhaust or springs depending on what I buy first.
I don't plan on doing track days soon, so performance doesn't really matter, weird right? Everything is stock. So if you have any better ideas for a price range under $500 I'm open for ideas.
Thanks

 

Why don't you do a one-ball modification on your exhaust which will cost you about $100 and they are cheap springs that are compatible with your stock shocks on ebay, killing two birds with one stone.

 

I'm personally not a fan of lowering ever car ever made. To me they often look as if something isn't right. A cool sounding exhaust that improves the job of the stock system seems like a good idea to me.

 

I heard that the one- ball mod on a 2003 MCS doesn't make any difference in sound, only on 2005+ minis.

Any other mods for a MCS you might recommend?

 

Delete the cat.
Check on YouTube there's a lot of videos on the one-ball modification.

 

if you want sound, the one ball will never do it for you.... I have the magnaflow catback, and it does look like it uses that p/n muffler, I did some research on those as well, then I got like a 40% off coupon for amazon for magnaflow, I figured it would be easier to buy the catback. youll definitely want either 2 of those in the Y config, or youll want a nice resonator, help the drone out a bit. lowering springs are cheap, mufflers are cheap as well.


catdelete will give you a lot more sound with an aftermarket exhaust, im not sure how much more it will give you with the stock mufflers....


plenty of people sell their lowering springs used in the marketplace, ****** up some of them then do the exhaust. might even be able to do both

 

Not sure you want to use lowering springs on stock shocks, most advise against that. I'd go exhaust, the lowering looks good but the sound will be better enjoyed while driving the car.

 

I took all that cats off mine. Stock R56 exhaust with an AR Downpipe. Sounds great. I get a lot of compliments. As far as lowering. A very generous person sent me a set of K Sport struts for the whole car. Finally got it right the other day. Now I can believe how it handles and rides down the road. Holy cow !!! All I did was install the struts. Set the ride height do the bottom of the door or that running board is level. Then a 4 wheel alignment with the adjustable rear control arms. Good lord it rides so much better and turns like you wouldn't believe. It's awesome.

 

Where did you get that kind of coupon???!!!

 

For the money I'd rather have a good shock/spring combo. An exhaust is under your car (makes little/no visual impact) and doesn't even add any performance benefit. Springs and shocks will make you car look better and drive better.

Doing both is best though

 

K-Sports are awesome, adjustable dampening, adjustable ride height. Adjustable spring compressions. Change the springs if you want.
I still can't believe I got them. Wow !!
THANK YOU, you know who you are.

 

I would do a cold air intake and a pulley. The cold air intake gives you a bit more power and great sound, the pulley gives you a nice power boost. After that, I'd do the springs and maybe then the exhaust.

I like the M7 or Alta intake. I have the Alta intake on mine and a 17% pulley and it is a hoot to drive, sounds great when I'm on the throttle and doesn't make much noise when I'm cruising down the highway.