I'm looking at the Megan catback exhaust (MR-CBS-MC02) that's meant for the 02-06 cooper S. I've heard that the cabrio chasis bracing might prevent the use of exhausts made for the hardtop.

Is it only the hangars that prevent us from mounting this exhaust? If that was the case, will relocating the braces solve the problem.

 

It's hard to tell just by looking at the piping, but I suspect you'll have some clearance issues with the cabrio's underbody brace. The exhaust hangars won't be the problem, since they're the same for the coupe and the convertible.

The problem is a short lateral brace that passes under the exhaust piping near where the exhaust pipe branches off to go to the two mufflers. Unless the exhaust uses small-diameter tubing (like the stock system), or has a flattened spot in the tubing to clear the brace (like the JCW system), the tubing will likely hit the brace.

If you do have interference, it's no big deal. Just use some spacers to lower the brace about 3/4" or so. I've done this on several convertibles with no problems. I'll find the thread where I posted pictures of the brace and spacers.

EDIT - Here's the thread

 

ScottRiqui:
Noticed from your picture in the other thread that the cross brace has lateral/diagonal braces attached.

Upon spacing the cross brace down, did this affect the lateral/diagonal braces?

Any unwanted noises?

 

No, the other braces weren't affected, and there's no noise from the setup.