I recently took delivery of my 2012 Clubman S Hampton in early March. I absolutely love it. I have just about 2500 rippin' miles on it and can't get enough. I want to upgrade my exhaust and have been considering both the Borla and NM Eng cat back exhaust systems. I was hoping I could get some feedback on what y'all think about either. I was going to pull the trigger in the next week or so.

 

I was doing exactly what you are doing about a year ago. I looked at the Borla, NM, Alta, Magnaflow, and Milltek. After considering all of them I decided to go with the Mlltek.

I had seen and listened to the NM, Alta and Milltek. I actually liked the sound of the Alta best at first but it was a bit too loud for an everyday ride. In the end the Milltek sounded the best for everyday, has great craftsmanshp, and I really love the tips.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

Hey I appreciate the feedback. What about highway drone? Do you hear much of it with the Milltek?

 

What do you mean by Highway drone?

 

It's that constant sound your exhaust puts out at high speeds, like a swarm of bees. At times you have to talk loud in the car just to hear each other.

 

Then yes and no.

All performance exhaust systems are going to give your car a particular sound. What’s important is the nature, quality, and loudness of that sound. The Milltek has an engine sound that exists while driving down the highway but I wouldn't refer to it as a drone. It's more of a soft engine tone or sound. It's not loud or offensive and doesn't interfere with conversation. It's the kind of engine sound you would expect to hear in a performance car.

I guess this question gets back to my major complaint about the stock exhaust system. I really didn’t like the buzzy character of the stock system. It was a kind of higher pitch buzz that bothered me because it brought to mind the sound of a Kazu and not the sound of a performance car. The Milltek has a lower tone and rounder sound quality that’s appropriate to a performance car, more of a bigger displacement tonal quality.

Another thing I would point out is that when I’m driving down the highway at 70, pretty much all I hear in my Clubby is wind noise. I think all Mini’s suffer from wind noise especially if those with the sunroof.

Hope this helps

 

Between the borla and NM I would pick the NM, but I actually have my own clubman now and I'm putting a Milltek on it.

 

If all I hear is the wind noise, and yes I have that too, then that is exactly what I am looking for. You have been a tremendous help. I have listened to a few clip out on You Tube, great sound at idle and acceleration.

Thanks again.