Anybody seen anything in the way of after-market exhausts for the Paceman? All I've been able to find is from VIP Custom Parts, and it's just a tad on the steep side, and I really didn't want to remove one of the cats. I was thinking of visiting a local shop that does custom exhausts, but was wondering what other people have seen, or if Paceman pipes would fit. I'm ready for a little rumble.

 

The CMS exhausts won't work?

Also it just dawned on me, if the Countryman S is a CMS, then is the Paceman S a PMS?

 

Now thats funny. BAHAHAHAHA

 

A tad steep is an understatement!! I'm new to Mini's, been trying to read a lot. I think I read that the CMS exhaust will work on the PMS(we can't call it that, just isn't right). A call to the vendors might clear this up and give the info your looking for.

 

 

Don't know -- I figured if they were interchangeable, the vendor sites would list them for both models.

I don't know if you should call it a PMS, but I do frequently drive it like I'm on the rag. Though that's more likely due to the plethora of d-bags on the road than the car I'm driving...

 

A little more info for anyone else of the throngs of Paceman owners who might be interested (I know you're out there, all two of you) ....

The stock muffler section of the exhaust (part #1 in the diagram) is the same part number in the Paceman All4 as the Countryman All4 manufactured from 10/2012 and on.

I've been looking at options, and there just aren't many. One local shop deals with MagnaFlow, and a cat-back system installed is $1,050. I'm also now considering the Megan Racing axle-back system, which the same local shop will install (because I'm a ******** meathead lately when it comes to anything mechanical) for a nominal fee. I'd really like to find a sound clip or two to compare them, or even a single review of the Megan part. Megan Racing in general seems to have quality products. Maybe I'll just have to take a chance. Gonna make a decision in the next day or two.

More to come ...

 

my understanding is that both cars are identical in the floorpan and chassis, the difference in length is due to a difference in bumpers and is quite small actually. I would expect any CMS muffler to fit.

From my reading here if you want more pop and burble the best thing to do is the remove the second cat and the resonator? If I understood correctly.

 

That was my understanding too, but with BMW you just never know. But it certainly looks like most of the underpinnings are the same.

I'm not really looking for 'pop and burble' -- more just a deeper tone and some growl when I stand on it. Right now it sounds pretty anemic.

 

I think that shop is way overcharging you for the Magnaflow. I had a local shop offer to sell me one installed for just under $700.00. You are in RI, aren't there like 100 within a 30 minute drive? My Bro-in-law lived in Hope for a few years and I swear I saw muffler shops everywhere.

 

Yeah, there's a bunch of them around. But this place has been around for quite awhile, and I've gotten a couple of great references from guys I know who have had work done there. Plus, in all fairness, I'm pretty sure the price they quoted me included the labor to install it.

Moot anyway -- I ordered the Megan Racing axle-back package. Will definitely report back when that's installed.

 

If I ever go the route of upgrading the pipes, this will be the kit:


http://www.remususa.com/epages/remus...ts/7540111598C


(go all the way, or don't go at all! After having Magnaflow on my Clubman, not going that route again...)

 

I'm looking down the road at doing a custom exhaust. I'd like to do away with that massive muffler in the back. Plan is to fab a full 2.5" exhaust sans 2nd cat and resonator (already deleted) and add in a small/lightweight racing muffler. I already have the downpipe made up so depending on how loud it is I may add a resonator back in once it's all together.

 

Your neighbors are gonna love you.

My Megan Racing can is still on the #%@$^&! FedEx truck, supposedly scheduled to be delivered today after it was supposedly scheduled to be delivered yesterday. Then I just have to find the time to get it installed. Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

 

Megan Racing muffler finally got here, after 5 days of doing the need-a-signature dance with FedEx. What a ******* ordeal. Appointment at the shop for Friday afternoon. Will try to post feedback Friday night or Saturday.

Stay tuned....

 

Just an FYI...FedEx has nothing to do with the signature required, that is requested by the SHIPPER. Blame them for shipping it that way, they paid extra for it!! FedEx does not decide which packages need signatures and which don't, that is the SHIPPERS option.

But...glad you got your muffler now!!

 

Megan Racing muffler installed. First impressions:

Looks - great. (Yes, yes, I know, my car needs a bath bad.)

Sound - right now it's barely louder than stock. Yup, just a tad louder, but definitely a different, slightly deeper tone. Very pleasant. The guy who installed it said it might open up a bit as it breaks in. I'm actually somewhat relieved because I didn't want anything obnoxious, although I was kinda hoping for a little louder than it is right now. We'll see how that turns out in time.

Performance - here's the big surprise. I felt an immediate kick in the pants. Maybe not significantly more power (although it sure feels like it), but much better throttle response. The turbo whine spooling up and the blow-off 'whoosh' is also much more noticeable. I wasn't expecting that, but it has definitely popped the fun factor of this car up a couple of notches.

Smell - it's got the new pipe stink!






To install it, they had to cut the stock pipe. It's supposed to be able to be bolted on, but they welded it. No complaint there. I watched them fussing over it, and they were meticulous about positioning the tips perfectly even from all angles. The installer said it's a very well made piece and it fit in the stock space perfectly. So I'm happy there, too.


I got this one from kspecracing.com here: http://kspecracing.com/megan_racing/...i-1677075.aspx. Best price I could find, but be wary of the shipping cost -- my order was held up in shipping because the web site added too low of a shipping charge because of the oversized box it comes in (35"x45"x9", 39 lbs). When I emailed to inquire about the status, they promptly responded with an explanation, but the actual cost was much higher than what was initially quoted. Tacked onto their low price, it probably came out to about the same as what it would have totaled from anywhere else. No regrets here -- their customer service was excellent once I contacted them.

Bottom line: Was it worth it? If you a little more zip and a little more tone than stock, yes. If you want to set off car alarms at stop lights, it's gonna cost ya a bit more. Maybe a lot more.

 

Great news! For even better price...


Big question: droning? Please, do tell...

 

Bigger question any Pop and Burble in Sport mode?

 

No drone. But after putting a bunch of miles on it tonight, it does seem to be opening up a bit. You can definitely hear it more than stock now, but nowhere near an annoying level. My wife even noticed that it has a different tone. It actually reminds me of when I got my last MCS tuned -- the exhaust note deepened noticeably even though it still had the stock muffolator. This new can gives it the same kind of change.

Don't know yet -- I had a boot full of music gear tonight, so it wasn't the best time to be hammering on it. But I'll give it a shot next time I get out and see what it does.

 

Sound clip?

 

No pop & burble in Sport mode. Sorry.

Not worth it. Unless I've got the finest recording equipment that money can buy (I don't -- I have a smart phone) and you have equally high quality playback equipment (which would be moot because I already confessed to only having a smart phone), you wouldn't hear the difference.

 

The VIP Custom exhaust is a full DP-back 2.5" mandrel bent stainless steel exhaust with beautiful 4" tips. Yes, it isn't cheap but do you want to load your Mini up with cheap crap or just... cheap? If so, go full bore and Google "eBay" and Chinese". The Akrapovic DP-back for the R56 (the golden standard) is $1700+ and my significantly smaller than the Paceman version VIP Custom DP-back was $900. Personally I will always go for quality, especially for my Mini.

Good luck.

 

You should be able to find a custom shop that can build and install one for $1700.

 

Yet $1299 plus free shipping from VIP Custom was too rich for his blood (and Mini)...