Removing 2nd Cat and Resonator
 

So, I've called a few local muffler shops and they are all telling me that they can remove the resonator, but they won't touch the cat... saying it's illegal to remove and so they won't do it. Anyone else running into this problem and know of a way to explain to them that it's ok? (or is removing the 2nd cat something that is really illegal to do?)

It has to do with emissions that's why it's illegal. But keep searching different shops. I found one out of the three that did it for me. Good luck.

so if I remove the second cat, will i still be able to pass emissions? (I don't live in CA)...

I've always had cat-back exhaust upgrades in my prior cars, so not sure how this would pan out with a 2nd cat.... and what function that 2nd cat actually has...

Rumor has it the 2nd cat is on the S and NOT on the JCW due to emission laws in Europe. I'm considering removing my 2nd cat myself but that's a project for another day. Why remove the resonator? You want it to be louder? People say the car stays quiet until you change the mufflers, but I don't know personally.

It's just like the catalytic converter you have on your DP as well. No you will not pass emissions but it depends. Usually the smell does it. But if you bought the car new, then I believe in California it's five years until you have your first emissions test. Someone could chime in if I'm wrong.

Also, the JCW does have a second cat, I forgot which year it began but the N18 '13 JCW has it and the GP.

I removed my second cat and it made a nice power increase at the top of the rpm range. Removing the primary car made the car about 30% louder, the second cat another 15% louder, too much for me. I added a Vibrant 14" resenator where the 2nd cat was. The more boost you run,the more catless helps. Sent from my iPhone Office

Hate to ask, but do you have any video of your exhaust?

I have this simple video I did today. My exhaust is stock, with a DP and Magnaflow Tips

Sent from my iPhone Office

yeah, i'm trying to go louder =)...

hmmm... I had a facebook Paceman group member post up a video of the 2nd cat and resonator delete and I LOVE the sound of it...

I live in GA so it's 2 years without emissions testing for me... grrr... decisions and internal debate...

do i cut out the 2nd cat and resonator and enjoy my car for two years... then face the problem of the emissions...

perhaps does anyone have a sound clip of having just the resonator only removed? that might be a happy compromise... if not, I'll try it out and post up videos once I find a shop that's open to do it for me... worst case if it's not loud enough, I'll go in again to have the 2nd cat removed...

I say do it and keep the 2nd cat after they cut it out and replace it with a straight pipe. Then you can just put it back later on before emissions testing in the future.

i put a milltek dp back exhaust on my cms all4

it replaces everything from the v-band clamp back, took about 1 hour to install, using all the oem mounting points/hardware

the milltek is 2.5" all the way and does improve the spool time alot and at lower rpm, making the car much more responsive ... if there is an increase in hp is is very small

loss of the second cat will not show at all if the emissions test is a plug into the obdII port test as the second cat is not monitored by the car computer as the DP cat is

i kept the original exhaust just in case, but since here the test is a plug in only i am not expecting to need it

scott

Question?

When I swooped the exhaust on my r56s the 2nd cat and resonator had a straight through flow by line of sight. On the r61s does the resonator and 2nd cat have a straight through line of sight flow or does the resonator divert the flow because of its offset design?

So what did you end up doing with your exhaust? I'm in the same boat searching for options.

I'm actually still searching for a shop that will do the work for me... guess I live in a pretty straight laced area. I want to have the resonator and 2nd cat removed... looks like it's not even monitored by a sensor. Darn those honest hard working chaps! :lol:

If you just want more sound and have a hard time with people removing the resonator / cat.

You have Megan Racing and NM engineering options.


http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2014-Cooper_Paceman-R61-S-Hatchback-L4_1.6L_N18B16A/Exhaust/Performance/

For me, a new performance exhaust is the last resort. I don't want to sound like those other 4 cylinder cars with the after market exhaust, loud and obnoxious. I want to ease my way into the sound and by removing the resonator, I think I'll get a nice little bump in the tone without creating that all too familiar 18 year old's Subaru sound. Let's face it, it is only 4 cylinders, so you never achieve that deep throaty V-8 rumble.

I removed the 2nd cat and resonator and installed a Magnaflow 10415 where the stock pieces were. It was a way too loud for me with a straight pipe in place. It has a little bit of rumble to it at most times and makes a nice growl under load without being too loud.

Here is a link for the muffler. You will need a few inches of 2.25" stainless tubing at each end to weld to the stock exhaust.

http://amzn.com/B000COVA2G

I know this is an OLD thread, but thinking of doing this to my R60.
Was the sound any louder than stock, or just a more refined tone?

This is the muffler i'm planning to get:
https://www.partsengine.ca/magnaflow...r-p-82011.aspx

Any comments are appreciated.

Yes, both, but not much louder. I didn't want to pay out $600 for a new muffler not knowing what I was getting, so I removed the cat then evaluated the sound. It was good for me. no drone at highway speeds too. Hope that helps.

I know this is an old post, but was brought back a couple of months ago. My F56 is completely straight piped from the downpipe back, so when I got my Paceman in October, the first thing I did was cut up my exhaust. I had a buddy of mine who drives an r53 and works at a custom exhaust shop remove the second cat, resonator and muffler and I’m happy with how it sounds now. I can get a video over to you if you if you’re still wondering what it sounds like.

All good, I have alreay removed the 2nd cat and resonator. Sounds perfect the way it is.

that's an easy question with a complex answer. For some reason, the factory JCW's exhaust doesn't respond when switching into sport mode. Normally you'll get a pop and burble on the deceleration and a rougher tone when accelerating. Not so in my JCW. Of course I didn't know this before I removed the second cat and resonator, I only found this after the delete. I was looking for a better tone overall without spending big bucks on something that I may or may not like. I figured I'd do the delete then evaluate how to proceed. Mind you, I wasn't looking to create a rice burner, just a more wholesome tone. Which I think I achieved and highway driving is well within db range. But trying to describe an exhaust tone to someone, is like trying to describe the color red to a blind person. To each their own. Depending on where you are, you'll nee to find a shop that will chop out the parts, 2 shops I went to refused to mess with OEM, the 3 was good with it.