I noticed the wife's Mini's exhaust was hanging kind of low:



Looks like the bracket that goes around the muffler is broken.





This is what its supposed to look like (apparently I have the sport exhaust).



It looks like that bracket is welded to the muffler. The standard exhaust has a different bracket:



Does anybody know if I can use this bracket in place of the broken one? The two-piece bracket is about $75 total from Pelican Parts, but its not returnable. The tech I talked to there said it would work but I'm not so sure.

I really don't want to buy a whole new rear exhaust...

 

yes the bracket should work. Mine broke at 50K and I went with a Megan Cat back, but sounds like your best bet is the $75 bracket. You will find the job easier if you drop the mounting points and use lots of liquid wrench and leave it set an hour on the rubber hangers to get them off. Go slow or bolts will break.

 

As of today, I have the same issue, and so does my friend. $75?? I'm ready to puke.

 

Had similar problem on my 03 MCS. Fixed it with some stainless pipe strap around the entire muffler, through the bracket hanger, and cinched up with a 2 inch stove bolt and a couple of washers. 5 minutes and free (had stuff in the garage already). Can't see it unless you get under the car. Don't know why it wouldn't work on your MC.

On edit: I just went and looked in my plumbing tool box and the strap is galvanized, not stainless. You can get a roll of it at any hardware store for just a couple bucks.

 

This isn't covered by Mini's 7-year rust warranty?

 

I replaced mine, take off the right rear tire ,it makes the job easy after you soak the studs.

 

What is the "sport exhaust"? Is there a difference between the sport exhaust and the standard exhaust? is one quieter?

 

Anybody?

 

this is the one right here . dont pay 75

 

It seems that this bracket rusts out regularly. Interestingly always on the right side on the Cooper or Cooper S.

All you need is the top bracket. The bottom one is fine. Taking off the wheel makes it doable as will having a hanger plier to get the hanger out of the rubber. And lots of lubricant. But the top bracket has to be a lot less than $75.

Rich

 

Same failure. I heard the thumping and saw that my top bracket was rusted out and the muffler was also just about shot. BAVAUTO had the bracket for about $60.00, and I bought a O'Reillys aftermarket muffler (Pert near close to the original) for $225.00. Easy fix.

 

Yesterday I noticed a weird knoking comming from the boot of my cooper s. Checked and the muffler was also hanging low. Turns out that a bolt came lose and i suspect the movement snapped half of the bracket and the other half is hanging on a thread. I grabbed it with zip tie (so sad), so it holds on my way to the dealer. And my warranty just ended two weeks ago

 

I've got a used bracket if you need one. I see this on the northern cars.

 

Brackets rusted on our 05 MC with 47k on it. New england so its seen salt. $300 fix at the dealer. Hope they improved the quality on R55-56s!

 

We sell a lot of brackets - seems to be fairly common for some regions.

 

Does anyone know the size nuts that are used to attach the rubber mounts? I had to replace the muffle bracket and when iw as removing the nuts, one of the pretty much fell apart from rust

Thanks

 

I justed pulled mine off the parts shelf to check. It looks like they are m6. I don't know the pitch, but the first three m6 bolts that I picked up all fit, so it isn't anything exotic. Whatever pitch is most prevalent (standard).
Greg

 

Thanks alot. I'll swing by Home Deopt and grab a few.

 

Good luck getting the exhaust off of the rubber hangers lol...






biggest PITA EVER. Doesnt matter how much lubrication you use.

 

I actually already did this part...kinda. One of the rubber mounts actually ripped so they were useless to me. The replacement bracket I bought came with new mounts. So all I had to do (I can't even type those words with a straight face) was remove the mounts and install a new brackey. Getting those nuts off were a PITA by themselves. There reason I need a new nut is because the nut broke off taking a part of the bolt with it! This happened even after I soaked it in WD40. The rust was just too much I guess. Luckily, there was enough of the bolt left for me to still get a nut back on. I can't imagine I am the only one ever to have this problem considering the amount of issues with this bracket.

Anyways, the muffler is secure now. The bracket needed some reshaping but overall, if I had to do it again I could probably do it in half the time and probably shorter if the nuts aren't as stubborn.

 

Had mine fail on my 2008 Cooper. I think it's pretty ridiculous that they make the entire exhaust system out of stainless and the hangers out of the cheapest metal they can find.

Bought the parts for $75 (they had them all in stock, wonder why), then took it to the closest muffler shop, who installed them for $35. Dealer wanted to charge me $300 for the parts/labor.

 

I had the same bracket failure on my 2003 Mini. Paid $100 bucks to the dealer for a new bracket and installed it myself in 1.5 hours. How is it hanging? It is hanging well now.

 

Add me to the rusty bracket club. My one ball exhaust just became sterile. Going to Home Depot to pick up some pipe strapping.

 

jb weld!

 

Come on guys... Pipe strapping?!?!