I've been trying to track down the P2096 code that has been plaguing me for a while and I've found a leak in the exhaust manifold in the center of where the four pipes come together. Pretty sure that's the cause. It looks like it won't be accessible to weld without first cutting it open and I'm looking for input on some low cost solutions. I unfortunately have to sell the MINI soon, so there's no point in spending extra money on an exhaust upgrade, and I don't have it to spend anyway. I've seen some cheap headers on eBay and Amazon. I believe my cat is good, so I'm wondering if I could take my old manifold/ cat to an exhaust shop and have them weld on the cheap headers or if people think the stock manifold is worth trying to save. Any advice or input is appreciated. The car is a 2003 R53 JCW with 75,000 miles. I love it, but it has to go, and it's currently past registration because it will fail inspection. The local shop quoted me about $1500. I'm hoping to spend about 1/10 of that. I can do the work myself aside from the welding. Exhaust is already off.

 

Get a used one off eBay. Should be easy to do for $100-$150.

 

take it to a welder and see what they can do, if they can get it fixed that will be the cheapest.
Otherwise a cheap header like our Megan and then weld your stock cat in could fix it and give you no check engine light.