Many owners have changed intakes & exhausts. I'd suggest looking on mini2.com and northamericanmotoring.com where you should find lots of information.

The MS and MCS have different intake systems (at least on the pre-turbo engines).

To answer your questions.

The Cooper and Cooper S intakes are different. This is because of battery placement. Front for the Cooper and rear for the S. 

As for hearing one, Laurie's car Smileee is an S with the Alta intake and an Invida exhaust. If you are near Niagara Falls you are welcome to stop by and take a listen.

 Happy Motoring,
Jack 

-- Edited by Jack07734 at 11:09, 2008-04-09

I would prefer 'justacooper' but I am not picky I just don't want to order something and sound like a "tool." I am thinking I will go for a meghan racing exhaust for a non-s. It is supposed to "sound like a proper British racing car." At least that is what some Brits' have described it as.

As for intake, thanks for the heads up that I do need to pay attention for the difference between s and non-s, although the filter itself could potentially be the same, just not the piping and/or the heat shield.

I will probably go with a CDA when the time comes, right now it isn't a huge priority.

Thanks for the link. I see you have a "homegrown CAI" tell me more...

Nice, well the exhaust has gone from something I just want to something a little more necessary. I just noticed the stock one is rusting out...

I just got it and it is CPO so I am a little surprised.

CPO is Certified Pre-Owned, however the correct acronym for MINI is MINI Next. That surface rust on the rear muffler is normal for lack of better terms. It is with in manufacturing guidelines and is not covered under warranty. The new MINIs do have the 12 year anti corrosion warranty, but that does only cover the body panels when no outside influence is caused. Any suspension, engine or exhaust rust is not preventable as a whole and is not covered, along with rust on rotors. That muffler has several layers of stainless and it will be quite some time before it is leaking, which is the only time it is covered under the new vehicle warranty.

Mark

Mitch wrote:

---

It isn't something I am overly concerned or disappointed. It does look to be just beginning to rust other than one spot looks fairly deep.

Sorry I forgot about the MINI Next thing.

It is a 2005 so about now having some corrosion is "normal" and expected.

But my point being that now I have an "excuse" to put a new exhaust on.

I guess my surprised was more that since everything else has been perfect, and I mean like new, I was surprised when I finally found something that indicated it is a MINI Next car and not a brand new one.

---

Danna,

  Nothing was personal there, call it what you will. Some of my posts will be very specific and seem as if I am calling some one out, however I only post on what I know, it is still always just my opinion, and it may seem that I will nit pick and explain everything, such as CPO. But I only went to that depth because Mark was asking what you meant, so while answering his question I went a step further to differentiate that and NEXT. I hope you find a great exhaust for it, if your not willing to give it a shot and no one can help you give us a call, depending on hangers and routing they average 1.5 hour labor charge.

Mark

Hi Mitch,
If you haven't bought the Megen exhaust yet, I have a Magnaflow system that I used on my '04 Cooper for 3 summers. (I took it off each winter so I wouldn't drive my neighbor crazy, letting it idle, while I brushed off the snow). I will be honest, it is fairly loud, and there was a drone around 3000 rpm, if I remember correctly. But, I'll let it go for $100.00, because I would like to get it out of the garage.
If you are interested, drop me a note at potocki{dot}mp{at}hotmail{dot}com
Thanks!
Mike Potocki
PS Hi Mark!

amaptn2: I am going to go with the Megan exhaust but, someone else on the NAM board is interested in the Magnaflow, can I forward your contact information to them? Or should I give you theirs?

Hi Mitch,
Please feel free to pass along my contact information. Just mention that I'm on work travel, and I might not respond quickly.
Mike Potocki

I have not done the switch yet, but my assumption is that as long as you leave the cat. alone you don't have worries.

The intake just allows more and hopefully colder air into the engine with less restriction and a cat back exhaust let the already treated exhaust leave the car with less restriction.

Does not increase HP but allows more the power the engine is generating to the wheels instead of pumping air.

The emissions regulations have to do with the reaction that happens in the cat so as soon as you start altering that, that is when you need to worry about emissions.

Like I said I could be way off this is just an assumption I have made from doing some reading around the net.

Hey Mike, nice to hear from you... what are you going to be running this year on the tracks? For anyone interested, Mike takes great care of his stuff and i thought the magnaflow sounded pretty nice.

And no I have not had many problems of people installing intakes and exhausts and then not passing NYSI, I feel the only time you will run into problems, like Mitch said, is when changing the header and installing a high flow cat, though you still probably wont see problems.

10mm 13mm and 15mm are the three required sizes. When removing, some heat may be needed, the most being around the flange from the cat to tail pipe, which are the 15's.

I dont know where you park in the drive way, but if it is possible, i preffer straight oil, apply oil a couple times a day between now and when you do the work, it will slowly penetrate everything and make it that much easier. To use a penetrating product while working on it is not always the quickest. But if you cant have drips of oil on the drive way then that is your best bet.