Had a shop remove my R53's resonator for $40 and it made a very nice growl. Nice mod, IMO.

 

I didn't think R53s came with resonators, unless of course you're talking about the JCW exhaust

 

R53's come with two resonators aka *****. Deleting one of them results in the 'one-ball' mod.

 

Resonator delete is a great modification. Doesnt do anything at all except let more burble from the exhaust come through. The second posted video on the previous page is my car actually, haha.

 

Ok finally made an exhaust video of my MCS with the resonator and 2nd cat deleted. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEPT4ECxcYU

Also, turn up your speakers if you wanna here the small amounts of pop and burble.

 

I have a 2007 Cooper, with a custom back box at the minute. the box makes the car quite loud, but not too loud. i have booked in to have a pipe go from the cat to the back box thus cutting out the central resonator. will this make it real loud or will it make it raspy and poppy but not actually affect the volume too much.

thanks

 

it may not get much louder, but theres a chance you may get drone. I just did the opposite and got rid of my drone.

 

great, i wasnt after more volume, just wanted a slightly different note.

 

The second cat and resonator are history as soon as I find an trust worthy exhaust shop.

 

i just took my car to monroe muffler and they told me it would be 100 to 150 because my exhaust is stainless steel and it wouldnt be a good idea to do it anyways... is this true? i mean i really want to get an aftermarket exhaust or the JCW one but havent found the right deal yet...

 

Wait, a $100 to $150 to remove the second cat and resonator?

OR to make an aftermarket exhaust?

 

No that was just resonator. Bs to me. Whatever

 

Hey guys... I'll admit my complete ignorance on this subject now just to get it out and hopefully keep you from making too much fun...

That taken care of (hopefully) a couple of questions:

1) By "cat", are we talking catalytic converters?
2) MINIs have 2 of them?
3) I understand the resonator thing (finally, a brain cell!), so what is involved with removing it? About how much would it cost for a professional to do it? Is there any downside (noise restrictions notwithstanding)?

Thank you.

P.S.:

Just realized that there was actually a second page in this thread so now I have one cost estimate (thanks MiniMike). Anyone know if this is accurate? I'm only thinking of removing the resonator.

 

Removing the resonator should only be 40-50 but this shop said it would be 100 to 150 which is a little high. They said because it was stainless steal it would be high but i honestly didn't know it was haha so I'm now lost too because I've heard so many people do this mod without problems. Did they weld a regular steel pipe to your stainless steel exhausts? Or did they order that stainless pipe. Or is my exhaust not stainless.

 

Those are mufflers

 

A non polished stainless steel pipe (say 2 feet), cutting your stock resonator off, replacing with the pipe, weld, will be a 10 minute job and shouldn't cost more than $50.
Hell you can to go autozone and buy SS stock piping. Maybe not in the exact mini size 2.16" or w/e it is, but they'll have 2, 2.25, and 2.5". Or try mcmastercarr. I'd shop around to diff exhaust shops, or tell them you'll bring your own piping and they should charge no more than $30 for the welding and fab.

I paid $50 to have my resonator removed in my audi years back. Now I had a resonator to install in my mini and I brought it to my friend with a lift and welder, we got under the car and took the exhaust off, cut, weld and reinstalled in 20 min. It would have taken 10 if we had exhaust holders (to hold it up in place under the car while cutting), but since we didn't we took it off and put it on the ground to cut.

 

ive got an Aus spec S with the jcw tuning kit so only one cat. i installed the riss racing catted DP and it made a huge sound difference. what the car used to sound like at 5000rpm it now sounds like that at 3000rpm and has a lovely growl when im flooring it but just driving along it sounds stock. idle is a bit louder, especially on a cold start. i would reccomend it.

 

Well here is my setup, which will be changing soon.

Bone Stock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXJGMsoxSQE

Stock everything but no resonator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StyNH...eature=related

JCW muffler section with no resonator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEjXH...eature=related

To be fair the last one was a colder start so it has more burble and pop ish.
It gets very quite on highway speeds.

 

sounds good... i really want the jcw exhaust i think it sounds real nice!

 

no it was just the resonator... and they said they pipes wouldnt weld nicely together because they have standard steel pipes where the mini has stainless steel

 

Complete BS .

Before I got my custom 2.5" magnaflow exhaust installed, I had my 2nd cat and resonator removed. When they removed it they welded in an aluminized steel pipe in it's place. I ran that for about a year with no problems with the welds or anything.

Also, I am 99% sure that when they say "standard steel" they are referring to aluminized steel. Because if they really used "standard steel" it would rust when exposed to the environment.

I suggest you find a different muffler shop because they don't know what they are talking about.

 

Hey all!

So, I just did the resonator delete. I got it done for $25. Here are some videos.

Before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPn4ckXazGs

After:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDikNb5InOs

They are quick and crude, but enjoy!

 

That sounds nice. I still want to do this. Did they say anything about what kind of piping they used?? What shop did you go to?

 

Believe it or not, but I got it done at Meineke. Haha. I do not know what size they used, but it was stainless. It looks pretty flush with the rest of the piping.

 

Good to know. I might have to call em up! That's good to know that some places have the stainless in stock.