Mini Cooper 2014-Present: Exhaust Reviews and How to Replace Exhaust

This article applies to the MINI Cooper (2014-present).

One the most common complaints about the F56 MINI is that it's just too quiet and doesn't do enough to show off that nice turbocharger under the hood. If you're looking to make the factory noise louder, then you're better off just replacing the muffler with a straight pipe, but if you're looking for a distinct note when you're pushing the throttle, then you should look at aftermarket exhaust systems. The new F56 MINI is not short on options for aftermarket exhausts, and they all sound pretty great. There might be some difference in the price and quality of the materials, but in the end you should get the one that sounds best to you. That's why we've featured videos of some of the most popular exhausts for the F56.

Table of Contents

• How to Replace Your Exhaust
• Featured Videos
• Exhaust Review

How to Replace Exhaust

Step 1 – Lift the vehicle

Lift the car with a floor jack and set it on jack stands. If you can, put a bracer underneath the muffler to help hold it up as you remove it from the vehicle.

Step 2 – Remove factory exhaust

Pull the muffler off the rubber hanger. Then, unbolt the support bracers along the mid-pipe and the catalytic converter. Unbolt the clamp connections to the front muffler. Then, carefully lower the exhaust from the vehicle.

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Step 3 – Install aftermarket exhaust

Most aftermarket systems simply bolt on, but they may vary depending on whether they have a rear muffler or a straight pipe. If it's a straight pipe, it may require installing a new bracket to hold it up since it won't be able to reach the rubber hanger. Besides that, it's mainly a reverse of the previous step. Bolt down the clamps on the new exhaust and return the support bracers and rubber hanger.

Featured Videos

• F56 REMUS Cat-back Sport Exhaust Install

• S F56 with REMUS Cat-back Sport Exhaust ft. Remote Control Valve

• Borla S Type Exhaust on S F56

• Milltek Exhaust Non-Resonated S F56

• S F56 - Supersprint Valved Exhaust Sound Test (bi-modal)

• AWE Tuning S F56 Touring Edition Exhaust

Exhaust Reviews

	REMUS Bi-Modal	Borla S-Type	Milltek Sport	SuperSprint Bi-Modal	AWE Touring
Price	$1,395	$470.99 - $559.99	$1,049 - $1,449	$1,492.26 - $2,089.16	$795 - $945
Cat-back/Axle-back	Axle-back	Axle-back	Cat-back	Either	Cat-back
Power Gains (hp and torque	7.2 HP	5-10 HP	5-10 HP	5-10 HP	10 HP
Sound	Loud	Loud	Moderate	Moderate - Loud	Moderate
Valvetronic	Yes	No	No	Yes	No

REMUS Bi-Modal

Price – $1,395

Cat-back/Axle-back – Axle-back

Power Gains – 7.2 HP

Sound – Loud

Valvetronic – Yes

REMUS was one of the first to develop an aftermarket exhaust for the F56 MINI Cooper, and it just so happens to have one of the best sounding exhausts. The REMUS exhaust gives off a loud and deep roar on takeoff. It's louder than most other exhausts. Even with the valve closed you'll find it to be much louder than the factory exhaust. It's lightweight, made of stainless steel, and comes with valvetronic controls. Recommended if you want high build quality with the ability to remotely change the noise.

Borla S-Type

Price – $470.99 - $559.99

Cat-back/Axle-back – Axle-back

Power Gains – 5-10 HP

Sound – Loud

Valvetronic – No

Sometimes you just want a straight up louder exhaust without hurting your wallet, and that's exactly what Borla offers with its S-type sport exhaust. The sound is very similar to the factory sound, only it's louder and slightly tweaked. The exhaust is completely made of stainless steel, making this exhaust system an excellent bargain. Just don't expect much gain in horsepower. Recommended for those who want a low budget exhaust system.

Milltek Sport

Price – $1,049 - $1,449

Cat-back/Axle-back – Cat-back

Power Gains – 5-10 HP

Sound – Moderate

Valvetronic – No

Some people don't like their exhausts to be too loud. They're looking for something that's only a little louder and sportier sounding. Milltek does an excellent job at reaching this middle ground. How loud the Milltek is depends on whether you have resonated pipes or not. Milltek offers three different material options for exhaust tips: carakote black, polished, and titanium. Recommended if you seek a more moderate but sporty sound.

SuperSprint Bi-Modal

Price – $1,492.26 - $2,089.16

Cat-back/Axle-back – Either

Power Gains – 5-10 HP

Sound – Moderate-Loud

Valvetronic – Yes

There are times when you want a racing exhaust, and then there are times when you don't. What if you could have both? The SuperSprint Bi-Modal is a top notch racing exhaust with remote valve control. What's really impressive is the difference between the two modes. When the valves are open, it's one of the loudest exhausts you'll hear, but when the valve's are closed, it's almost like it's been reverted to the factory exhaust. Add on to that premium quality materials and plentiful options for exhaust tips and you have an excellent exhaust system. Recommended if you want premium quality with an actual quiet mode.

AWE Touring

Price – $795 - $945

Cat-back/Axle-back – Cat-back

Power Gains – 10 HP

Sound – Moderate

Valvetronic – No

AWE Tuning Exhausts are built for substance over style. While it doesn't have the flashiest looking materials, they are certainly high quality. These exhausts are designed for tuning and improving horsepower while providing a sportier tone. It's certainly not the loudest exhaust available, but that's not a bad thing. The simple and straightforward design will help to maximize horsepower. Recommended if you're heavily invested in tuning.

Related Discussions and Sites

• F56 - Exhaust Options - NorthAmericanMotoring.com
• Present the AWE Tuning MINI F56 Exhaust Suite - NorthAmericanMotoring.com
• Exhaust Options - NorthAmericanMotoring.com
• Some pics of Milltek exhaust install at Helix - NorthAmericanMotoring.com
• Exhaust for F56 MCS - NorthAmericanMotoring.com