Yesterday my long suffering wife and I took my mini to visit one of the kids at college. My exhaust is VERY loud I can not stand it! Part of the problem is the resonator has a crack but still it is a too loud. At highway speeds conversation is imposable. I am trying to chose between the Milltek and Stratmosphere. Does any have any experience with either of there? Genik approved this post
When I altered my R53, I considered the two you mentioned along with the JCW. I opted to go with the JCW exhaust, sans the resonator. I really like the tone it has and it's never made the dreaded reverb sound inside the cabin. I'm very happy I made that decision, as I'm well beyond being able to tolerate the sound of an obnoxious exhaust system. ..... I love you're newly developed postscript!
Where did you get yours? I did not see that as a choice on our vendors. I have not checked eMiniparts.
Milltek. I have a magnaflow up front, and the jcw twin cans in back; someday I'd like to put the milltek split cans in back--they are more flush underneath, and it's 2.5 diameter all the way back. One thing I'll never do--I'll never try a straight through exhaust again....
I found my JCW by pure chance, while cruising the internet. A guy in Colorado had it and a friend of mine hauled it out here on a trip through the Denver area. I only had to give 350 for the whole thing and it was pristine.
On my 2006 JCW GP, I have had JCW, JCW without Resonator, Borla Sport, and finally Milltek. I like the Milltek for the little extra sound but still very nice in the cabin when cruising. I thought the JCW was too quite. The JCW without Resonator a little to ricey. The Borla Sport too much drone in the cabin. Milltek just right. From what I understand the Milltek and Stratmosphere are very similar. Get whatever is less expensive. I you just want a nice quite exhaust the JCW is good if you can find a lightly used one at a good price but it is hard to find a good used one around because the R53s are getting old. A new JCW exhaust will cost about $900.
I really like my challenge catback, if you can find one it's fun MINI Challenge Catback Exhaust and Resonator Delete MINI Challenge Catback Exhaust Sound File
I don't want an exhaust that is quiet, but I don't want one that drones at highway speeds. The exhaust I have now was droning so loud at 80mph that you could not hear the music or talk. Thats too loud.
Yeah, the challenge drives at a couple off speeds but at most I can hear the radio fine. It's quieter than when it was first installed. Our maybe I'm losing my hearing.
Yes I believe I will go with the Milltek. I will let you guys know when I get it what I think. Thanks for the help!
I just LOVE the Milltek on my R53! It's not loud but it sounds great, and the burble is most satisfying!
I'm late to the party, but if you haven't bought one yet, you might consider the Invidia N1. I've had it for nearly three years now...totally love it. Louder & deeper tone than stock but no drone at all. The price was also cheaper than the Milltek or Strat.
A month late, but Milltek all the way, I get compliments from others,when I pull into gas stations. It's not loud and has a decent sound for the car.
I thought I would update this thread incase someone els is looking for an exhaust. I planned on the Miltek but after talking to the guys at Detroit Tuned went with their recommendation of using the Stratosphere. I could not be any happier! My old exhaust was very loud and droned so load that I would have to have my radio up a little over half to hear the music. This is with a Alpine head unit and a sub!! My hearing is bad, (soon to get hearing aids they are the price of a RMW stroker I need to rethink my priorities), so I had a lot of trouble having conversations in my car. On long trips the Mini was painful. The Stratosphere has a good note and NO absolutely NO DRONE! I can now hear conversations and turn the music way down. It was easy to install. I did it late one afternoon with little daylight left. I know this was not smart but I had a lot of peer pressure, you know who you are. The exhaust tips touched the bumper. once I had daylight I climbed under the car to see what I had done wrong. I called DT and was told some time you have to bend the hangers on the car down a little, duh, I felt like a idiot for asking. So I reached under the Mini and bent them by hand, perfect fit. The unit its self is very well made and comes with every thing you need to install it. I want to once agin thank DT for all their help. I know I could have ordered this system direct but I wanted to support the people that supports us. Chad works his but off at the Dragon and has help me a few times there. We have several other sponsors here that really support us so if someone is reading this to buy an exhaust, or other part, I would ask you use one of them
How many hours for removal of the old system, and then how many hours for the install of the new system ??? Glad you posted, as I was thinking Alta as it looked like an easy install but the sound clips are way too loud for me and I don't like giving a reason to the police to be stopped because they think its too loud.
It took about 40 minutes to get the old exhaust off because a couple of the rubber hangers gave me a fit sliding them off. The install was fast, maybe 30 min. I would not go with the Alta