Good luck Both in finding one, and in keeping it operational you can have mine when you pry it from my cold, dead cabrio. I luv it. But if it breaks again, I might decide to part with it....:lol: it may well be the greatest, yet most breakage prone, MINI upgrade of all time. Mine was rebuilt as the "final generation" with the better flex joint... we'll see how that holds up. Just put it back on a week ago and have driven it hard, and - so far - no codes.
Blimey why did you go with the street header and not the race one? I've have the race header for two years and no troubles yet.
1) Catalytic converters actually serve a purpose on street cars 2) In this state, it's non-trivial to pass annual inspection without one.
I think that's just an RMW 'feature'. Every part I had from them save their cylinder head needed 'rework'. So much for the quality and engineering up front, eh?
-Hmmm , thanks for the reply, interesting.. I have heard about codes, but this was fixed with the j bung right? -I haven't heard anything about the flex joints before, are they likely to crack? -when you say yours was rebuilt as the "final generation" does this mean they upgraded yours to the quality of a more recently released version that now has a stronger flex joint and a better reputation as far as codes go?
codes.... depends on what code you're getting... I never got the codes the other folks did - I only got a "system rich condition" which actually I think results from the first O2 sensor. I don't have the J bung - but one or both bungs were a bit different on the rebuilt unit I got. Yep - several folks had the original style flex joints break. The new ones are significantly better - but no reports on long term durability just yet. yes - mine was rebuilt with components of the last version he did (I think) - and yes, so far, these seem to be doing better. But its relatively early yet.
Thanks for the advice! Is it easy to tell the new flex joint from the old I wonder.. As I have been hunting a second hand one, this could get tricky. The last thing I want is problems :eek6: maybe I should just fork out for a new one...
Old flex joint is the bare "accordion" type like in the pic you posted. New flex joint has a woven sheath similar to the OEM header. .... if you can find a new one... someone said he doesn't make it anymore? But I haven't verified that with jan...
Scooper, Drop me a private message if you'd like... as I'm scheduled to have my third RMW street header installed later this week... and I'm still getting codes and broken exhaust components on the car. It's quite tempting to 86 the header and go with a methanol kit instead.... plus it will help me return to my "sleeper status" I enjoy so much!
That header sure does transform the sound of the car into something magical. Can't say the same for some of the others out there.
Oh ok thanks for clearing up.. I spoke with Jan, he doesn't have any new ones but is offering refurbished soda blasted headers with new flex joint and cat... I'm thinking it over for a couple of days before I make a desicion.
ReallY???? Wow... thought it was catless. But it IS longer - right? Doesn't work with standard MINI aftermarket exhausts? If not then I'm totally confused...
So if ya'll are gonna discuss this here as opposed to someplace where it might get found how about I move the relevant parts?
it makes perfect sense here. race header = longtube design with no cat which requires shortened midpipe and lengthened O2 sensor lead. The RMW midpipe had a cat in it since the header did not. shorty header = stock length with cat that works with all catbacks (i.e. equivalent to stock header)