[futureal33]

Just had a custom fit powerflow exhaust fitted so thought I would write up a quick review of it.

I ideally didnt want to go much louder than stock because IMO the R56 exhaust sound isnt a patch on the R53. It is much deeper and not at all raspy like the old ones, so in that department I was quite happy, but I just really dont like the look of the standard "bean can" exhausts on Cooper S models.
So I decided to pick a slash-cut tip just like the one used on the JCW exhaust, and pick a quietish back-box.

A powerflow dealer in Wigan fitted the parts, it took about 2hrs and involved cutting my original pipe from the 2nd cat. I opted for a 2.5" replacement pipe after reading that Turbo cars like nice wide exhausts as it helps with flow, so a 2.5" was make to fit as per the original. This was then connected to a back-box of similar size and shape to the stock one and then the slash cut tips (2 of them) were welded to the back box.

I love the way the exhaust looks now, which was my primary concern so im really chuffed in that area... but the sound is already begginning to annoy me a little... It is hard to describe the sound without a video which I am currently working on,... Its a lot deeper and I would describe it as being rather 'boomy' under medium to hard acceleration. Idle noise is no different to standard which is good and I have found that on the motorway there is also no drone and it is very marginally more noticeable that the standard one, again this is a good thing for me because I cant stand drone!!

Once you get to about 4500rpm though the engine becomes far louder than the exhaust and the 2 gel nicely together, but anything below 4500 ish is quite boomy and very very deep in tone - this may appeal to some people but its a bit too much for me
Ideally I would have liked it to be about 50-75% quieter than it is, but must admit that when driving the car aggresively the exhaust tone does go well with the mood, its just the other 95% of the time when I drive the car sedately (to work and back) that it may get on my nerves a little!!

Anyway here are some pics:

I was also a little dissapointed with the powerflow garage in Wigan that I used so I would advise away from using them if you live anywhere near Wigan! The bloke wouldnt let me watch what he was doing (safety regulations apprently) and forced me to sit in a waiting room for 2hrs while I wanted to be watching (and taking photos ) of the progress... but no. Also he was fairly unhelpful on advice and didnt really give me many options as to exhaust tone, appearance etc which I had been led to believe that it was 100% customisable from their website... well it isnt at all - it was also overpriced by £100 in my opinion! Not to end on a negative note though!! lol
I do really like the way it looks though, so its not all bad

YouTube - R56 Mini Cooper S Pepper White with...

[adam_Randell]

love it mate, sounds ace!