Hi there,

Our 2005 cooper has a rusting back box and needs replacing, I have not yet enquired with BMW/Mini but know there prices will be high. Has anyone else had theirs replaced I dont want a performance item unless it is as quiet as standard (missus drives the car mostly).

What was the cost, and does it look as good as the orginal chrome tip etc.

Many thanks for your advice!

Hi there,

Our 2005 cooper has a rusting back box and needs replacing, I have not yet enquired with BMW/Mini but know there prices will be high. Has anyone else had theirs replaced I dont want a performance item unless it is as quiet as standard (missus drives the car mostly).

What was the cost, and does it look as good as the orginal chrome tip etc.

Many thanks for your advice!

Phoned BMW/Mini £297 not sure if that was including VAT or not I was too shocked at the price to remember!

Phoned BMW/Mini £297 not sure if that was including VAT or not I was too shocked at the price to remember!
The OEM part is the cat-back system:
RealOEM - R50 Rear Exhaust System (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=RC32&mospid=48010&btnr=18_0477&hg=18&fg=20&hl=3)
The price you were quoted probably doesn't include VAT and is less than here (http://www.cooper-mini-parts.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&sku=18307537083&Search=+Go&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&option=com_virtuemart).

A Milltek cat-back system from Lohen (http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/proddetail.php?prod=MilltekCatBackOneCooper) will cost about the same.

Check though that it's not just the outer skin that's rusting. The outer skin can rust quite badly and flakes off.

I had an MOT advisory in 2007 on my 03 plate MINI One. On a couple of occasions I've removed some of the flaking rust because it was hanging off and looked unsightly. No mention in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 MOT's and it appears to have plenty of life in it.

you could try (mstyle)they are quite good and eurocarparts sell oem stuff.

The exhaust on my One was starting to look a bit worse for wear - rusty bits falling off etc.

I replaced it with a Milltek (I didn't want noise or whatnot, I just wanted one that'd last) It's stainless steel (so should last longer than a steel OEM one), not much louder than stock (none of that silly waking the neighbours up by rattling their windows type exhaust, I didn't want that!). Also was about £300 fitted, so not much different from BMW's price for a direct replacement by the looks of it. Ooh, and it looks awesome too - subtly bigger than stock but nothing crazy, nice and shiney too!

I've also heard that when you replace an exhaust with another OEM type one it won't last as long as the original....that was another reason for me to get a Milltek.

Hope this helps :)

groovy_hippy