BEST R56 Mini Cooper EXHAUST Mod? How To: Install a DOWNPIPE!

Today, we're install a downpipe that my buddy bought from eBay for his R56 Mini Cooper S! The car already has an upgraded KN air filter, but this downpipe is his first real mod, and it really changes the car! Sounds great when you get into boost, but still very moderate at idle and light cruising. The car is a blast to drive!
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[@doingyamom]

I work as a tech in a MINI dealer and damn, that’s a clean example. Cool color too! Most of the R56’s that come in are complete basket cases lol

[@anthonyalmazan5819]

Looking to get an R56 Mini as a beater/daily, so nothing crazy expensive. What year mini should I try and get? And what year to avoid like the plague

[@doingyamom]

@@anthonyalmazan5819 Not sure what part of the country you live in but something I always notice on these is a lot of rust. Personally I’d probably steer towards a face lifted model as they would probably be less likely to be really rusty but make sure to get a PPI done before you buy anything. The cars are usually good if they’re maintained well. We’ve had more than a few customers come in having recently bought their previous generation Cooper or countryman with the dealer telling them it’s mint and we look under it and it’s a complete 💩 show. Just be careful

[@Andyp310]

I've owned 4 R53's all clean no rust. 1 with Full bolt ons full suspension fully gutted no tune keeping up with STI'S . Just recently picked up a 2016 R60 AWD w/28k I can eat off the bottom of it !!! Pretty soon to be messed with 💪🏾

[@Ching147]

Halo, I have a 207 GTI and I just wondering can I fit those downpie to my car, are they same spec and size?

[@neudimensions1320]

@@anthonyalmazan5819 made me spit my coffee out when I read Mini and "nothing expensive" in the same sentence.

[@exallus_3958]

Very good showing of how you got the bottom bolt on the upper heat shield off 😂

[@lp2565]

Thanks for sharing!

[@user-mr5yt2sr1v]

I will give you a tip, you should either reuse that metal gasket or reuse a genuine new one. That gasket they supplied will blow out. Just saying.

[@aidanbotham442]

Theres a secondary cat before the resonator, if you decide to remove that (and/or the resonator) you'll get much more out. Also manually down shifting the auto around 2500 rpm should give the most pops and bangs

[@peaceup5519]

I have been building a '10 R55 (Clubman S). It's full bolt on with an upgraded 41mm Borg Warner Airwerks SX K03 Turbocharger, Stage 4 Clutch Masters racing clutch and lightweight flywheel, fully adjustable Gecko coil overs/in out camber plates, stage 3 tune from Malone Tuning, Craven Speed on-the-fly adjustable short throw shifter and AEM methanol/water injection kit, with minor weight reduction. It's the best handling, best performing, most fun to drive "mid-tier" car that I have ever built or driven. Boost is quick to deliver and never quits with an under 5 sec 0-60. On the highway 60-120 is absolutely ridiculous and the car has no problem reaching it's 160mph limit. My little Mini has embarrassed American muscle and made drivers of expensive Euros cry... WHEN IT WORKS... The car is ALWAYS breaking. Heck, the only reason I built the thing was because the 1st time it broke and I took it to a dealer the quoted price was so insane I decided to take it to a Euro performance shop. They told me that for the same price they would fix my car and be able to install a decent set of coil overs. After that, every time the car broke I did a little extra and now here I am. Thank God I have a beater. Even when I decide to drive the Mini normal it breaks. It's either a sensor, a sensor for a sensor or something insane that only happens to Minis. Looking back I would have bought a different car. It may be the most fun I have ever had driving a car, but it's also the worst experience I have ever had owning one... If that makes any sense.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I'm sure people will get value out of your wisdom, owning an older sports car definitely comes with its gremlins.

[@MiMicheIIe]

God, I second this. 7 months of owning my supposedly more reliable N18 Mini now and it's been nothing but trouble, trouble and more trouble. Solve one issue, and 2 other weird issues come back in its place.

[@themaskedmusician4846]

I made the mistake of buying a mini copper as my third car had a truck and my first time driving it not even hard just driving it blew the engine in it so I bought my stepdads truck from him and had that for like 6-7 months great truck loved it miss it a ton tbh and I bought a mini copper and man gotta say I’m feelin it on my bills. Within a month of buying it at 88k miles I had the high pressure fuel pump go out and a few sensors. Cost me two grand two fix and now I’m stuck paying a mechanic bill

[@thelofipanduh8589]

Give er some beans!

[@seppmeier9961]

mint car

[@pugs1377]

Simple mod! I'm sure there is a tune to get rid of the cel

[@nico2006t]

hello, how did you remoove the bolt of the lower heatshield ? thank you , i can t manage to access them

[@denzelw9664]

If I’m seeing correctly I guess you miss the restriction on that gasket by the turbo exhaust side.

[@andyzs2k]

Any problems with downpipe since the install? Any issue since the bottom brackets didn't connect

[@newday8172]

How do I remove the catalytic converter and once removed, will the car run without the system shutting the car down?

[@taadventures6312]

Did you ever get a cel. And what did you do to fix. What year is your cooper

[@micknutz9535]

did the downpipe touching the block ever make any problems?

[@CarlosRamos-ey4zf]

Hi, I did this modification and added the O2 spacer but CEL came out. Any suggestions?

[@f0nbyr334]

I have a question, would r56 mods fit on an r60? its the same engine so I'd assume so

[@TheGunner9545]

I think I would have upgraded the turbo while I was there.

[@lonewolf7164]

What type of lift is that

[@puppacito]

MANUAL WOULD SOUND BETTER:)

[@gerardchevalier1215]

Does this triggers a Check engine light ???

[@playaadventures8346]

Did your check engine light turns on???

[@edgarfernandez7269]

put the link please to buy the pipe

[@dulichion]

100% CEL from this, and will def need a tune to fix or pass inspection.

[@Ben-uj6qk]

Is this a N14 engine Mini Cooper S? Also did you have any O2 sensor problems after you did the mod? I have heard that you have to get a tune and stuff if you fiddle with the O2 sensors.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Not sure what motor exactly, its my friend's 2012. Yes you'll get a fault code, tune or add an O2 spacer.

[@bramvanderkaaij510]

psa 1.5 thp engine

[@Globbs]

@@bramvanderkaaij510 ? It's a 1.6L N18.

[@joshdominguez341]

bmw and mini are the same🙏🏻

[@MrEvovod]

who is the manufacturer of the down pipe

[@albertosalvini9600]

where you buy the downpipe?is ok for my mini cooper s year 2008?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Yeah should be the exact same fitment! Edit: We got this one on eBay.

[@albertosalvini9600]

@@TheBimmerBarn ok perfect and thank you

[@jhonny2555]

After I installed it, the engine gave me problems above 4000 rpm. As if there was a cork and he was mumbling

[@ronabbott2053]

where did you get the music for your video? thanks

[@TheBimmerBarn]

KZbin studio has an Audio tab (free to use), but I also use Epidemic sounds (pay to use).

[@typicaltilly2535]

Is that a cat or just another muffler on the OEM pipe? Trying to find out if this is technically legal because my local shops are jerks on inspection day. Also did he end up throwing any codes with no spacer in the end?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

You will get a check engine light, and it will fail emissions like this

[@typicaltilly2535]

@@TheBimmerBarn That kind of sucks, any luck with a spacer?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

@@typicaltilly2535 bought a spacer, but the downpipe is too close to the engine to fit it. Probably need a 90deg bend spacer.

[@Rayisweird10]

@@TheBimmerBarn quick question my engine light says reduced power when It turns on if I take off my cat will it be a permanent light or will I be able to remove with obd

[@zZiL341yRj736]

How much was this?

[@antonyjones8021]

Did this R56 pop from the exhaust in sport mode before the mod? Even if only a little.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Yes it popped in sport mode, prior to the downpipe

[@antonyjones8021]

@@TheBimmerBarn thanks. Mine doesn't. Looks like it's a full on tune required to un-tune BMWs handywork

[@toksixjay]

with the r55/r56 they added the pops and bangs with the n18 engine, unfortunately with the n14 engine you would need a tune to get the pops. N14 07-09 N18 10-12

[@ayteecee518]

I get pops from my stock n14 2007 turbo engine, usually the shift between 2nd, 3rd and 4th or letting of the gas after getting the revs up. Pops more in sport mode. Pops loads with a decat pipe. Mine is manual transmission though

[@JustinCupler]

It should... my R56 does a little, and it's bone stock. But that crackle is a lot more than the stock exhaust gives.

[@mohmmeddashty3048]

Any check engine lights ? Is it stock tune ?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Stock tune, CEL will come on after driving 50-100 miles.

[@TiMCoop3r]

you didnt tell us what downpipe that is

[@TheChevalierjedi]

how long did it take you to do the work ? Thx

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Couple hours

[@Andyp310]

It's a BMW !

[@omazdetailing4979]

Did you get any codes after installing??

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Yes, you need to get an oxygen sensor spacer to make it go away

[@omazdetailing4979]

@@TheBimmerBarn Do you know where I can get one?

[@omazdetailing4979]

@@TheBimmerBarn And thanks for your reply i appreciate it 👍🏻

[@christopherwilson8671]

Theres no cure for lazyness. At 1:45 why did you not just disconnect the sensor instead of twisting the cable. The connector is right there on the top of the engine. As an electrician this drives me mad.

[@ModVlog]

This video sucks lol 😂 it’s decent but so many flaws and details that aren’t shown