[to_riffic]

Just thought I'd share my thoughts on the 1st and only iPE Innotech exhaust system on my MINI. I get it, it's not a $60-90k BMW, but having gone from an E92 335i to the MINI, I have no regrets going backwards in power and comfort.

I was intrigued with the system because of its valvetronic capabilities and also the simple fact that no one has ever heard it in person, not even any sound clips anywhere! I try to be different and think outside the box and I'm not afraid to spend on quality parts, so when I spoke to iPE, the conversation led me to Lance and Vince @ GT Auto Concepts. These guys are great. They are also known as DuelL AG North America and having seen their DuelL AG MINI in person, I was impressed with DuelL's quality and the shops interest in the Asian market for Euro cars.

Drove up to SF from LA on Wednesday morning at around 2:30am and came home the same night at midnight. It was a long tiring day/drive, but The guys there took care of me, they were equally impressed with the quality of the system and the intoxicating sound that it bellows in it's On and Off modes.

The system comes with 2 remotes. Each remote has an ON, OFF, and AUTO mode. While in On mode, the system is brutal. It sounds amazing! I had Akrapovic before, and this just blows it out of the waters. It's not obnoxious which was something I was afraid of since I've never seen or heard the system, but when it was first tired up and rev'd, I knew I hit the jackpot, this was IT. The system to beat.

In OFF mode, the system is subtle, your wife/gf/significant other will love you, she will compliement the smart choice of having it off for her while you're driving her around town, but the MINI she's gone, ON it goes and you're wailing along in the city with everyone looking at you. It's so smooth that you want to rev the crap out of it and with the bit of low end torque lost, what you gain up top from the catless downpipe, is a dream.

In AUTO mode, Vince set the system to activate from OFF to ON at 4000 RPM. So when it reaches 4K, it immediately opens the valves and the deep note from the system can be heard. It's such a smooth transition and you'll notice the visceral sound different and power immediately.

Easily one of the most expensive systems out there on the MINI side of things and likewise for the M3 crowd. Darren got his iPE after I said "Man...I'm thinking of rocking iPE". Apparently he had already talked to iPE and with me on board to get it, he couldn't turn down the offer he received from Vince and Lance.

It will make you turn 180 quickly, but it will reward you if you don't. Like any downpipe for the R5x generation, a O2 sensor CEL will come up. It happened to me 150miles into the drive back down to LA. An easy fix to this would be either running an AP if you have the tune, or getting the BMS CAN Tool which can deactivate the light.

I'm the first in the US with this system, and I hope I'm not the last. If you guys need a reference before you speak to Lance or Vince at GT Auto Concept just let me know and I can have them contact you for a MINI iPE or even for your BMW or exotic.
















Cold Start:

OFF, ON, AUTO:

[DougLikesBMW]

How are you only gunna post one pic of the car?

Give me some more to drool over, please...

[to_riffic]

lol....

I haven't done the photoshoot...

[DougLikesBMW]

Ooh man ...

Shame on whoever is keeping that Laguna Seca E46 that dirty and dusty!

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

Ooh man ...

Shame on whoever is keeping that Laguna Seca E46 that dirty and dusty!

it's at LT, in for repairs.

MINI isn't even a finished product yet. Still waiting on Challenge Wing/Front Lip, and CAE Ultra Shifter.

[Inspired]

why did you go from a E92 335 to a Mini cooper? Just curious.

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by Inspired

why did you go from a E92 335 to a Mini cooper? Just curious.

Always wanted one. Sister's husband had a 1st gen Cooper S and it was a fun little car. When I lemoned the MINI, I thought about an E92 M3, but decided I'd go smaller, and I don't regret the decision.

[Inspired]

how fast are these things?

Did you ever dyno or take it on a drag strip or track?

[Greenkirby21]

i love the GP rear diffuser. Thinking of getting one for my dads 13 JCW

[LAwolverine]

wow i love it. makes me miss my mini so much

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by Inspired

how fast are these things?

Did you ever dyno or take it on a drag strip or track?

Last year's dyno w/ stage3 AP, Akrapovic Turboback, DOS intake, and Forge intercooler put down 221whp/260wtq.

Darren (creamiz) and I are set to dyno at EAS next Friday. Ivan @ LTMW will take it down to EAS since I'll be entrenched at work

Fastest time at Buttonwillow was 2:12...not bad, but with better suspension this time, for sure it should be 2:09ish range.

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

i love the GP rear diffuser. Thinking of getting one for my dads 13 JCW

Thanks. JCW would be nice. N18 engine tougher to tune than non-LCI N14.

Originally Posted by LAwolverine

wow i love it. makes me miss my mini so much

Get another one!

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Inspired

why did you go from a E92 335 to a Mini cooper? Just curious.

I went from a 335 to MCS also.
No contest as to which was more fun to drive.
I will get another.

Nice looking car op.
Miss mine all the time.

[DSB335d]

Very cool! We had a regular mini as a loaner and had a lot of fun driving it. I ran into a guy at Home Depot recently that had a turbo kit among other parts on his jcw mini; said it was putting down 425whp!!! I can only imagine how fun it would be to drive something like that!

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by DSB335d

Very cool! We had a regular mini as a loaner and had a lot of fun driving it. I ran into a guy at Home Depot recently that had a turbo kit among other parts on his jcw mini; said it was putting down 425whp!!! I can only imagine how fun it would be to drive something like that!

Thanks! But I do find that hard to believe. There are hardcore members that have upgraded their turbos and even rebuilt the bottom end of their engine and even dyno tuned, they've cracked the 300whp mark but I don't think 425hp is achievable in the MINI. And im talking about putting serious money into these builds. The clutch wouldn't last.

Now if he had the 1st gen S/JCW w/ the supercharger engine THEN I can possibly believe those numbers because those are easier to tune and even Paul Walker had a 600hp supercharged MINI. LoL

[gonzo]

Is yours astro black?
Mine was....waahhh.

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Is yours astro black?
Mine was....waahhh.

No. Mine is midnight black. Astral black is nice because of the blue hue in the paint but midnight black has a bit of sparkle to the paint

[gonzo]

Right, but my 08 was astro .
code a25
Blue heavy metallic in light.
Very dark in shade or at night.

Id like to see them do white. Just good old white.
Pepper is ok but not for me.

White with white arches and trim...yep.

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Right, but my 08 was astro .
code a25
Blue heavy metallic in light.
Very dark in shade or at night.

Id like to see them do white. Just good old white.
Pepper is ok but not for me.

White with white arches and trim...yep.

totally agree. i wanted a white, and all they had to offer was pepper white which to me, looks like sun damaged white

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by ra2fanatic

totally agree. i wanted a white, and all they had to offer was pepper white which to me, looks like sun damaged white

lol my dad's is pepper white and i hate the color. Looks like an old white shirt you have thats more yellow LOL. I find it odd how the Countryman has a nice white

[TunedM2C]

I just picked up a '13 GP and this thing is a go cart! Can't wait until break-in is over so I can mod it! I hear BMS is currently working on a JB+ for the N18 motor which is promising.

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by Tuned1M

I just picked up a '13 GP and this thing is a go cart! Can't wait until break-in is over so I can mod it! I hear BMS is currently working on a JB+ for the N18 motor which is promising.

Nice. Congrats!

You should contact Terry and become part of his slew of beta testers. There are at least 20 of them out there running his JB+ style tune on the N18s.

[wisesoul]

Sounds like an Evo or Fiat 500 Abarth, verry aggressive