Heard the terms GPF, PPF & OPF? Well they're all the same thing - a particulate filter that makes up part of an exhaust system. GPF stands for Gasoline Particulate Filter, PPF stands for Petrol Particulate Filter and OPF stands for Otto Particulate filter but all terms refer to the same item and are used interchangeably.
Its purpose is to filter out particulates from your exhaust emissions. They were introduced widely to direct injection petrol cars in September 2018 to meet EU6c requirements so are present on late F-series MINIs but not on Gen 1 or Gen 2 R-series MINIs. If you're an F-series MINI owner, the ones manufactured between 2014 and 2018 are very unlikely to have a GPF however the LCI (Life Cycle Impulse - essentially a mid-generation facelift model) was introduced for 2019 and almost certainly will have one. If you have a vehicle manufactured around 2018, it's always worth checking to see before purchasing a performance exhaust for your MINI. 
The GPF although good at what it does in terms of reducing emissions, creates back pressure that compromises the performance and sound quality of the exhaust. Far from ideal for the performance MINI enthusiast! Installing a GPF-delete pipe to improve the flow of exhaust gases is tempting however this is not a legal modification on UK roads. It's an MOT failure due to emissions which will be indicated by a warning light on the dash so this option can only be recommended as a track and off road solution.
For an on road solution you'll need to make sure you're looking at exhaust systems that have been specifically produced for cars with a GPF. They usually attach just after the device (a GPF-back system) and are often model-specific.
For the F56 there is the Cobra Sports LCI exhaust that has been designed to perform and sound great even with the restriction of the GPF. Cobra Sport have invested time and energy into understanding how sound waves are affected by the GPF as they travel through the internal filter. They used their findings to create a system that has comparative power and sound to their pre-LCI cat-back exhaust systems.
For the F54 - the Gen 3 MINI Cooper S Clubman, we have a Remus axle back valved exhaust that's handmade in Austria and designed to reduce back pressure. The remote control or smart phone operated valve allows you to shape the exhaust sound to suit where or how you're driving. The option to close the valve and quieten it can be valuable on long motorway drives for example or if you're up and out before your neighbours!
And for the F55 MINI we have the Ragazzon LCI exhaust. It features a large 102mm stainless steel exhaust pipe that will give the car a deeper sportier tone.
For those who are looking for maximum power without the legal limitations of driving on the road there are a number of options available starting with a GPF delete pipe combined with an axle back exhaust. We can also offer straight-through exhausts and downpipes too so if you're looking at preparing a MINI for the track, send us an email or give us a call and we can advise on which options you have for your chosen MINI.
Tel: +44(0)1785 859999
Email: sales@lohen.co.uk
