MK 2.5 Exhaust - Opinions?

[poidisb]

Hey guys, I recently got my first MX-5, A 2004 Arctic passed down through the family, its been sitting for a while, the exhaust has started blowing quite loud to the point it thinks it is a Supra, so as good a time as any to get an after market exhaust!

The blowing does seem to be coming from near the front so I'll have to properly pin down the location, but looking for a new full system (I assume the current cat can be re-used?)

Just looking for opinions on what is a good system to go for? I don't want it TOO loud that its a noise disturbance, but a nice roof down & acceleration sound would be nice, any recommendations at all on a good one to go for?

Thanks!

[MX-5 Lazza]

The cat on these is a long pipe. The manifold is a nice 4-2-1 down to below the gearbox. The cat runs from here to half way under the car, probably 3 feet long. There is then a straight mid-pipe with a small baffle (it's this that usually fails) which runs to the rear axle where it joins the back box.

Mine has a Larini Sport cat & mid-pipe and a Racing Beat Power Pulse Dual back box. It's fairly noisy and has a rasp on acceleration due to the non-baffled mid-pipe. I'm not sure if Larini still do MX5 pipes, they are not on their website now. Might be worth giving them a call.

[poidisb]

Thanks for the reply mate, I'm not that clued on this sorta thing sadly, but if the mid pipe has gone, what sort of pricing am I looking at for a mid pipe, backbox & fitting would you think? I'd like something raspy but also something that meets gf approval ie: doesn't sound chavvy on our road, but good when opened up

Thanks again!

[feef]

This : http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/stainless-steel-centre-s...

and

This : http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/stainless-steel-exhaust-...

I have the twin exit box on my 1.8 Sport and it sounds lovely. Nicely finished too. My center pipe is fine, but when it comes to replacing it, I'll probably go for the stainless section I linked to above.

[poidisb]

Looks very nice, hopefully the hole is in the centre pipe not the cat anyways!!

I'd prob go single exit just due to the bumper looking misaligned if not, I can't imagine the sound would be much different?

Thanks again for the help on this

[feef]

poidisb said:

I'd prob go single exit just due to the bumper looking misaligned if not, I can't imagine the sound would be much different?

Don't think it looks that misaligned (and I've done no modifications to the bumper):



and how it sounds:

http://youtu.be/x-m7FFSeMds

[poidisb]

Sounds fruity

The one thing is it was my Mum's car for a few months and sadly she died of cancer back in 2012, my Dad has barely used the car since, is aware of the exhaust issue and wants to pay for the new exhaust, next service, mot, and wheel refurb, which is rally good of him, but if I went mx5parts single exit he wouldn't really tell the difference, but if he thought it was being changed for something visibly different I may end up footing the bill!

Before anyone asks, I'm 33 but if he is offering to pay he's offering to pay (He's paying my brother pretty much the value of the car and giving the car to me)

I'll have to have a think on it, but the single exit is £100 cheaper which would maybe go towards an intake system.....

[feef]

The MX5Parts single exit doesn't sound too bad either mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWVnZhkzD9M

[MegaMinion]

Before you shell out on an exhaust I would seriously recommend checking the front chassis legs for rust. As they could make the car a right off

[poidisb]

Would they not be checked out in the MOT? IT sailed through with no advisories in the past 3 months.

[MegaMinion]

Depends on whether the tester knows about them. But generally no they don't; to check them properly you have to take the front wheels off and the wheel arch liners off so you have have a good look all along them.
If your car is low mileage and hasn't been used much in the winter then they will probably be ok. I just feel I should warn people having found mine to be in a pretty bad state. My car had done over 100,000 miles and was used year round though.
I repaired mine myself as I'm vaguely capable with a welder. But if your not it can be a pricey repair.

[feef]

Could be an issue, certainly, but not quite as irreparable as many suggest. If you, or someone you know is handy with a welder, then these do the trick

http://www.themx5restorer.co.uk/pages/parts-for-sa...

Or, take it down to him, as he's done loads.

[poidisb]

Heading to the exhaust centre tomorrow to get the hole checked, they are a well known local wheel/tire/exhaust place but also do a lot more (Not some random backstreet garage) so going to see them about a few things:

Exhaust fitting cost
Wheel refurb pricing
If they'll do the chassis inspection beforehand.

[poidisb]

MegaMinion said:

Depends on whether the tester knows about them. But generally no they don't; to check them properly you have to take the front wheels off and the wheel arch liners off so you have have a good look all along them.
If your car is low mileage and hasn't been used much in the winter then they will probably be ok. I just feel I should warn people having found mine to be in a pretty bad state. My car had done over 100,000 miles and was used year round though.
I repaired mine myself as I'm vaguely capable with a welder. But if your not it can be a pricey repair.

Sorry, I did forget to reply to this and it was very helpful, I'll definitely get the check done before spending any proper money, the car is on about 47,000 miles, previous owner was my parents who have had it garaged since 2011, the owner before that took good care but didn't garage it, there was a fair bit of rust underneath when my parents bought it and they went to no expense having it all sorted out, maybe it included this, I'm not sure, but I'll see if the place I plan to go to will check this for me as part of a pre job check over.