Ulter MX5 ND sports exhaust
Discussion
Hi,
I don't have greasy fingers and haven't done a lot on a car besides swapping a battery, wheels and some brake pads.
But I saw a vid on a guy doing the ulter sports exhaust, and it seemed straightforward enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aTu8eCQeGg
This is the exhaust:
https://www.ultersport.co.uk/mazda-mx5-nd-performa...
So I ordered it and it should be on its way.
Halfway into installation he does mention he needed extra 3M tape and longer bolts.
I've got all the gear needed; got a good jack that can easily lift the car, along with some big jack stands and all the tools needed.
Couple of questions though:
I don't have greasy fingers and haven't done a lot on a car besides swapping a battery, wheels and some brake pads.
But I saw a vid on a guy doing the ulter sports exhaust, and it seemed straightforward enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aTu8eCQeGg
This is the exhaust:
https://www.ultersport.co.uk/mazda-mx5-nd-performa...
So I ordered it and it should be on its way.
Halfway into installation he does mention he needed extra 3M tape and longer bolts.
I've got all the gear needed; got a good jack that can easily lift the car, along with some big jack stands and all the tools needed.
Couple of questions though:
- It seems like he had to do the skirt first, but was afraid re lining up the exhausts with the skirt. Is this really something I would need to worry about?
- With the screws, it seems like a very permanent "mod", how reversible is it if those holes wouldn't bother me?
- Anyone done this exhaust? Any idea on the exact bolts I would need? And do you take them stainless? If yess, how do you go against them seizing?
- It does go below the regular skirt, does it make the car a lot more prone to hit a speedbump for example?
Are you aware that the exhaust is made from aluminised steel, as opposed to stainless steel?
After looking in to aluminised steel exhausts, I would not purchase one.
As an example, this is a Sportex exhaust, made from aluminised steel, after a couple of years...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAcxFC_lTzw
From what i have read, they rot from the inside out due to moisture remaining in the exhaust.
For £800, you could have a very high quality, fully stainless, cat back system.
After looking in to aluminised steel exhausts, I would not purchase one.
As an example, this is a Sportex exhaust, made from aluminised steel, after a couple of years...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAcxFC_lTzw
From what i have read, they rot from the inside out due to moisture remaining in the exhaust.
For £800, you could have a very high quality, fully stainless, cat back system.
That's horrendous!
I've talked to some MX5 people who've had the Ulter for three years and more with no worrying signs of rusts.
They did a SS one, but I went for the cheaper option for a couple of reasons:
Update on the installation:
I had the exhaust in basically a day before we went to do a little tour in France, so had it mounted with my 8yo, we had a great time and no real hardships.
I jacked up the rear (by the strut at the diff), put it on two jack stands and then we could go on our backs underneath. I had little issue with the rubber exhaust mounts, something some people seem to struggle with. Needed no lubricant for those. Mounting them again was even simpler as the new exhaust seemed to have a slightly smaller diameter braces.
When coming to the "diffuser", I noticed I had ran out of caulk so I couldn't mount it. I didn't mind that as I wanted to test the exhaust a bit first before committing (without the diffuser it's literally a 30min job to return to stock).
We went on a tour with about 80 other MX5's, and there were a fair number with the Ulter exhaust. We had a look around and my wife and I really prefer the look without the skirt. It reminds me a bit of a 60s sports car with the exhaust poking out. They were a bit uneven (it was actually about 5mm, looks worse in this pic), but I managed to rectify that.
The thing I was worried about wrt looks is the "opening" on the right for the stock exhaust, but tbh it's only visible when far and low behind the car, and even then it's obscured by the black (not SS remember) exhaust. So for now we're keeping the rear diffuser off, I still have it, but it also means I'm not tied to any exhaust if it rusts out in two years like the guy in the vid.
Anyway, the exhaust sounds great. As warned, pretty loud whilst cold but perfectly reasonable when warm. In most cases just what the car needed imho.
I've talked to some MX5 people who've had the Ulter for three years and more with no worrying signs of rusts.
They did a SS one, but I went for the cheaper option for a couple of reasons:
- it's a fair-weather car, we use it regularly and in winter, but no need for us to take it out when it's raining
- the car is kept in the garage and is looked after
Update on the installation:
I had the exhaust in basically a day before we went to do a little tour in France, so had it mounted with my 8yo, we had a great time and no real hardships.
I jacked up the rear (by the strut at the diff), put it on two jack stands and then we could go on our backs underneath. I had little issue with the rubber exhaust mounts, something some people seem to struggle with. Needed no lubricant for those. Mounting them again was even simpler as the new exhaust seemed to have a slightly smaller diameter braces.
When coming to the "diffuser", I noticed I had ran out of caulk so I couldn't mount it. I didn't mind that as I wanted to test the exhaust a bit first before committing (without the diffuser it's literally a 30min job to return to stock).
We went on a tour with about 80 other MX5's, and there were a fair number with the Ulter exhaust. We had a look around and my wife and I really prefer the look without the skirt. It reminds me a bit of a 60s sports car with the exhaust poking out. They were a bit uneven (it was actually about 5mm, looks worse in this pic), but I managed to rectify that.
The thing I was worried about wrt looks is the "opening" on the right for the stock exhaust, but tbh it's only visible when far and low behind the car, and even then it's obscured by the black (not SS remember) exhaust. So for now we're keeping the rear diffuser off, I still have it, but it also means I'm not tied to any exhaust if it rusts out in two years like the guy in the vid.
Anyway, the exhaust sounds great. As warned, pretty loud whilst cold but perfectly reasonable when warm. In most cases just what the car needed imho.
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