Talk to me about your exhaust systems...

[matt uk]

Evening all,

The '2009 plans for your car thread' has prompted me to think a bit more about jobs that need doing whilst the car is tucked up in the garage and actually getting round to ordering some parts.

So, I'm thinking of replacing the stock system with a S/S single pipe jobbie from MX5parts and also a de-cat (I'll keep the cat in the garage for when it's required).

I want to have a bit of noise, but don't want to sound like a boy racer. I think I'd prefer 'raspy' on this car and opposed to deep and 'burbly', if you know what I mean.

Anyone done this? Or have you done something better?

Thoughts most welcome.

[batfink79]

This one is mine. Quite deep to start off with, then turns into a bit of a howl after 4500 revs.....

[snotrag]

I would never, ever have considered buying one, but the HKS Superdrager that came on mine sounds absolutely awesome. When I first saw the car, and more importantly the size of the slightly ridiculous 100 odd mm bore, I instantly presumed it would sound st, and put it on my mental 'change this' checklist.

But, it doesn't. Its quiet-ish (all things being relative) on idle, but once over about 3.5k it sounds really good, get progressively louder very raspy, hard to describe. it sound very similar to my mates X-flow Westfield, very 'retro', and it pops and bangs and tinkles on the over-run from high revs if its warm.

Seems to be really well made and sturdy too, big solid pipe from the cat back.

Edited by snotrag on Friday 2nd January 19:03

[Munter]

I keep waiting for mine to fail.... 12 years and 107,000miles. And the bugger is still holding on...

[OnlyMX5ives]

The MX5 Parts ones are probably the noisiest available.

Depends if thats your thing or not.

[pmanson]

£150 for our dual exit from mx5parts:

[matt uk]

Have to admit, those dual systems look nice - but I don't want to ruin the look of the car with my cutting skills..

MX5parts ones seems like a good price. In terms of loudness, it's not my everyday car so happy for it to be a bit raw, so long as it's not boy-racer loud.

For the price, I'll give it a go.

[pmanson]

matt uk said:

Have to admit, those dual systems look nice - but I don't want to ruin the look of the car with my cutting skills..

MX5parts ones seems like a good price. In terms of loudness, it's not my everyday car so happy for it to be a bit raw, so long as it's not boy-racer loud.

For the price, I'll give it a go.

I can vouch for the quality of the system (the guys that fitted it were very impressed). Cutting isn't too complicated - you get a template that you cut out and attach to the rear bumper (I used masking tape) and the template matches the contours of the bottom of the bumper. I then drew round the template onto masking tape that I had already attached to the bumper and used a hacksaw to cut the bumper. Little bit of wet and dry to tidy up the edges.

Well worth getting new rubber exhaust hangers as LA says it's not a light exhaust!

[hornetrider]

Duals ftw!

[Merlot]

batfink79 said:

This one is mine. Quite deep to start off with, then turns into a bit of a howl after 4500 revs.....

Is it me, or is the left side (much) lower than the right?

To the OP: I have a full s/s on mine which is quiet most of the time but quite raspy when pushed hard. Can't think of the name so I'll have to have a look later for you!!

[GravelBen]

An interesting point if boot space matters to you...

If you switch the exhaust to the left instead of the right then its a pretty simple mod to mount the spare wheel underneath the boot instead of in it (using the same mounting point but a longer threaded rod) and free up a whole lot more useful boot space. I haven't done it myself yet as I'm waiting for the merciless gravelbashing to munt my exhaust first

Edited by GravelBen on Saturday 3rd January 12:08

[Howard-]

batfink79 said:

This one is mine. Quite deep to start off with, then turns into a bit of a howl after 4500 revs.....

As the guy above said, that does look pissed!


I've been "planning" the same sort of thing with my exhaust, I'd like a slightly more prominent sound, but not a deep burbly farty chav/Impreza noise, but more like Westfield/Caterham/"classic car" sounds (as mentioned above) if that makes sense. I was looking at the Larini system, with MX5parts decat pipe and 4-2-1 manifold. I don't want dual exit either, seems pointless and just adds weight/opportunity for a bodged cut job

Anyone fancy doing some sound clips of their exhausts?

Mind you mine does sound quite sporty at the moment, I presume it's the stock system! It's not loud, just quite "nice"!

Edited by Howard- on Saturday 3rd January 12:13

[MX-5 Lazza]

Single & Dual systems tend to be the same boxes but with an extra exit pipe on the duals so there is very little extra weight - just a couple of pounds at most.

[lord summerisle]

Howard- said:

Anyone fancy doing some sound clips of their exhausts?

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=fleclc&s=5

heres mine - nice and simple - a single tip (the smaller of the 2) Larini Catback system - still on the origonal cat and manifold.

I didnt want a dual tip either.
Nice and subdude when cruising... but opens up nicely as the revs climb.

[snotrag]

Recorded this just for you on my little bimble today...

http://flickr.com/photos/simonholehan/3166823452/

Sounds quite similar the the Good Lords, probably a touch louder I presume. Must have cooled down a bit aswell, as when your actually driving it pops and bangs a little more on the over run

[Howard-]

Thank you both

[maz8062]

I've got a Borla catback and a decat pipe that can be had at a price. It is SS and lighter than 99% of exhausts out there for the MX5. It also comes with a million mile warranty

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/maz8062/IM...

With the decat it really does scream at WOT, but is muted and civilised at cruising speeds.

PM me if interested

[matt uk]

Thanks for the input and sound clips guys - all food for thought

Maz, PM sent