BBR Super 200

[highway]

I’ve just sold my 981 and quite fancy an ND MX5 for a bit. I had several mark ones when I was in my twenties and they were still in production. Always enjoyed the gear change and fun they offered.
The super 200 takes performance up to what seems to be an ideal point for an MX5, does anyone have experience of one? Any downside to standard?
I fear the performance of the 1.5 will likely feel inadequate so only looking at the 2.0 cars.

[bennno]

1.5 facelift with 132bhp is actually pretty good fun.

[coppice]

Have a word with Paul Roddison in Sheffield. His remap and new manifold transformed my ND 2 litre for a very affordable price . I now have a car which has more torque , more power, more 'revvablity ' and with better mpg .

[highway]

So I’ve bought a car. 2018 ND with BBR’s Super 220 conversion. I’m very impressed with the power delivery. It feels linear, OEM like, and pulls well to the redline at over 7k in the lower gears. Gear change is as excellent as I remember and the BOSE, climate, cruise and Bluetooth all make it very usable.
I don’t care for the noise the back box is making, which I’ll rectify soon, not the body roll.
Some questions-
PH’s MX5 forum is best described as slow. What’s the best UK ND MX5 forum. I don’t think I’ve found it yet.
What’s the best solution to address body roll? I’m used to Elises and Boxsters, both of which carry a corner far flatter with less to no roll. Will lowering springs which are stiffer resolve or do you need anti roll bars as well?
Can you get CarPlay added at less than £300 that a dealer asks?

Many thanks

[coppice]

The Mazda lowered springs transform the roly poly feel at the expense of a more nuggety ride - but it is still fine.

Consider binning the OE Bridgestones when they wear - Michelin PS4s make the car behave better and are vastly better in the wet

Standard wheel is a bit thin and slippy - I replaced mine with one from Royal (excellent job , while you wait and all s/wheel controls , airbag etc are retained)

MX 5 OC is useful , especially on older models but can feel a bit Terry and June sometimes.

[pewe]

Consider Meister Zeta-CRD at £829.
https://www.meisterr.co.uk/products/meisterr-zetac...
Knowing how Meisters improved the handling on my NA I'm sure they'll improve yours.
They take a lot of time developing their units for each different application
If you've any queries Jerrick at Meister is always very helpful.

[tawt]

pewe said:

Consider Meister Zeta-CRD at £829.
https://www.meisterr.co.uk/products/meisterr-zetac...
Knowing how Meisters improved the handling on my NA I'm sure they'll improve yours.
They take a lot of time developing their units for each different application
If you've any queries Jerrick at Meister is always very helpful.

This
and then anti roll bars would be next progression.

[tawt]

If you want to try before you buy? give me a shout! ...

[highway]

Nice of you. I’m going to get the springs fitted by BBR and hope that sorts it. I don’t want to commit too much more to the car as I remain uncertain whether it’s for me. But as it’s a top spec model and the previous owner already shouldered the cost of the Super 220 conversion, it seems foolish not to try and optimise it.

BBR state on their website that if you have their manifold and Down pipe, they don’t advise the ‘super sport’ exhaust as it’s too ‘raucous’

Sadly, from my perspective, the previous owner went against this advice and has this fitted rather than the apparently quieter ‘grand tourer’ exhaust that BBR recommend used in combination with exhaust modifications.

The super sport is apparently ideal for otherwise I modified cars. Frankly, it’s unpleasantly loud on the car. Sounds good on start up, but under load it’s unpleasantly loud, intrusive and drones like a politician on motorways. It’s got to go. BBR will change for the GT version which I hope will transform the current experience. I’ll report back.

[tawt]

Hi, exhausts are always going to be a personal thing!...I did have a set of lowering springs too...ended up with the meister r coilovers.
My mx5 replaced a Elise sport 160 with a fully rebuild engine running over 200bhp. For what I want from a car the mx5 now ticks more boxes than the elise did.

[highway]

That’s good to hear. I like the creature comforts and the world class gear change and the power delivery. I’m amazed Mazda let them out the door with that much body roll from the back end. Currently gives me little confidence from the rest pressing on, feels disconcerting.

[tawt]

There are so many parts that you can buy that will tighten up the handling!....Best parts for me were coilovers and a jbr diff mount....geo was a good call too.

[highway]

Now have a quieter exhaust. Much better. Lowering springs seem to remove the body roll and still no issue clearing speed bumps. Will update further after my next proper run out.

[buccal]

Is there any booming with the GT back box?

I’m thinking of adding it to my NC super 200 but have seen the odd comment that it can still be a bit loud.

[highway]

Im conscious it’s a different engine on the NC. No booming with GT exhaust on ND. They recommend super sport box IF you have standard manifold and down pipe. If you have a standard car you could fit either.

[highway]

So, had a proper drive out yesterday. The plus points- power delivery is excellent. Going to the red line is rewarding, the car pulls strongly throughout and feels willing to rev. A criticism of the earlier 2.0 was apparently the fact this was unrewarding?
The light weight means, even after the BBR conversion, the car returns real world 40mpg plus even being driven hard. That’s exceptional.

The other MX5 plus points are there as well- world class gear change, excellent roof design and a surprisingly buffet free drive even with roof down as sustained speed.

The steering feel isn’t great. Front turns in sharply but I find the weighting can feel inconsistent. The lowering springs have definitely erased much of the rear end body roll and I can feel the back end willing to move through a roundabout.

I feel like I’d like to ratchet the seat down lower- but can’t and I don’t much care for the seats themselves. Bolsters too narrow, no real support and not particularly comfortable. The seats in my wife’s Mini are better by a mile.

All things considered, letting someone else pay for the BBR work on an ND has to be the way to go. The cars seems to offer scant premium used yet the difference it makes to drive is transformative.

[coppice]

You're right about the steering - the feel of mine improved with various tweaks (PS4s , lowering and suspension ) set up ) but it is still EPAS . Amazingly, some still praise the steering feel and I can only assume they've never driven anything decent without PAS , or one of the better hydraulic systems .

I find the seats comfy enough but they do lack sideways support , particularly on upper body level .

[highway]

It’s curious that the reviews largely give the steering a total pass. I drove an NC while my car was being lowered at BBR. The difference in steering feel is glaringly obvious back to back. It’s the single biggest weak point in a great package.

[CABC]

Meisters are awesome. sporty yet resolved and well balanced.
steering is a c21 plague unfortunately.

[JAMESHOWARTH79]

highway said:

So I’ve bought a car. 2018 ND with BBR’s Super 220 conversion. I’m very impressed with the power delivery. It feels linear, OEM like, and pulls well to the redline at over 7k in the lower gears. Gear change is as excellent as I remember and the BOSE, climate, cruise and Bluetooth all make it very usable.
I don’t care for the noise the back box is making, which I’ll rectify soon, not the body roll.
Some questions-
PH’s MX5 forum is best described as slow. What’s the best UK ND MX5 forum. I don’t think I’ve found it yet.
What’s the best solution to address body roll? I’m used to Elises and Boxsters, both of which carry a corner far flatter with less to no roll. Will lowering springs which are stiffer resolve or do you need anti roll bars as well?
Can you get CarPlay added at less than £300 that a dealer asks?

Many thanks

Mines an NC - I had BBR’s suspension package fitted and would highly recommend it.