Exhaust questions for you Gen 2 Speed3 owners

"POD" (podimus) 09/21/2013 at 09:42 • Filed to: Mazdaspeed3, Exhaust

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As as payment, here is a photo of my Gen 2.

I've been looking at getting a cat back from my Speed3. So far I've been using Corksport products (SRI, Turbo Inlet tube, RMM, Shifter Plate), mainly because they are from my home State, and they have been good from a build quality stand point. However, the plate they weld onto the exhaust tips of their cat back exhaust is not only ugly as a sin, the welds themselves are prone to surface rust.

Since I get a lot of snow where I live, and the city has the wisdom to both rock, and salt the roads, CS exhaust is out.

I've been looking at the Ultimate Racing Exhaust with titanium tips. My car is black, so I figure that will match the car pretty nicely. Although a 4" tip is probably a bit excessive...

My questions are; has anyone used Ultimate Racing Exhaust? How does it sound on a daily driver? How is the highway drone? Do you get sick of it?

Also, are there other brands I should consider?

I've been listening to Youtube videos, but I was wondering if there were a few people on here that own, or have heard it in person and could comment. Below are the best two Youtube video's I could find of the Cat back Ultimate Racing exhaust.

Thanks in advance Oppo, you's a classy helpful bunch!!

FrankenBlaster > POD 09/21/2013 at 10:37

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I have the same exhaust on mine, I had no idea the plates could rust. I'll have to keep an eye out for it. How do you like the exhaust for daily? Personally I like it, but I think it's a bit rowdy and doesn't have much of a tuned note.

Takuro Spirit > POD 09/21/2013 at 10:50

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Has anyone told Corksport about this? They're a pretty decent company that stands behind their product, maybe they'll stop attaching them.... or they can build one without it if you request it?

POD > Takuro Spirit 09/21/2013 at 11:36

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I did both of those things. I was told it was "Surface oxidation and you can clean it with a toothbrush." And "No, we will not make it without the placards. "

I would have bought the CS one if I could have got it without the placards. All the other products I've purchased from them have really been excellent and worked exactly as advertized.

POD > FrankenBlaster 09/21/2013 at 11:42

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Thanks for the feedback. Have you heard or seen exhausts that you prefer? Nice note?

We get a lot of snow here and they salt often so the exhaust is going to get abused quite a bit. This probably isn't an issue in warmer climates.

FrankenBlaster > POD 09/21/2013 at 13:36

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I'd say it was a little more controlled before I put my Sure Race pipe on, I haven't heard any other speed3 exhausts in person so I can't really gauge, as mine sounds different in video than in person.

We get some snow here and, interesting note, my stock exhaust had rusted to the point where I couldn't remove a nut on one of the bolts to remove it so we had to sawzall the fucker off. So much for going back to stock!

POD > FrankenBlaster 09/21/2013 at 13:53

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Lol, yup, no more stock exhaust! I just e-mailed CS and asked them again (very politely) if they would special order one for me without the placard. We'll see what they say.

I wasn't thinking of doing the racepipe at this time because I've read that the high pressure fuel pump on the MZR motor has issues keeping up if you start to add more than two performance bolt ons. I've already got the Stage II intake (with inlet pipe). I was thinking of just doing the cat back more for looks and sound and then leaving the performance mods at that.

Benzed92 > POD 09/21/2013 at 13:54

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Speed 6 owner here, I don't have any experience with the Ultimate Racing catback. However I have a CP-e catback and it's fantastic, they make one for the genpu, but its a little pricey. Here's the link if you're interested: http://cp-e.com/wp/product/maz…

I also bought my system used for around $450, new being around $700 with the muffler. I will also suggest that with your mods, a catback will do next to nothing for power, but a catless/highflow 3" downpipe and a test pipe will make not only a large difference in power, but will sound great even with the stock catback.

Also, the Cobb AccessPort needs to be on your upcoming mods list, I held out for a long time before I got one, but it is the single best mod you can buy for the hp.

POD > Benzed92 09/21/2013 at 13:58

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Sweet! Thanks for the feedback and the link!!

Power wise I know it's not going to do much. Maybe a few horsepower, but really, not much at all. It's more looks, so I might be able to just change out the exhaust tips. I'm just not a fan of how the stock exhaust looks.

I was looking into the downpipe and racepipe, but I'd need to replace the internals on the high pressure fuel pump (another $1000 hit) if I go that route. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing. It would be a nice performance boost.

EDIT: Ohh, black tips option..... damn it, that's tempting.

Benzed92 > POD 09/21/2013 at 14:05

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You're welcome! I do agree about how the stock exhaust doesn't look that great, the stocker on the 6 was pretty bad too.

As far as the downpipe/racepipe/internals and AccessPort goes, the downpipe is $299
http://www.corksport.com/corksport-mazd…
test pipe is $185
http://www.streetunit.com/SURE_Motorspor…
internals $349
http://www.streetunit.com/Autotech_High_…
AccessPort V2/V3 $549/$650
http://www.cobbtuning.com/mazda-mazdaspe…


And here's a video of a genwon with a 3" catless dp and stock everything else, you could expect even more growl with the racepipe

POD > Benzed92 09/21/2013 at 14:28

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Those internals are a lot cheaper than others I've seen. Hmmm could do the whole back end up to the mid pipe for about the price of a cat back.... I think I may need to rethink my priorities now.

Thanks again!

Benzed92 > POD 09/21/2013 at 14:51

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I think the ones you were looking at might have been a whole new pump (CP-e I believe), the internals are pretty easy to install if you take your time too. And yea, the downpipe and test pipe are definitely the way to go first. If you go catless you'll probably want to get an AP to ditch the CEL though.

You're welcome! If you have any other modding or install questions just let me know, I've been dealing with the MZR platform for 5 years now so I'm pretty good at it lol

Benzed92 > POD 09/21/2013 at 14:58

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Here's what the downpipe only sounds like :P

And here's after my 3" catless install

EDIT: Ironically enough I don't have any videos of my car with the rest of the exhaust on.. That should change when I get back from school for Thanksgiving.

FrankenBlaster > POD 09/21/2013 at 15:55

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Oh yeah that's correct about the performance parts from what I've heard too. I'm on the stage 1 93 octane tune, and monitor my fuel pump religiously to make sure I don't dip out on pressure. I still have the HPFP internals to go in and inlet pipe - how hard is it to get to everything in there? I'm just worried about tearing all that shit out to get to both those parts.

POD > FrankenBlaster 09/21/2013 at 16:52

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I did the SRI and inlet pipe at the same time. Pretty much everything on the drivers side of the engine bay will have to come out. I did it in my driveway with hand tools. It took me about 4-5 hours, but other than changing oil, it was the first real work I've done on a car. Pretty much followed the instructions. Took my time, and it fired up with no CEL on the first go. It is tight in there trying to tighten the bolts on the turbo side of the inlet pipe. I think I could only get about a 1/8 turn on my socket, so that part was tedious.

Overall very much doable in an afternoon for anyone that is moderate mechanical skills and a good set of hand tools.

When you look at the stock inlet pipe vs the CS one, you can see why it's something worth replacing.

Stock (with a huge kink in it):

Corksport:

POD > Benzed92 09/21/2013 at 17:07

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Firstly, Damn. That sounds viciously angry. In a good way.

Secondly, black car with black wheels, my favorite combo for cars. I went with black Enkei's on mine. About 8 pounds lighter per wheel vs the stock 18's.

I'm pretty much thinking the internals, downpipe and straight pipe now. If I go with the cat'ed downpipe it shouldn't throw a CEL and (IIRC) the second cat that's removed by the stright pipe dosen't have an O2 sensory, so the ECU won't know it's missing.

The good Warranty people at Mazda shouldn't complain. I called Mazda Canada when I first started this and they told me that as long as it didn't throw a CEL, you don't re-flash the ECU, and the part doesn't cause a direct failure of other components, then your warranty is fine.

BTW, love that lift in the garage!!! That is going to be the first thing on my list once I get a place with a garage (in a townhouse at the moment, no garage...bummer).

Benzed92 > POD 09/21/2013 at 18:23

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Thanks! I only kept it like that for a few days, but it still growls quite a bit with my catback on. And I agree, it is a great look, and lighter wheels make it even better.

You are also correct on your CEL statement, as long as the downpipe is catted you will not throw a code, and the test pipe has no sensors. However, a catted downpipe is gonna run you another $300, so it might just be worth it to go catless and get a tune :) (unless that is a no-no on the warranty which it seems it is.

And yea, the lift is amazing, makes things so much easier to work on!! When you get a garage I highly recommend one.

mooserov > POD 09/21/2013 at 21:56

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i've got the UR exhaust on my evo, and it's fairly loud. good quality gear though, and sounds great with the windows down/outside the car. My ears ring slightly from the drone after a trip of more than an hour.

POD > mooserov 09/21/2013 at 21:59

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Thank you for the feedback.

Hmm, the drone concerns me a bit. I do take the car on 13 hour trips 4-6 times a year. Cotton ears after an hour would be a problem.

mooserov > POD 09/21/2013 at 22:05

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I even went as far as to put the mini-muffler in place of the test pipe, slightly quieter. I may add a stainless muffler somewhere in there eventually. Wife has a gen2 speed3, but we're leaving it stock.

POD > mooserov 09/21/2013 at 23:50

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Thanks again. This gives me more to consider.

You've got a family of fun cars!! For the Speed3 I would highly recommend the Corksport SRI with inlet pipe. It wakes the Speed3 up nicely, doesn't throw a CEL. It lets the turbo spoil up a few hundred PRM lower and lets you hear the BPV working.