MX5 Mania Stage 1 VS Flying Miata Little Enchilada

by **dave2221** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:28 am

If there is a thread on this, please help (as the advanced search option didn't come up with anything)

Looking at the different options for my SE, and obviously on a budget.

MX5 mania quote $3,100 for everything installed (which is pretty good) however i cant justify the money during my house renovations.... as this money could go on a new lounge room furniture, or new oven/hotplates ect....

Flying Miata quote $1,795 for their package (USD) which doesnt include a stack of shipping. (not to mention i am not sure if it works on RHD cars)

Is there any pro's or con's with either system? or are they comparable enough that price can drive the best deal.

Cheers.

by **dave2221** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:33 am

I guess while i am at it, are there any other alternative routes for this upgrade path.

I dont want to stuff around with aftermarket ECU's or boost ect at the moment

Just extract the existing power thats available by unrestricting the intake/exhaust.

Ninja Edit...... should i be doing a manual boost controler mod with this? or just leave it as is?

by **Lokiel** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:06 pm

Forget the complete FM LE kit, the intake wont fit on our SE since the ABS is in the way. Everything else fits and the quality is great but FM S&H is notoriously expensive - FM support is excellent though.

The MX5 Mania kit uses an AEM CAI which can be sourced cheaper from the US but is not legal in NSW unless you enclose it in some form of housing.

BEGi are another option for SE upgrades though their quality is questionable on some products. Their CAI intake is OK and is enclosed: http://www.bellengineering.net/product_info.php?cPath=4_26&products_id=146

SMB here in Oz make SE components too so that's an option: http://www.smb.net.au/fullexhaustsystems-mazdaMX5.htm

Other than that, you could find a local exhaust fabricator to make you a custom 2.5" or 3" exhaust. I bought my FM exhaust as part of a FM GB and saved US$100 on the cost but the S&H was almost as expensive as the exhaust itself. It's stainless steel so will last forever but if I had to do it again, I think I'd do it via a local fabricator.

billybunter has tried both the AEM and BEGi intakes and based on the "butt dyno", reckons the AEM CAI produces more grunt.

PS: Do the manual boost controller mod - make sure to install a boost gauge though so you know that you wont be boosting too hard.

by **dave2221** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:44 pm

hmmm

Boost guage adds a bit to do the install.... but i agree i think it goes hand in hand with a manual boost controler.

Seems the SMB, Mania and FM upgrades (intake/intercooler/exhaust) all net within a few KW of each other (145rwkw)

So i really cant go wrong choosing from either....

If i am going down a mix and match route, i can do each component indivually.....

Exhaust
Mania exhaust (dump back) $1700 (not installed)
SMB exhaust (dump back) $1800 (not installed)
Begi use magnaflow exhaust, so may as well use Mania

Intercooler
Mania intercooler kit $400 with hardware (not installed)
SMB intercooler kit $1,320 with hardware (not installed)
Begi intercooler kit $499 with hardware (not installed or shipped)

intake
AEM via Mania $599 (not installed) (not legal)
SMB carbon $715 (not installed) (looks legal)
Begi Intake $369 (not installed or shipped) (apparantly legal)

Boost controler - Manual
Begi Forge Unos $105 (not installed or shipped)
Mania Turbosmart Boost Tee $105 (not installed)

Also needed would be
A pillar guage pod (single) - not sure where to get this
Boost guage (about $200 for a good one $65 for std)

Cheapest option would be
Mania Exhaust $1700
Mania Intercooler kit $400
Begi/AEM CAI $599 (need shipping quote for Begi)
Boost Tee $105
A pillar guage $105 (only one i know if is via mania)
Boost guage $65
Total $2,869..... plus install (if you cant do it yourself)

by **dave2221** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:18 pm

Lokiel wrote:
PS: Do the manual boost controller mod - make sure to install a boost gauge though so you know that you wont be boosting too hard.

Ok, another question then.... How much more power would the boost controller mod gain ABOVE the mania stage 1 kit (which doesnt do it)

They quote about 145-147rwkw with their stage 1.... how much extra with a bit more boost?

by **dave2221** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:47 pm

AEM via goodwin racing is 267(USD) + 92.58 shipping
thats $359.58 landed USD

by **Apu** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:09 pm

Well...there are a couple of guys on this forum who can fabricate stuff very cost effectively!

by **Lokiel** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:27 pm

dave2221 wrote:
Lokiel wrote:
PS: Do the manual boost controller mod - make sure to install a boost gauge though so you know that you wont be boosting too hard.

Ok, another question then.... How much more power would the boost controller mod gain ABOVE the mania stage 1 kit (which doesnt do it)

They quote about 145-147rwkw with their stage 1.... how much extra with a bit more boost?

I'm pretty sure that the Mania figure is WITH increased boost since those numbers are consistent with many guys,including me, who have upped their boost to 10psi (stock boost is 7.5-8 psi). Upping the boost from 7.5psi to 9.5psi or more makes a dramatic difference in acceleration - YOU WANT IT!

At one point, 12psi was considered to be the limit for SE/MSMs though guys now run as high as 14psi with stock internals. 9.5-10psi seems to be the limit before boost cut problems appear and it's best to upgrade to an aftermarket ECU to keep things running smoothly if you go beyond 9.5psi.

by **bruce** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:28 pm

I would do it bit by bit (then you don't notice the total cost and spread out over time).
I would wait for it to all come up second hand (even cheaper).

by **Shambler** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:52 pm

I (like most stock SE owners!) am in the same situation as you, and I agree with the others suggestions that you should do it piece by piece.

The intercooler used by mania is a 'CoolingPro' model, should be able to get one on eBay for $150 or so? It'll require a small amount of mount fabrication, but as mentioned earlier there's plenty of people here on the forum and around the place that can create things like that for you (assuming you don't want to do it yourself)

The Turbosmart Boost Tee can actually be had quite cheaply, again eBay was the cheapest I could source at only $70 (for a new one, second hand is cheaper)

Exhaust... I've gone down the pre-made route and I'll admit it's nice, but daamn it costs. It should be pretty easy to get someone to fabricate one for you, again there's guys on the forum or reputable exhaust shops that can do this for you cheaper than the Magnaflow.

The intake is where I'm at with my car now, and I'm seriously considering the BEGi myself, for the fact that it's enclosed and should be easier to get engineered legally. If you wanted to go down this route, it's possible to save on shipping. Otherwise I remember they quoted around $100 for shipping.

No idea on the boost gauge, all I know is that I need one before I install a boost controller!

So really all I'm saying is consider buying parts online and sourcing people on the forums to fabricate/install them if you're looking to do it a bit cheaper.

Sam

by **dave2221** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:30 pm

Only problem i have with stuff like online intercoolers, is the extra work getting to fit into my car.

I would happily pay an extra hundred or so for a kit that is a direct bolt on.

I think i might go down the "piece by piece" path as well....

by **Russellb** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:52 pm

The Std ECU is the real limiting factor with the SE
Buy a good ECU and then Upgrade exhaust and Intake down the track
I did this with the rally car with a Straight 2 1/2" pipe System it made 145KW on STD Boost
Now making 168KW on E85 on STD boost
Next to do is Conrods and Wind the boost till the TINY turbo can't flow anymore exhaust gas
This should be good for 200+KW and thats More than enough on the Dirt

by **dave2221** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:53 pm

Russellb wrote:The Std ECU is the real limiting factor with the SE
Buy a good ECU and then Upgrade exhaust and Intake down the track
I did this with the rally car with a Straight 2 1/2" pipe System it made 145KW on STD Boost
Now making 168KW on E85 on STD boost
Next to do is Conrods and Wind the boost till the TINY turbo can't flow anymore exhaust gas
This should be good for 200+KW and thats More than enough on the Dirt

that is more kw than i need for the 10km trip to work 5 days a week.

I just want to get the 145 from the stage 1 kit.... ECU is beyond what i have planned.

Ill just take it as it comes.... exhaust first, then CAI, then intercooler, boost and boost guage

by **Lokiel** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:45 pm

I'd recommend doing the CAI first - bigger bang-for-your-buck.

The intercooler can be left until last since it's only a limiting factor on the racetrack where it's puny size means it heatsoaks quickly, making it useless. For DD, the OEM intercooler is fine.

by **NitroDann** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:57 pm

I skimmed the replies but basically im going to be blunt old a hole Dann...

You NEED an ecu. The fact is that the stock one only delivers so much fuel. And then thats it, and on top of that if you add extra air the fuel it adds, not only stops pretty fast, its not the right amount and the car will be a dog.

No 2 ways about it.

The ecu is the nicest, least expensive, most powerful, best fuel efficiency zero stuff around part you can add to an SE.

Sorry, thats the answer if you want a real performance gain and stock drivability, efficiency, reliability and want it to just work properly.

No 2 ways about it, thats it.

Dann