2011 MX5 Mod Options and their impact on Roadworthiness

jassi · Postby **jassi** » Mon May 04, 2015 9:39 am

So the max power headers and mid-pipe are on. Its got a nice response, beyond 3000 rpm or so from what I can tell. Also with the baffles in the super-q muffler, it sounds great, not too loud unless I accelerate really hard, and some very minor drone at 2500rpm on 5th. Without the baffles, it got loud and a bit tinny though, so I've opted to leave the baffles in. Overall quite satisfied with the end result. So thank you all for the guidance

Question - I have read varying results on an ecu tune helping get more out of the headers, some people claim it helps, some claiming none (including goodwin). What do you think, will the ECU just adapt, I remember reading this on forums somewhere as well? Is it safe to leave the ECU as is till later?

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Mon May 04, 2015 11:19 am

I fitted my headers way back in 2009. At that time no one had cracked the Mazda Ecu, so I ran without a tune for the next three years (55,000 kilometres) without a problem.

My first tune was in May 2012 and wasn’t too good. Down loaded from one of the three supposed tuning experts the US, it put out 107kW (up about 3kW over the stock tune) but had a number of issues that luckily didn’t cause damage. Some track cars in the US weren’t so lucky.

Six months later an improved version came out and following some fine tuning adjustments from Deckspeed, the car ran pretty good and produced 113kW (with the small race muffler) and fuel consumption dropped 0.5 litres per 100klm.

So to answer your question, you’ll be fine running it without the tune as it runs a little richer than optimum. When the time does come to put a tune on the car, make sure you go to a local EcuTek specialist who has previously worked on MX5's and can fine tune the car.

jassi · Postby **jassi** » Tue May 05, 2015 12:29 pm

Thanks for that guidance Charlie!
I got similar feedback from Brian Goodwin on his forums as well
"The car SHOULD learn the new setup, the first factory sensor is a wideband. Many folks rush into the ECU reflash before the car has opportunity to learn the setup and not surprising it is those customers that report the biggest results from the tune. So indeed there is no reason to rush into the tune, let the car tune itself and drive and have fun. The tune can still add more later to the results, but not necessary up front to enjoy the new setup."

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Thu May 07, 2015 9:18 pm

Jassi,
You have a PM.
Greg.

jassi · Postby **jassi** » Fri May 08, 2015 11:08 am

^ thanks for the pointer Greg

Btw on the tuning front, Joe @ Dynotronics has a great group buy going on the big forums. Incase someone is travelling to US, he is more than happy to make sure you get it whilst you are there

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=575633

jassi · Postby **jassi** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:50 pm

In the process of getting my ecutek tune from Joe@dynotronics and I'm struggling to figure out where I can do 3rd gear wot pulls in Melbourne. 3rd gear 6k rpm is easily above 120kph and don't want to risk it! Have to do this a few times next few weeks while I collect some logs for the tune

Any ideas? What did others who got a tune do for logging?

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:15 pm

I used to do 3rd gear pulls for tuning in my Evo on freeway onramps.

I get my Evo dyno tuned these days though and then refine the tune with data from the track. My NC I got tuned on ECUtek by Deckspeed on their hub dyno.

jassi · Postby **jassi** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:02 am

Dan wrote:I used to do 3rd gear pulls for tuning in my Evo on freeway onramps.

I get my Evo dyno tuned these days though and then refine the tune with data from the track. My NC I got tuned on ECUtek by Deckspeed on their hub dyno.

thanks for the input Dan - other than paying for a dyno for each time I get a new rom, onramps are the only place I could think of as well. It seems 2nd gear wot pulls are not as smooth and useful for tuning.

jassi · Postby **jassi** » Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:02 pm

All - thanks for all the advice over the years! Has really helped me get the most of my mx-5! Shortly after I stopped posting on this thread - the ohlins dfv coilovers went on. Never really got back to posting here once all the mods went on - as I was having more fun driving the car vs posting online

until now as my mx-5 is now for sale! :cry:

Full list of mods and for sale price here viewtopic.php?f=73&t=75048