MAZDA MX5 SE V THE MX5SP

[billybunter]

Hi all
MY names Graham and I'm in Orange NSW and just joined the club today after being referred to this site from a member at mazda_speed .com ( thanks)
A few days ago I purchase a one owner Sunlight Silver MX5 SE with 49,000klm, So far it appears to be going fine but I feel when compared to my previous cars - it lacks power!
Earlier today I read a report on the web on the SP version and power wise it appered equal to my other unreliable cars ( an Alfa GTV 3.0 - BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster) All gone, and nothing but trouble and a bottonless money pit.
I read several reports on the SE and all were positive............. more importantly I was impressed with the way it handles, brakes and steers ( no tramlining) so I bought one. Now just need a bit more power,
I figure that approaching the 60 year of age barrier times against me and I need more speed.
Big question! ..........Has my SE the get up and go to equal the power of the SP and what is required.
thanks all Graham

[twinlol]

There is a story of a $2.50 mod where you replace all the vaccum hoses with new silicon ones and get a few KWs - Somebody step in and correct me here, I'm not an SE owner.

Mania do several stages of upgrades for the SE, http://mx5mania.com/product1535.htm that is stage 1.

If you aren't happy with their additions, you could go down a different path but that looks like a solid place to begin.
You could also carry out the same modifications with different parts if you wished.

[Locutus]

welcome to the forum!

for more SE power, start shopping for upgrades here: http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?dept=68

There is a story of a $2.50 mod where you replace all the vaccum hoses with new silicon ones and get a few KWs - Somebody step in and correct me here, I'm not an SE owner.

nope, the $2.50 mod is for the SP. SE already comes configured with the 'SP mod' from the factory.


i was just about to go microwave some popcorn, expecting another SE vs SP debate. guess that will have to wait another day.

[NMX516]

Big question! ..........Has my SE the get up and go to equal the power of the SP and what is required.

If yours is standard, then not at the moment it doesn't. It seems that one of the first mods required on an SE is a larger, higher flowing intercooler. From then on, there are many and varied options such as the ones linked to above. In my opinion, the SE turbo itself should be one of the first items to be changed - they're tiny! This topic is a little bit of a can of worms, and the answer is "how long is a piece of string" but there are certainly some proven SE mods which will give a noticeable improvement.

[MINX]

Big question! ..........Has my SE the get up and go to equal the power of the SP and what is required.

If yours is standard, then not at the moment it doesn't. It seems that one of the first mods required on an SE is a larger, higher flowing intercooler. From then on, there are many and varied options such as the ones linked to above. In my opinion, the SE turbo itself should be one of the first items to be changed - they're tiny! This topic is a little bit of a can of worms, and the answer is "how long is a piece of string" but there are certainly some proven SE mods which will give a noticeable improvement.

In my experience, the intercooler is basically cosmetic. It makes no increase in power figures in the SE.
However, it is supposed to be able to 'maintain' what power you have under hard extended load conditions.

Priority modds are;
Boost guage
Replace factory recirculation valve (BOV)
High Flow Cat back exhaust
AEM Short Ram Intake
MBC or EBC
Injectors
ECU - piggyback or stand alone

etc etc, does it ever end?

mazdaspeed.com has all the info you need.
Feel free to browse my thread which shows the path i have taken to get the SE performing well.
http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=32900
It is a challenging and not so cheap route to take. But rewarding especially when you do most of the work yourself.
Dont reinvent the wheel. The SE and Mazdaspeed now has a lot of modd history and techniques available.

Stu

[Lokiel]

Welcome to the Aussie MX5 forum Graham.

Please add your name to the "SE Owners List" (viewtopic.php?f=18&t=41980&hilit=SE+owners) so we can really trounce those SP guys

Also, consider creating your own MX5 Garage Chat thread to document your journey, it will allow others to provide useful input (and criticism) and provide information to others based on your experiences. Make sure that you give it a meaningful title though (ie. "My SE" isn't too descriptive and won't be easily recognised as your Garage entry if people are looking for it).

[VTECMACHINE]

Don't really want to start a new topic, but I have read and have been told that you will hit boost spike if a cat back and a Intake are installed? How true is this?
Also, what aftermarket metal BOV's exist for the SE?

[morton]

Turbosmart Kompact Bov, had instant performance gain when I swapped it over for the original Bov. Great little unit and it's adjustable. Check out the Turbosmart website.

[VTECMACHINE]

Don't really want to start a new topic, but I have read and have been told that you will hit boost spike if a cat back and a Intake are installed? How true is this?
Also, what aftermarket metal BOV's exist for the SE?

Need to do some reading over at http://www.mazda-speed.com/.

Thanks mate! Will do

[davekmoore]

An SE is a great base to start from.

Ditto to what everyone has already said except maybe to point out that BARMY's 174 rwkw is achieved with the original turbo.

If you go for big power you may also want to budget for lowered and/or stiffened suspension.

If you want to use big power on the track then more cooling is needed (an oil cooler, Redline Water Wetter, a high pressure rad cap and a thorough clean out of the standard rad did the job for me).

Remarkably, everything else seems to be plenty tough enough.

Enjoy the journey, Dave (not quite 60).

[bootz]

This would make an interesting scenario.

If you had the choice between stock SP and SE cars for parts only, which would you buy?
Assume it has been hit around the passenger side so front and rear are intact.
Most SE would have the leather interior so lets assume that.
Both cars are written off, cannot be rebuilt and can only supply parts for a normally aspirated NB.

[and1]

This would make an interesting scenario.

If you had the choice between stock SP and SE cars for parts only, which would you buy?
Assume it has been hit around the passenger side so front and rear are intact.
Most SE would have the leather interior so lets assume that.
Both cars are written off, cannot be rebuilt and can only supply parts for a normally aspirated NB.

SP manifold would be more worthwhile I would think..

[Sean]

This would make an interesting scenario.

If you had the choice between stock SP and SE cars for parts only, which would you buy?
Assume it has been hit around the passenger side so front and rear are intact.
Most SE would have the leather interior so lets assume that.
Both cars are written off, cannot be rebuilt and can only supply parts for a normally aspirated NB.

Depends on future plans...

Diff, box, clutch suspension from SE
Engine/Cooler etc from SP

Transplant into an NA!

[bootz]

I'm thinking that you could also use/sell the bodykit and leather interior from the SE for far more than the SP. By the way the leather that Mazda used in the NB is fairly low rent IMHO.

Otherwise the SE diff is a great swap for a turbo. Suspension from both are a bit lame. Exhaust from both a bit lame.

I wonder what a genuine SP engine with all the fruit would be worth. $3000, $4000, $5000 ??? I am sure many (and I) would love to play with one.