ND Modification Suggestions

[CeramicND]

Hi Folks, just recently joined the forum. I have an ND MX 5 2.0 manual on order and hope to have it no later than early April. This is my first sports car (must be that mid-life crisis) and I am considering a few modifications. It will be a fun car, probably 99% street and hopefully a few track days. Currently looking at initially putting an AVO Stage 1 exhaust and getting an ECU tune initially (after running it in) and then sway bars to tighten up the roll a little and then looking at tyres and brake mods later. Any thoughts anybody? I have been searching for ideas and parts but as the model is so new there appears to not be too many ND model products on the market yet.

[zossy1]

The Japanese have a bigger aftermarket product base for the ND - check out Rev 9 for ideas:

http://rev9autosport.com/nd-16.html

[Lokiel]

Please add your Location to your profile - if I knew you were in Brisbane I'd just say contact MX5-Plus (now called Automotive-Plus but will always remain MX5-Plus to me).

I'd suggest you drive the car "as is" for the first 6 months, allowing new modz to become available and proven rather than just jump in and buy what's currently available. You may even find the car is "fun enough" in its un-modded form (can't believe I'm saying that).
I had a "loaner" 1.6L NA one Xmas break and found that a blast to drive despite the fact that at the time my SE was pumping out ~150rwkw (I wasn't expecting much from the 1.6L NA but that engine in that car was the definition of a fun car when you got it revving).


I remember when I first got my SE and speaking to Keith Larsson from MX5-Plus about my modding plans - he gave me this very sound advice (not his exact words but the gist of them):

"Mazda spent a lot of time and engineering getting the car to handle perfectly. If you change anything it can upset the balance of the car and require additional changes to compensate."

ie. Be prepared to change quite a few components (especially when it comes to suspension/power modz).

[Mr Morlock]

could not agree more. Bear in mind that a modded car can end up with a warranty that is compromised. When a car goes back to the dealer for service they may very well notice anything that is non standard and which could raise questions and the insurance cos are not too keen about motor racing either.

[davekmoore]

Lokiel is exactly right.

One mod prompts another.

You haven't lived with the car yet to find out what mods you feel it needs, if any.

Your best investment might be in a set of track pads and some track days.

[Mr Morlock]

dave sells the cars and perhaps he can comment on where an owner stands with a warranty on a modded vehicle and the race track thing as well.

[davekmoore]

As in "Yes Minister" I couldn't possibly comment.

[Dan]

Going against the grain of the other reccomendairoms but I reckon if you want to do the mods then go for it, sounds like you are going to do it at some point anyway so you might as well just do it after the break in and enjoy

If you are worried about warranty and are just doing basic mods I'd avoid dealer servicing despite the capped price servicing (new car servicing costs are generally cheap anyway), then if you have an issue with the engine just swap the stock exhaust on and get the warranty done at Mazda. I remember the sales guy at the Mitsubishi dealer when I brought my Evo new said they were 'mod friendly' but from what I saw in the Mitsubishi world when big warranty jobs need to be done someone from head office usually gets involved and you get flocked over for anything in the job notes from previous services which indicates modifications have been done.

I'm sure the dealer computer could detect a modded ECU but I'd be curious to know if Mazda have anything like flash counter on the ECU to detect reflashes if you flashed it back to stock for warranty.

On the exhaust side I'd check out the Goodwin Racing (MX5 Parts is a local reseller), he's pretty popular with the NC crowd especially those that want a well tested exhaust that doesn't drone, if it was me I'd probably hold off for a bit on a tune though until the tuners understand everything about the new engine rather than being a guinea pig and possibly needing anouther tune later when they figure it all out.

[ManiacLachy]

I think most of us are in favour of modifications - with the exception of Morlock - just people are suggesting wait and see where you feel the changes are most needed, rather than a shotgun aproach to the usual suspects.

For suspension, look what MCA did for Danny's ND. Note, MCA aren't fans of sway bars, so thier coilovers are designed to make the most of what you've got stock.

There are some good exhausts out there too. Mostly, you can look at what they've done stateside as they've had the 2.0 for a bit longer than us, so from there you could probably start considering a reflash and other performance changes.

Try not to change too much at once though. It's nice to expereience and evaluate each change on it's own. It also makes it easier to realise if you've made a misstep.

[CeramicND]

Really appreciating everybody's input. I am not that concerned with the warranty side of things (son is a Mazda mechanic). I just feel that the car will be better with a touch more poke (ecu and exhaust and about 15 to 20Kw hopefully).

Saw an interesting episode of Motor Trend, that simply changed tyres on a Toyota 86 on a small test track and lopped 1.8 seconds of the track time. I would think that maybe when the stock tyres are worn, an upgrade to 225/45/17 (Yokohama's) would give an increase in grip and slight tyre diameter increase to take advantage of that minor power increase along with some better brake pads. Also interesting to see that MCA suspension aren't fans of sway bars.

[StillIC]

ecu and exhaust and about 15 to 20Kw hopefully

Do you really think Mazda did that bad a job? Do you think that well paid Mazda engineers with university degrees and an interest in cars couldn't get the mixture of the fuel correct at maximum power? Do you think they built a 133 to 138kW engine and then put on an exhaust system that could only flow 118kW? Really?

[Dan]

ecu and exhaust and about 15 to 20Kw hopefully

Do you really think Mazda did that bad a job? Do you think that well paid Mazda engineers with university degrees and an interest in cars couldn't get the mixture of the fuel correct at maximum power? Do you think they built a 133 to 138kW engine and then put on an exhaust system that could only flow 118kW? Really?

If the dyno chart in this thread is to be believed which I have no reason not to since the tuner is a well known SkyActiv tuner, with a set of headers as well it looks to make those sort of gains http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=594109

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[pcmx5]

ecu and exhaust and about 15 to 20Kw hopefully

Do you really think Mazda did that bad a job? Do you think that well paid Mazda engineers with university degrees and an interest in cars couldn't get the mixture of the fuel correct at maximum power? Do you think they built a 133 to 138kW engine and then put on an exhaust system that could only flow 118kW? Really?

They build for "the average joe" as they see it,compensate for different markets and all MX5 naturally aspirated engines have been durable but never anywhere near class leading in power or torque .BUT all have responded to tweaking.The prolification of tuners and modifications are testiment to that.

Peter

[sailaholic]

Trying to push more power out and then putting bigger wheels on to negate it seems pointless.

You will get more different between compounds then size in terms of grip.


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[pcmx5]

Trying to push more power out and then putting bigger wheels on to negate it seems pointless.

You will get more different between compounds then size in terms of grip.


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Totally agree,needs more power,may look and handle better lower but really doesn't need much more rubber especially if it increases the already high diff ratio.

Peter