American / Canadian friends: please help a UK mx'er in need!

Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE · February 25th, 2005, 2:18 pm

Hi all,

As you may have guessed from my name, i'm from the UK, and am setting about modding my baby. (engine swap is out - insurance cost is just tooo much!)

So far i've slapped in an HKS super mega flow (bought from the states off ebay) and it's great, now i'm looking at a Powerflow exhaust (uk brand, very good!), and some other bits and bobs. However.... since there's hardly anywhere over here holding stock of MX-3 performance parts, i'm resorting to eBay USA.
Since i dont regularly browse the US site, can you gimme a quick low-down on some stuff I saw?
Such as:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... gory=33574
^ I've heard these (although they look like typical hype) are actually very rare in that they do the job perfectly, any thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... gory=33709
^ my fogs are yellow, are these worth buying?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... gory=36476
^ these look far too cheap....

Many many thanks in advance!!
David

mxmaz · Post by **mxmaz** » February 25th, 2005, 2:29 pm

Dont get them bulbs, they are no good.

johnnyb · Post by **johnnyb** » February 25th, 2005, 3:42 pm

how many miles does your car have on it?

you could always swap the engine and not tell anyone seeing they look similar

Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE · February 25th, 2005, 3:58 pm

only 108,000 miles! still going strong...

Ricksmx3 · Post by **Ricksmx3** » February 25th, 2005, 4:12 pm

You would probly come out on the cheaper end if you went ahead and made your own ground wires set up. Gro harlem has a site that explains how to do it really easy. http://www.projectmazda.com/howto/groundwire/

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » February 25th, 2005, 10:43 pm

Grounding Wires - concept is sound although benifits listed are extreme scenarios. For the most part, I don't think you'll notice any difference. They are a pretty red colour though........hey, at that price...what the heck.

Fog lights - research some of the older lighting forums as to reasonable pricing and quality (brand names). Real HID's at that price....c'mon!!!

9004 - That topic is still active on a few forums here (silverstars, etc). At that price, what have you got to loose.

Ricksmx3 · Post by **Ricksmx3** » February 26th, 2005, 12:05 am

Ground wires are definitly worth the money. Not that much in performance wise (thou you can feel it the slightest bit) but you can really tell that the car idle's much better and smoother.

Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE · February 28th, 2005, 6:47 am

Right!
I'm about to make the phonecall... to book my car in to a place called CRDs - "Calder Racing Developments"
They're kinda famous in the UK, they made/modified a supra to push out over 1000bhp, featured worldwide! and they happen to be local to me.

Anyway, i'm looking at a genuine "Powerflow" (#1 exhaust brand in the UK) exhaust system, cat-back fully stainless steel, increased size twin exits.

Question is!
What size of exhaust should I get the guy to use? He thinks about 2&1/4", but I saw 2&1/2" on here - is that for KL-ZE? Mine is a K8 fairly stock but with an HKS induction kit.

BTW price is £340 - decent value or? Comes with a lifetime guarantee against rust!

Many thanks!
David

ScooterBovine · Post by **ScooterBovine** » February 28th, 2005, 10:20 am

$650 for an exhaust system?? Hope it's the best ever... Mine cost about $350. 2 1/4", black.

Pedro_mx3 · Post by **Pedro_mx3** » February 28th, 2005, 11:45 am

I think my powerflow is 2.5" diameter but im not entirely sure, if ur looking for bhp gains i actually lost power (as you saw) but gained torque, which you can feel when driving it.
My system cost me £360 so your getting a bargain mate, the quality is excellent! it really is. mines been on 3months and still looks and sounds excellent!

check here for a look at mine!
http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=34472

Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE · February 28th, 2005, 11:46 am

Yeah... I wish I had the same prices as you guys over there.... !

RodbeyBur · Post by **RodbeyBur** » March 1st, 2005, 3:57 pm

Those HID ebay lights are terrible. They simply use more wattage in order to make them brighter than stock lights. DO NOT USE them, they will melt your plastick headlight casing and possibly burn through your stock wires. They do not last too long either. I had a pair in my 2000 cougar and after one blew (after a month or so) it tried to remove it. The plastic shroud that holds the bulb in place was melted. If you want to change the color of your headlights ir blue or yellow buy the same watts and go namebrand! You can also buy a HID conversion kit for about 300. That gives you REAL HID, real power lighting!!

Those fog lights seem to be alright. Again they are simply increased watts to make them brighter, not real HID. Foglights always help lighting! You will see a difference.

If you use your stock foglights wires and switches, be prepared. I have had no problems with aftermarket foglights melting stock power wires, but have heard stories. Rumors?

The ground wires are all hype too. Parasytic loses?? Parasytic bulls---! The alternator spins the same amount whether you have a 100 watt amp or an 1000 amp hooked up to it. There is no more of a strain on the engine than without it. Sparking efficiency may be reduced using thousands of watts but that is not the point. So how does upgrading ground wires cut down on hp loss due to poor efficieny of wires? IT DOESN'T!! Replacing old wires with newer ones is always good. It removes the corrusion and revives the bonding between two structures. Makes it new again. That is how they realized those horsepower gains. Kinda like removing your old engine and replacing it with a new stock engine and calling it an upgrade. If you have the extra time, cash and enthusiasm go for it. It never hurts and it is fun too.

Just don't expect too see any difference (other than the trick your mind plays on you thinking it made a change---thats your ego telling you you didn't get robbed!!).

Ohh, BTW, two things you shouldn't NEVER EVER buy from EBAY: TIMING CHIPS (you know the ones:the new and improved bulls--- ones, the change your timing and you can do it yourself alot cheapr about $1.00), and ELECTRIC SUPERCHARGERS (those are actually toilet exhaust fans for boats)

Don't believe the hype!

The exhaust price seems in par with a good namebrand aftermarket stainless steal exhaust. Those aren't cheap. Compare with prices of borla and other STAINLESS STEAL (no rust). I would buy borla, but you have to consider shipping, if borla even makes a kit of the Mx-3. Borla stainless steal kits are usually around $700 or so from what I've seen. Stay away from pace setter exhaust kits, the black ones, from what I've heard on other cars they rust fast (less than a year ). They are cheap though.

I mean inexpensive. Remember you pay for what you get usually.

Ebay has a lot of good deals, but I would suggest only name brand parts on ebay. You never know what else you might get and you may end up like this little guy

.

Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE · Post by **Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE** » March 2nd, 2005, 7:05 am

oh dear, multiple post! 1 of 2....

Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE · Post by **Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE** » March 2nd, 2005, 7:06 am

2 of 2....

Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE · Post by **Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE** » March 2nd, 2005, 7:21 am

And now the real post!!!

In the end I decided to spend some money on wheels, what you think?