Magnaflow Cat-Back Exhausts

[greenarixate]

I've got a buddy that's looking for a Magnaflow CB exhaust. If you do have this unit in your MS3, I was wondering if you like it. Any pics or sound clips that you might want to share? It comes with a lifetime warranty, right? Thanks.

 

[Jchouin1]

I've got a buddy that's looking for a Magnaflow CB exhaust. If you do have this unit in your MS3, I was wondering if you like it. Any pics or sound clips that you might want to share? It comes with a lifetime warranty, right? Thanks.

I had a Magnaflow cbe on my RSX-s, so I can't speak for the tone on the MS3, but I can assure you the quality was on point.

 

[ras]

Magnaflow

I have the magnaflow catback exhaust installaed on my 2008.5 MS3 and it sounds fantastic. It gives a deeper tone than other ones i have heard, has been on for over a year now, no problems. I highly recommend it.

 

[dizzin9]

paired with an aftermarket exhaust manifold, dp, tp, this cbe will sound awesome! pm me to give u some info on how to get this ~$400 shipped new! i'll try to make a video this weekend. my neighbors are sensitive around here.

 

[03scgt]

im catless and love the sound with the magnaflow.you wont regret it if you choose to buy it

 

[MSMS3]

To OP: Magnaflow products are extremely high quality. I have one of their single wall stainless tips on my stock CBE because I wanted to downsize the tip from 4 inches to 3.5 inches and look a bit more stealthy.

But, here is my point: Please make sure that your friend is looking for a change in sound and that only. The stock CBE flows better than the output of the stock K04 turbocharger, so there will be no measurable power gain from the Magnaflow or any other aftermarket CBE unless and until your friend puts enough mods on the engine to get above 300 wheel horsepower. That would mean a lot of bolt on mods, probably a tune and probably a turbo upgrade.

If your friend is looking for a power gain on the exhaust side, he needs to focus upstream of the CBE and do something about the extremely restrictive stock downpipe and the two low-flow cats.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I don't know about there being "no measurable power gain" from a CBE. I think it's worth 5-7whp peak gain or so on a dyno, but, I question anyone's ability to actually feel such a gain when you've got 250whp+ to begin with. That said, if he's got an AP and is pushing more boost to redline than stock, you will get a little more out of a CBE as the turbo struggles to make air, but again, the dollar per hp spent isn't really worth it compared to a DP or TP. Like was said above, it's pretty much for sound and maybe looks and keep it mind you have to CUT the stock exhaust in half to get it out of the car without dropping the suspension, so there really isn't an easy way to go back to stock.

 

[MSMS3]

The flow rate of the stock CBE is GREATER than the max output of the K04 turbo. If you drive the K04 past 6,000 rpm, you just turn it into a heat engine and shorten its life. With tuning, you can sustain the flow past 6k, but not increase it, and that comes with the penalty of damaging the turbo.

The only CBE gains that have shown up on any dyno, to my knowledge, have been on the MS6 which did have a more restrictive stock exhaust system behind the cats.

You can even disconnect the exhaust entirely behind the second cat or your dp/rp and dyno and get the same numbers as with it connected until you get enough cumulative mods to get you north of 300 whp. That's how free-flowing it is.

When Car and Driver tested the combo of the MSCAI and the Mazdaspeed CBE, they found all the gains (which were substantial) attributable to the intake. The exhaust added none.

So go for sound. Good CBE's are expensive. On our car they simply do not produce more power on the stock turbo. They can produce nice sounds.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Here's a dyno of Ultimate Racing's CBE on a 2010. Now I don't know if the 2010's stock exhaust is more restrictive, but Mazda says the car still has 263hp, so I assume it isn't. As you can see, there are gains and in some spots, it's actually significant. Like at 3,100 RPM where there is a 19 ft-lb torque gain at the wheels and 5,800RPM where it shows over 25whp gain. Those are gains you will definely feel. Peak hp and torque did not change much, but obviously the stock catback is still creating enough backpressure to get measurable gains down low and up high.

http://www.ultimate-racing.com/Products2/Mazdaspeed3/Mazdaspeed3_Catback.shtml