Brilliant videos and lovely little mx5, I've been really tempted by these little bbr 200s and your videos were exactly what I was looking for. I then quickly noticed some of the awesome roads around North Bedfordshire (my doorstep). I don't usually believe in fate but.... Keep up the great content mate 👍
Thanks very much Ross, I appreciate you watching 😎 Yes the roads around here are surprisingly great and very well suited to the MX. The Super 180 is worth a look if you want to test the waters, the power band is similar to mine except the very top end, and you can upgrade the cams later. Thank you for the kind comments on the videos, more coming soon (if it stays dry long enough! 😆)
That's a proper green, really suits the NC. It's worth the wait, the super 200 kit suits the car so well, it should really have left the factory like it 😆
Ah a fellow MX5 owner! We have two in the family, We bought an NC1 with 112k miles and I was hooked within 100yds with open top driving and the lovely feel of the Mazda. It subsequently went to my son who recently fitted a Cobalt back box giving it a lovely sound. I bought a 30th Anniversary Edition and I'm enjoying it tho I've had little time to drive it (1000 miles in 8 months). Hoping to remedy that over the summer! However now you've thrown a spanner in the works by sharing your Evora with James on his channel and I'm thinking,......Cheers, Kevin
I’ve had a few MX5s and the latest is probably my favourite, glad to hear you’ve enjoyed having an NC as well. I’ve not experienced an ND, the 30th anniversary version does look great and hopefully you can add some mileage soon. I’m guessing the spanner is either you’re considering an Evora (in which case, go for it!) or you’d like to appear on my channel to talk about the ND?! 😉👍
Glad to hear, I've not experienced a faster BBR tune but it seems a bit of a sweet spot, fun without taking it too far. The higher redline is addictive!
I've booked myself in for the Super 200 on my NC2 and debating adding the same exhaust spec. Your review may just swing it ⭐ I was wondering what the final dyno was on your spec and you've answered that for me too, so just wanted to say thanks.
Great stuff, you won’t regret it 👍 I haven’t tried an original back box back on yet, mainly because it seems to be bedding in and now it’s really just 62-68mph in 6th gear to avoid sitting in for long periods (which is easy to work around). It seems like just the manifold is the key to getting a better sound, but would probably be a bit muted compared to the full setup (and a bit down on power). Thanks very much for watching & glad to hear it's helped! 😎
When I first changed out my system there was something similar with the resonance at certain revs/gears, and after a month or so it just went away, I am assuming because the innards of the system get deposits built up over time to damp down the vibration/frequency, probably a bit late to mention that now but nice video thanks.
Thanks very much Richard, and thanks for watching. Ah that’s interesting, I’m still running the same system and I do think it has been less noticeable in recent weeks as I’ve now added some proper mileage. There’s probably an element of me 'driving around' it without thinking, as well though. What’s your setup?
It varies by insurer, some allow you to enter specific mods online, others need a phone call. The super 200 kit needs exhaust, ECU and general engine mods declared (cams), and I've heard that some insurers know what the BBR kits are by name. Around £35 extra for the year mine was, I think..
Quick question Does adding the muffler and center to the bbr super 200 package add any more power? Did you manage to do a dyno run? Interested in getting the super 200 myself but I don't know if having the full exhaust can bring the power up more or just lets the engine breathe better? Thanks in advance
Yes, the centre section has a sports cat and free flowing silencer which theoretically adds 5-6bhp over standard. My dyno run showed 207.8bhp, and would have expected 201-202bhp something like that without the centre sec. I went with it just to make sure it came out with the best sound/power and to get a future-proof full system in place. It’s probably not the most efficient bhp per £ though… Good luck with the upgrades 👍
Absolutely, I’m curious to experience one with the ITBs fitted to see how it sounds. It probably won’t be my car though, since going with the 200 package I don’t feel the need for any more performance, and I’m quite happy with the noise 🤩
@@NightfallDrives The price difference between the 200 and 225 is pretty steep. Won’t known if the extra 25Hp is worth the cost. Saw BBR’s video showcasing the 225 with ITBs. Looks f’n incredible and the sound was amazing. Of course, in person, the sound might be a little too much. I’ve read that ITBs are pretty noisy. I like the aesthetics.
Interesting video, I've got the first gen NC with the S200 kit and the standard exhaust. The previous owner decided to opt to stay standard as he thought it would be too loud. My car is a weekend car and a runabout, not really a daily. Do you think the exhaust system is a worthwhile upgrade for the money? I find the car still sounds pretty good as standard, probably thanks to the manifold and slightly higher rev limit. Would be interested in your opinion!
Thanks for watching Paul 👍 I've not tried going back to the standard back box yet, but will do at some point. My system does seem to be a bit less intrusive while cruising now though, probably due to bedding in like one of the other comments suggested. Without having experienced the standard setup with the BBR manifold, my guess would be your car has the best compromise - I'd recommend checking out JayEmm's BBR S200 video on a car like yours (except NC2), I think he said it seemed about right. For the cost of the rest of the exhaust you could make some other upgrades that are probably more worthwhile. Whatever you do though, hope you're enjoying it! 👍
@@NightfallDrives thanks for the detailed reply. I've re-watched JayEmms review a few times and he did mention that one was standard, and just about spot on. It does sound good now for the most part, not super loud, but you get to hear more engine/induction roar, I might just keep it as is, perhaps being uber fussy, I might get my exhaust fabricator to weld some new better looking tailpipes on it as the previous owner didn't get those fitted... Or a new quietish system 🤔 I just had it down at the local specialist and he said the best money I could spend on it would be Meister coilovers -currently on eibachs and stock dampers, similar to the JayEmm review where he also mentioned coilovers. It's not bad but the damping could be better. Looking forward to seeing more content on your cars 👍
For a bit more induction noise, might be worth considering the throttle bodies (more power as well). I have fitted a set of MeisterR Zeta CRDs - they’ve definitely improved the handling, while having comparable levels of comfort to the stock sport setup. Big bumps are handled better as well, but my ride height is a bit too low, I’ll be putting it up to the max height at the next opportunity. I’d recommend getting adjustable dampers rather than cheaper fixed rate versions, and getting them fit/set up by a place familiar with them rather than just any garage. Thank you Paul, perhaps I should get round to doing something on the MX5 suspension (after I’ve sorted the ride height!). I’ve got two big trips in the Lotus planned next year, but in the meantime a few more 'owner stories' lined up..
@@NightfallDrives I would love the throttle bodies but I'm not sure if I can justify the expense, especially as mine is a very high mileage car (140k!), but we'll see! I was wondering if I could get away with the MeisterR Sportive, they're half the price of the CRDs and apparently optimised for road driving with an emphasis towards ride quality. My eibachs are about right for ride height so I would like it about the same height ideally as I don't really get any problems with speed bumps etc while still avoiding the stilts look! I'm planning to watch the readers cars videos when I get some time, looks interesting. The Evora is very nice, if only I had a spare 30k
I’ve not tried the Sportives, I did consider them but was steered toward the Zeta CRDs just because you can fine tune the ride to your preferences (and there was a small chance I’d do a track day at some point). If you’re not planning to track the car, I’d guess the Sportives are like an OEM+ option. The problem is it’s difficult to try out the various setups (without huge expense 😂). My general strategy on the MX5 is to upgrade when things wear out, rather than replacing with standard. The brakes are likely to be next. I have a friend with an NC1 on similar mileage and it’s going strong, I hope a good chunk of the miles have been under your ownership! Thanks in advance if you do check out my other videos at some point, they’ve been great fun to make 😎
Thanks. I have BBR 200 too yours pops and bangs more than mine or maybe just because microphone is near exhaust. Any thoughts how I maybe able to increase this?
Mine does pop particularly changing up through the gears. Do you have the full BBR exhaust system? Sorry but I’m not sure which component would be most at play, because I changed the full exhaust at the same time as the engine mods.
Brilliant videos and lovely little mx5, I've been really tempted by these little bbr 200s and your videos were exactly what I was looking for. I then quickly noticed some of the awesome roads around North Bedfordshire (my doorstep). I don't usually believe in fate but....
Keep up the great content mate 👍
Thanks very much Ross, I appreciate you watching 😎 Yes the roads around here are surprisingly great and very well suited to the MX. The Super 180 is worth a look if you want to test the waters, the power band is similar to mine except the very top end, and you can upgrade the cams later. Thank you for the kind comments on the videos, more coming soon (if it stays dry long enough! 😆)
I have an NC in Spirited Green and can't wait to be able to afford to do this to mine
That's a proper green, really suits the NC. It's worth the wait, the super 200 kit suits the car so well, it should really have left the factory like it 😆
Ah a fellow MX5 owner! We have two in the family, We bought an NC1 with 112k miles and I was hooked within 100yds with open top driving and the lovely feel of the Mazda. It subsequently went to my son who recently fitted a Cobalt back box giving it a lovely sound. I bought a 30th Anniversary Edition and I'm enjoying it tho I've had little time to drive it (1000 miles in 8 months). Hoping to remedy that over the summer! However now you've thrown a spanner in the works by sharing your Evora with James on his channel and I'm thinking,......Cheers, Kevin
I’ve had a few MX5s and the latest is probably my favourite, glad to hear you’ve enjoyed having an NC as well. I’ve not experienced an ND, the 30th anniversary version does look great and hopefully you can add some mileage soon. I’m guessing the spanner is either you’re considering an Evora (in which case, go for it!) or you’d like to appear on my channel to talk about the ND?! 😉👍
I have exactly the same BBR setup on my NC 3.5. Love it.
Glad to hear, I've not experienced a faster BBR tune but it seems a bit of a sweet spot, fun without taking it too far. The higher redline is addictive!
I've booked myself in for the Super 200 on my NC2 and debating adding the same exhaust spec. Your review may just swing it ⭐ I was wondering what the final dyno was on your spec and you've answered that for me too, so just wanted to say thanks.
Great stuff, you won’t regret it 👍 I haven’t tried an original back box back on yet, mainly because it seems to be bedding in and now it’s really just 62-68mph in 6th gear to avoid sitting in for long periods (which is easy to work around).
It seems like just the manifold is the key to getting a better sound, but would probably be a bit muted compared to the full setup (and a bit down on power).
Thanks very much for watching & glad to hear it's helped! 😎
When I first changed out my system there was something similar with the resonance at certain revs/gears, and after a month or so it just went away, I am assuming because the innards of the system get deposits built up over time to damp down the vibration/frequency, probably a bit late to mention that now but nice video thanks.
Thanks very much Richard, and thanks for watching. Ah that’s interesting, I’m still running the same system and I do think it has been less noticeable in recent weeks as I’ve now added some proper mileage. There’s probably an element of me 'driving around' it without thinking, as well though. What’s your setup?
What the deal with insurance how do you go about declaring mods on the BBR 200
It varies by insurer, some allow you to enter specific mods online, others need a phone call. The super 200 kit needs exhaust, ECU and general engine mods declared (cams), and I've heard that some insurers know what the BBR kits are by name. Around £35 extra for the year mine was, I think..
Quick question
Does adding the muffler and center to the bbr super 200 package add any more power? Did you manage to do a dyno run? Interested in getting the super 200 myself but I don't know if having the full exhaust can bring the power up more or just lets the engine breathe better? Thanks in advance
Yes, the centre section has a sports cat and free flowing silencer which theoretically adds 5-6bhp over standard. My dyno run showed 207.8bhp, and would have expected 201-202bhp something like that without the centre sec. I went with it just to make sure it came out with the best sound/power and to get a future-proof full system in place. It’s probably not the most efficient bhp per £ though…
Good luck with the upgrades 👍
Thank you very much!
Can’t decide between the 200 or 225. Great situation to be in!!
Absolutely, I’m curious to experience one with the ITBs fitted to see how it sounds. It probably won’t be my car though, since going with the 200 package I don’t feel the need for any more performance, and I’m quite happy with the noise 🤩
@@NightfallDrives The price difference between the 200 and 225 is pretty steep. Won’t known if the extra 25Hp is worth the cost. Saw BBR’s video showcasing the 225 with ITBs. Looks f’n incredible and the sound was amazing. Of course, in person, the sound might be a little too much. I’ve read that ITBs are pretty noisy. I like the aesthetics.
It's probably not worth the cost, but that depends what you’re planning to use the car for. Certainly would give a racy look/sound.
Get the 200. You can later upgrade to 225. The parts are the same. But just more.
Interesting video, I've got the first gen NC with the S200 kit and the standard exhaust. The previous owner decided to opt to stay standard as he thought it would be too loud. My car is a weekend car and a runabout, not really a daily. Do you think the exhaust system is a worthwhile upgrade for the money? I find the car still sounds pretty good as standard, probably thanks to the manifold and slightly higher rev limit. Would be interested in your opinion!
Thanks for watching Paul 👍 I've not tried going back to the standard back box yet, but will do at some point. My system does seem to be a bit less intrusive while cruising now though, probably due to bedding in like one of the other comments suggested.
Without having experienced the standard setup with the BBR manifold, my guess would be your car has the best compromise - I'd recommend checking out JayEmm's BBR S200 video on a car like yours (except NC2), I think he said it seemed about right. For the cost of the rest of the exhaust you could make some other upgrades that are probably more worthwhile. Whatever you do though, hope you're enjoying it! 👍
@@NightfallDrives thanks for the detailed reply. I've re-watched JayEmms review a few times and he did mention that one was standard, and just about spot on. It does sound good now for the most part, not super loud, but you get to hear more engine/induction roar, I might just keep it as is, perhaps being uber fussy, I might get my exhaust fabricator to weld some new better looking tailpipes on it as the previous owner didn't get those fitted... Or a new quietish system 🤔
I just had it down at the local specialist and he said the best money I could spend on it would be Meister coilovers -currently on eibachs and stock dampers, similar to the JayEmm review where he also mentioned coilovers. It's not bad but the damping could be better.
Looking forward to seeing more content on your cars 👍
For a bit more induction noise, might be worth considering the throttle bodies (more power as well).
I have fitted a set of MeisterR Zeta CRDs - they’ve definitely improved the handling, while having comparable levels of comfort to the stock sport setup. Big bumps are handled better as well, but my ride height is a bit too low, I’ll be putting it up to the max height at the next opportunity. I’d recommend getting adjustable dampers rather than cheaper fixed rate versions, and getting them fit/set up by a place familiar with them rather than just any garage.
Thank you Paul, perhaps I should get round to doing something on the MX5 suspension (after I’ve sorted the ride height!). I’ve got two big trips in the Lotus planned next year, but in the meantime a few more 'owner stories' lined up..
@@NightfallDrives I would love the throttle bodies but I'm not sure if I can justify the expense, especially as mine is a very high mileage car (140k!), but we'll see!
I was wondering if I could get away with the MeisterR Sportive, they're half the price of the CRDs and apparently optimised for road driving with an emphasis towards ride quality.
My eibachs are about right for ride height so I would like it about the same height ideally as I don't really get any problems with speed bumps etc while still avoiding the stilts look!
I'm planning to watch the readers cars videos when I get some time, looks interesting. The Evora is very nice, if only I had a spare 30k
I’ve not tried the Sportives, I did consider them but was steered toward the Zeta CRDs just because you can fine tune the ride to your preferences (and there was a small chance I’d do a track day at some point). If you’re not planning to track the car, I’d guess the Sportives are like an OEM+ option.
The problem is it’s difficult to try out the various setups (without huge expense 😂). My general strategy on the MX5 is to upgrade when things wear out, rather than replacing with standard. The brakes are likely to be next.
I have a friend with an NC1 on similar mileage and it’s going strong, I hope a good chunk of the miles have been under your ownership!
Thanks in advance if you do check out my other videos at some point, they’ve been great fun to make 😎
The background music is ruining this engine sound video.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm planning a comparison video of my car against one with the same setup but the BBR Sport box soon, so look out for that.
Hi there, I've sent you an email, if you would like to check. Thanks
Thanks for watching Phil and for getting in touch, have replied 👍
Hello is yours cat? Or de cat?
Hi there, it’s a catted manifold, got through the MOT fine 👍
Thanks. I have BBR 200 too yours pops and bangs more than mine or maybe just because microphone is near exhaust. Any thoughts how I maybe able to increase this?
Mine does pop particularly changing up through the gears. Do you have the full BBR exhaust system? Sorry but I’m not sure which component would be most at play, because I changed the full exhaust at the same time as the engine mods.