Ultimate Racing Downpipe and Test Pipe

[MajesticBlueNTO]

After the dyno day at APH and seeing how the cars with downpipes were getting some good numbers, was very interested in obtaining a downpipe.

A couple requirements was 1) it had to have a catalytic converter and 2) it had to be resonated as didn't want much increase in noise

The 1st requirement wasn't hard to meet as there are Cobb and CP-e downpipes floating around that come catted, but the one-piece design of both the Cobb and CP-e makes adding a resonator difficult due to the flex section they use to account for pipe movement when the engine torques.

Surfing over on MSF.org, I saw that Ultimate Racing had some parts listed for the 2010 MS3. I've heard of Ultimate Racing before back in 2003 when they had some nice parts for the WRX and the big bonus was that they're a local business doing R&D for the MS3!

Looking on their website, I saw that their downpipes were in 2 pieces just like the stock one -- 1 the actual downpipe that mates to the turbo and the 2nd the "test pipe". Just by looking at their website, you can see that this allows them to offer several configs: catted (ceramic or metal core) downpipe, non-catted downpipe; catted (again, ceramic or metal core) test pipe, non-catted test pipe, and resonated test pipe!

On the advice of a couple MS3 members, I contacted Ultimate Racing about the catted down pipe and the resonated test pipe.

To make a long story short, here are some preview pics of the Ceramic Core Catted Downpipe and the Resonated Test Pipe :thumbsup

Box of goodies
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6798/dscf0036e.jpg

Test Pipe
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5659/dscf0038z.jpg

Pipe to Resonator welds
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4926/dscf0039v.jpg

Ultimate Performance etched onto the Resonator
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/9092/dscf0044v.jpg

Ceramic Core Downpipe
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8784/dscf0045n.jpg


In talking with Ultimate Racing, they are quite proud of their design as it is a spring bolt/donut gasket design just like OEM, but they give you a full 3" donut gasket that matches the diameter of the pipes (as opposed to having to reuse the stock 2.x" donut gasket like with other non-1 piece downpipes). They also went this way because they've seen that some flex joints tend to fail (collapse inside) and/or crack over time.

In any case, it's another option for down pipes for the MS3, and a local one at that. When these get installed on the MS3, I'll report back with a review of it.

[laksman91]

That should be seeing some nice gains!

Off-topic: Someone should contact UR about developing a turbo upgrade kit for the MS3 ;) unless the ECU flashing gets in the way of utilizing a new turbo to the fullest.

[Pilzz]

I would like to see if the gains are as good as the other DPs. Please post up once you have results

[Fobio]

can't wait to see this bad boy laying down numbers!

[optiklenz13]

oh goodness, I think I need to stay away from forums.. :chuckle

[Mazda3X2]

Looks nice. Decent prices too.

[mleblond]

was this installed yet? I take it your keeping the mazdaspeed cat back?

[MajesticBlueNTO]

was this installed yet? I take it your keeping the mazdaspeed cat back?

Not installed yet. I'm waiting until I have time to play with tuning the car after install. I will initially keep the stock cat back.

If I decide to go full 3" exhaust, after getting these installed, I may look into the Racing Beat one as I like a subdued sound and the RB exhaust is said to be quieter than stock on a stock MS3.

[Snotrocket]

Can you post a few videos? Would love to hear how your set up sounds...

[branavank]

Where did you order this from. can you post the cost?

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Interested also to see the dyno numbers. My MS3 will be out of warranty next summer and I may take a serious look at this.
How are the welds though? They don't look too good in the pics, but that could be misleading.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Where did you order this from. can you post the cost?

Ordered from Ultimate Racing (http://www.ultimate-racing.com/Products2/Mazdaspeed3/07-09-Mazdaspeed3_Exhaust.shtml). If you're in the GTA, you can schedule local pickup.


Interested also to see the dyno numbers. My MS3 will be out of warranty next summer and I may take a serious look at this.
How are the welds though? They don't look too good in the pics, but that could be misleading.

Still not installed. Major factors were waiting for Cobb to release their "load cap" fix and getting a CP-e HPFP to avoid any potential stuttering with the stock HPFP. When it's installed, I'll go back to APH to dyno it (since APH is where I did my Stage 1 "baseline").

As for the welds, I trust UR as they've been around a long time and are known for quality products. We'll see how they last once installed.

[branavank]

i am looking at getting something similar for my car. What catback are you running this with. Interested in hearing how loud it will be.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

I finally got this installed!

In terms of sound, with the resonated test pipe, it sounds pretty much stock - which is what I was looking for when I bought it.

Power-wise, I've loaded a tweaked Stage 2 map and it feels smooth and gets up to speed quicker than Stage 1. For hard numbers, though, that'll come soon. :)

[fywdyl]

Do you have a HPFP?

[VertigoM]

I finally got this installed!

In terms of sound, with the resonated test pipe, it sounds pretty much stock - which is what I was looking for when I bought it.

Power-wise, I've loaded a tweaked Stage 2 map and it feels smooth and gets up to speed quicker than Stage 1. For hard numbers, though, that'll come soon. :)

Your setup is what I'm looking to get once springs comes around. Is there a very noticeable power improvement over stock? From the dyno numbers posted on UR's website they didnt get quite as good numbers as compared to Corksport (downpipe + testpipe).

Edit: Just to clarify I mean when compared to the stock hp numbers. I realize that you cant compare UR's dyno numbers directly to Corksport's numbers because it's not the same dyno

[Snotrocket]

i know your TP is resonated but you should have bought my catless TP... would have saved you some money and i doubt you would notice much difference is noice with the stock cat back... i need to install a cat to go stage 2

[laksman91]

i know your TP is resonated but you should have bought my catless TP... would have saved you some money and i doubt you would notice much difference is noice with the stock cat back... i need to install a cat to go stage 2

You can always wait it out and possibly they'll figure out what to do about the boost spikes

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Do you have a HPFP?

yes i do, a CP-e unit


Your setup is what I'm looking to get once springs comes around. Is there a very noticeable power improvement over stock? From the dyno numbers posted on UR's website they didnt get quite as good numbers as compared to Corksport (downpipe + testpipe).

Edit: Just to clarify I mean when compared to the stock hp numbers. I realize that you cant compare UR's dyno numbers directly to Corksport's numbers because it's not the same dyno

i wasn't stock for long...ran a tweaked Stage 1 map for a while and the dyno for that at 91 octane is posted on this forum. unfortunately i don't have a dyno pre-AP but the stage 1 tune was definitely making more power over stock tune. we'll see shortly what type of numbers my current setup puts down.

as for UR vs. Corksport, i can't comment on that with the dyno on UR's site being on a 2010. from the 2010 AP Alpha testing thread on MSF, the 2010s don't like catless downpipes and especially without an upgraded HPFP so that could have an effect on the less than stellar numbers for the UR stuff.


i know your TP is resonated but you should have bought my catless TP... would have saved you some money and i doubt you would notice much difference is noice with the stock cat back... i need to install a cat to go stage 2

i had the parts sitting in my garage since last may (2010)...buying your catless TP wouldn't have made sense for me.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

dyno numbers are in after a ProTune - 282whp / 323wtq

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/301/mbntoprotunejan2011.jpg

for reference, here is the graph from pre-UR downpipe days - 241whp / 278wtq

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8416/majesticbluedynohptq050.jpg

[VertigoM]

Great numbers. As I mentioned before i'm looking into a very similar setup. Can you please post a complete list of your mods? Thanks!

[VertigoM]

And how's the car running? Any CELs or other issues?

[Big Dad]

Awesome numbers!! Ultimate Racing won't release anything with out making sure that it is top quality and design and most importantly makes a significant improvement in performance!! I am loving my UR Fmic! :D

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Great numbers. As I mentioned before i'm looking into a very similar setup. Can you please post a complete list of your mods? Thanks!


And how's the car running? Any CELs or other issues?

Full mod list is in a similar thread on MSF.

car is running most awesomely :) no issues (knock on wood) or CELs to report

[Airman Jack]

How does it sound? Did you manage to keep it as quiet as hoped?

[MajesticBlueNTO]

How does it sound? Did you manage to keep it as quiet as hoped?

Believe it or not, it is actually quieter than stock now. The resonated test pipe cut down on the drone and "boominess" inside the cabin I used to get when cruising around 4000rpm.

Very 'sleeper-esque' right now....you couldn't tell I had a downpipe in the car both from outside and inside the car.

[shu5892001]

a mods that gives 40whp gain and quieter than stock... double win lol