Does the MazdaSpeed 3 CBE Cause Issues with... *cough* Performance

As the title says I'm grabbing a MS3 CBE OEM not the accessory. And I've heard it restricts airflow and noticeably decreases performance. Regardless I'm getting the exhaust I was just wondering if this is true and if it is, if it's possible to replace some of the piping with something wider or something like that to fix the airflow problem... if that's what it is.
Cheers!

Maybe restrictive compared to other big pipe exhausts (Not OEM) but I from what I can tell my exhaust(MS3) is the last thing I will upgrade as bolt on's go. Not restrictive untill I start blowing out some real HP.

But you have a Mazdaspeed right? I have a Mazda 3. Is their a difference?

I don't own a speed, but if the speed3 is the mazda3 performance brother, I can't see it's exhaust being more rrestrictive than your stock exhaust

You are incorrect that the Speed3 exhaust is more restrictive than the stock MZ3 exhaust.

The OEM Speed3 exhaust is already almost too free flowing. The lack of back pressure will arguably reduce the low end torque.

So it shouldn't effect his HP numbers, and decrease his low end torque? So it's just for the sound? I'd rather a cork sport or racing beat if I were OP in this situation.

i have a ms3 oem exhaust welded to my car. to me the power feels smoothed out and the car doesnt jump off the line much anymore. this might be mistaken for loss in power. but the change is noticeable. as steven above has said, the ms3 pipe is bigger.

its not only about back pressure and restrictions, but exhaust velocity plays a part too. the smaller pipe allows the exhaust the flow out at a faster rate. while the large pipe makes the exhaust flow slower

be advised, if your getting one thats unbolted from a speed 3, be ready to do some cutting and welding. the speed 3 exhaust is shorter than the mazda 3 HB because of a catalytic converter.

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Originally Posted by greyseason

So it shouldn't effect his HP numbers, and decrease his low end torque? So it's just for the sound? I'd rather a cork sport or racing beat if I were OP in this situation.

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Any wider exhaust is going to do the same thing, its not something isolated to the MS3 exhaust.

Changing your exhaust is for sound and looks. Don't do it thinking you're going to see improved performance all around (unless you have other major perf mods and a tune)

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Originally Posted by Cab0oze

Any wider exhaust is going to do the same thing, its not something isolated to the MS3 exhaust.

Changing your exhaust is for sound and looks. Don't do it thinking you're going to see improved performance all around (unless you have other major perf mods and a tune)

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Gotcha. Thanks man!

Ya I'm not looking for improvement in performance. I'm looking for improvement and sound and whatnot.
ALTHOUGH, I don't want a LOSS of performance. I'm not racing though it's my DD so in reality will I notice anything?
Also will it noticeably impact my MPG? I know people hate that question but I got to ask.

I considered both Corksport and Racingbeat. In fact I nearly purchased a Magnaflow CBE for 450 new but as the MS3 exhaust is significantly cheaper I endeared to go with it for the time being and then perhaps next year swap it with a different exhaust.

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Originally Posted by greyseason

So it shouldn't effect his HP numbers, and decrease his low end torque? So it's just for the sound? I'd rather a cork sport or racing beat if I were OP in this situation.

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Speed exhausts are 1/5th the price of others. And your $600 exhaust will not give you any performance gains and is also "just for noise"

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Originally Posted by ds08tf

Ya I'm not looking for improvement in performance. I'm looking for improvement and sound and whatnot.
ALTHOUGH, I don't want a LOSS of performance. I'm not racing though it's my DD so in reality will I notice anything?
Also will it noticeably impact my MPG? I know people hate that question but I got to ask.

I considered both Corksport and Racingbeat. In fact I nearly purchased a Magnaflow CBE for 450 new but as the MS3 exhaust is significantly cheaper I endeared to go with it for the time being and then perhaps next year swap it with a different exhaust.

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Your mpg will go down because you'll get on the gas more.

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Originally Posted by sawatsky

Your mpg will go down because you'll get on the gas more.

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What do you mean get on the gas more?

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Originally Posted by ds08tf

What do you mean get on the gas more?

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I believe he's simply referring to the fact that once you have an upgraded exhaust, you'll be a little more aggressive in your driving habits in order to really hear the nice sounds it makes.

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Originally Posted by sawatsky

Your mpg will go down because you'll get on the gas more.

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-WARNING-
This quote is 100% true

I went big and went Borla CBE ( $600 CBE is a understatement ;) ) ..The novelty never wears off (at least for me lol)
I love to hear it.. plus I got a pretty big system so sometimes I find myself really high on the rpm's lol
DGAF it makes my smile, do what you love and let 'em hate!!

MS3 exhaust + race pipe is WINNING! I love to hear the popping when I let off the throttle/downshift.

i see! That's ok . Just curious thanks!

MS3 exhaust sounds amazing

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Originally Posted by Thrizzl3

MS3 exhaust sounds amazing

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:D :headbang

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Originally Posted by ds08tf

:D :headbang

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yeah man i have one on my 07 hatch.

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Originally Posted by Thrizzl3

yeah man i have one on my 07 hatch.

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I'm actually so pumped. Right now I just have a muffler delete on a stock exhaust. It sounds pretty good but I want something better. Hence the MS3. Wooo! :) getting it this weekend and it shall be installed!

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Originally Posted by ds08tf

I'm actually so pumped. Right now I just have a muffler delete on a stock exhaust. It sounds pretty good but I want something better. Hence the MS3. Wooo! :) getting it this weekend and it shall be installed!

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Congrats..
When you do throw a vid up on exhaust thread. :)

People complain about the drone on the Ms3 exhaust. If it bothers you, you can always replace the reaonators for Magnaflow or x something

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Originally Posted by sawatsky

People complain about the drone on the Ms3 exhaust. If it bothers you, you can always replace the reaonators for Magnaflow or x something

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You sure? People complain a lot about the drone on the mazdaspeed ACCESSORY exhaust, but I never saw too much complaining about the ms3...

Yup, the exhaust drones on a MZ3.

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Originally Posted by stevenma188

MS3 exhaust + race pipe is WINNING! I love to hear the popping when I let off the throttle/downshift.

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Have a video of that ''popping'' ? I'm interested about that noise haha

When i had just a cat-back magnaflow it DID seem to have noticeably less pick up. But when i added the COBB downpipe it fly's now lol

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Originally Posted by Simon99

Have a video of that ''popping'' ? I'm interested about that noise haha

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Sorry, don't have a video. It doesn't happen every time, so its hard to capture.

i have ms3 exhaust with magna flow muffler and its pretty loud..

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Originally Posted by stevenma188

Sorry, don't have a video. It doesn't happen every time, so its hard to capture.

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Mine does it when i shift and drop the clutch fast. its a loudish popping noise (usually from 2nd-3rd and 3rd-4th), I believe its just back pressure like mine!

Yup. Just from the back pressure. Without the turbo it doesn't happen every time though lol.

The MS3 exhaust was designed with a turbo application in mind. At the end of the day, the bigger and freer flowing the exhaust, the better it is for a turbo application. There is no such thing as having *too big* of a turbo back exhaust that performance is negatively impacted.

From an OEM/performance perspective, this means finding the balance between flow, emissions, sound tuning and sound decibels.

Naturally aspirated exhaust systems are more complex. In this application, proper runner length at the header is important and exhaust scavenging and back pressure come into play as well. In this application, there is such thing as *too big* of an exhaust and extracting performance out of a naturally aspirated car from the exhaust path is more scientific and a bit of a black art to produce the desired balance of low end response and top end power. (Run on sentence... Ha)

So, going back to putting the MS3 exhaust on a MZ3. I'd say a noticeable power loss on the bottom end is very plausible and a noticeable power gain up top is also very plausible. IMO, putting an exhaust on a small displacement motor like the MZ3 is done purely for sound because at the end of the day, the car won't be breaking any records or beating any more/less cars on the street. Choose the exhaust you like and throw it on. Can't go wrong with the MS3 exhaust because it sounds badass and its far cheaper than many alternatives for something that will only give you audio sensory wood while driving.

Wow lovin the detail. Thanks man!

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Originally Posted by BlueStreak

The MS3 exhaust was designed with a turbo application in mind. At the end of the day, the bigger and freer flowing the exhaust, the better it is for a turbo application. There is no such thing as having *too big* of a turbo back exhaust that performance is negatively impacted.

From an OEM/performance perspective, this means finding the balance between flow, emissions, sound tuning and sound decibels.

Naturally aspirated exhaust systems are more complex. In this application, proper runner length at the header is important and exhaust scavenging and back pressure come into play as well. In this application, there is such thing as *too big* of an exhaust and extracting performance out of a naturally aspirated car from the exhaust path is more scientific and a bit of a black art to produce the desired balance of low end response and top end power. (Run on sentence... Ha)

So, going back to putting the MS3 exhaust on a MZ3. I'd say a noticeable power loss on the bottom end is very plausible and a noticeable power gain up top is also very plausible. IMO, putting an exhaust on a small displacement motor like the MZ3 is done purely for sound because at the end of the day, the car won't be breaking any records or beating any more/less cars on the street. Choose the exhaust you like and throw it on. Can't go wrong with the MS3 exhaust because it sounds badass and its far cheaper than many alternatives for something that will only give you audio sensory wood while driving.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by BlueStreak

The MS3 exhaust was designed with a turbo application in mind. At the end of the day, the bigger and freer flowing the exhaust, the better it is for a turbo application. There is no such thing as having *too big* of a turbo back exhaust that performance is negatively impacted.

From an OEM/performance perspective, this means finding the balance between flow, emissions, sound tuning and sound decibels.

Naturally aspirated exhaust systems are more complex. In this application, proper runner length at the header is important and exhaust scavenging and back pressure come into play as well. In this application, there is such thing as *too big* of an exhaust and extracting performance out of a naturally aspirated car from the exhaust path is more scientific and a bit of a black art to produce the desired balance of low end response and top end power. (Run on sentence... Ha)

So, going back to putting the MS3 exhaust on a MZ3. I'd say a noticeable power loss on the bottom end is very plausible and a noticeable power gain up top is also very plausible. IMO, putting an exhaust on a small displacement motor like the MZ3 is done purely for sound because at the end of the day, the car won't be breaking any records or beating any more/less cars on the street. Choose the exhaust you like and throw it on. Can't go wrong with the MS3 exhaust because it sounds badass and its far cheaper than many alternatives for something that will only give you audio sensory wood while driving.

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+1000000
Thank for the detailed write up.. This is more then helpful

I have the MS3 OEM exhaust on my 06 2.3L hatch. I only have good comments on the sound. I was finding it a little bit too noisy in the cabin on long trips so I added a Vibrant super quiet resonator where the speed cat was attached and now I love my system more then ever. Great sound and little pop sound is there when shifting full throttle or downshifting sometimes. All in all, Great upgrade for the price!

^There is no cat on the MS3 OEM CBE.