BigBadWulf

Those of you who have followed the “Exhaust Sound Deadening” thread know something of the trials and tribulations we MazdaSpeed (a.k.a. Mazda Sport Exhaust) owners have experienced with sound levels in general, and with an annoying resonance around 3500 RPM, in particular. We came up with various solutions, but I can’t say I was completely satisfied with any of the results, and there always seemed some compromise with exhaust flow, or appearance, or cost, or whatever. I finally had enough – I bought a Racing Beat cat-back for the P5.

A little background on the Racing Beat exhaust: It’s a three piece (resonator, S-pipe and muffler/tip) system made of 304 stainless steel using 60mm (2.375 inch) tubing, and runs from the second cat, back. I got mine from Sean at Auto R&D (408-947-0505) for $420 plus shipping.

Everything was well packaged and undamaged at delivery, and my first thought was: this is a serious exhaust system. There’s nothing flimsy about any of the parts. The hardware’s heavy duty and built to last - flanges, piping, all of it. I was especially pleased with the appearance of the polished muffler/tip rear section. This looks much better in person than what I’d seen in photographs.



And for those proctological types:



Installation took me about an hour. I probably have an advantage here in that I’ve had my rear section off so many times it takes me about as long as a pit crew to change this out. I bolted the S-pipe to the resonator before I put it on the car because this seemed the easiest way to handle and mount the parts. There weren’t any instructions included, so I made a quick call to Sean for some direction with tightening the nuts and bolts. His advice: “Run the nuts up finger tight and then take them another half-turn – everything will tighten-up the first time it gets hot.” I was good to go.



The weather sucks here today – intermittent rain – but I managed to get everything wrapped-up and was ready for my trail run. I’ve got a 5-mile route that has a good range of driving conditions varying from 15 MPH residential, to 75 MPH+ interstate. The idle was nice – a deep throb directly behind the car, but close to stock on the inside. (It’s the sort of idle that’ll make people look around at a stoplight to see who’s driving the car with something obviously significant under the hood.)

On the road and interstate it sounded just a notch above stock – the slightest bit of tone cruising at 75 MPH, but nothing annoying or intrusive. By this time I was most of the way through my course and starting to think the exhaust was too far in the “quiet” direction. Wrong. The last leg of the route has some “stop and go” driving, and here is where the grinning began.

Stand on the throttle, let the RPM build, and soon you’re rewarded with an authoritative growl (sweet music to a wulf’s ear) that lets everyone know you’re driving something with more than just good looks. The tone’s as sincere as the hardware it comes form. (I’d offer a sound clip, but don’t have the means to record it.)

And there you have it – my first impression of the Racing Beat system. Sorry to be so long winded. And as long as I’m apologizing: if you’re thinking of getting a Racing Beat exhaust for a P5, I got the last one and caused a national backorder. However, sedan owners are in luck; there’s still some in stock.

NOTE: This is only my first day with the new exhaust - time will tell about noise levels. Some people may find this system too loud, however, after my MazdaSpeed experience anything's an improvement.

Cheers
BBW, owner and operator of the infamous “Wulfswagon”

Sledgehammer

Nice write up! I had followed everyone's resonance problems, and was curious how the Racing Beat system compared. Now I have my answer!

BTW, did you notice a power increase? How does it compare power wise to stock and to your previous system?

BigBadWulf

Sledgehammer -

Weather being what it was today, I couldn't run wide open without breaking the tires loose, so it's a little tough to tell about the power improvement. Winding it out, I felt like there was a gain across the RPM range - this pretty much reflects the dyno of this system: a 4.7 HP and 5 ft/lb torque increase. I'd say there's a definite improvement over stock, and an incremental improvement over the MazdaSpeed.

VagaBond-X

cool I was thinking of buying an exhaust system, and was kinda off from the mazdaspeed done cuz of everyones problems....but from your racing beat reveiw I'll think about going for that...you've defiinately put me into its direction, hmmm just a little more research and then build the money and I'll get one or some type of exhaust at least

ARD MP5

Awesome. I was totally impressed with the sound and quality when I got the RB system too. I am so glad it arrived to you properly. I had Sean take pics and everything to ensure that it was in upstanding condition. My commendations on your write up. Very well done and awesome pics. Those are website worthy. hehe. Hint Hint.

Thanks so much for your interest,

Rishie

pantherES

Very nice write up. I'm thinking of going with this exhaust also, so this really helps.

BigBadWulf

pantherES –

Thanks for the kind words and I'm glad the write-up is helpful!


Rishie –

Thanks to both you and Sean for doing a great job on your end! I especially appreciate Sean working with me on the alternate shipping – FedEx has a problem making deliveries to Wulf’s Haven.

You're more than welcome to use the photos, and once the weather improves, I’ll try and get some more. Also, I wanted to mention that I caused the scratches on the end of the S-pipe in the one photo – that’s what happens when you work on gravel.

John
a.k.a. BBW

Rawny12017

very nice write up...since you got the last rb system, i guess i had the second to last system, since sean and rishie only had two...ive had the exhaust system for two weeks now and definately feel the difference over stock...when sean installed it, he told me it would take a week or so for the ecu to get used to the new exhaust system...i love the sound and look...auto r & d is the best...and they are very accomadating...have fun with rb system big bad wulf...

ron

Evil Homer MP5

That's great to hear, i was thinking of getting the RB system once my car is paid off.

Now all i gotta do is find a dealer in ontario to hook me up.

great pics BTW

Farsyde

hey rawny, can you (or anyone else?) get a sound clip???? Also, is the sedan model only for the 1.8/2.0L applications cuz I really need a good catback for the 1.6L.

ARD MP5

Thanks for the kind words Ron. Wait til we get the Mintblue stuff on your ride. Cool ****.

I believe we have one more sedan system left. We have not had a chance to test fit the system's to the 1.6 or 1.8. I'm pretty darn sure that it will bolt right up to the 1.8 but I'm not sure about the 1.6.

Thanks, Rishie

Farsyde

is the muffler sold separate?? Then i could have midas build me the cat back piping for pretty cheap too. Anyone know how much it would cost for just the muff??

kc5zom

The muffler is included. Everything you need to set up a complete exhaust system from the secondary cat back.

Farsyde

I meant that if the cat-back wouldn't bolt up to my 1.6L then can i buy the muff separate and fabricate the piping myself.

ARD MP5

Rather than doing that you should just buy the whole cat back system and either have them cut a place a new flange on the piping or get a high flow cat and have a muffler shop apply flanges to that. That's what I would do.

Otherwise I would just eliminate that cat and make a test pipe.

Rishie