I came across a video of an R50 running the Megan racing exhaust the other day and thought it sounded rather nice. It didn't seem too loud, and so I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with it? I am looking for some low budget mods for my R50 and am considering doing an exhaust and an air intake to add just a little noise to the car without going overboard. The original muffler on mine is starting to show signs of rust and so I was looking for an alternative that sounded better and maybe would add a little power for when it goes.

 

We've sold and installed many of the Megan exh on the R50 and for the price it's hard to beat.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/megan-...k-exhaust.html

Personally I have to say I like the sound of the Borla better as it just has a better tone, but does cost more.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/borla-...per-non-s.html

For an intake go with our WAY/DDM intake as we worked with DDM back in 2006 to design it. You will really notice the torque gains and throttle response improvement, but it also gives a super deep and throaty sound.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/way-dd...ntake-r50.html

 

Thanks! I am looking to do this cheaply because I feel that if I am going to spend money to go faster it doesn't take too much to come to the point where my best bang for the buck is just to sell the R50 and buy an R53. So for me, the Borla is a nice piece, but unless I find one used (unlikely) it is just too much money for this project, especially when I have so many other things still to do and so little money to do them with.

 

I had one on my R50 for several years. It is loud at start up. It gets quieter when it's warm. It will wake the neighbors in the winter.
This is my old car at Portland International Raceway. This is with the Megan Racing exhaust and an aFe intake. The mic is under the hood next the ECU so what you are hearing most is the intake.


this vid is from the gopros mic stuck to my head which doesn't pick up anything really.... unless you turn the volume all the way up.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. I really don't want something that is loud so I may have to rethink this.

My overall plan is to gain 10 to 15 hp without making the car excessively loud to drive, just loud enough to enhance the experience. I am also considering a lighter flywheel when I do the 6 speed swap. I don't want to use the dual mass because of the weight and cost so I will need to figure out if I can do it within a tight budget. The 6 speed swap is planned as my next improvement as I have some issues with the 5 speed that I can't source parts for. Plus, I want to improve the highway fuel economy. I am also thinking about an underdrive pulley and some better plug wires (if I can find them in blue...LOL).

 

Blue -

If I may, what is an aluminum flywheel going to gain you ?
It won't gain ANY horse power..! It will allow the engine to rev faster, that's not power. Actually, a heavier (like stock weight) flywheel on a small engine is a plus, especially on the street. During the initial leaving a stop and also during shifts, a heavier flywheel is a good thing.
The 6 spd. trans. is a good swap, if you can do that.
What do you mean by "better" plug wires. If your wires are older, then yes, fresh plug wires may be a good thing. But again, there's no power gain as long as two given sets of wires are in good shape.
Underdrive pulley ? Is your engine supercharged ? The R50 is the straight fuel injected, no super charger. Did you add a blower ? What pulley are you talking about for more power ? Changing to a larger damper/crank pulley will gain a non-super charged engine...nothing.

Mike

 

The underdrive pulley reduces parasitic losses from the accessories and used to be a popular modification on some older Japanese imports. However, I would only do it if I found a used one cheap and none seem to be in the market. If memory serves, it way maybe worth 3 to 5 hp. The lighter flywheel is for swap to the 6 speed and to keep the flywheel weight more or less the same as what the R50 comes with, if not a little lighter to make it rev a bit faster. The stock dual mass is very heavy and would not be well matched to the lower power engine. The plan is to do a single mass flywheel conversion along with the 6 speed swap. I do not want an aluminum one as I feel they are too much of a compromise for the street, but may put in a lighter steel one depending on what is available when I buy the parts. I am thinking a difference of a pound or two, not 5. The plug wires are original to the car and at 15 years old, I want to put in new ones from a quality manufacturer. I want them in blue because the car is blue. However, this is a low priority since the engine runs perfectly and is in excellent condition.

If you wish to know, here is how I have prioritized the upgrades to the car:
1. 6 speed swap. The Getrag 5 speed transmission in the car now is notchy and has a noisy idler gear ( I know because I built it. Parts are not available and I could not find a cheap replacement, so I put the car back together to get code enforcement off my back)
2. Performance tires to replace the dry rotting tires that are on the car
3. Rear shocks and bump stops (Bilstein B4 to match the new fronts I put in a few months back)
4. 19mm rear sway bar
5. Performance upgrades such as an exhaust or intake.

I also need to finish some cosmetics along the way as the parts become available for cheap. I want to fix some wavyness in the middle of the hood (looks like it was sat on and then improperly pushed out from behind) and repaint the front and rear bumpers, as well as replace the driver's seat and headliner and find a steering wheel that is in better shape. Window tint is also in the cards before summer as the car is like sitting in a greenhouse here in Florida and I wonder why no one ever did it before. I may also do a stereo upgrade to better speakers in the stock locations and a better head unit, but I am in no rush. My first priority is to do things that make the car safer and more reliable so that I can take it on long drives without worry. I may also try for one of the MINI days at Tail of the Dragon with it too, so it has to be trustworthy enough to do the trip.

 

If you are in Florida, winter is not winter like here in the Pacific Northwest which is nothing like the Midwest of Northeast. When I say winter I am talking temps regularly below 50 and down to the 30's. When the temps went below 40, the exhaust was very loud at start up but it calmed down in a minute or two. After a drive of just a few minutes, it wasn't at allloud. I loved the sound. It also made a great little burble on lift off at about 3000 rpm, just like my 2005 S.

I thought that the Megan was a great deal. I got mine a while back and it was about $75 to $100 less than it is now. Looked great, sounded great, loud but not too loud. Again, the mic was under the hood about 10 inches from the intake. What you are hearing is the intake in that first video.