Just wanted to know if anyone has had a garage fit their turbo and their prices? Been quoted £3000 for the turbo conversion including the parts, and told that it will need a new clutch and that its an extra. Turbo is a TD04L and the clutch will be some AP racing one.
So where did you go for the quote? I’d suggest you need comparisons - other sources. Having said that, it’s just the start of a rocky and expensive road, as you find more mods are needed - if you care about safety and handling characteristics. As I understand it, racing clutches tend to be stiff on the pedal, I know a man who had one, and junked it, he found it too hard to handle. Also expensive, my guess is around £250 to £350 for the upgrade. - Could be more. Does the quote include fuel management, bigger inputs on the intakes and turbo cooling? Then there’s increased fuel usage, depending how you drive the car.
As I finally figured, it’s easier to use the gearbox, and the available revs than spend thousands on power upgrades. It’s your money, so go ahead, if you can afford it.
I went to Bailey Performance, they have now said it’s £3600 for the clutch included and fitting. I think this is rather steep. I am thinking off asking the guys for a breakdown of the quote. Do you think they would send me it or just think I am just trying to see what parts they are using so I can do it? Honestly I am in the dark a little about it all, I feel like there are some advantages being taken. I understand what I would need for the turbo to run e.g. intercooler ecu ect. But don’t feel the price is right.
That price does seem a little steep however it would also depend on their reputation as well I guess and maybe worth paying more if they are your closest and best option???
Wouldn’t the new clutch depend on what power increase you go for, the original may be ok?
I’d get some comparison quotes. I feel this is doable for nearer 2 - 2.5k at some places.
What’s your take Nick?
- - - Gone!
Jrosco - try this guy, he specializes in dynos and S/C’s. On the outskirts (North) of Nottingham - is it too far?
Depends what is being done, what parts, what power is expected, overhead and everything else.
There is 20% VAT for a start, there is gearbox and engine oils, I’m sure you don’t want cheap ones.
A decent garage would want to test the engine first so a compression test and maybe a look at the bores.
Custom intercoolers can cost hundreds, quality of manifold, ecu then mapping, dyno time, which is all about the final drivability and particularly cold starting etc. A updated clutch can be over £300. Plus any other suspect parts as well. Then you would want the company to warranty the work too.
I had my 1.8 NA Eunos turbocharged by Mike Cleverley, excellent is all I can say. I would advise giving Mike and Vince a call, they can advise options. Mx5expert.co.uk or Cleverley Repaired Cars.
If you got that price for FI on a mk3 with quality parts you’d bite their hand off. The required ECU is a significant outlay which isn’t even required with the mk3.
It’s a mk1, thank you all for the replies much appreciated will be ringing around some more based off these comments I’ll contact Mx5expert.co.uk firstly
Bailey Performance, thought I recognised the name.
I have my Mk1 booked into there this Saturday for an Emerald ECU mapping on their rolling road, they came highly recommended by Jenvey Dynamics to be very up to the job required, local for me and we will see after the weekend how they performed.
Do keep us posted! Thanks
You are asking a company to upgrade say a 20 year old car that has parts that have twenty years wear.
After being a member of this forum and owning MX5’s for say 6 years many other members on here have been here for much longer we all know that cars are not bullet proof and the Mk1’s are suffering not just from usage wear but also from time dependent breakdowns on electronics and wiring.
Therefore not for a minute saying do not do it but as others have said there will be many other costs to keep the car on the road.
If I was in business and someone wanted to me to do a major power increase on a 20 year old car, I would be saying if that car has problems after I do the work, my name will be mud in MX5 circles therefore do I realy want that work?
As far as comparing costs it’s not like doing it on different bottles of washing up liquid. You have said your not an expert, therefore it will be a minefield to work out who is best value.
Have you thought about buying an already converted car that has the problems sorted, OK that could be an other minefield and selling your existing car.
To be honest it already has been a minefield with getting quotes, I feel as if the garages don’t want to give out too much information about what parts they use. And I have thought about looking for an already turbo charged mx5 mk1 but I haven’t found any, don’t know where to look. Only looked on the usual sites, auto trader, piston heads.
My MK1 is currently being done by M-Tech Automotive based in Wiltshire. They have a shining reputation on Nutz and i have been very impressed with them so far. Well worth speaking to Adam and the team down there if you are interested in the conversion.
They charge £2,000 + VAT for their conversion and that is drive in/drive out service. The only parts you need to supply is a good used TD04 turbo charger (Circa £100 off ebay) and and RX8 Yellow Injectors. M-Tech can source the injectors for you for £120 + VAT.
The conversion price includes an intercooler as well as all the oil feeds etc. They use the exhaust manifold and down pipe supplied by Doug @ G19 Engineering in Ipswich and use the ME221 ECU (their own creation!) fully mapped on a rolling road to enable you to simply drive it away when you go and pick it up.
In terms of the clutch issue, Adam will map the car to the maximum that your current car can currently handle. If you want to get a new clutch, have a look at the Flyin Miata Clutch and lightened flywheel ‘Happy Meal’ on their website. It’s costly, but an awesome bit of kit.
If you have any questions please feel free to drop me a PM
Helpful information mate much appreciated, I shall give them a ring
Picked the Mk1 up from Dale at Bailey Performance, Telford. Must say I was well impressed with the way he went about checking my work and wiring before having a first dyno run up.
Dale certainly knows his stuff he has done over fifty MX-5’s with either Turbo, Supercharger or Throttle bodies, I did like that he was also willing for me to be there all the time work was being done and I could see what he was doing.
My new import is running sweet as a nut, huge thanks to Dale.