Magnex and emissions
 

Just about to order a magnex downpipe and backbox. I have only owned my first scooby (MY98 wagon UK 2000 turbo) for 3 days.

A bit concerned about emmissions at MOT in 3 months time and don't fancy hassle of putting first cat back.

So my questions are:

1) Is it better to for performance to remove first cat rather than second cat (one nearest backbox)?
2) Will one remaining cat get me through MOT emmissions test?
3) Magnex best choice? Noisy drone is not too welcome.
4) Assume i can get a local quick fit or similar to fit them??

As always help is appreciated!

Cheers

Dazzling

bit of a grey area with the emissions as not all MOT emissions testing machine read the same. my uk MY99 with full magnex decat sails thru the emissions test at my local garage, but on a recent remap the emissions levels were nowhere near the pass level.

as a rule of thumb a full decatted car shouldn't pass the emissions. a decatted downpipe with the catted centre section should go thru as long as the car is well warmed up.

so:-

1 - the front downpipe is the best to change, better turbo spool up etc. although i did mine bit at a time over a few weeks and if you're doing the downpipe and backbox, you may aswell change the centre section, only slight performance difference but bring the noise level up a bit:)

2 - as above, should do. but the centre section is a piece of piss to change at MOT time back to the catted pipe,even i can do it;)

3 - you'll get loads of opinions on this, so personal choice/budget is the main thing. i like the magnex, good fit, nice noise(not to loud) although the back box tailpipe could do with being a bit bigger.
not everyone likes the twin piped downpipe as opposed to the open neck, but i don't know what sort of performance difference there is

4 - i would take it to a specialist/subaru garage personally, but the centre section and back box shouldn't be a problem to do yourself.
the downpipe can be a right fecker to get off, but i had a reasonable qoute from the dealer:eek:, but in the end a local competent guy did it, can't remember the price but it did take a couple of hours!

you'll love whatever you do and the sound is fantastic!

have fun

I went for a Magnex 3.5'' backbox, H&S open neck downpipe and a Magnex resonated centre - car also has a TEK2 on it and it did pass the emissions test come MOT time - after a few attempts!
Noise inside the cabin is fairly low - no resonance at certain RPMs or anything but still sounds good outside the car - not too loud, but you can tell its a scooby!
When the noise level was measured for a track day I think it came out at 91db 0.5 metres from the pipe at a 45 deg angle running at 4500 RPM - so well within the limits of any track.

my two pennorth
 

I've got a MY00, and put a Magnex 6x4 BB and decatted (resonated) centre on it. It was very easy to do myself, just a bit of WD40 on the bolts to help release them. And I also ended up cutting down the springs on the downpipe to centre pipe joint, as the flange on the Magnex centre was thicker than on the OE one, which meant the springs went coilbound and so became a rigid joint :eek:

The noise inside the cabin is obviously louder than standard but still comfortable. There's no booming at motorway speeds probably because I usedthe resonated centre pipe rather than the unresonated one.

It passed the emissions test like this (even when coldish).

Having said all this, I'm now on the lookout for a downpipe :D

I got an STi Type R 1998 and have a full decat exhaust and Magnex downpipe and car sails thru MOT again get the car really well warmed up tho before MOT. I also put a K&N panle filter on and developed 293nhp amd 305lbft so to me they are really good mods to perform on the car I would also recommend the Walbro Fuel pump upgrade aswell.

Thanks all...gonna go with fully decated magnex system (downpipe/centre/backbox).

Might get these guys to fit as its been a while since i did anything mechanical (electrical background) and they are only about 6 miles away.

http://www.jap-innovations.co.uk/

or these

http://www.subaru-manchester.co.uk/home.asp

anybody heard of em??

Jap innovations are fantastic Rich is really good and got some tremendous figures off his car on the rollers. Never heard of the other place.