My 1st MR2 - 2001 very green

[Alex Knight]

I had my flexis replaced.

The bends were £15 each from an online exhaust catalogue, and then I paid a welder to cut the remains of the old ones out and weld new ones on.

I went for slightly oversize IIRC to help the 2ZZ flow a bit better than stock.

[Gaz mr-s]

I agree with what's been said on f'book...£500 is a rip-off. If the car isn't a daily driver you could take your time, get the tools required. prepare the job & fit yourself. Alternatively, buy the flexi's on ebay & get a local garage to weld them in for you.

Another approach is buy an aftermarket cat, - you'll get recommendations on here, & trade the o/e in for the platinum scrap, - I think you can make a profit.

[Joesson]

@idiotgap

Good call on a bike to get around at LeMans.
As for carrying one on a 2 it has been done and I have mentioned it previously but "SEARCH" is un helpful.
The rear towing eye socket/S are used with a threaded rod and a bike carrier or diy system fixed on.
Iirc there was also mention of it on Spyderchat.

PS
I don't recall a positive comment about oil consumption/ reduction treatments. I would save the money to buy more oil.

[idiotgap]

Hi @Joesson I'm a keen cyclist and did many searches on the subject of carrying bikes on an MR2 before buying the car, haven't got round to buying the threaded bar yet that will go into the towing eye sockets, but that's where I'll start I imagine, I think I read that there was a supplier on aliexpress. I seem to recall a carrier came up on fb via one of the groups but I missed it.

[Ardent]

'Mr Exhaust' to weld in new ones, but it's not cheap at <> £500,

Clearly not a job they want to do, so priced silly.
Could buy a new cat for less than that. Taking the p.

[idiotgap]

I've got a quote from another place now at £200 so I'll probably go with that

[Gaz mr-s]

That's still flippin' expensive.   https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294952389090?fits=Car+Make%3AToyota%7CPlat_Gen%3AMK+III%7CModel%3AMR2&hash=item44ac8849e2:g:EwsAAOSwCt9iaW5v&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8Jt%2B8SJovxDX0Yj3NzZsbJHtBDtohwNNy%2B6H51YdtHiSQQpn%2BK5OSrPDdj%2Bp1UmlLHfxjFXtWCeB3OnbP6oF6dg6S%2Ft0VmmYuPVI3VJplPOFLOte%2BV467n7XQ4hM3L6ZapHU3wXtq3oHmuu%2F3vJqw2jBWuuW6mq0%2BetmSVophJJG%2F%2FsVbgipDJcakQjIPu1PHtb8yt2H4U8%2FJD%2B7IgA%2FiE7rUVc29Tk5UpDqTSWQZveyGyJBtNsxc4rsuOLkW3qAtotEr59Dy%2BiSUJ8D7u01qvgmSagJh%2B%2BLbJcA%2B2tVwEeuz2MS%2FZcTwYVkvsN4WBMlDw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9j0y4SzYQ

[Joesson]

Indeed! While £200 is a lot less than the £500 you were considering it is still more than an aftermarket complete new catalyser section, " with fitting kit".

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-MR2-ROADSTER-CATALYTIC-CONVERTER-CAT-1-8-VVTi-03-00-02-01-FITTING-KIT/130353313042?mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338353466&toolid=20006&customid=s:GS;gc:EAIaIQobChMI8LnpoLO7_AIV0YBQBh0GWA7dEAQYBSABEgL4B_D_BwE;pt:1;choc:2&customid=s:GS;gc:EAIaIQobChMI8LnpoLO7_AIV0YBQBh0GWA7dEAQYBSABEgL4B_D_BwE;pt:1;choc:1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8LnpoLO7_AIV0YBQBh0GWA7dEAQYBSABEgL4B_D_BwE&pageci=7892cc68-1f11-40a7-a4e7-c8d969cbb567&epid=249139622&redirect=mobile

And that is with one search on the www!

[Carolyn]

It's also worth bearing in mind that, if your cat is the original one (and it probably is), it's close to it's end of life.  Repairing it may be a false economy.

[idiotgap]

Repairing it may be a false economy.

It's a fair point, we think the cat is original, I've been encouraged to retain the OEM quality part if I can. Even if the flexi parts are £30 only, I can see how a business with overheads and offering aftercare needs to charge something for the time it's going to take to weld them in. I'm probably ok with the latest quote.

I have four cars, I know how to do some things and enjoy some kinds of tinkering which saves me some money. No doubt there is scope to do more, but I also have a full time job, three kids and like to rely on getting outside help when it looks to me like I wouldn't have so much fun with it or stuck for time.

[idiotgap]

- aftermarket heated seat kit fitted, seem great so far, but in partially following the Toyota instructions which include tapping into the blue and black wire which is in the bundle going from the px sill plate to the dash side fusebox, I seem to have connected them to permanent live rather than switched, so I run the risk of leaving them on and running the battery down, so I must work out where to get a decent switched live from.

I had a heated seat error and ran the battery down last night so had to muck about jump starting the new-ish Yuasa battery today. Hopefully not killed permanently, I have it on a c-tek now conditioning back to health. I think I must have knocked the switch when I was getting out with shopping bags on the way back from the flexi welding which was done yesterday.

Where is a good switched live?
Preferably running along the LH side of the car or near the passenger door jamb fuse box. I didn't really want to use a piggyback fuse as the heated seats each have an inline fuse, but I can if that's the only reasonable option.

[Joesson]

@idiotgap said:

Where is a good switched live?
Preferably running along the LH side of the car or near the passenger door jamb fuse box. I didn't really want to use a piggyback fuse as the heated seats each have an inline fuse, but I can if that's the only reasonable option.

You mention the passenger door jamb fuse box, that must be the preferred place to start with any new/ auxiliary wiring it must make your and any subsequent owner's diagnostic life easier.

[idiotgap]

Time flies and stuff happens so here's what's happened over the last 2 and a bit years

Feb 2023 Bought a luggage rack
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Mar 2023 - fitted ford focus misting screenwash nozzles
Mar 2023 - bought a lovely flip key from keymoon
Apr 2023 - got a better condition gearknob, gaiter and a/c button from Dick Sloan
Brighton 'incarnation' with the gang
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May 2023 - TRD hood release button sticker + 3d printed a coin holder
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June 2023 - Hatton
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[idiotgap]

No more attachments allowed on the previous post... so will add more here

Jun 2023 - Le Mans Classic
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Jul 2023 - frunk and engine cover struts
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Aug 2023 - shopping no problem!
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Aug 2023 - Carfest
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Aug 2023 - Edenbridge show & bike rack test
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[idiotgap]

continuation!

Oct 2023 - androidauto/carplay screen, completely removable so only for roadtrips, lives in the volvo most of the time.
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Oct 2023 - Torque Moto Cafe
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Dec 2023 - A brompton does go in
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May 2024 - Trip to the ring to watch the 24hr (no laps!)
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Aug 2024 - Carfest again
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[idiotgap]

so we're kind of up to date now, all the fun stuff anyway!
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Still using the car as much as possible and really enjoying it, but there have been some downs as well as ups.

A neighbour reversed into the driver's side rear quarter just before the Nurburgring trip, that was repaired by his insurer thank goodness, with these cars being such low value you always wonder if you are going to end up with a write-off.

October 2024, I managed to spin off the A3 and into a ditch, no real harm done in terms of injuries, no other cars involved or anything like that, but we had to rebuild some of the suspension and there are some cosmetic witness marks in the front bumper.
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Then came the real calamity, the gearbox had been making a bit of noise for a while, but still worked so I chose to have the fluid changed and keep running it for as long as possible. A new business venture means I don't have much ready cash at the moment, but then horror of horrors, we couldn't get the MOT done in March 2025 - the tester tried but his unit filled up with oil smoke...

So right now the car is with a breaker who is going to stick a facelift engine and 6sp box in it for me - painful as the bill will be I can't see myself falling out of love with the car so we will weather the storm!

to be continued after I get the car back - hopefully sooner but key aim is to be in time to join Stu Crann and co at carfest

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[Ardent]