Anyone know when the test pipe comes out from OBX for the 2006 Mazda 3 hatch? I've called them and gotten the ever so helpful "soon" response...anyone have any new information? (Maybe a little more helpful too?)I have the headers, and the cat back exhaust, i'm just waiting for the last part! lol (and yes,Iknow the OBX headers tend to crack, andI can get them professionally welded for free to get a little more strength.A good friend of the family teaches auto tech at a local high school, and has some experience welding while in the navy.)

 

More than that, the OBX has been known to cause unsolveable CEL issues in the 3 series.I know (have read) a few that after several attempts gave up and sold the header.
Why not simply have a test pipe made up? How hard/expensive could it be? 2 flanges, a piece of flexi-pipe and you"re done.
Better still, get a front pipe from some other vehicle (junkyard parts) that has a flex pipe built in it, install the rest of your system, measure what length you need the intermediate pipe to be, then have it made up, get 2 gaskets for the flanges, 6 bolts and nuts and you"re done!

 

...hmmm...i suppose i should probably throw down some cash for the vibrant header than huh? darn...well, is there a cheaper price than $500?

 

Yup! And Nope!!

 

k. well, i suppose the good news is i made a mid-pipe last night to go with the header, but the bad news is i gotta replace it anyway! lol its all good i suppose, i just gotta make sure it fits with the OBX exhaust...i think it does...