Charliemike's 2015 Ecoboost Mustang and 2015 VW Passat TSI Thread

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Old 04-16-2013, 06:19 AM
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Maryland is 35%. This is probably 45% with the combined window tint and film.

But it isn't very dark.

And I need to take better photos
Old 04-16-2013, 09:20 AM
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Go down to 35%. That's pretty much what I'm at. It looks good and works well.

Before the tint I had to flip my review mirror often at night due to the lights. Now I don't even have to.
Old 04-16-2013, 10:13 AM
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I would probably keep the rear hatch as it is for better visibility.
Old 04-16-2013, 11:48 AM
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Maybe something like LED reverse bulbs as well, if your visibility concern is mainly backing up at night?

Originally Posted by charliemike
"Err, Derpmobile, you gonna do something?"
This line had me 'ing
Old 04-16-2013, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Aman
Maybe something like LED reverse bulbs as well, if your visibility concern is mainly backing up at night?
Certainly some of it is seeing when I back up (not hitting a post) but I live around a slew of impatient assholes so backing out of a space is a crapshoot if I am going to get cut off.
Old 04-17-2013, 12:27 PM
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MRT Axleback ordered with 4" tips.

I like the way the 4" look better than the 3.5" ones ...
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Old 04-17-2013, 09:26 PM
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Just ordered the Electric Focus motor mount. Helps with wheel hop and the dreaded bang as the motor moves under load.
Old 04-18-2013, 12:32 PM
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Very nice! I need to get a motor mount for my MS6. I'm pretty sure I almost put the engine through the firewall the other day lol.
Old 04-20-2013, 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by charliemike
One more mod request ... Could I get this thread changed to Charliemike's E36 328i and 2013 Focus ST thread? Thanks Yummy for merging my threads as well.
Will do and congrats! RPhilMan has some company, now. I still can't believe Ford had the balls to bring this car to the USA.
Old 04-20-2013, 08:43 AM
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Bob, me too. I have heard some rumors they might even consider the RS too.

But this is a great car for the money. It is weird to say considering I owned a S4 but as a complete car, it is the best I have ever owned.

And I am really glad I was able to support Ford after years of saying I wanted them to bring cars like this to the States.
Old 04-20-2013, 02:57 PM
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I put the spacers on and now the car looks like a CUV. Guess I am getting springs after all.
Old 04-27-2013, 02:29 PM
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Oil catch can and E-Focus RMM on the car. Plus a synthetic oil change at 1300 miles came to $480. Lot of money but I couldn't have done it myself.

Car shifts really well with the new mount. Exhaust next week and then a break until I decide about springs. But I have warmed up to the wider stance from the spacers.
Old 04-27-2013, 05:33 PM
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Working on her today, too. First oil change this morning. I waited until the usual 5k.
Old 04-27-2013, 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by RPhilMan1
Working on her today, too. First oil change this morning. I waited until the usual 5k.
I was thinking of waiting but who knows what is in that oil from break-in
Old 04-29-2013, 02:18 PM
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I really love the Focus. I really cannot say enough good things about it.

There are a couple of rattles that need to be addressed and MyFordTouch can be wobbly but the good far outweighs the bad.

I do need to get a tune for it though as I do want the extra torque.

Also, my MPG isn't horrible considering how much daily commuting I do (and said I wasn't when I bought the car):

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Old 04-29-2013, 02:32 PM
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Glad you're enjoying the car Dave. Once you put springs on it, I'll have to see, but until then, I'm unavailable.
Old 04-29-2013, 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by nokiaman
Glad you're enjoying the car Dave. Once you put springs on it, I'll have to see, but until then, I'm unavailable.
Dude, some jerkhole hit the BMW and I have to fix that too. I am going to end up with a ticket at some point for missing a turn signal.

Honestly, I'm going to get a tune before springs as I'm barely able to make it out of the driveway w/o scraping the Focus right now.
Old 05-04-2013, 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by nokiaman
Glad you're enjoying the car Dave. Once you put springs on it, I'll have to see, but until then, I'm unavailable.
I just looked at the front air dam and if I drop it, I will have to go up the driveway at an angle. Which can be difficult because I do not have first rights to the street in front of my townhouse. So people tend to park in front of my house and not respect the fact that I need to back out of my own driveway.

So I'm not dropping it. Yeah, it'd look better but for the time being it's not getting any lower.
Old 05-04-2013, 08:52 PM
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Put it on bags.
Old 05-04-2013, 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Aman
Put it on bags.
Haha, exactly.
Old 05-11-2013, 11:23 AM
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Cobb AccessPORT ordered from FSWerks

MRT Axleback being installed as we speak. Going to be weird to get used to the fact that MRT made something that replaces a muffler and doesn't sound like a shitty fart can.
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Old 05-11-2013, 12:28 PM
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I am not 100% sure I like this sound. I almost feel like at some point I am going to get new tips welded on the stock box and go back to that if I tire of this. It doesn't drone and is aggressive but it is more intrusive in the cabin than the videos suggested.
Old 05-11-2013, 02:13 PM
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Glad to see this thread moving along, how about a sound clip
Old 05-11-2013, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by charliemike
I am not 100% sure I like this sound. I almost feel like at some point I am going to get new tips welded on the stock box and go back to that if I tire of this. It doesn't drone and is aggressive but it is more intrusive in the cabin than the videos suggested.
You didn't like the stock tips?
Old 05-11-2013, 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by RPhilMan1
You didn't like the stock tips?
I made a huge mistake with this exhaust. I am going to have to go to a custom exhaust place and get the stock box fixed.

It sounds good in such a narrow band that I immediately regretted it.
Old 05-11-2013, 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by charliemike
I made a huge mistake with this exhaust. I am going to have to go to a custom exhaust place and get the stock box fixed.

It sounds good in such a narrow band that I immediately regretted it.
Bummer.
Old 05-11-2013, 11:21 PM
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Any sound clips?


Sucks you aren't happy with the sound.
Old 05-12-2013, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by charliemike
I made a huge mistake with this exhaust. I am going to have to go to a custom exhaust place and get the stock box fixed.

It sounds good in such a narrow band that I immediately regretted it.
I wanted to warn you, to be honest. It may be a cheap exhaust option but I never really liked the sound. And I believe in you get what you pay for.

I hope you can find a solution.
Old 05-12-2013, 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by RPhilMan1
I wanted to warn you, to be honest. It may be a cheap exhaust option but I never really liked the sound. And I believe in you get what you pay for.

I hope you can find a solution.
I liked the sound of the external videos some guys posted. And it was just an axle back ... So for $300 I didn't think it was unreasonable.

And if I was 19 maybe I'd love it. But I'm not and I don't.

So I'm not sure what to do. Go get the stock muffler fixed or just go get a true catback and hope to hell it's not going to have garbage drone and blooming too.

I'm going to write to MRT and tell them how disappointing this product is ... I don't know what they were thinking.

I'm also considering cancelling my Cobb order. Maybe I should just stay stock.
Old 05-12-2013, 08:08 PM
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Well I can tell you without a doubt that the Accessport is the best value for the cost. That will wake up the ST in such a great way. I don't think you or anyone could be disappointed with that.

As far as the exhaust, I'd say get the stock system looked at and see what it would take to return it to that.

Otherwise, more and more options are opening up. Did you see Ollie @ OCDSPEED's new catback project? He's on the focusst.org forums.

I'll probably end up getting the Milltek downpipe + catback sometime in summer such as June or July...
Old 05-12-2013, 09:08 PM
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I say just get the stock exhaust back on and wait until enough reviews come out on all the exhausts so you can make a more educated decision.

I'd be interested in sound clips too.

Originally Posted by charliemike
Maybe I should just stay stock.
Okay, now you're just talking silly.
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Old 05-12-2013, 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Aman
I say just get the stock exhaust back on and wait until enough reviews come out on all the exhausts so you can make a more educated decision.

I'd be interested in sound clips too.



Okay, now you're just talking silly.
Yeah I just had a moment of distrust in modding. I have put so much money into my cars in the last three years I am just gunshy I guess.
Old 05-12-2013, 09:58 PM
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Here's what I sent to MRT:

Good evening,

I just had this exhaust put on my car. The quality of the exhaust is very good. I cannot say anything bad about that. You did a fine job.

But I hate the exhaust. I normally do not complain like this but I felt compelled to say something.

It drones. Badly. It also booms throughout the cabin between 2200-2800 RPM under normal acceleration. Giving it the beans is intolerable. Also, upon deceleration, it also booms badly throughout the cabin. There's a very undesirable resonance that was so immediately apparent that I immediately wished I had not installed it.

I don't think I got a bad exhaust. I think there's a fundamental flaw in the design.

Your return policy states that you do not give refunds after installation and I understand that.

But I felt compelled to give you this feedback because word is going to get out about the same conditions that I’m experiencing and your sales will suffer for it.

I’d request that you take a second look at the design.

Sincerely,

Dave Carroll
Old 05-12-2013, 10:00 PM
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Here is a video from a guy who had it installed:


Here's one from inside the cabin ... Before getting the exhaust installed, what I heard didn't seem like bad resonance. Now I think hear it. Though it may be way worse for me:


Unfortunately, other than my smartphone I have no way to record what I'm hearing.

Last edited by charliemike; 05-12-2013 at 10:03 PM.
Old 05-14-2013, 01:19 PM
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So a local custom exhaust shop repaired the stock exhaust for $40, which was incredibly generous of them.

I think part of the problem of the axle back was the specific mechanic that did it was a donkey. He didn't follow directions and I think gases and noise were escaping through some sort of half-assed attempt to connect the stock exhaust pipe to the custom axleback. Why he thought that was okay is beyond me.

But that said, I'm back to stock and a lot happier.
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Old 05-14-2013, 01:34 PM
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Sucks, could the new guy fix it? I know having a leak can really alter the sound of an exhaust
Old 05-14-2013, 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by 1StGenCL
Sucks, could the new guy fix it? I know having a leak can really alter the sound of an exhaust
He probably could have but I didn't realize it until I looked at the exhaust in the car. I'll take a photo of it. It's just ridiculous.
Old 05-14-2013, 01:51 PM
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So this is what it should look like at the end that connects to the stock pipe (upper left of the picture):

Name:  R1X0RRM.jpg
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And this is what my local shop's mechanic did:

Name:  750nPvP.jpg
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/facepalm

Last edited by charliemike; 05-14-2013 at 01:53 PM.
Old 05-14-2013, 01:53 PM
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You can see from the deformity of the sleeve that they even made it to slip over the stock pipe. I mean, seriously. WTF.
Old 05-14-2013, 02:37 PM
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Oh my...


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