I've put on 3600 miles so far on a new 14 MR. It drove surprisingly very well in total stock form. Handles great w/ Bilstein struts though bit too soft for me and the power delivery is proficient specially on highways. Much better when compared to my former VIII and IX in stock forms.

When it comes to modding though I have or wanting to go back to stock form so far. I couldn't stand the slammed stance w/ Eibach Pro-kit springs and its spongy soft handling! Stock springs handles x10 better... but I do mind the 5" stock wheel gaps! So, I got another brand - Progress springs... need to install them but it's a lot of effort. It was pain installing pro-kits and then going back to stock springs... done at home!

And then there is the Magnaflow catback that I just bolt on this morning... It's mildly louder than stock. But, still it may annoy me later. I thought I could live w/o a tune with this but there is now lack of thrust or torque from stop. And, I'm not so sure I want to have it tuned since it drove so well in stock form... So, the catback may come back off too...

I would'nt mind getting set w/ just decent springs or highend CO and maybe a base flash w/ the stock exhaust... I'm assuming units like COBB AP has a mapp for such application?

Just some experience and thoughts on my 14 MR as a daily...

 

I ultimately decided lowering the car was not for me. I didn't want to sorrow about scrapes or damaging the front end of the vehicle. Its a rally inspired car and i tend to keep it in its originally form of height.

It took me about a year of decisions, research and tuner selection before i began to mod the vehicle.

In stock form, the car was smooth but obviously lacked power. Once it got tuned along with tweaks from the SST table, the car pulls harder under slow speeds but shifts smooth on hard accelerations. My car is a daily driver. I've taken it to Disneyland, Road Trips, errands and to work and back and haven't had any issues. Plus my exhaust is very quiet under cruising speeds but gives a nice rumble during accelerations and decelerations.

 

Lowered on Progress springs.

 

I thought the stock bilsteins were actually too stiff. I have my car on Öhlins road & track coilovers and as my daily driver, the settings are a little past half on the soft side and they ride very comfortably.

 

Thanks guys for the feedbacks.
Progress springs setup looks great! It may work with its stiffer spring rates.

I had Zeal Function Xs CO on my VIII's (had 3 VIII and 1 IX). Those Zeals were great, very compliant w/ amazing handling.

I may have to consider Ohlins later. Those Zeals are getting harder to find now.

This exercise w/ modds with my X will take a while I think. I say this because its stock form is very good.

 

Btw,
My MR has developed this low speed whirring noise sounds like front right side. This norm ? Time for SST fluid change?

 

2014 MR with roughly 10k on the odometer and I haven't heard anything like that. I did change out my SST fluids at around 3k however after doing a lot of research. (recommended to swap it out between 1500-3000 to remove any breakin materials)

That noise sounds abnormal, and I'd probably get it looked at if it is repeatable, and you never heard it before.

 

Thanks

Also looking into changing TC fluid for the MR as a possible solution?

This noise is now persistent at low speeds...

 

wheel bearing?

 

actually, the whirring noise is not as persistent as I thought.

It seems to come and go, noticeable in low speed at time...

 

Time to visit the dealership.

 

so, I found a big *** screw at the center tread line of front passenger tire. Fixed the flat and rotated the tires today. So far, so good... no noise I think...

Another thing is I really need an alignment after the spring swaps... that might have also contributed to the noise from tires... But, I need to first decide whether to install those Progress springs or not... yikes!