Cobb FMIC vs Exhaust Depot FMIC

[mrjoshyman]

So my original plans was to go with the Cobb FMIC as I am a big fan of their products, and it seems like they thoroughly tested their design. Can anyone comment on the quality of the Exhaust Depot FMIC?

Is the Cobb worth the additional $$$? What are the advantages/differences to either unit.

Thanks guys,
Josh

[SharkDiver]

Well I like the idea of having aluminum pipes in the cobb instead of steel that hold in the heat.I know cobb did a crap load of research to find just the right intercooler for this car instead of just picking a intercooler that fits.Thats all I can think of besides that I love the cobb fmic I have..

[boost_me]

Originally Posted by SharkDiver Well I like the idea of having aluminum pipes in the cobb instead of steel that hold in the heat.I know cobb did a crap load of research to find just the right intercooler for this car instead of just picking a intercooler that fits.Thats all I can think of besides that I love the cobb fmic I have..

same thing he said... ! R&D nothing beats that !!

[ztuner]

find someone to flow test both and you will have your answer. both parts have different target audience and are hard to compare IMO.

Harry

[Unoriginalusername]

Exhaust depot makes good stuff and their design is good along with the price. ask aaron as he has their fmic what he thinks.

[Unoriginalusername]

Exhaust depot pics




Cobb fmic pics

[mrjoshyman]

so basically the big question is the Cobb FMIC worth the additional 200 bucks? Are there before/after dynos for both FMICs and/or Dashhawk logs?

[Hypnotized]

That exhaust depot FMIC looks really good with the pdr coated pipes!

[aaronc7]

you have a nicer camera...no fair!!! and that my foot in the picture, lol

[ChrisK]

aaronc, you might not know but you think the exhaust depot intercooler will fit with the CP-E intake?

I don't like the way that the CP-E intercooler sits. I want COBB but it's a gamble on fitment

[aaronc7]

I believe it was tested and fit w/ an injen cai...if that helps any

[Unoriginalusername]

Originally Posted by aaronc7 you have a nicer camera...no fair!!! and that my foot in the picture, lol

Yes sorry and that is a good point to bring up... I have a $2k digital Nikon SLR and fancy dancy lens. The pics have also been edited in photoshop to look better.

Don't let a camera and photo editing be the deciding factor, i was just mearly showing pics of mine and yours so people could see how each approached their designs. If i hadn't put a deposit on the cobb fmic when this came out i would have gotten it instead if that means anything.

$200 if a free Cobb SRI, or almost a free STS, or a free BPV whatever you want $200 is enough of a savings to get you an extra mod for free

[kingpin748]

Originally Posted by mrjoshyman Is the Cobb worth the additional $$$? What are the advantages/differences to either unit.

The Cobb looks a little nicer and it's got the Cobb sticker on it which is cool.

As for performance I doubt you would be able to tell the difference. My CS FMIC has be trashed a lot by the community. The previous owner, however, couldn't tell any difference between it and a CPE FMIC when he switched.

Cobb certainly does more R&D on there products but I don't think your going to notice anything. Get the Exhaust Depot and then spend the money you save on an intake.

[gsrtype1]

Exhuast Depot seems like excellent quality for a better price... Plus the owner is good people!

[Grim]

id go for cobb sine they did more R&D and i dont like how the ED piping is

[Unoriginalusername]

Originally Posted by Grim id go for cobb sine they did more R&D and i dont like how the ED piping is

Hector has been doing FMIC cores for years on other cars, Cobb did lots of research since this was a first for them.

I'd go by reviews of the people that have it, see if you can compare their data logs. I think its a good piece

[gsrtype1]

Originally Posted by Grim id go for cobb sine they did more R&D and i dont like how the ED piping is

You could be correct but your statment "cobb since they did more R&D" is relly just an assumption.. there is know way to verify that they did more than exhuast depot is there?

[aaronc7]

Something to point out. My setup is different than what Hector currently has. He ended up changing the piping slightly so it would fit better behind the headlights... If someone would post up some pics of the 'new' setup that would be ideal for comparison. Mine is pretty much a 'custom' ED fmic kit really.

[ztuner]

And still no hard numbers or back to back testing

I will say i prefer the exhaust Depots concept of shorter piping and using a smaller dia outlet from turbo to ic. That infact is a good way to reduce lag

Harry

[mrjoshyman]

ok, so I know that with the Cobb FMIC it isn't the easiest to get working with the HKS BOV. Can anyone with the ED FMIC comment on its compatibility with aftermarket BOVs?

On another note, it seems like the blue couplers coming out of ED FMIC are more visible than the Cobb FMIC, is this the case -- or does it just appear that way from the pictures? Anyway to get these in a different color -- say black, that way its more subtle?

[Colonel Speed]

I have the Dual port TS BOV it fits fine.

COBB FMIC < Exhaust Depot FMIC

I have the ED and I love it.

[trdsw]

Can you guys chime in on this. Is it just me or does this line

"Results:

At 5500 RPM the MS3 started to run flat on us with the stock unit on. With our fmic kit installed the car would pull right up to redline! We are yet to dyno it but if you owned an SRT4 Neon and have installed one of our beast intercoolers before, this feels pretty simular to that upgrade!"

(TAKEN FROM EXHAUST DEPOT)

Sounds kind of bogus. Can ED owners confirm this. I thought that the Mazdaspeeds torque range was an issue with the turbo not flowing enough not cooling.

It seems that everything that matters with a FMIC was test by cobb

"One of the more common issues with a front mount intercooler is turbo lag. Our testing shows our core Inlet pressure
at an average of 15.45 psi and the Outlet pressure at an average of 14.8 psi. That results in an averaged pressure drop of
only 0.65 psi, which in turn produces little to no turbo lag at all! We also tested the cooling capacity of our core. With an
ambient temperature of 91 degrees, our Inlet temperature averaged 193 degrees F while our Outlet temperature averaged
95 degrees F. This is an averaged temperature drop of an unprecedented 98 degrees F!"

(Taken from COBB)

For me its still a toss up COBB products are great. Their current state of supply and demand sucks!

[kingpin748]

The MS3 runs flat at 5500RPM because the ECU starts to close the throttle body. No FMIC will change that.

I would still go with the ED FMIC, you'll have enough left over for the ED DP.

[Renzokuken]

Originally Posted by kingpin748 The Cobb looks a little nicer and it's got the Cobb sticker on it which is cool. As for performance I doubt you would be able to tell the difference. My CS FMIC has be trashed a lot by the community. The previous owner, however, couldn't tell any difference between it and a CPE FMIC when he switched. Cobb certainly does more R&D on there products but I don't think your going to notice anything. Get the Exhaust Depot and then spend the money you save on an intake.

I'm happy with my Corksport. I haven't had any issues since I got it. I can see why it was trashed when it first came out cause of the initial issues it had when it first came out. But it seems to me all the issues have been addressed. Only thing I really don't like about it is the cheesy logo. Sorry, didn't mean to go off topic, just my 0.02

[Unoriginalusername]

Originally Posted by kingpin748 The MS3 runs flat at 5500RPM because the ECU starts to close the throttle body. No FMIC will change that. I would still go with the ED FMIC, you'll have enough left over for the ED DP.

the OEM pressure loss is 4psi or somethhing like that, the cobb/ed/cpe are in the 2-2.5 range psi loss not even looking at heatsoak.

that extra 1.5lbs of PSI at 5500 feels stronger because it is flowing better but it hasn't changed anything persay

[HIGHBRED8]

hey if it means anything i have the e.d on my car. 3 back to back dynos within 3hp of each other in 90* with 95% humidity. i also posted realtunes caliber results with the e.d core making almost 400hp/450tq on all boost. also the csrt vid i posted has that same car doing repeated pulls getting faster and faster so that shows something for its ability to withstand heat soak. and from what hector told me the ms3 guys are even happier with it than the csrt guys. ive had e.d parts on my car since 03 and they have always been great quality. not saying cobb isnt just saying for $200 more id rather have a good fmic and another part or 2. just my .02

[mrjoshyman]

all this info is great -- it looks like im leaning towards the ED @ this point. once i sell my quad, shud def have the funds for this....

[bf360]

idk i like cobb only because they give you a lot of testing a numbers, and their kit without a doubt is better quality/looks

[phillyb]

Originally Posted by ztuner And still no hard numbers or back to back testing I will say i prefer the exhaust Depots concept of shorter piping and using a smaller dia outlet from turbo to ic. That infact is a good way to reduce lag Harry

there is supposed to be a lot less piping in the ed setup...

Originally Posted by Renzokuken I'm happy with my Corksport. I haven't had any issues since I got it. I can see why it was trashed when it first came out cause of the initial issues it had when it first came out. But it seems to me all the issues have been addressed. Only thing I really don't like about it is the cheesy logo. Sorry, didn't mean to go off topic, just my 0.02

cheesy logo indeed...probably why i wouldn't even buy it

[kingpin748]

Originally Posted by phillyb there is supposed to be a lot less piping in the ed setup... cheesy logo indeed...probably why i wouldn't even buy it

Just turn the IC around. I could think of better things to complain about since I own it.

[4thStroke]

Isnt the logo just a sticker, anyways? If not, I could think of a cleaner that would remove it without much trouble.

[numbnuts22715]

Originally Posted by 4thStroke Isnt the logo just a sticker, anyways? If not, I could think of a cleaner that would remove it without much trouble.

the logo on cobb's?

It's a template you use to paint COBB on there.

[4thStroke]

I think we are talking about the Corksport FMIC.

But yeah, the Cobb logo is a stencil you lay down and shoot with paint.

[Speedn3]

Love mine....
Install was a breeze and there is little to no turbo lag.
Exhaust Depot FMIC FTMFW........

[numbnuts22715]

i need to order this!

[Grim]

no you dont

[bykeryder4life]

Originally Posted by numbnuts22715 i need to order this!

Originally Posted by Grim no you dont

[numbnuts22715]

Originally Posted by Grim no you dont

too late.

[boost_me]

Originally Posted by Unoriginalusername Exhaust depot pics Cobb fmic pics

damn that car is clean

[hashboogie]

How come one set of pics of the ED FMIC show a single straight pipe going over the engine, while the other one has a coupler?