cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

Now that we're sponsored by Begi we should work out a group buy on coolant reroutes or a board member discount something like that. 5% goes a long way to persuade people. Even though i prefer everything BEGI sells, when explaining to someone. "They sell a better "x" product for "x" reason..." It would be great to be able to add "You can also get a small discount."
Though, if prices go up again(downpipes), the discount would be null

With that said. I plan to have my mani modded and DP made by them. No matter what.

Markp

LOL, There may not be the greatest computer people over at BEGi but they sure can weld and build a turbo system.

Mark

cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

That's an idea. I should be rebuilding their website in exchange for a downpipe and manifold mod.

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

Make your own page, link to their store. Add 5% to the prices and call it gravy. And how mad could they get if you sold a lot of their stuff through their own store? No one knows why the person clicked order. :-)

That sure is a lot of trick fab-work. Like always, I feel photo starved. Needs a build-blog. Sure you could post it here without complaint.

Discount is weird, messes with things - basically they'd have to raise the price for everyone else to compensate. But a group buy is always a win-win.

Like a group buy on more pics. :-P

l_bader

Oh... and the pic of Corky, he's the one on the right.

I'm the bearded one contemplating water routing...

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

Thats not true. If the profit margin on a downpipe is 200%, whats 175% if you offer a discount? Profit is profit, just a bit less, but you make up the difference in extra business.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

I gauran-damn-tee ya that there's not nearly that much margin in a BEGi downpipe.

posidon42

iTrader: (4)

To add to this discussion, I wish I had found the BEGI site sooner myself. My first experience with a turboed miata was almost 7 years ago with my bosses 96 with FMII. I knew what I wanted ever since. I found this board a couple of months ago (from a bashing post on M.net) and have learned more from here than I have on the other forum in a year. You guys truly are the masters of DIY.

Back to the discussion... I was one of those people who excels at building IKEA furniture and just wanted the peace of mind of building a kit. However, I am a mechanical engineer so I do know what I am doing, I just had zero experience with vehicle tuning. So I install the FM II kit and, while I am not unhappy with my purchase, I can't say I will recommend their kit either. The post sale attitude is just too sour. For example, I now know that all of the BEGI manifolds come ceramic coated while the FM kits are painted from the foundry. The part is functional, but it looks terrible after a week of driving. All of the paint burnt and flaked off and most of it ended up stuck to the air filter. So much for that cool air box sealing to the hood. :( Their response was 1) we will give you a (negligible) credit toward your next order, 2) send it back with $100 and we will ceramic coat it for you or 3) take it off and use BBQ grilll paint on it.

Needless to say, I was not happy with either of these answers as I just spent $5k on something that looks like *** after the first week of use. They also confirmed that I am one of several users where the wastegate actuator doesn't work properly. It is supposed to stop at 6-8 psi, but under mechanical control only, lets the system get up to 12-14 psi! Their response was to send me a new one to try out, but not only did it not work, the bracket they sent me didn't fit correctly and I couldn't use their heatshield with the part. Sigh.

Combine all of this with the fact that the BEGI kit includes the coolant re-route (at least for the S3 I was looking at) and a power steering cooler, I am not sure I would make the same decision again. Their instructions were just terrible and they were not very nice about the constructive criticism I gave them regarding the instructions and order of installation. I mean, how many people who have never installed a turbo system know to purge the pressure in the fuel system first before messing with the injectors? Just silly things like that.

Anyway, FM will probably still get some of my business (at least until the 5% discount runs out) but I am probably going to end up taking out and upgrading most of the hardware in the near future. I like the idea of the Hydra, but since most of the tuning appears to be black magic or they assume you have a dyno in your garage, it is just too time-consuming to mess with. If I would have known I was going to have to do this much 'messing around' with the Hydra, I probably would have bought the bare kit and taken Cjernan up on his offer to build me a MS for my 99. Still might do it...

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

Check out my post in another thread. I did a mod (a PITA, for sure, but a little machining could do it better) which really helps the overboosting. https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14367

I too was very upset, this is not a "teething" problem with a new, experimental kit. They've been selling this for maybe a YEAR now? holy goodness how could that many people stand around for a year and not solve it?

Anyway, that was exactly why I didn't get a Hydra. I read all the issues people were having just getting a basic tune or idle out of it, and thought "THIS is a turn-key solution? You buy the car they say, the injectors they say, the piping they say, and they can't get you ballpark enough that you can start the car without issue, and for FIVE TIMES the cost of a DIY?

If it costs more, it should work at least nearly as well.

spike

Cause FM know's people will still be lining up to buy their product even though the problen is still there.No one dares to complain on m.net for fear of being flamed big time,so they don't need to worry about spending the money to fix it.

spike

You should post this on m.net for all to read.

magnamx-5

iTrader: (7)

I dunno loki my first impression of the begi website was where are the prices how do i order and where is the stuff i want. It has made strides in orginization but it still leaves some to be desired. Not that FM is alot better either cause there site has several paths and products that can't be found in routine ways either. All together a consult on the orginization of the site and your upcomming web store should help youguys alot steph. I look forward to seeing it.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

Richard, PLEASE do us a favor

Stephanie Turner

I WISH!!!
We actually make $5.00 per downpipe. It stinks, but it is the truth. We make parts in house and stainless is not cheap these days. But that is our choice in order to stay competitive. If we sub'd everything out, maybe we'd see that margin.....
Stephanie

Stephanie Turner

At that time, FM was selling our turbo systems. They would package it with the engine management and sell it.

Honestly, matching a w/g with a turbo is a bit of a pain. For that reason, we only use two actuators. Something our suppliers were easily able to solve for us. We also make our own brackets, because the one's from Garrett are worthless. Our turbos are built to our specs. Over boost will blow and engine, and we don't want that kind of liability or bad PR.
Stephanie

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

cookie cutterz ftl.

Stephanie Turner

Since we are making revisions, suggestions are welcome! Please send me an e-mail so that we can consider it! Ya'll use the site, navigate the site, and would have a better basis of comparison than I.

Initially, the designer suggested a user survey, and I balked. I figured it was a waste of time. I spend lots of time on the current site, so I have an idea of what works and what doesn't. But I know the parts, and others don't. I have since changed my mind. So all feedback would be welcome! Ya'll navigate thru there too.
Stephanie

soflarick

iTrader: (8)

Some of the links are non-functional like in the Miata Performance Parts section, be easier to find the install instructions, I can understand why it's important to call rather than just order something off a website since you guys tailor each kit for the end user. I don't mind, but some would rather call an 800 number instead of footing the phone bill themselves. Since a buyer has to call, put the contact info in big bold type on each page so it's easy to see and explain why calling is so important (customer service, tailoring each kit, etc etc). The links on the left, change the font or color or something. Sometimes when browsing the site, I have to refresh or the link I try to click will not open properly. Break things up into sections, ie fuel, ignition, tubing, etc etc, and put only those items with those links, as some things appear to overlap or not belong. It'd be easier to navigate to exactly what you want. Put a large, yet small file size, turbo **** photo on the front page. Something that'll make a miataturbo person want to touch themselves.

Dhaark

iTrader: (3)

I was always wondering, why people on this forum think that BEGi is better than FM...
I prefer FM, eventhough they are more expensive sometimes but their customer service is better. In most cases, BEGi wouldn't even attempt to help out because I don't buy products from them... It might have change now, but still I wouldn't buy anything from BEGi FM is nice and overpriced, and has a cool even over the summer...

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

IN!!!