Basic MS3 Modifications

[pjm1957]

I am considering the purchase of as MazdaSpeed3 (after several test drives).
I currently own an ordinary Mazda3 HB.

I have the following questions:

1. What are the primary benefits of installing new motor mounts? Does this require the replacement & discarding of the stock mounts? What are the disadvantages of installing these mounts (noise, vibration, etc)? Are the Corksport mounts the best? Cost (including installation)? From whom should I buy them?

2. What are the primary benefits of transmission/shifter bushings? Any disadvantages? What ushings do you recommend? Cost (including installation)?

3. Is the CAI worth the cost?

4. Are all of you MS3 owners convinced this is a quality car that will perform reliably for 10years if properly maintained? Any issues of which I should be aware?

Feel free to comment on any other recommended mods.


Thanks for your help.

 

[MS3077]

CAI isn't worth it, go with the Cobb SRI. It's only $175.00, easy to install / clean, gives awesome gains and sounds wicked.

Motor Mount- Very easy to install (There are threads on this) Benefits far out - weigh the vibrations you might notice. This is quite possibly the best single modification you can do to this car. It reduces wheel-hop, improves shifting, and just makes the car feel more solid over-all. You don't have to disguard the stock mount, just keep it in a safe place incase you need to put it back on for warranty work for some odd reason. Perhaps putting the stock mount back on will be better for re-sale?
I have the SU MM and installed myself (Takes about 20 min or so) The cost of the Mount is $120.00.

Shifter bushings - This is another MOD that is highly recommended. These improve shift feel significantly over stock. The car is a lot more fun to row through the gears. (I have the TWM SS/ Bushings) Again, this is a very easy install you can do yourself. Comes with great instructions. Shifter bushings are something like $40 bucks. If you want the Short throw shifter it's about $225.00

 

[pjm1957]

Basic MS3 Mods

Thanks MS3077. I am very leery of the Cobb SRI. I don't want the MAF issues associated with oiled filters. What do you think?

 

[MS3077]

Thanks MS3077. I am very leery of the Cobb SRI. I don't want the MAF issues associated with oiled filters. What do you think?

I haven't heard of anyone having MAF issues with the Cobb SRI. I think it only needs to be cleaned every 15k miles or when needed. I would just buy an extra filter for like $12 bucks to switch out when that time comes. I don't know much about cleaning the filter but I hear it's pretty simple.

 

[whitey4311]

Cleaning the filters is simple but oiling them is the issue. A bit too much and you will ruin your MAF, especially with the SRI vs the filter being further away via a longer pipe.

Why would you guys think a SRI is better then a CAI? That doesnt make much sense to me to have your air coming from the engine bay where the turbo is hot as hell.

 

[MS3077]

Cleaning the filters is simple but oiling them is the issue. A bit too much and you will ruin your MAF, especially with the SRI vs the filter being further away via a longer pipe.

Why would you guys think a SRI is better then a CAI? That doesnt make much sense to me to have your air coming from the engine bay where the turbo is hot as hell.

There have been countless threads on this debate and it never goes anywhere.

In theory the CAI would produce higher #'s but it simply doesn’t nor has been proven.

Cobb Tuning said something to the effect that they saw no need for a CAI in the MS3, hence why they only made a SRI. I think they know a think or 2 about performance.

CAI cost more $$, harder to clean, and harder to install / uninstall

SRI cost less $$, easy to clean, and easy to install / uninstall + produces just as much hp/tq as a CAI. Kind of makes it an easy decision if you ask me.

IN a N/A car a CAI would yield more benefits but for the nature of a Turboed car especially the MS3 it doesn't really matter if it’s a SRI or CAI

Please just do a search as I really don't feel like going on and on about this issue again.

 

[whitey4311]

Makes sense and I am sure there is a reason for it but logically it seems like a bad idea. I suppose you cant argue the numbers but then again on a dyno with a open hood and fan its not practical to consider numbers.

 

[mordant80]

As for the concerns with the oiled filter on the cobb, I saw on the cobb forum someone asked about replacing the oiled filter with an aem dry filter. One of the cobb folks said that would work just fine and you probably wouldn't see any difference in performace doing that. I think that the cobb sri + the aem dry flow filter on it would still be cheaper than most the cai's. Something to think about.

 

[clos561]

There have been countless threads on this debate and it never goes anywhere.

In theory the CAI would produce higher #'s but it simply doesnt nor has been proven.

Cobb Tuning said something to the effect that they saw no need for a CAI in the MS3, hence why they only made a SRI. I think they know a think or 2 about performance.

CAI cost more $$, harder to clean, and harder to install / uninstall

SRI cost less $$, easy to clean, and easy to install / uninstall + produces just as much hp/tq as a CAI. Kind of makes it an easy decision if you ask me.

IN a N/A car a CAI would yield more benefits but for the nature of a Turboed car especially the MS3 it doesn't really matter if its a SRI or CAI

Please just do a search as I really don't feel like going on and on about this issue again.

colder air the better.....what are u talking about? of course it matters cai or not. cobb went sri because its cheaper, easier to sell and they make more money.

i think with basic intake, catback or midpipe swap, motor mount, top mount intercooler upgrade and bushings, this car can last 10years. good maintanence and not beating on it alot will help you keep the car for a long time.

 

[lestat13]

I've personally seen 3 of my friends hydrolock motors, turbo AND n/a. Are people going to say don't worry about it, yeah, but does it happen... YES!! For easy of install/uninstall, clean, and NO FEAR OF HYDROLOCK, I went Cobb SRI. If you are going to lower the car, there is an even greater chance of hydrolock. But.... if you really want CAI and want the motor covered if it happens, mazda installed mazdaspeed CAI.

Worried about the oil myself too, but so far zero issues. And it does sound wicked!!

 

[chacon101]

Yeah, you are taking the word of a company that sells a short ram intake that a CAI is not worth it. I think the dyno graphs speak for themselves regarding the CAI. You will get more power from a CAI period.

I have the MS CAI and it's been perfect since day one.

I also have the Corksport inserts and after 1k miles on them, I am still loving every trip I take in the car....the ride is that much better. More planted and somehow, the car feels more sturdy when accelerating. There are very little vibrations that come into the car and it's mostly when idleing or when you have the A/C on. The vibes are slowly going away and it's not annoying.

The shifter bushings were my first mod and it helped when pushing the shifter through the gears. It was a nice improvement but not earth shattering. For the price though, they were totally worth it and the install is super easy.

With these three basic mods, the car is faster and drives better and for a new MS3, I would consider them a must have.

You can find the Corksport website here: http://corksport.com/page/obwl/3_Protege/Mazda_3.html

 

[GoFast]

There have been countless threads on this debate and it never goes anywhere.

In theory the CAI would produce higher #'s but it simply doesn’t nor has been proven.

Cobb Tuning said something to the effect that they saw no need for a CAI in the MS3, hence why they only made a SRI. I think they know a think or 2 about performance.

CAI cost more $$, harder to clean, and harder to install / uninstall

SRI cost less $$, easy to clean, and easy to install / uninstall + produces just as much hp/tq as a CAI. Kind of makes it an easy decision if you ask me.

IN a N/A car a CAI would yield more benefits but for the nature of a Turboed car especially the MS3 it doesn't really matter if it’s a SRI or CAI

Please just do a search as I really don't feel like going on and on about this issue again.

do you work for cobb because everysingle post or thread that mentions cai its the same bs, cobbs better, ms cai gets less hp, the ms causes hydrolock, blah blah blah.

So come on out with it...are you working for them???

 

[Shane5425]

Just an fyi Mazdaspeed CAI is no longer for sale.. search..

 

[lestat13]

We have also had this debate that dyno numbers on the cobb were at a higher altitude and a mustang dyno, which provides a much lower hp rating than dynojet. At speed their is virtually no difference between the two. Acusing someone of blowing someone at cobb is just rude. Save that sh!t for the streets and keep this on topic.

 

[lestat13]

Just an fyi Mazdaspeed CAI is no longer for sale.. search..

You can still get it on classifieds and ebay. Track one down and install it yourself.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

There have been countless threads on this debate and it never goes anywhere.

VERY TRUE

In theory the CAI would produce higher #'s but it simply doesnt nor has been proven.

PROPER TESTING HASN'T/CAN'T BE DONE

Cobb Tuning said something to the effect that they saw no need for a CAI in the MS3, hence why they only made a SRI. I think they know a think or 2 about performance.

COBB IS PLANNING TO RELEASE A COLD AIR BOX FOR THEIR SRI - YES THEY KNOW PERFORMANCE AND WANT COLDER AIR THAN THEIR SRI PROVIDES

CAI cost more $$, harder to clean, and harder to install / uninstall

TRUE

SRI cost less $$, easy to clean, and easy to install / uninstall + produces just as much hp/tq as a CAI. Kind of makes it an easy decision if you ask me.

POWER CLAIM STILL DEBATED

IN a N/A car a CAI would yield more benefits but for the nature of a Turboed car especially the MS3 it doesn't really matter if its a SRI or CAI

ALSO STILL BEING DEBATED

Please just do a search as I really don't feel like going on and on about this issue again.

DITTO!!!

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

Bottom line is that these cars respond very well to opening up the intake. Any quality intake upgrade will give noticeable improvement over the factory airbox.
Once you increase power a little (see above) you will need to do something to get wheel hop under control, so plan on investing in some sort of rear motor mount upgrade. Some of us are quite happy with the Corksport inserts. Others need/want a complete replacement with a nearly solid mount. It's up to you what you prefer. Plenty of threads discussing this issue out there as well.
I also highly recommend some sort of boost gauge. We have coolant temp gauges, oil pressure gauges: you should have a way to monitor what the turbo is doing as well.
Everything after these is all how fanatical you are. I consider these the very basics, what any MS3 owner should do. The intake will also slightly improve fuel efficiency when you aren't having fun with all that new power, so it is a no lose upgrade.

 

[GoFast]

We have also had this debate that dyno numbers on the cobb were at a higher altitude and a mustang dyno, which provides a much lower hp rating than dynojet. At speed their is virtually no difference between the two. Acusing someone of blowing someone at cobb is just rude. Save that sh!t for the streets and keep this on topic.

fair enough, i retract the blowing statement and edited the o.p.

 

[controlo]

any intake will suit you just fine. i wouldn't worry about oiled filter vs. non oiled filter too much either. when it's time to clean the oiled filter, just buy a new one.

i think it's funny how cobb came out with an oiled filter and everybody loves it but when injen had an oiled filter, people were worried.

 

[MicaSp33d]

CAI imo on a turbo car is pointless .... the turbo heats up the air anyways
the intercooler cools it down afterwards.

as for the oil filters ... just follow the cleaning directions and you'll be fine. i've been using oiled filter for years and never had a single issue. Even if you get some oil your MAF you can just clean it off. But i never had a problem with oil on my MAF, just follow the cleaning directions and don't over do it with the oil (light thin coats) and your MAF will stay clean