What have you done to your MS3 today?

Installed Forge bypass valve (black), TWM SS with bushings, Mazda trunk liner and gave her a wash'n. On the way is Cobb SRI, Corksport inserts and clear corners/rear reflectors. :)
 
hmm, 2 months of ownership and already ordered su rear motor mount and cobb intake. Eyeballing the TWM short shifter....
 
Finally got my Cobb Sri and installed it. I love it, it screams, and makes my synapse bov sound awsome, it sounds vta but is not.
 
today? Today I missed my mazda..... :( Shes sitting out in the sun all by herself while Im stuck out in 29 Palms. :(:(:(:(:(:(
 
and i mean nice. looking forward. hope install goes well and results even better.

Gonna take longer than I thought. I started on the springs this morning and they still aren't finished. Temps hit 102. It was lucky that I had come in to cool off (a little too late, obviously) and my stepson noticed my leg twitching where I had passed out at the kitchen table. He couldn't get me to respond and yelled for my wife. Got checked out at the local emergency care facility and they basically said leave the car alone until dark. I'll finish the fronts tonight and do the rears tomorrow when I get home. My wife says I am waiting, even if she has to hold a flashlight for me after dark.
 
Go easy gramps! Maybe Jasper and Elmer from the home can lend you a hand after bingo tonight. Don't you go dyin' on me!
 
The heat

Gonna take longer than I thought. I started on the springs this morning and they still aren't finished. Temps hit 102. It was lucky that I had come in to cool off (a little too late, obviously) and my stepson noticed my leg twitching where I had passed out at the kitchen table. He couldn't get me to respond and yelled for my wife. Got checked out at the local emergency care facility and they basically said leave the car alone until dark. I'll finish the fronts tonight and do the rears tomorrow when I get home. My wife says I am waiting, even if she has to hold a flashlight for me after dark.
Lets see ... best things come to those who wait? Patience is a virtue.. you can not take it with you. Your wife sounds to be the saintly type. Take care.
 
i didnt take any yet, the 10 mins I spent outside installing these was plenty...wayyy too hot!

here we go. ut mine in just a bit ago, it too is freakin hot here. Got these used painted sunlight silver from the forums. I think a better angle shot would make them look nicer. Eager to see them at night!

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This was not a good day for working on the car. Finally finished off the fronts and they look great. I can see the difference in ride height already (none of this settling time needed that I keep reading about). The problem is that the ABS light stayed on when I started the car and backed out of the driveway to check clearance. I realized that I hadn't connected the coupling on the driver's side. So I jack the car up, take off the tire and my stepson sticks his head out the door and yells, "Mom wants to know what you're doing." "I forgot a connection." So I reconnected it, put the tire on and the damn light is still on when I start the car. Does anyone know if they need time to clear like some other lights?

The wife says the heat index was 117 today.

Edit: Got my answer. The idiot lights shut off after driving for a few minutes (whew).
 
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This was not a good day for working on the car. Finally finished off the fronts and they look great. I can see the difference in ride height already (none of this settling time needed that I keep reading about). The problem is that the ABS light stayed on when I started the car and backed out of the driveway to check clearance. I realized that I hadn't connected the coupling on the driver's side. So I jack the car up, take off the tire and my stepson sticks his head out the door and yells, "Mom wants to know what you're doing." "I forgot a connection." So I reconnected it, put the tire on and the damn light is still on when I start the car. Does anyone know if they need time to clear like some other lights?

The wife says the heat index was 117 today.

what brand did you get and what's the price and drop height? I am eager to lower mine as well. But I want to make sure I'm getting a good drop for the price, without risk of blowing the stock shocks. We bought ebay brand shocks for my wife's jetta (dropzone springs) back in October and they still ride like new 7 months later! So I'd love to know what you got and what the drop is!
 
what brand did you get and what's the price and drop height? I am eager to lower mine as well. But I want to make sure I'm getting a good drop for the price, without risk of blowing the stock shocks. We bought ebay brand shocks for my wife's jetta (dropzone springs) back in October and they still ride like new 7 months later! So I'd love to know what you got and what the drop is!

I'm blaming it on the heat (although it was the first thing I should have done) but I forgot to measure the height before I started working. I only have the fronts in at this point, but I like the drop. It is noticeable, but not absurd. I have 225/40 tires on, that are a little (very little) shorter than the stockers. I can't say anything about overall handling, because I wasn't going to push it hard with the mismatched springs (afraid of unpredictable handling with the heavy front springs and lighter factory rears). I can say that the ride on the highway and over undulations in the road is smoother, no floaty sensation anymore. Definitely harsher over bad roads, but there is no avoiding that with stiffer springs. When I took off at a light that usually requires a brisk takeoff to get ahead of the pack and change lanes, it definitely planted better. They are Cobb springs and can be ordered for $250.00. Cobb claims a one inch drop and says that camber links are not needed. I bought them for the handling improvement. The drop is just an added style bonus as far as I'm concerned.
 
I'm blaming it on the heat (although it was the first thing I should have done) but I forgot to measure the height before I started working. I only have the fronts in at this point, but I like the drop. It is noticeable, but not absurd. I have 225/40 tires on, that are a little (very little) shorter than the stockers. I can't say anything about overall handling, because I wasn't going to push it hard with the mismatched springs (afraid of unpredictable handling with the heavy front springs and lighter factory rears). I can say that the ride on the highway and over undulations in the road is smoother, no floaty sensation anymore. Definitely harsher over bad roads, but there is no avoiding that with stiffer springs. When I took off at a light that usually requires a brisk takeoff to get ahead of the pack and change lanes, it definitely planted better. They are Cobb springs and can be ordered for $250.00. Cobb claims a one inch drop and says that camber links are not needed. I bought them for the handling improvement. The drop is just an added style bonus as far as I'm concerned.



sounds good! I like the H&R drop the best but I dont want to sacrifice ride comfort. But definately need better performance and handling from stiffer springs. I'm up in the air between cobb and h&r, and good to hear you dont blow shocks with cobb or need camber kits either, makes for cheaper install and less price, thanks!
 
Finally found time to get the rear springs in late yesterday afternoon. Finished up just before sunset and went for a quick spin down a (all too short) fun stretch of twisties not far from my home. All I can say is "WOW!". The complete setup of everything that might remotely affect handling/driving feel in the order of installation is Shifter bushings, Corksport MM inserts, and Cobb rear swaybar (same day), RT615's 225/40 on 18x8 50mm offset rims, and Cobb springs. I also have an MS-CAI installed as a short ram and a Forge BPV under the hood.
I really liked the car as it was from the factory, but these few mods have made it a beast. I threw it down that road and it just was glued. There is another (again too short) very fun stretch on the way to work that has an unfortunate unintended speedbump-like rise in the road where some work was done that used to unload the suspension when I went over it, so I had to slow down in preparation. Not anymore, skipped over it and the car immediately planted itself solidly and on I went. The ride is a little harsher but not unreasonably so and I have just enough of a drop to complement the new rims and tires visually without making speedbumps a nightmare.
All I need now is either a MAP clamp or a BCD and my Forge Boost Controller can go in. I'm going to bump it up just a couple of PSI and then I can clean up the butchery I did when I started and interrupted my stereo installation.
 
Bcd

Finally found time to get the rear springs in late yesterday afternoon. Finished up just before sunset and went for a quick spin down a (all too short) fun stretch of twisties not far from my home. All I can say is "WOW!". The complete setup of everything that might remotely affect handling/driving feel in the order of installation is Shifter bushings, Corksport MM inserts, and Cobb rear swaybar (same day), RT615's 225/40 on 18x8 50mm offset rims, and Cobb springs. I also have an MS-CAI installed as a short ram and a Forge BPV under the hood.
I really liked the car as it was from the factory, but these few mods have made it a beast. I threw it down that road and it just was glued. There is another (again too short) very fun stretch on the way to work that has an unfortunate unintended speedbump-like rise in the road where some work was done that used to unload the suspension when I went over it, so I had to slow down in preparation. Not anymore, skipped over it and the car immediately planted itself solidly and on I went. The ride is a little harsher but not unreasonably so and I have just enough of a drop to complement the new rims and tires visually without making speedbumps a nightmare.
All I need now is either a MAP clamp or a BCD and my Forge Boost Controller can go in. I'm going to bump it up just a couple of PSI and then I can clean up the butchery I did when I started and interrupted my stereo installation.
I think niz might still have a hallman bcd thing for good price. Scared of the front bar install, eh? Well I am a little. Was leaning coilover but mixed reports have me deciding to do springs for now. Have the Hotchkis bars on kitchen table waiting to purchase the rest so i, er ( son inlaw ) can do em' all at once. Thanks for report. I will look for the stiffest spring dedicated to the speed 3 with no more than 1" and not less than 1/2" lowering. Cobb is the best default, and would be happy to run them! I cannot wait any longer and will order this wknd. Any suggestions who or where?pm if you like. Very pleased to hear of your results Mid. No need to turn up boost. Start thinking bigger turbo with more flow and tuning. Our cars, for all the ecu difficulties when trying to tune, are really a delight to drive on the backroads and can do some track duty also. Mazda gave us a motor that has room for more and a suspension also willing to accept perfomance enhancing parts. nice car everybody.
 
Glad the car is turning out so well Mid Life. I know where you are at brother. The reason I tuned in was , I installed the iridiums 'colder' plugs last Thursday. and my stock plugs FoMoCo looked a little rich but had a bit of electrode wear and gap opened up. nothing to concern about. Car ran different afterwards. Oh I also had my opportunity to do the SPRING Mod I have been waiting to do since the day I read of this free mod. Well I picked up some attitude from the car on first drive. It has been recently mentioned to me from an engine builder/ tuner that I have good faith in so far, that the Iridium has a short lifespan in a turbo motor. I will see what I see but any one one with experience with this plug. And then the spring stretch.. for the FTW or f'nw. Who thought of that!?
 
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