Can't Decide... ETS TMIC or COBB FMIC?
- Thread starter speed3driver
- Start date
I'm not even sure what tube size means :\
What's the difference between, say, a 3.25 and a 3.5?
The SU is 3.25 core size. The finish quality of the SU is definately superior to the ETS. Thats worth the extra 40 bucks imo.
Nixon there are 2 core sizes for the ETS. The 3.5 is more expensive because its a bigger core. There is no point in getting the bigger core unless you plan on upgrading your turbo. Dyno results have proven that. Also the 3.5 is so big it has a tendency to bang into the firewall on hard shifts.
Nixon there are 2 core sizes for the ETS. The 3.5 is more expensive because its a bigger core. There is no point in getting the bigger core unless you plan on upgrading your turbo. Dyno results have proven that. Also the 3.5 is so big it has a tendency to bang into the firewall on hard shifts.
speed3driver
Member
- :
- 07' Mazdaspeed 3
So the 3.5 is a bad idea? Dyno shows there's no power increase from 3.25 to 3.5?
I see that all the time on my wife's Jetta 1.8T that thing sucks ass on a hot summer day or driving in traffic stop and go.
A lot of people keep talking about the 3.5 core hitting the firewall, I'm not sure where people are getting that it hits the "firewall" The 3.25 and the 3.5 are the same size around and the shroud is the same. It's the thickness of the core thats different. So since the shroud side is the same they would be equally as likely to hit the firewall if that even was the case. Since it's the thickness of the 3.5 thats thicker, its actually hitting the inside of the ram air/hood ducting since its thicker. So when people say the 3.5 is hitting anything its not the firewall, it's the inside of the hood that it's hitting. And that will happen under a hard shift, an extensive wheel hop, and can generally be solved by having an upgraded motor mount. And who hasn't upgraded their mm by now? Since nearly everyone on this forum with a speed3 has upgraded their mm they should not have that problem.
Here is my ETS for visual aspect. I will say it is close to the windshield cowl/wiper area but certainly far enough away even with some minor rocking of the engine:
When I mounted mine on there, the underside of the tmic was touching the electricals and covers for the spark plugs and last thing I wanted was for the tmic to heat up under there adn melt wires. So I put a few washers on each stem of the mounting screws for the ETS (there are 3 mounting points and I put 3 washers on each one) which spaced the ETS enough up not to touch the wiring, BUT in turn that made it closer to the inside of the ram air ducting and I was worried about it hitting. But I have the SU MM and it holds the motor in nicely enough not to allow it to rock and hit the inside of the hood ducting.
Pair the ETS up with a good MM and you will certainly not be dissappointed. I got my SU MM used for $65 and my ETS used pikced up locally for $350
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speed3driver
Member
- :
- 07' Mazdaspeed 3
Is the SU TMIC 3.25 thickness? or 3.5?
speed3driver
Member
- :
- 07' Mazdaspeed 3
UHATEIT... would you recommend the AWR engine mount or the SU mount.. whats the difference?
I'm not sure about the AWR and how well that one is, I always "heard" the AWR is stiffer, sort of like the TRZ.
I can say a local speed3 owner friend of mine (phillyb) let me drive his speed3 with the TRZ dogbone and it vibrated too much for my hand, I just didnt like it, BUT that thing was stiff and shifting was well planted and no rocking around of the engine at all, just didnt like the vibrations on the shifter itself. I would recommend it for the fact that it really works well at what the MM is supposed to do, but the vibrations on my hand were too much for my tastes, I even turned on the AC and by god it was way too vibey for me.
I test drove another friend's speed3 (logik816) who had the SU MM and I was in heaven. I made sure to turn on the AC while driving it around to make sure nothing changed (only a faint hint of any vibe with AC). It planted the wheels, I got no wheelhop, it drove like butter. It keeps the engine in place without rocking, and does what you want from your upgraded MM, but did not give the vibes of the TRZ by any means. Certainly with a car as new as this you dont want it to drive/feel like a 92 honda civic all modded up. You srtill want some comfortable feeling out of a car thats brand new (or less than 2 years old), and for this being my daily driver in LA traffic I can't afford to lose the conforts of shifting all the time. I can say that it satisfies me for comfortable driving and shifting, with minimal vibes if any at all. I notices only a slight hum with AC on that is not even noticeable at all and only mentioning it so you dont think the SU MM is completely quiet and vibe free, but the vibes are almost not even there.
it's up to you, since I dont know about the AWR at all to say how well it is. The SU MM is perfect, hense the fact you will almost never see them for sale in the Marketplace section since people dont want to get rid of them. I upgraded from the Corksport inserts (which were amazing for $25), and they do not vibe at all, but they were a tad soft and resulted in some engine rocking at low rpm shifting (gear shifts of 1 to 2, and 2 to 3 at lower rpm like from a stop light) tho they feel perfect in the 4, 5, and 6 gear shifting range.
I might go for the SU 3 mount package. I really dug the TRZ rear mount/trans mount combo, but I'm not sure if I want my brand new car to get rattled to pieces (sorry Abilor 
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Are the SU mounts proven reliable and safe? And do they eliminate engine lash?
)Are the SU mounts proven reliable and safe? And do they eliminate engine lash?
speed3driver
Member
- :
- 07' Mazdaspeed 3
Well thanks for the info.. i'll proly shoot for the SU mount now 
Put my trz dogbone on right after christmas and it was pretty vibey after first installing, but since the vibes have calmed down ALOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. Its so much smoother and I can definately tell a difference in the car. Every now and then if you like take off in 2nd gear or something of the sort you will get some vibes. I daily drive my car as well.
