Casual Modding

[ChazSpeed]

I definitely want to mod out my MS3, but I don't want to have to worry about making sure every setting is just right all the time (IE changing boost, or worrying about fuel/air ratios), and I am going to use it as an every day driver as well.

I also don't want to compromise my warranty, so that will probably limit me.

So I am thinking of picking up the MS CAI, and eventually getting the coil over kit.

I will probably replace the rims, and tires as well,

For looks I really dig the AutoEXE bumper and grill.

So beyond those, what would be the next best upgrades for speediness and ride?

Also, what do you know that will definitely void the warranty?

 

[flipstylex]

if u bottom out, and the dealership suspected that u change ur suspension , u r at fault, careful with coilovers . hydrolocking with ur cai, dun know if company will cover. as for more speed , try sum tB, sumting like that

 

[NCZ13]

remember, it only voids your warrenty, if they can prove the modification was the cause of the problem.

 

[ChazSpeed]

Well I figure if I order the mazdaspeed parts and the dealer does the install it should be pretty hard for them to blame me

TB? Do you mean turbo back exhaust? I am still not sure what/how that works, or the whole DP item either. I was going to look into this as well, but I hear the MS CBE doesn't do a whole lot. So the exhaust situation is up in the air but I will probably have that done some time next year.

I figure the CAI is the best bang for the buck right now, although the cobb SRI looks hella easier.

If I am not modding a ton I don't think I need to go for a different intercooler than what I have now from what I have seen. I have also seen people talking about putting on a fuel pump, and adding in items like the BOV, but no clue what those do, or if I even need to look into that (these sound more like mods I don't want/need to get into )

 

[NCZ13]

Well I figure if I order the mazdaspeed parts and the dealer does the install it should be pretty hard for them to blame me

TB? Do you mean turbo back exhaust? I am still not sure what/how that works, or the whole DP item either. I was going to look into this as well, but I hear the MS CBE doesn't do a whole lot. So the exhaust situation is up in the air but I will probably have that done some time next year.

I figure the CAI is the best bang for the buck right now, although the cobb SRI looks hella easier.

If I am not modding a ton I don't think I need to go for a different intercooler than what I have now from what I have seen. I have also seen people talking about putting on a fuel pump, and adding in items like the BOV, but no clue what those do, or if I even need to look into that (these sound more like mods I don't want/need to get into )

do some reading. find out what those mods do. were not gonna spoon feed everything from you.

as for your TB question, TB can mean 2 things. throttle body, and turboback(exhaust) most people add that E. anyway, a turboback exhaust is exactly what it sounds like. it goes from the turbo, back. the down pipe is the first pipe in a turbo back.

 

[Ben Nast]

I definitely want to mod out my MS3, but I don't want to have to worry about making sure every setting is just right all the time (IE changing boost, or worrying about fuel/air ratios), and I am going to use it as an every day driver as well.

I also don't want to compromise my warranty, so that will probably limit me.

So I am thinking of picking up the MS CAI, and eventually getting the coil over kit.

I will probably replace the rims, and tires as well,

For looks I really dig the AutoEXE bumper and grill.

So beyond those, what would be the next best upgrades for speediness and ride?

Also, what do you know that will definitely void the warranty?

I am in a similar boat as you. The cai seems to be a safe and effective mod. I was thinking suspension upgrades, short throw shifter, and motor mount inserts also. Maybe a top mount ic upgrade? I dont know if the exhaust/downpipe is worth messing with. I hear it may be associated with the smoking turbo issue.

 

[ChazSpeed]

I wouldn't let the smoking turbo issue throw you off. From everything I have read the smoking turbo is caused by a leak in a set of bad turbos... so if you are going to have the leak the smoke will let you know about it .

Unfortunately that is just from what I have read, as is what you think might be the cause of the smoke, so hopefully more info will be dug up on it sooner so I can install the exhaust pieces on my 2007 without worrying.

 

[Ben Nast]

I just talked to a mazdaspeed service manager and he said aftermarket mods that are not authorized by mazda would void the warranty if there was a service claim put in. He said the mazdaspeed cai was fine as long as I went through the mazdaspeed program having them order and install it. He kinda sounded like a douche the way he spoke to me too. I guess suspension parts are ok if also done through the dealer. According to him anything aftermarket forget it. Jeese, Im afraid to put in exhaust or a short throw shifter. Any mod I do needs to be universaly excepted at any dealer so I am going to do what this guy said. Looks like a ms cai is all Im getting.

 

[ChazSpeed]

That is what I am worried about too... I will talk to my local dealer and see what they say.

 

[jaydubz]

I would still be cautious with a CAI, there has been alot of talk about hydrolocking the engine. Just because it is made by Mazda does not mean it less prone to hydrolock. That is why it is listed as "for offroad use only", here in florida I have seen a few hydrolocked engines and they are not for lack of using caution. Sometimes it is that split second that can make the difference.

I personally will only be going with a thicker core TMIC and a cat back exhaust. Then later down the road I may go with the rays MS wheels if the quarterly bonus is good.

 

[Ben Nast]

I could see that in Florida but in my part of town (Maryland) There is rarely any flooding. A cai should be fine for me personaly.
With the TMIC you dont need a cai correct?

 

[fourthmeal]

That guy (the service dealer) has no clue what he's talking about. There are LAWS in place to protect from this exact B.S.

Magnuson Moss Act, look it up.

I just talked to a mazdaspeed service manager and he said aftermarket mods that are not authorized by mazda would void the warranty if there was a service claim put in. He said the mazdaspeed cai was fine as long as I went through the mazdaspeed program having them order and install it. He kinda sounded like a douche the way he spoke to me too. I guess suspension parts are ok if also done through the dealer. According to him anything aftermarket forget it. Jeese, Im afraid to put in exhaust or a short throw shifter. Any mod I do needs to be universaly excepted at any dealer so I am going to do what this guy said. Looks like a ms cai is all Im getting.

 

[Ben Nast]

I am very familiar with the Magnuson Moss Act but there are only 2 dealers near me that can service my car and I have to deal with their bs. I shouldnt have to go through all of that for just a ms cai. He was cool with it as long as they installed it.

 

[Oxymoron]

I just talked to a mazdaspeed service manager and he said aftermarket mods that are not authorized by mazda would void the warranty if there was a service claim put in. He said the mazdaspeed cai was fine as long as I went through the mazdaspeed program having them order and install it. He kinda sounded like a douche the way he spoke to me too. I guess suspension parts are ok if also done through the dealer. According to him anything aftermarket forget it. Jeese, Im afraid to put in exhaust or a short throw shifter. Any mod I do needs to be universaly excepted at any dealer so I am going to do what this guy said. Looks like a ms cai is all Im getting.

The dealership I bought mine from was really cool about it to me. The manager I talked to said "s***, we build race cars here." I told him the mods Im thinking about doing and he didnt seem to have any reasonable problems with any of it. Sounds like I got lucky with my dealership.

 

[fourthmeal]

I here ya Ben, but what I'm saying is the guy has no authority. He may think he does, but in reality modifications (those which do not affect vehicle warranty directly) are your choice as a consumer. Granted, you can throw a piggy-back computer in there and expect to maintain a full factory warranty, but an intake or exhaust should be good to go.

I am very familiar with the Magnuson Moss Act but there are only 2 dealers near me that can service my car and I have to deal with their bs. I shouldnt have to go through all of that for just a ms cai. He was cool with it as long as they installed it.

 

[clos561]

cai,ms springs, motor mount, tmic, catback exhaust( or cp-e tbe with the higflow cat ), bov and ull have a daily driver with about 300whp. without tuning or messing with computer stuff...

 

[fourthmeal]

I'm also starting to suggest the PG fuel pump upgrade, since it is an "invisible" mod and is easy to swap to stock if you need to. This simple unassuming upgrade seems to solve our upper RPM issues instantly, without tuning.

 

[clos561]

i thought you needed a tuning solution and a boost increase to really benefit from the pump upgrade...

 

[ChazSpeed]

Nice list of mods Clos. That is kind of what I am looking at now I just need to figure out which companies to go with.

 

[fourthmeal]

I think there are a few near-stock cars that have seen improvement in performance especially at the upper RPM range, with the pump alone. The ECU seems to "like" the fact it has fuel pressure to spare.

It doesn't require a fueling tuning solution because the pump has a regulator built in that flows the extra fuel back to the tank, so unless the engine demands the additional fuel, the pump does nothing to the a/f ratios or anything else, for that matter.

So it seems to be a no-compromise mod that a dealer couldn't detect.

i thought you needed a tuning solution and a boost increase to really benefit from the pump upgrade...