Considering the re-released MS3-CAI for my 2008, what should I expect?

[Biggs]

I got excited reading all this talk of Mazda re-releasing the CAI... but im a bit confused because I asked my local dealership if they had any in stock, they said that it was "still not released yet"..... WTF?

where is everyone getting their "new" MS CAI from?

 

[JamesCH]

I got excited reading all this talk of Mazda re-releasing the CAI... but im a bit confused because I asked my local dealership if they had any in stock, they said that it was "still not released yet"..... WTF?

where is everyone getting their "new" MS CAI from?

I got mine from a Mazda dealer. Don't let them charge you $400 for it either. Mine dropped it to under $340. Used these guys as a benchmark: http://www.finishlineperformance.com/store/product.php?productid=16796&cat=285&page=2

 

[azturbo3d]

just got mine installed today. three things:

1)can hardly hear it on idle
2)accelerating is fun hearing the turbo and bpv
3)takes away some of the bottom end, but really worth it for the top end

there are places you can get it for a $305, so don't pay full. my dealer was willing to pricematch

 

[dcomiskey]

Grassroots Motorsports did some tests with the CAI and said it was essentially a must-have mod, given the powerband no longer dies at 5800 rpm and WHP gains are definitely there (they actually give you dyno numbers, as opposed to most people on this board).

Personally, I really want one, but lament having that stupid blow-off sound. I had a CAI in my GTI and ******* hated that sound. If I was 18, I might think it was cool, but I drive my kids around in that thing.

 

[MSMS3]

Agree that it is a must have mod and that it does produce a serious hp and torque gain. Have it and love it.

Disagree, with respect, to the notion that this or any other intake is going to prevent the engine from falling on its ass after 5,800 rpm. That is a function of the thermal ineffeciency of the K04 turbo and the huge build up of heat in the turbo by 6,000 rpm. The ECU is also tuned to try to keep that from happening. You can correct this in the ECU, but at the expense of blowing the turbo for little or no power gain.

Get the 2nd gen MSCAI because it is a good power gainer up to the thermal limits of the turbo, which still means shifting at 5,500 rpm for best performance, IMHO.

 

[jabba]

Personally, I really want one, but lament having that stupid blow-off sound. I had a CAI in my GTI and ******* hated that sound. If I was 18, I might think it was cool, but I drive my kids around in that thing.

Well, I have the MSCAI installed AND drive my kids around everyday, and I don't have people pointing at me and holding up signs that say Ricer. You only really hear the sound when you on the gas, drive normally and it's okay. I've gotta say that I would rather not have the sound, but I got used to it so fast that it doesn't really matter anymore. And I don't really hear it with the radio on, so it's all good.

 

[SomnoSpeed3]

I barely hear it with the radio on at all. In fact when I take people for a ride I shut off the radio and roll down to the window if they want to hear it or else they rarely notice anything from the passenger seat. The exhaust hum nearly drowns it out with the windows up.
I agree that it is a must have mod for this car. I test drove several ms3's and when I drove one with the cai it was soooooo much better. No way I would own this car and not have one of some kind. And I'm not some super mod guy, it's one of only two mods I have.

 

[Biggs]

yeah called all around MD, no dealships have them yet, the only place is that VA dealer ...

am i missing something?

 

[BrianFiebig]

There is a video on youtube with some guys taking a fresh from the truck speed3 and put the AEM CAI in it, before and after dyno runs. The results: +29 wheel horse power, 30+ ft. lbs. torque, and it revved and held power until it hit the limiter. Get a boost gauge and the whooshing/vacuum cleaner hose sound starts to pick up at about -5 pounds (still drawing vacuum), and gets truely loud, with a whistling component at 8 pounds of boost. Before, it takes a noticable amount of time to go from suction to buried in the seat, with a cai its about a second.
By the by, for the volume of the sound, its louder then stock, BUT much quieter then a sri/hai. my buddy had a sri/hai in his maxima (until he traded it in for a fully loaded M3...bastard) and I remember it being, well, almost annoyingly loud, with lots of pulsations. Dunno about the 3 with one, but seeing as it is a inline 4 i would imagine it is.
As for dealerships, try Malloy in Hoodbridge, last time I was in there with mine I had to explain to the parts guy that I already had the MS CAI, even if it did have a big ole' AEM sticker on it.

 

[MSMS3]

I don't care what the video claims to show. It WILL NOT HOLD POWER TO THE LIMITER. This is a fantastic intake and it makes for a substantial power gain in hp and torque, but only within the existing power band.

The design of the turbo and the ECU programming, including the closing of the throttle body at about 5,800 rpm does not change by putting on a high flow intake. Not the MSCAI or AEM, as much as I love them, and not any other intake either. Not physically possible. Sorry. Power drops like a rock by 6,000 rpm, well before you hit the limiter and no intake is gonna change that.

 

[artfuldriver]

I called my dealer on September 1st and told them the CAI was available. I had been calling monthly for the past year. It arrived on Sept 4th and was installed by the end of the weekend. It is well worth the upgrade. I feel the extra pull at about 3200 rpms and pulls through almost 6. The sound is better and not obnoxious.

I highly recommend it.