hard to decide ETS TMIC or COBB FMIC

[MS3Zoom24]

Christmans is coming and i have been a good boy this year. so i cant decide which route i want and/or should go. ets w/tubes 655 Cobb 995. its mostly a daily driver with spirited mailbu hills and stoplite to stoplite fun. for the most part. I worry alittle about warranty, front end accidents, and actual worthwhile for me. I have been researching the crap out of both of them and need alittle help to give me that extra nudge in the right direction, so i Can tell SANTA, lol. Also when do you think i should get a DH?? I was thinking before the intercooler.
Well thnaks for your help group. You guys all have been very helpfull so far.

Mods- AEM CAI, HKS SSQV, SU MM, SU shifter bushings.

 

[Speed3Rookie]

I would get the DH like yesterday. lol
This is a great tool to use for learning what your engine is doing at any time. By using the DH I have learned a ton about the MS3 engine.
As far as IC...I would go with the COBB FMIC for consistancy.

 

[mikespeed3]

FMIC or bust,

no matter the size a TMIC will still heat soak, it is on top of the engine. it will still get damn hot!

 

[racersir]

I was debating on which one to get also but since I live in Puerto Rico I decided to go with the Cobb because of the heatsoaking issue I should receive it by this week or early next week so go with the Cobb it's better than any TMIC in my opinion

 

[SPEED3TYPE2]

i love me ETS 3.5 tmic!

 

[coyfish]

What about the new TRZ coming out. I had my heart set on a FMIC but with the new CO2 feature on the TMIC . . . it will outperform any FMIC. Granted you only get the full benefit when you spray (like Nitrous) but then again I dont drive in race mode all the time. The TMIC itself should be top of the line and you dont have to worry about the long install. FMIC does look cool though

 

[User Name]

The TRZ one has been coming soon for what, a year now? Is there some new release info I haven't seen?

 

[coyfish]

There is a big post on it by Ken from protege garage. I asked him and he said it should be in by december. Its being tested currently. Im still holding on to my warranty so im glad I wont have to worry about swapping FMIC's and stock .

 

[UHATEIT]

another good thing about the DH is that you'll know if you have leaks from not properly installing the fmic (like not tightening the tubes or clamps enough). wont tell you were the leak is just that you've got one out there.

 

[desperado-c]

FMIC or bust,

no matter the size a TMIC will still heat soak, it is on top of the engine. it will still get damn hot!

It makes sense that it would heatsoak, but I've seen several dynos in which there was no falloff in power. Has anyone actually seen an ETS heatsoak?

 

[RaiderMS3]

I have had an ETS on my car, drive the car around, stop, pop the hood, and I can feel the intercooler with my hands, no problem. Nothing like the factory one. Day to day driving, works for me.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Drove around tonight with my newly installed ETS 3.5. Temps have dropped significantly in the past day and it was about 50 degrees. Power gain from this thing is awesome. First gear is worthless. The traction control cannot keep up anymore and all I have is the Cobb SRI, ETS 3.5 and a Forge BPV (soon to be installing an RPMC inlet). I just drove around town, light cruising and stop and go. I came back, popped the hood and the intercooler was cold. The cold pipe was cool and the intake manifold was luke warm.

 

[coyfish]

Does your 3.5 rub or bump? Ive always heard the bigger ETS has fitment problems.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

It rubs slightly in one small area of the air duct under the hood, but it's very small mark in the black plastic. It's not gouging it at all, just leaving a shiney smear from the aluminum touching the plastic. I do believe the heat shield is hitting the plastic behind the motor during hard acceleration with some wheel spin/hop. I heard something today when I got on it and got some spin. I may have to grind a 1/2 inch off in that area of the shield.

 

[MS3Zoom24]

Power gain from this thing is awesome. First gear is worthless. The traction control cannot keep up anymore and all I have is the Cobb SRI, ETS 3.5 and a Forge BPV .

Is this true with most people with just an intake, BPV, ETS TMIC. is first gear really pointless?

And would installing springs solve this problem?

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Springs would help, yes. I guess it's not totally worthless, but if I put my foot to the floor at 2k RPM, it lights the tires up pretty easily. It spins from a 2nd gear roll also, but the traction control has a better time keeping up with 2nd gear.

 

[mike8748]

I had the 3.5 ETS TMIC, I sold it.
I researched too before I got my TMIC.
After driving around raised the hood I can tell you mine was not cool to touch.
I also had some problems with the AP and the 3.5 TMIC.
The boost temps got up to 121F.
I would recommend if you do get a TMIC get the 3.25 for better air flow from our hood.
I am thinking the 3.5 sat too high.
The first time I got up on it it slammed in to firewall H-A-R-D!
After installing my Corksport MM inserts I never had another problem at all.

I am now researching and looking to buy a FMIC.

 

[coyfish]

I know the FMIC isnt that hard to install but how long does it take on average? Seems like it could be done in a couple hours. Reasonable considering it took me 5 hours to install my damn SS (thank you cheap bolts).

 

[leo766]

quick story... used to have an 05 mazdaspeed miata...

it had a factory FMIC... that heatsoaked like a mofo even if u drove 70mph all day...

i just think mazda sucks at translating the american word "heatsoak" as being something not bath related... when they see mazdaspeed forums

stock cores from mazda heatsoak... and frankly getting a IC thats too big isnt any better than having one too small... what good is having an IC at all... if it just acts like a dirty air filter and front mounts have the ten miles of piping act as a extra laggy turbo as an additional issue...

application specific... is the name of the game gentlemen...

but ye... i think if mazda put a FMIC on this car... it wouldn't be half the car it is today based
on the hell msmx5 owners dealt with

 

[djthom]

quick story... used to have an 05 mazdaspeed miata...

it had a factory FMIC... that heatsoaked like a mofo even if u drove 70mph all day...

i just think mazda sucks at translating the american word "heatsoak" as being something not bath related... when they see mazdaspeed forums

stock cores from mazda heatsoak... and frankly getting a IC thats too big isnt any better than having one too small... what good is having an IC at all... if it just acts like a dirty air filter and front mounts have the ten miles of piping act as a extra laggy turbo as an additional issue...

application specific... is the name of the game gentlemen...

but ye... i think if mazda put a FMIC on this car... it wouldn't be half the car it is today based
on the hell msmx5 owners dealt with

sorry but have you even driven a speed3? this turbo couldn't lag even if it tried! seriously after a fmic the car still hits @ 3K (can hit at 2.5K if you tune it to)

i agree with you on everything else though!