Silver Ecstasy
Member
- :
- 11 MS3 Sport
Yeah, mine does. It's outlined in the instructions. However, the coupler seems to be able to be turned anyhow so that the notches still line up and the blades sit parrallel with the MAF. So, no biggie really.
Mazdaspeed 3 CAI ?
- Thread starter parkerfe
- Start date
I assume the subject of which intake is the "best" overall has been beat to death in some/several parts of this forum that I'm not terribly interesting in spending an hour fighting through all the arguing and back and forth.
You were clearly patient enough to wait for this and likely did your homework. If you don't mind me asking...
Why did you want the MS CAI over the AEM if the AEM has a dyno proven 28+?
Warranty vs. non-warranty?
Do you plan on doing autocross and taking it out for competition in stock and/or visits to your dealer?
Is one easier to install/remove than the other for this type of swapping?
thanks,
Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
I liked the MSCAI intake because of the splash-shield over the dryflow filter. AEM's does not have a splash shield and it's also a larger filter taking up almost the entire area in the bumper.
Performance is the same, but granted with it being labeled mazdaspeed, dealers will be less willing to frown on my mod rather than being unfamiliar with the aftermarket name or mod and gladly voiding my warranty repairs in the future. Not that i'm in some kind of immunity, but it helps atleast to a degree.
I do not plan on autocrossing, but I DO plan on taking it to the dealer with the intake on. I've already cleared it with my service write-ups and service manager. They were willing to warranty even with aftermarket but said it was cool with them either way. I show my face consistently in there, and I get my oil changes and alignment done so I still provide good business to them so we like to keep it on a even keel.
Performance is the same, but granted with it being labeled mazdaspeed, dealers will be less willing to frown on my mod rather than being unfamiliar with the aftermarket name or mod and gladly voiding my warranty repairs in the future. Not that i'm in some kind of immunity, but it helps atleast to a degree.
I do not plan on autocrossing, but I DO plan on taking it to the dealer with the intake on. I've already cleared it with my service write-ups and service manager. They were willing to warranty even with aftermarket but said it was cool with them either way. I show my face consistently in there, and I get my oil changes and alignment done so I still provide good business to them so we like to keep it on a even keel.
Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
No problem! (Puts flame suit on..)
I wrote this up too to clarify the benefits/differences of warranty and what it actually means for your warranty when you have an MS accessory.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123730041
I wrote this up too to clarify the benefits/differences of warranty and what it actually means for your warranty when you have an MS accessory.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123730041
Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
Nope. Unless you work a deal with your parts/service manager or something to that degree. Compass Mazda in Middletown NY sold a MSCAI to a member on here for $335.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4261471&postcount=35
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4261471&postcount=35
I say no...especially if your car breaks down. In that event, you would have to have it towed home first, remove the CAI and reinstall the stock airbox and then have it towed to the dealer. Why not just get the MazdaSpeed CAI?
guy_incognito
Member
- :
- SS MS3 GT
Don't think they have it available yet, but a lot of us were able to get the MS-CAI for $300 shipped from Showcase Mazda in Arizona (before it was discontinued).
The new intake is out. It is the same part number as the old one. I still have the old intake and am trying to find out what mazda is going to do for me. I don't think that i should have to purchase the new one since the old one is defective, at least they could give me the air straightner.......
Buying from the dealer is going to be spendy, i got mine for about $200, i had a family member working for mazda at the time so i got the discount.
Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
Your intake isn't defective. It just needs the air straightener. Its only $7 from jscspeed.
I know I'm pretty cheap (had my wipers replaced under warranty) but just get the straightener or if you haven't had any problems, leave it alone really.
I know I'm pretty cheap (had my wipers replaced under warranty) but just get the straightener or if you haven't had any problems, leave it alone really.
Silver Ecstasy
Member
- :
- 11 MS3 Sport
I gotta give ya a huge thanks Outkast for referencing to your dealership Compass Mazda. If Carl hadn't helped me over the phone as much as he did, we'd still be waiting for my dealership to get off their ass and do their job!!! The conversation was priceless:
MI Mazda: "The MSCAI is still discontinued, I was just researching this for a customer of one of my salespeople."
Me: "Yes, I know. I was that customer."
MI Mazda: "Says it's still under inspection."
Me: "I just spoke with a dealership in NY and they let me know that Olive Branch has 70 units available and the units are available for order."
MI Mazda: "Well, i'm not saying you're wrong, but how do you know that's right?"
Me: "Could you just please look?"
MI Mazda: "Well i'll be damned..there they are. *tone totally changes* WELL! We can definitely have it ordered and it'll be here by the end of the week!"
I gave them a lot of s*** for that. They were about to lose a sale due to arrogance and ignorance. They should have gave me an even better deal than they did. Anyhow, i'm a happy MSCAI owner...but now comes the agonizing part. Staring at this box in my living room until the weather warms up. Lord have mercy!
MI Mazda: "The MSCAI is still discontinued, I was just researching this for a customer of one of my salespeople."
Me: "Yes, I know. I was that customer."
MI Mazda: "Says it's still under inspection."
Me: "I just spoke with a dealership in NY and they let me know that Olive Branch has 70 units available and the units are available for order."
MI Mazda: "Well, i'm not saying you're wrong, but how do you know that's right?"
Me: "Could you just please look?"
MI Mazda: "Well i'll be damned..there they are. *tone totally changes* WELL! We can definitely have it ordered and it'll be here by the end of the week!"
I gave them a lot of s*** for that. They were about to lose a sale due to arrogance and ignorance. They should have gave me an even better deal than they did. Anyhow, i'm a happy MSCAI owner...but now comes the agonizing part. Staring at this box in my living room until the weather warms up. Lord have mercy!
kneedragger241
Member
If there's a market (or "need") for a particular product, they'll make it. When there isn't a need, companies can create the need. I'll speculate that riceboys get free SRI's from companies for posting horror stories about hydrolock on the interweb forums.
Many unnecessary products are very successful by creating a need.
Can anyone say Head On?
The proof that it's revised: Air straightener and instructions!
I noticed there is a small notch on the air straigthener and according to the instructions, it's there to appropriately line up the straightener:
I am a little intrigued by this alignment/orientation of the straightener as well.
I followed the instructions on JSC's website regarding the installation of the AEM straightener and I have to say that aligning the fins parallel to the MAF sensor seems to make more sense than the 45 degree angle orientation spec'd by Mazdaspeed.
Hmmmmm.
I'm not an AE, but my guess would be that the 45 angle shown in your last picture is to benefit the air flow into the first bend of the pipe pictured. It is aligned with the axis on which the bend occurs from the straight section...
Not sure what that does other than prevent eddies from creating too much turbulence into the first bend in the direction most parallel to the axis on which the first bend is made.
some searches on google for "turbulence of an air straightener" revealed some interesting results that suggest this might be correct - the applications of the use of straighteners in the links suggest they could be used with similar results here.
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5606622/description.html
http://www.hovercraft.org.uk/downloads/files/block_0/stators.pdf
The MAF will likely benefit from seeing a more laminar flow behind the straightener and give more accurate readings on average.
just guessing, though...
Silver Ecstasy
Member
- :
- 11 MS3 Sport
I guess the problem at this point is, we're back to square one: Speculation. And with so many other aftermarket intakes out there doing it a certain way with no issues, it's hard to justify the instructions for what they are.
Especially if, those instructions could just be messed up because the person putting it together could also twist the coupler to make the pieces still line up as the instructions ask, and still have the fins be parallel to the MAF. Either way, i'm almost debating on calling MS but I doubt they'd help either.
Especially if, those instructions could just be messed up because the person putting it together could also twist the coupler to make the pieces still line up as the instructions ask, and still have the fins be parallel to the MAF. Either way, i'm almost debating on calling MS but I doubt they'd help either.
for further confirmation that the new CAI is available, the website is back up. I'm gonna try to order mine tomorrow.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/spe...soryId=55&carLineCode=MZ3&startModelYear=2004
It had been down for the past few weeks.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/spe...soryId=55&carLineCode=MZ3&startModelYear=2004
It had been down for the past few weeks.
kneedragger241
Member
That's a pretty sound guess.
I installed my straightener about two months ago when it started getting cold, and I used the AEM orientation; parallel to the MAF.
My CEL went away and hasn't returned.
On a side note, the CEL might have had nothing to do with my CAI. During a pit stop before my straightener arrived, I realized my wife had not clicked the gas cap shut after she filled the tank.
What is CEL?
