MS3 Upgrades... and where to start?

[blue2turbo]

So I am looking to start upgrading the little monster Grocery Getter, but the more I read, there are all kinds of different products people are trying and yielding different results.

I already have my MS CAI waiting for me to install tomorrow, but from there I am not sure which route to go. In my other car, it was boost controller, boost gauge, intake, exhaust, I/C and go until the heavy modding began. But do the MS3's need a boost controller? Is it good to install one on these cars seeing how I am not really looking to raise the factory boost really?

Motor mounts, what of those, everyone is saying the AWR Rear motor mount is great, but what about the Corksport inserts? I made a couple terrible parts choices on my other car and I am paying for it now by replacing them, I am trying to avoid doing the same with this car.

Current plans:
MS CAI
Boost Gauge
Motor Mount? (Which ones)
Exhaust / test pipe (wait for full turbo XS?)
Upgraded TMIC (ETS?)

Is there anything I am missing or anything else I should consider instead? Thanks!

 

[gsrtype1]

i have a ms cia wait till you here the noise........it is cooooool!!!, i want to get a boost gage and a 3inch exhuast next. We have a good exhuast though i went to ripleys and they said i have 21/2inch manderal bend(expensive) stainless steel pipeing with 2 cats and 3 resinators but no real mufflers. the guy said he had never seen such a good system on a stock car and he would leave it alone!, but still 3inch manderal bend would be better but its $729 from mazda or $650 from cpe, anyway goodluck with your car

 

[justa4banger]

Exhasut from what i have read isn't one of those upgrades that give these cars great power gains. the factory stuff is VERY free flowing for what it is. Now maybe a DP or racepipe(remove cat) might changes a bit, but......... i don;t see it as necessary

 

[M3_Zoom]

Exhasut from what i have read isn't one of those upgrades that give these cars great power gains. the factory stuff is VERY free flowing for what it is. Now maybe a DP or racepipe(remove cat) might changes a bit, but......... i don;t see it as necessary

Right On! On an average the quality cat-back exhausts out there will only produce 4 - 7 HP tops, and that's with other mods to compliment it in order to receive that small gain! As you said, there may be more to be had with a DP, but as of right now the primary (1st) CAT must remain in place because if you remove both, you will through a CEL. The second CAT can be removed without throughing a CEL, but I'm not even so sure that's worth it. The race pipe by TurboXS elimitates the 2nd CAT and also appears to be a nice piece, but they claim 22HP and 30ft/lbs of torque WITH a CAI, Bypass valve and the race-pipe. There are posted dyno's with 25HP & 25+ft/lbs of torque with just the Mazdaspeed CAI. So is it worth it? hmmm

Back to the cat-back, I'm staying with the factory exhaust. It's very free flowing and until I see a one for one swap of the exhaust only with dyno'd results, the money can go towards other products. If you must have a different sound well, Mazdaspeed is yet to release the MS3 exhaust but as of now the Mazdaspeed and the Corksport exhaust seem to be the lesser priced ones.

 

[ill_eagle94]

Right On! On an average the quality cat-back exhausts out there will only produce 4 - 7 HP tops, and that's with other mods to compliment it in order to receive that small gain! As you said, there may be more to be had with a DP, but as of right now the primary (1st) CAT must remain in place because if you remove both, you will through a CEL. The second CAT can be removed without throughing a CEL, but I'm not even so sure that's worth it. The race pipe by TurboXS elimitates the 2nd CAT and also appears to be a nice piece, but they claim 22HP and 30ft/lbs of torque WITH a CAI, Bypass valve and the race-pipe. There are posted dyno's with 25HP & 25+ft/lbs of torque with just the Mazdaspeed CAI. So is it worth it? hmmm

Back to the cat-back, I'm staying with the factory exhaust. It's very free flowing and until I see a one for one swap of the exhaust only with dyno'd results, the money can go towards other products. If you must have a different sound well, Mazdaspeed is yet to release the MS3 exhaust but as of now, that and the Corksport exhaust seem to be the lesser priced ones.

Has anyone tried a catless downpipe with a mechanical O2 simulator (spark plug non-fouler)?

 

[M3_Zoom]

Has anyone tried a catless downpipe with a mechanical O2 simulator (spark plug non-fouler)?

As of now, I don't think anyone has posted if they have. I was reading a different post last night and someone was talking about doing it but that's about it.

 

[dcomiskey]

As I always say, upgrade the DRIVER first. Most people with this kind of power don't know how to handle it properly and just go for more. Spend the money on some HPDEs (high perf driving events) and learn to handle the car better. Not ragging, just suggesting. Enjoy.
http://www.scda1.com
http://www.tracquest.com
http://www.pdadrivingschool.com

 

[blue2turbo]

As I always say, upgrade the DRIVER first. Most people with this kind of power don't know how to handle it properly and just go for more. Spend the money on some HPDEs (high perf driving events) and learn to handle the car better. Not ragging, just suggesting. Enjoy.
http://www.scda1.com
http://www.tracquest.com
http://www.pdadrivingschool.com

No offense taken, I am fully capable of handling the power this car has, I have a 300+whp MR2 as a second car, the FWD of the Mazda is the only thing I need to get used to. As for Track events, I watch a 2 year old on the weekends while his mother works during the day, so making it to track events is very difficult. I am also not one of these "red light racers," I don't go out looking to race everyone I line up with, more often then not, I just laugh when someone pulls up next to me, starts revving their Honda and takes off at WOT from the stop light. I do however love to go out for some spirited drives every now and then.

As of now, my current plans, I have installed the MS CAI and I love it, and this week I am ordering my boost gauge and a pair of Corksport Motor Mount inserts. After that, I will probably do Window Tint all around, TWM Shifter bushings (Shortshifter if they have one out by then) and that's it for awhile. I was also reading up about the exhausts and I am fully aware that I am not really going to get any benefits until I start to remove the cats, and I am not really interested in rigging up a different O2 sensor in the primary cat... so an exhaust will wait until a dyno proven product, with the primary cat issue resolved, is released. I definitely research every product I buy now as my MR2 was my first heavy project and it has put a couple dents in my pocket replacing crappy products and such. So I guess my list should be:

MS CAI (Installed)
Boost Gauge
Corksport Motor Mount Inserts
TWM Shifter bushings
Window Tint
Suspension (IF I decide to make changes, probably MS Lowering Springs)