noob alert

[Vindikacione]

Nah- Not postal, just a preemptive haiku-like strike against would-be smacktalkers. Looks like it worked, for now...

Like 4th Meal said- Get the best for your car. Given your traffic conditions, get a CAI. Mazdaspeed CAI is worth looking into due to the warranty. But, as many have said, -aftermarket intakes don't mess w/ your warranty. Don't know how true that is, but maybe a smart, all-knowing person will chime in.

 

[Powerslave]

if i was you i would go with cp-e intake i went witht the mazdaspeed intake, i get really bad boost spike from the mazdaspeed version. cp-e has a seperate engineered maf houseing so you get much less boost spike and more drivability

 

[Sacrilicious]

oh, and the main reason i got the SRI is simply because it was easiest to install and maintain. you can't really beat having the filter right there in your face when you pop the hood...^^;

 

[Vindikacione]

if i was you i would go with cp-e intake i went witht the mazdaspeed intake, i get really bad boost spike from the mazdaspeed version. cp-e has a seperate engineered maf houseing so you get much less boost spike and more drivability

Not doubting your statement- but how does MAF readings cause boost spike? Boost spike sounds bad, so I'd like to what can cause it. I'm sure the new guy might want to know too. Thx.

Exchanged the word "wisdom" with "statement." In the previous context Redspeed was insulted. I sincerely apologize if you were insulted as well. I will attempt to tread more carefully when making my comments. There are a few very sensitive people that utilize this medium.

 

[redspeed]

Nah- Not postal, just a preemptive haiku-like strike against would-be smacktalkers. Looks like it worked, for now...

Fans, Smarter than anyone else, Smacktalkers, not doubting you "wisdom". What is your deal man! Do you really think that everybody has to agree with you?

The cai is gona be the best option for performance. It is sucking outside air, all the time. The sri is almost directly behind the radiator. When your car is hot and you open the hood, ever feel that rush of hot air? That is what the sri is sucking most of the time. Granted, when you get to certain speed, it is probably more efficient.

 

[Vindikacione]

Hook, line, and sinker. That didn't take long...

Thx TR for responding. You're a great and diligent gentleman. Have a nice day. I wish you and your family the best. Be safe. No need to agree with me though, probably not worth your time. eh?

And PS, it was a serious question. I'd really like to know about boost spike.

 

[chaos4]

I'm trying to read as much as possible about the air intakes for this car because it seems like easy power. I have to say, I don't like the fact that the mazdaspeed cold air system has a bigger mass air housing. down the road, incorrect mass air readings are going to hurt the tuning process I think. the upstream o2 sensor and the maf sensor work together to calculate a mixture of fuel and air. creating an incorrect reading by increasing the housing diameter for one of these sensors just seems like a bad thing. any comments?

Works fine for me. Mazda engineered them to run together.

 

[redspeed]

Hook, line, and sinker. That didn't take long...

Thx TR for responding. You're a great and diligent gentleman. Have a nice day. I wish you and your family the best. Be safe. No need to agree with me though, probably not worth your time. eh?

And PS, it was a serious question. I'd really like to know about boost spike.

No, Thank YOU! (laugh)

 

[Vindikacione]

yeah I was thinking about the shifter bushings... did they make a big difference? QUOTE]

Enormous difference, worth every penny. But go with the entire shifter! Install is easier than it looks, just be careful with dropping screws between carpet and floor panel. Might want to have a magnet stick handy just in case. And it wouldn't hurt to apply some locktite to the bushing bolts. TWM gives you a discount if your military! Canadians rule.

 

[sleeper3]

I've done a short throw shifter on a fwd before... it's pretty straight forward... I was a tech at a land rover dealer, so I know how to spin a wrench. I loved the short throw, but on this car, the shifter feels really nice stock. I think I'll leave it that way for now. but thanks for the input, I think I'll go ahead and get the complete shifter when I do it... I'll get the bushings too.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the cpe now... I'm thinking about going with their engine management too. group buys ftw!

 

[flipstylex]

i got a ms3 sport so my first mods were..... as listed on my sig

i'm still debating wether to put cai and downpipe....wife don't like the car too loud ...

getting a shortshifter soon...or maybe bushings

 

[Vindikacione]

i got a ms3 sport so my first mods were..... as listed on my sig

i'm still debating wether to put cai and downpipe....wife don't like the car too loud ...

getting a shortshifter soon...or maybe bushings

My wife had the same problem with my Honda, when I put my Magnaflow CBE in. She refused to ride in it, so I got her some earplugs...

With that said, I didn't remove the stock exhaust until the road salt ate big holes in it (8 years later). I figured I'd get my money worth out of the stock system.

MS3's exhaust ain't terrible, has a hard time breathing for some, and CEL lights for others. I'd leave it alone alone unless you plan on racing at the track every weekend (at least until it rusts through). If its a daily driver like the 75-85% of the other folks on this forum, then I'd recommend you go with CAI and STS w/ bushings. Of course you're talking about CAIs & downpipes and not CBEs so I'm probably way off base. But I'm generalizing your sound issues and your wife's sensitivity to them. ...the downpipe won't be enough, you'll then have to get a test pipe, remove a Cat and/or resonator, and eventually pony up for a CBE. The Mod Bug sucks to have sometime...

Oh, the STS w/ bushing mod can be a family event. Your wife can actually help you install it. Of course the TWM instructions don't say it, but for her to help, she would have to be in the Driver's seat, while you do most of the work in the Passenger's seat. Alright, enough said. I'll go get more coffee now.

 

[sleeper3]

I love coffee <3

so I was reading some more, and it seems that the air intake is going to make wayyyyyy more horsepower than a cat back system. plus, when coming to a light in second gear, the car is just loud anyway. I'm sure you guys have noticed that. I'm not worrying about the exhaust until I think it's creating a bottle neck in the flow. obviously, getting rid of the cats will make a difference but I'm not ready to do that yet. I'm thinking cold air, bigger intercooler and a piggy back computer system will keep me happy for a good while. all of that should put me just under 300 ponies to the ground I am thinking and maybe a hair over 300 tq to the ground. and of course, nothing will be noticable from the outside, thus sticking to the sleeper theme. (i love it)

we'll see.

 

[sleeper3]

oh yeah and when I got in the car to go to work today, there was a silver ms3 sport parked next to me. I think they're dating... or reproducing asexually.

 

[BluMicaR]

oh yeah and when I got in the car to go to work today, there was a silver ms3 sport parked next to me. I think they're dating... or reproducing asexually.

Gawd I wish mine would asexually reproduce lol, I'd have twice as much fun, like dating twins!

 

[sleeper3]

Gawd I wish mine would asexually reproduce lol, I'd have twice as much fun, like dating twins!



I've done that too

 

[chufa]

I just did my first mod! Velcro for the iPod!! Weeee!!!

 

[Aaron2112]

If you get a CAI or a SRI wrap it in insualting cloth that will pretty much kill the heat issue(which at this point the CAI is better), Also if you can wrap the headers in the same stuff it totally kills the heat inside the engine bay, I have a friend with a TC thats supercharged and his headers are wraped tehy stay cool enough after driving for an hour to not get burnt by placing your hand on the pipe. Doing these things will help this car a lot since it is a top mount intercooler.

 

[sleeper3]

congrats on the velcro ipod thingy!!!

yeah I keep reading threads about people whose intercoolers stay "ice cold"... wtf man after I drive, the stock one is like a jillion degrees. are these people full of crap or are they doing something different? I mean, the insulated manifold thing might help a teeny bit, but the intercooler is pretty well shielded from engine bay heat. there is heat shielding and ducting going all over the place in there. not sure, anyway, 150 miles on the OD today!!! 10% of the way through my break in. I can't wait to romp on her.

 

[redspeed]

but the intercooler is pretty well shielded from engine bay heat. there is heat shielding and ducting going all over the place in there.

No, the intercooler is not shielded from engine heat. The plastic cover on top is to seal the ram air ducts against the IC. There is nothing under the IC to stop the heat.