TMIC or FMIC

[MicaSp33d]

I know this was probably talked about before, but i just wanted to get some new opinions since both been out for some time now.

TMIC prices dropped a good price from what it was before and now i'm considering ETS 3.5 TMIC.

But the stock IC heatsoaks pretty bad sometimes that it makes me want to go with a FMIC I'm stuck between the two... IF i go TMIC i can probably get one soon. FMIC i might have to wait to save some money.

How good is the ETS 3.5 TMIC compared to the other FMIC on the market?

 

[oaklandopen]

this is just my opinion on the top mount front mount subject:

top mount was they way this engine/vehicle was designed so i would stay with a top mount. if you move the intercooler to the front you're subjecting it to more damage from debris, as well as reducing the air flow to the radiator and the condenser.

but that's just my opinion, im sure there are many others who will say differently. truth is there are many other threads on the subject and a lot of stuff has already been said before

 

[mrjoshyman]

if ur concerned about both heat soak & money...go with the exhaust depot FMIC -- I believe its the cheapest one around and I have yet to hear negative comments about it.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I'm probably going to go with the ETS 3.5. I do mostly highway driving with some backroads, but very little stop and go, so heatsoak won't be as much of an issue as it will for others. I'm not crazy about having to install a FMIC either and of course with Mazda dealers being as "cooperative" as they are with mods, I'd rather have something I can remove easily.

 

[djthom]

I'm probably going to go with the ETS 3.5. I do mostly highway driving with some backroads, but very little stop and go, so heatsoak won't be as much of an issue as it will for others. I'm not crazy about having to install a FMIC either and of course with Mazda dealers being as "cooperative" as they are with mods, I'd rather have something I can remove easily.

keep in mind that on busy days at the track you will get heat soak sitting in line waiting your turn...

 

[lestat13]

I used to think that tmic was the way to go between price, easy of install/uninstall, and performance.

Fast forward.

I am so sick of heat soak killing my power!! FMIC kits are now under $1,000 and TMICs can cost $600+ (TRZ on the horrizon) and just don't offer the same performance gains or the reliability of boosting on FMIC which is consistently cooler, TMIC will keep heating up and cooling off when moving and stopping. I've already gone downpipe so the dealer and I don't talk anymore, so dealer visits are not an issue. Besides, the FMIC install is not difficult, it's just time consuming. If you can remove your bumper and install and intake, you are good to go.

As much as I say this, cash is uber tight right now and with the weather cooling off, I will probably wait until the spring for my FMIC even though I wish I could slap one on now.

 

[tomcranems3]

Ive been debating this same subject...

here is the real question .. WHAT IS THE BEST FMIC ? ... Ive read alot about the corksport one ... and they seem to get good reviews ... is there a better one ? .. if so what is it

 

[FrequentFlyer]

keep in mind that on busy days at the track you will get heat soak sitting in line waiting your turn...

In theory, yes, but I don't track this car.

 

[mrjoshyman]

Cobb seemed to do extensive testing on their unit, and they have a pretty good rep for the quality of their products. With the corksport you have to keep in mind that it has an air ram intake as part of the system, so if you currently have a SRI or CAI, you will have to scrap that.

Exhaust Depot makes a FMIC for about $200 cheaper than Cobb & the likes, which actually uses less tubing which should mean lag is minimized. I will personally be getting an Exahust Depot FMIC, simply b/c I don't think that any additional performance (its unclear if there would be) from the Cobb or similar units would be not worth the extra $200. Exhaust Depot is new to the MS3 community, although they have a great track record with the SRT-4s.

 

[essejkcamraw]

Cobb seemed to do extensive testing on their unit, and they have a pretty good rep for the quality of their products. With the corksport you have to keep in mind that it has an air ram intake as part of the system, so if you currently have a SRI or CAI, you will have to scrap that.

Exhaust Depot makes a FMIC for about $200 cheaper than Cobb & the likes, which actually uses less tubing which should mean lag is minimized. I will personally be getting an Exahust Depot FMIC, simply b/c I don't think that any additional performance (its unclear if there would be) from the Cobb or similar units would be not worth the extra $200. Exhaust Depot is new to the MS3 community, although they have a great track record with the SRT-4s.

what he said.

 

[MicaSp33d]

if ur concerned about both heat soak & money...go with the exhaust depot FMIC -- I believe its the cheapest one around and I have yet to hear negative comments about it.

i think i might go with this one .. or if i save a little more money i might get the cobb ...

so far i am very please with the quality of cobb's other parts but the exhaust depot one is a great price.

 

[wisniaPl]

trz is coming with new tmic, you will can plug in co2 sprayer

 

[lestat13]

I would rather spend the extra $200 and go with something by Cobb.... I have seen the quality of their products and trust what they put out. Also they claim close to if not zero pressure loss.

As for the trz... if you already have a kit and a bottle hooked up, why spray with co2 when you can spray with nitrous for a better freeze??

 

[meha11]

just wanted to resurrect this discussion now i have first hand experience with both.

TMIC (ets 3.5”)
+ Cheap,
+ Easy to install/remove
+ Held 18psi all day long with CAI & TBE
+ Not prone to accidental damage as it is protected by the hood.
- Allegedly suffers from heat soak but I never had an issue living in Texas.
- Not the best looking part with regards to workmanship.
- Can not or at least last time I checked could not download compatible map from Cobb to use with AP
+/- Can not tell it is installed looking at vehicle~ sleeper look (personal preference)

FMIC (CP-e)
+ Allegedly no heat soak issues
+ Very well made product with great support from manufacture
+ Can download compatible map from Cobb to use with AP
- Much more expensive
- More effort required to install
- Boost pressure back at 16psi with SRI and TBE
- Prone to accidental damage as it is located at the very front of the car
+/- Looks good at front of car (personal preference)

Not sure what to make of the boost pressures as to whether they are good or bad, the turbo defiantly has to work more with the FMIC but I guess 16psi is safer that 18psi but of course the car was faster with the TMIC on.

Now that the FMIC is on it is not coming off, overall I am happy with it but I may keep the TMIC as well just incase I change my mind. If I were to do this again it would be TMIC every time.

 

[lestat13]

Whoa whoa whoa whoa..... since when does a FMIC keep you at factory boost levels? I took off my tmic cause I was overboosting horribly and my wastegate couldn't keep up. So I can run a FMIC and maybe not overboost????

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Not sure why your were overboosting from the topmount. I don't appear to be spiking any more than I did with just an SRI (around 19) and I hold about 16 with the mods below. Are you sure your downpipe/race pipe weren't the culprits?

I went with the ETS 3.5 because it was cheaper, easier to install, gave pretty good performance gains and easy to remove if I gotta go for warranty work. I have this thing off and the OE TMIC back on in probably 15-20 minutes. My only complaint is that the heat shield does smack the plastic on above the firewall if I get some wheel hop, but I haven't had the time to grind some metal off the shield. My fix, for now, is to try not to get wheel hop.

 

[scatt nasty]

he was overboosting not because of the top mount directly, but because hes running a catless downpipe with the stock flash. The tmic and breathing mods just amp'd it. I had ETS TMIC/cpe CAI/Inlet pipe and everything was fine. THE SECOND I installed my CS Catless DP I was ******* overboosting and cutting on the damned test drive... So I bought the Cobb AP and everything was ok, boost cut was at a minimum but I could only run exhaust maps because of my intake. So then I bought the Cobb SRI and am slowly rearranging my mods to the AP. I have the mazda3mods GB FMIC on order, but am currently running my mods listed below with the TMIC 103 beta map and everything is beautiful. I still get cut on the really cold cold mornings but AFR's are good, and I only get .3 KR.

 

[CWPspeed3]

I've heard some negative things about the build quality of the ETS, anyone have any comments about this? Also is there a noticeable difference between the 3.25" and 3.5" in performance or cooling capability?

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I've heard some negative things about the build quality of the ETS, anyone have any comments about this? Also is there a noticeable difference between the 3.25" and 3.5" in performance or cooling capability?

Not sure if they had quality control issues in the past, but mine seems well made. Welds are clean and it fits perfectly. I am abit disappointed in the heat shield since this seems to have been an issue for some time now and it doesn't seem like they've done anything about.

 

[Rotus8]

I've heard some negative things about the build quality of the ETS, anyone have any comments about this? Also is there a noticeable difference between the 3.25" and 3.5" in performance or cooling capability?

The quality of my 3.25" core seems fine The plate is another matter. After I trimmed the plate so it wouldn't bang on the firewall that is OK. I also added threaded inserts for the plate mounting so the plate is easier to remove without a bunch of fiddly nuts from the bottom. Finally, I added some rubber sealing strips between the plate and the core to reduce the amount of cooling air that leaks through the cracks.