What are the best mods to make first?

[thecooler1]

What mods should be made first to a new 08 MS3?

[SharkDiver]

1st a rear motor mount 2nd sr or cai intake system and another cheap mod that is a must in my book is aluminum shifter bushing.Some may say to do the intake first but the MM is so cheap most people can get it right away without having to worry about spending much money.

[SharkDiver]

Oh and welcome to the forums..

[ms3jake]

Cobb sri first in my opinion. You dont have to really worry about hydrolock. There is a definate noticable increase in power and sounds really cool. All for $175. I would then get your rear motor mount if your gonna be taking to the track or launching on the street. I would then get a Cpe down pipe(no codes)and aftermarket intercooler.

[kneedragger241]

Motor mount!

[J-Villa]

Why is the motormount so important?

do you need to be running a BPV, intake and some sort of downpipe or exhaust to run chips in the MS3's?

[kneedragger241]

The stock rear motor mount is really soft and allows the engine to torque or flex in such a way that the front wheels start hopping when you try to launch or accelerate hard.
Aside from being annoying, that's just not really good for any of the driveline and suspension parts involved.

After I installed a Street Unit rear mount, the problem is almost non-existent and I can can get rubber shifting into 3rd gear.
I can get on the gas harder and sooner and shifting seems to be improved as well.

[C.A.T.A.P]

IF you want alot of power for a good price the race pipe and down pipe are the best things to do first.

[shockdoctor]

Congrats and welcome!

Most everyone on these boards are so into getting more power out of an already overpowered front drive car that they overlook the best money you could ever spend on any high performance car. Look into high performance driving schools in your area. Get your car on a closed track and have a professional guide you through the basics of car handling dynamics and learn to control what you already have. And, what you have in fact is a very, very fast car already. Learning how to get the most of it will put you at the front of a pack of highly modded, more powerful cars than yours in most situations. Also, being able to take your car to your limits in a safe manner will be far more entertaining than dumping money in ways that will never allow you to explore what it is that this car screams for! Bragging about some doo-dad to some yokel at the gas station is fun for about 31 seconds. All that will do is make you want to do things that will get you into a situation that you are not prepared to handle. This car bone stock will kill you faster than you can say CAI, if you can't back up the checks for mods that you have already written.

On a track day, you'll be able to waste people in 911's, M3's and any Mustangs. The car is that fast if driven properly. I can't stress this enough. It is way too fast for most street applications for drivers with average skills. Putting more power into a car that will at best, liquify $460 worth of front tires in 30 seconds is comical at best. Look around for some of the posts about what people have been able to do at local auto-x's and track days, let alone at the strip.

As for something that you could purchase to be able to attatch it to your new ride, I'd say get the Sirrius radio upgrade. It won't make the car go faster, but being able to listen to baseball, football, Howard Stern or the Playboy channel is something I've learned to need in the car and away from it.

Good luck with the car, and be safe!

[thecooler1]

Thanks for the advise...Most of my WRX buddies keep telling me to get some form of engine management system however they can't guide me in any direction because they are WRX freaks and are kinda pissed I went MS3 (best decision of my life) however, I'm new to the whole manual turbo scene (previous car was a Grand Prix GTP) so any help I can get would be awesome. Anyone have any recommendations on engine management?

[mrlilguy157]

Thanks for the advise...Most of my WRX buddies keep telling me to get some form of engine management system however they can't guide me in any direction because they are WRX freaks and are kinda pissed I went MS3 (best decision of my life) however, I'm new to the whole manual turbo scene (previous car was a Grand Prix GTP) so any help I can get would be awesome. Anyone have any recommendations on engine management?

there aren't any super good options out there at the moment.

I would recommend the only things out there though, a CP-E Standback unit, an Xede EMS, or a Cobb AccessPort (not out yet). Other piggybacks should be a possibility.

[mordant80]

1st thing I did was hardwire in a radar detector, then a boost guage, and tomorrow my cobb sri is supposed to arrive. I can't wait!

[cosic]

I have yet to touch my car but those are the three things I'd get for sure. I've heard to many good things. Just to tell you some prices.

SU Motor Mount - $120
Cobb SRI - $175
TWM Shifter Bushings - $30

From what I've been told, you'll love the car a lot more for about $350 if shipping is good to you. So doable

[mordant80]

I have yet to touch my car but those are the three things I'd get for sure. I've heard to many good things. Just to tell you some prices.

SU Motor Mount - $120
Cobb SRI - $175
TWM Shifter Bushings - $30

From what I've been told, you'll love the car a lot more for about $350 if shipping is good to you. So doable

Nice, I didn't realize the shifter bushing were so cheap. My next mods will be those bushings and I think I'm going to go with the motor mount inserts instead of the real motor mounts. I've heard great things about both but the inserts are around $30 I believe.

[chacon101]

I would get the shifter bushings, corksport mount inserts and the MS CAI.

Shifting will be more crisp, you will not ever have to worry about the warranty by going with MS parts and you'll put more power to the ground without any cabin vibrations with the mm.

[cosic]

I would get the shifter bushings, corksport mount inserts and the MS CAI.

Shifting will be more crisp, you will not ever have to worry about the warranty by going with MS parts and you'll put more power to the ground without any cabin vibrations with the mm.

An SU motor mount would give you cabin vibrations? Is that what you were trying to say?

[SHAGwagn]

I would get the shifter bushings, corksport mount inserts and the MS CAI.

Shifting will be more crisp, you will not ever have to worry about the warranty by going with MS parts and you'll put more power to the ground without any cabin vibrations with the mm.

Best 3 ive seen in my opinion.

YEs that mount will give u more vibrations.

[chacon101]

There have been tons of postings regarding the motor mounts and none except for the MM inserts seem to provide you with any increase in feel without the cabin vibrations. I personally don't like any vibes at all unless they are on my motorcycle so that's why I just ordered my inserts last night :) After that, I will have those three mods I listed :D

[MS3077]

Cai Ftl!

Go with a SRI you wont need to worry about hydro-lock and it's easy to take off for dealership visits

The dealership can void your warranty for a motor mount as well so I wouldn't be so worried about a sri.

To have the MS CAI warrantied you need to have them install it and the final cost is around $500.00!

[chacon101]

whoaaa....$500? Not sure where you did your pricing but that's way off.

I might be able to get somebody a discount on a MS CAI but you have to be around the Philly area or willing to drive a bit. As for labor costs, it's one hour at around $85-90 so I am not sure where you got your $500 price from.

Also, some people don't like to have to throw a wrench at their vehicles in order to get dealer service. To me, it's more of a PIA to have to do stuff like that so I figure get something kosher to start with and leave it alone.

I wonder if the mm inserts void the warranty since it's not swapping anything out, just adding something on.

[MS3077]

whoaaa....$500? Not sure where you did your pricing but that's way off.

I might be able to get somebody a discount on a MS CAI but you have to be around the Philly area or willing to drive a bit. As for labor costs, it's one hour at around $85-90 so I am not sure where you got your $500 price from.

Also, some people don't like to have to throw a wrench at their vehicles in order to get dealer service. To me, it's more of a PIA to have to do stuff like that so I figure get something kosher to start with and leave it alone.

I wonder if the mm inserts void the warranty since it's not swapping anything out, just adding something on.

Any modification whatsoever can void it. $500.00 is the price I got from the Mazda dealership. It's the standard cost. Not worth it at all

I know someone is going to say something about stickers and such. Not talking about cosmetic stuff

[MS3077]

I'd rather throw a wrench at my car than throw down 7k for a new motor due to hydro-lock. That's just me though. Guess it all depands on how you look at it...

MS CAI: $335.00 LABOR: $150.00 TOTAL: $485.00 Plus Tax. So yeah $500.00 is about right

[chacon101]

I have seen the intake for $300 +- and where are you getting a $150 install fee? It's a one hour job. $150 is what, two hours at $75/hr? If you were quoted that, you were getting hosed.

[chacon101]

To the OP, have you decided what your mods are going to be?

[chrischil]

I'm a super noob but what are the shifter bushings, and why are they important? Sorry I've never owned a manual before and I've been on rise forums cause I'm really hoping to buy a MS3 soon!!;)

[cosic]

The DAYYYYY I pay $150 to do a job that takes ME (a retard) less than half an hour to do myself.

[buttdart]

i'm in the same shoes.

i've had my ms3 for 2 weeks now and put nearly 800 miles on it!

thus far i've -

tinted the windows at 20% all around
plastic rear cargo tray
plastic rear bumper guards
received but not installed alcantara shift boot
ordered aluminum shifter bushings
waiting on my 'free' MS cai to be released from dealer
i plan to try the expoxy MM mod, but will end up buying a replacement i'm sure

[Nokkers3]

Get the Corksport inserts. You won't regret it. Even if you do, it's only $35, $45 shipped =P

[buttdart]

Get the Corksport inserts. You won't regret it. Even if you do, it's only $35, $45 shipped =P

you win. just ordered those as well. can't wait for my bushings and inserts to arrive. :D

[nondual]

How difficult is it to install the inserts?

[buttdart]

How difficult is it to install the inserts?

i'm assuming 15 minutes worth of work. jack the car up and thats about it.

i could be wrong??

[TRDMS3]

i'm in the same shoes.

i've had my ms3 for 2 weeks now and put nearly 800 miles on it!

thus far i've -

tinted the windows at 20% all around
plastic rear cargo tray
plastic rear bumper guards
received but not installed alcantara shift boot
ordered aluminum shifter bushings
waiting on my 'free' MS cai to be released from dealer
i plan to try the expoxy MM mod, but will end up buying a replacement i'm sure

Hey dude, aint the cargo tray not available for MS3s??

I wanted to get one but it's an X in the list of accessories.

[MS3077]

I never heard for a cargo tray for a MS3 either.

The one in the regular 3 doesn't fit the MS3

[Zeya]

I never heard for a cargo tray for a MS3 either.

The one in the regular 3 doesn't fit the MS3

Here's a link, hopefully it works for you. If not just go to the mazda usa site, and look for "accessories" in the menus up top...
http://accessories.mazdausa.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=11601&storeId=10051&categoryId=161891&parent_category_rn=161881&yearSelected=2008&modelSelected=SP3&modelName=2008+MAZDASPEED3

[MS3077]

Here's a link, hopefully it works for you. If not just go to the mazda usa site, and look for "accessories" in the menus up top...
http://accessories.mazdausa.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=11601&storeId=10051&categoryId=161891&parent_category_rn=161881&yearSelected=2008&modelSelected=SP3&modelName=2008+MAZDASPEED3


Yeah I already have the cargo "net"

[jcrystal]

I never heard for a cargo tray for a MS3 either.

The one in the regular 3 doesn't fit the MS3

I installed the regular 3 tray in my MS3 over a year ago. Nearly perfect fit (one very slight bulge at one point, which may be true for the regular 3 as well). No complaints.

[jcrystal]

Any recommendations on driving schools, especially ones which teach you in your own car?


Congrats and welcome!

Most everyone on these boards are so into getting more power out of an already overpowered front drive car that they overlook the best money you could ever spend on any high performance car. Look into high performance driving schools in your area. Get your car on a closed track and have a professional guide you through the basics of car handling dynamics and learn to control what you already have. And, what you have in fact is a very, very fast car already. Learning how to get the most of it will put you at the front of a pack of highly modded, more powerful cars than yours in most situations. Also, being able to take your car to your limits in a safe manner will be far more entertaining than dumping money in ways that will never allow you to explore what it is that this car screams for! Bragging about some doo-dad to some yokel at the gas station is fun for about 31 seconds. All that will do is make you want to do things that will get you into a situation that you are not prepared to handle. This car bone stock will kill you faster than you can say CAI, if you can't back up the checks for mods that you have already written.

On a track day, you'll be able to waste people in 911's, M3's and any Mustangs. The car is that fast if driven properly. I can't stress this enough. It is way too fast for most street applications for drivers with average skills. Putting more power into a car that will at best, liquify $460 worth of front tires in 30 seconds is comical at best. Look around for some of the posts about what people have been able to do at local auto-x's and track days, let alone at the strip.

As for something that you could purchase to be able to attatch it to your new ride, I'd say get the Sirrius radio upgrade. It won't make the car go faster, but being able to listen to baseball, football, Howard Stern or the Playboy channel is something I've learned to need in the car and away from it.

Good luck with the car, and be safe!

[buttdart]

Hey dude, aint the cargo tray not available for MS3s??

I wanted to get one but it's an X in the list of accessories.
nope, fits perfect. it just says mazda, not mazdaspeed, but it works!

[mordant80]

Any recommendations on driving schools, especially ones which teach you in your own car?

Ever look on myautoevents.com? Great place to find all kinds of different auto events including driving schools.