[awdturbo]

Wanted to share my experience.

INSTALL:

Everything was straight forward except that air deflector. I broke the bottom plastic prong with the metal washer that held it in... :lol:. The bolt behind the headlight was a weird location, and that damn plastic fastener got the best of me. I had a friend of mine whose house I did the install it tackle it..5 secs and it was out. :x

I reused the stock bolts for the MAF sensor mounting to the intake because I didn't have any hex head wrenches at the time. Stock bolts worked fine.

**Big observation**
My CAI at the filter end didn't really clear the frame as much as I'd like so when I first started the car it hit the frame a bit. I drove around the block and could hear it when I shifter so I took it back to my friend's garage. We push the CAI as far as we could towards the firewall and retightened the nut/bolt with rubber grommet that took the place of the stock fuel pump ballast. No more noises.
**End Big observation**

Anyway, I kinda bent my subframe beneath the car just a bit. It looks like a jack point but ended up getting a lil dented when I jacked up the car. Ended up using the out most jack point and left the car on the jack with a backup jack stand beside it. Didn't have enough room to mount the jack. I don't recommend doing it but wth... :shock:. I had a heck of a time figuring out jack points so I said fuccit after I dented that small part and just left it on the jack. I'm still irk'd that I have a small blemish on the bottom of the car. :?

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS:

I've never really seen the DSC light go off like it did when I first got on it. It just got done raining so I was a bit pff'd. Let the car warm up and I hit it in 2nd gear..CRAZY wheel hop. :lol: Power comes on a bit slower it seems, but delivers very hard. The intake noise is LOUD, I can actually hear spool up as well as the BOV go off. It's a big difference from the almost mute pre-MS CAI car.

LOVE how this makes the car feel. For the street, I'm very happy. The MS Catback exhaust will put it over the top. I don't think I'll need much of anything else because 300hp @ the wheels is fine for everyday driving. :klavergreg:

Hope this helps someone.

 

[dp3]

[quote author=awdturbo link=topic=70970.msg1245854#msg1245854 date=1172900223]
Wanted to share my experience.

INSTALL:

Everything was straight forward except that air deflector. I broke the bottom plastic prong with the metal washer that held it in... :lol:. The bolt behind the headlight was a weird location, and that damn plastic fastener got the best of me. I had a friend of mine whose house I did the install it tackle it..5 secs and it was out. :x

I reused the stock bolts for the MAF sensor mounting to the intake because I didn't have any hex head wrenches at the time. Stock bolts worked fine.

**Big observation**
My CAI at the filter end didn't really clear the frame as much as I'd like so when I first started the car it hit the frame a bit. I drove around the block and could hear it when I shifter so I took it back to my friend's garage. We push the CAI as far as we could towards the firewall and retightened the nut/bolt with rubber grommet that took the place of the stock fuel pump ballast. No more noises.
**End Big observation**

Anyway, I kinda bent my subframe beneath the car just a bit. It looks like a jack point but ended up getting a lil dented when I jacked up the car. Ended up using the out most jack point and left the car on the jack with a backup jack stand beside it. Didn't have enough room to mount the jack. I don't recommend doing it but wth... :shock:. I had a heck of a time figuring out jack points so I said fuccit after I dented that small part and just left it on the jack. I'm still irk'd that I have a small blemish on the bottom of the car. :?

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS:

I've never really seen the DSC light go off like it did when I first got on it. It just got done raining so I was a bit pff'd. Let the car warm up and I hit it in 2nd gear..CRAZY wheel hop. :lol: Power comes on a bit slower it seems, but delivers very hard. The intake noise is LOUD, I can actually hear spool up as well as the BOV go off. It's a big difference from the almost mute pre-MS CAI car.

LOVE how this makes the car feel. For the street, I'm very happy. The MS Catback exhaust will put it over the top. I don't think I'll need much of anything else because 300hp @ the wheels is fine for everyday driving. :klavergreg:

Hope this helps someone.
[/quote]

I had similar driving impressions. I have the awr rear engine mount which went on at the same time. Almost zero wheel hop. You may want to put one on.

 

[tvissues]

no kidding, according to some the dyno charts, an intake and tbe should put this baby at or around 300 hp.  With that said, she should be able to beat a STOCK STI from a roll!  :lol: (given that they make 293 hp and weight approx. 3351lbs.)

 

[dp3]

[quote author=tvissues link=topic=70970.msg1245970#msg1245970 date=1172907763]
no kidding, according to some the dyno charts, an intake and tbe should put this baby at or around 300 whp. With that said, she should be able to beat a STOCK STI from a roll! :lol: (given that they make 293 hp and weight approx. 3351lbs.)
[/quote]

Sounds like a good point to add some sticky rubber eh? Yeesh what a surprise this car is proving to be as we all start to get into it! :klavergreg:

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

few notes about your impresssions...

-the plastic nub that is held on by the metal washer type peice breaks on almost all of us, mine went flying across the garage, if you reinstall the deflector plate at some point, just use a small machine screw with some flat washers and a nut and go through the spot where the plastic nub was (may need to drill a hole, some may already have a hole there now :lol: )

-the cai does indeed come super close to the lower frame due to the splash shield. I noticed it as soon as I started tightening the hose clamps, so its definately best to slide the cai all the way back on the isolation mount. It basically will only side back so far because eventually the splash sheild ends up touching the fender liner (assuming you have the fender liner pushed all the way forward to gain maximum wheel well area).

-I think now that you have the cai, the test pipe is even more of a benefit. If you have the cabbage, its a great additional mod (at the expense of some noise). When I removed the 2nd cat you can look down it and see just how restrictive it is, it is far from a high flow cat, or maybe it is, but it sure doesnt look it!

-wheel hop will be a factor no matter what the weather, to get rid of that, you really need a rear mount upgrade or to be more gentle on the throtle

so, are you really sure you are done modding? I see a mid pipe and rear mount in your future.

 

[awdturbo]

Heheh....I'm awaiting to hear reviews on the 62 Duro rear mount. I had all prothane mounts on my old eclipse and it shook really badly. I'm trying to keep the interior noise gremlins at bay with this car. If the 62 duro turns out to be good, another hit on the ol' trusty Credit Card.

A mid pipe is still not out of the question. I'll know for sure though when I get my MS CBE purchased and installed.

The biggest thing that bugs me is that small dent I made in the undercarriage...grrrrr.

Driving tonight with the CAI is great. I have to in fact not push the throttle because it picks up quite faster than before. Incredible gains for the money and worth every penny .

 

[MS3 Hot Hatch]

[quote author=awdturbo link=topic=70970.msg1245854#msg1245854 date=1172900223]
I reused the stock bolts for the MAF sensor mounting to the intake because I didn't have any hex head wrenches at the time. Stock bolts worked fine.

[/quote]

I left the stock bolts for the MAF sensor mounting because I could not find a 3.5 mm at Lowes or Sears close to work yesterday. However, I went to Sears this morning close to my house and got one 9/64" that did just find for $0.97. I had to get oil for my mower anyway. The stock bolt "seems" to do just fine but I always want what is suppose to be. It's just the way that I am.

 

[Boost Addict]

[quote author=tvissues link=topic=70970.msg1245970#msg1245970 date=1172907763]
no kidding, according to some the dyno charts, an intake and tbe should put this baby at or around 300 whp. With that said, she should be able to beat a STOCK STI from a roll! :lol: (given that they make 293 hp and weight approx. 3351lbs.)
[/quote]

Actually in highway runs, you should have no problem with an STI stock for stock. Its almost a drivers race with more bias for the MS3

With CAI and CBE, youre keeping up with EVOs, again a drivers race...

Dream big... Think of AccessPORT and full turboback exhausts... Think of E46s as your next victim

 

[tvissues]

[quote author=Boost Addict link=topic=70970.msg1246370#msg1246370 date=1172944077]
[quote author=tvissues link=topic=70970.msg1245970#msg1245970 date=1172907763]
no kidding, according to some the dyno charts, an intake and tbe should put this baby at or around 300 whp. With that said, she should be able to beat a STOCK STI from a roll! :lol: (given that they make 293 hp and weight approx. 3351lbs.)
[/quote]

Actually in highway runs, you should have no problem with an STI stock for stock. Its almost a drivers race with more bias for the MS3

With CAI and CBE, youre keeping up with EVOs, again a drivers race...

Dream big... Think of AccessPORT and full turboback exhausts... Think of E46s as your next victim
[/quote]
I WAS talking about a Turbo Back Exhaust, hence TBE silly! but anyway, I thought that the sti would pull on us from a roll (stock to stock) and we would pull on a wrx (stock to stock) hence me rapidly gaining on this one wrx the other night, but anyway, acording to their specs and others, the sti and evo are going to beat the speed 3 (stock to stock)

 

[Boost Addict]

[quote author=tvissues link=topic=70970.msg1247098#msg1247098 date=1172980031]
[quote author=Boost Addict link=topic=70970.msg1246370#msg1246370 date=1172944077]
[quote author=tvissues link=topic=70970.msg1245970#msg1245970 date=1172907763]
no kidding, according to some the dyno charts, an intake and tbe should put this baby at or around 300 whp. With that said, she should be able to beat a STOCK STI from a roll! :lol: (given that they make 293 hp and weight approx. 3351lbs.)
[/quote]

Actually in highway runs, you should have no problem with an STI stock for stock. Its almost a drivers race with more bias for the MS3

With CAI and CBE, youre keeping up with EVOs, again a drivers race...

Dream big... Think of AccessPORT and full turboback exhausts... Think of E46s as your next victim
[/quote]
I WAS talking about a Turbo Back Exhaust, hence TBE silly! but anyway, I thought that the sti would pull on us from a roll (stock to stock) and we would pull on a wrx (stock to stock) hence me rapidly gaining on this one wrx the other night, but anyway, acording to their specs and others, the sti and evo are going to beat the speed 3 (stock to stock)
[/quote]

Real world data has shown otherwise

STIs are no problem from a roll...

EVOs are a bit tougher to reel in, they trap a bit higher and should have a good carlength over us...

But stage 2 MS3 will only have 1 problem... traction

 

[Unoriginalusername]

[quote author=Boost Addict link=topic=70970.msg1249079#msg1249079 date=1173086026]
Real world data has shown otherwise

STIs are no problem from a roll...

EVOs are a bit tougher to reel in, they trap a bit higher and should have a good carlength over us...

But stage 2 MS3 will only have 1 problem... traction
[/quote]

Would love to know where you are getting that information... the last motor trend (here - http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0512_rally_cars/specs_price.html) comparision the STI was quicker in the quarter mile and trapped faster stock to stock

 

[desperado callado]

[quote author=Unoriginalusername link=topic=70970.msg1249933#msg1249933 date=1173124641]
[quote author=Boost Addict link=topic=70970.msg1249079#msg1249079 date=1173086026]
Real world data has shown otherwise

STIs are no problem from a roll...

EVOs are a bit tougher to reel in, they trap a bit higher and should have a good carlength over us...

But stage 2 MS3 will only have 1 problem... traction
[/quote]

Would love to know where you are getting that information... the last motor trend (here - http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0512_rally_cars/specs_price.html) comparision the STI was quicker in the quarter mile and trapped faster stock to stock
[/quote]

He didn't say from a stop (1/4 mi., 0-60). He said from a roll, where we don't lose .x seconds painting the concrete with rubber while the AWD just grabs hold and takes off.

 

[MazdaSteve3]

Got mine installed yesterday. Wasn't a big problem, didn't even need to take the wheel off, much less the bumper. BTW, I found out that a T20 Torx wrench will work well enough for the 3.5mm hex bolts for the MAF.

Still, though, what a bitch to pull the filter for cleaning...

Installed a low tone horn (Fiamm from Advance Auto) while I was in there. Funny thing is that once you remove the air deflector, there is a bracket sticking out just a few inches away from the existing horn with a nut welded to it, doing nothing. The stud on the horn screws directly into this bracket, without even needing the bracket and nut that come with the horn. It's perfect! Sounds like a real car now.

God this CAI makes a lot of racket. Amazing how well the stock system controls noise.

 

[tuckaloe]

[quote author=MazdaSteve3 link=topic=70970.msg1250812#msg1250812 date=1173149419]
God this CAI makes a lot of racket. Amazing how well the stock system controls noise.
[/quote]

True, true.

 

[Nikolai]

Hey Guys...

I'm considering giving the Injen CAI a try. Looks like a quality part for the $, with pretty solid gains everywhere. My concern is their online instructions for installation, which involve a *TON* of pictures (could be good if simply detailed instructions, or bad if it's a real complicated install for some reason) and discusses bumper removal, which I'd like to avoid if at all possible.

Dangit, I was looking for the PDF'd installation instructions I had seen last night for the Injen, but no luck. Anyonw know where those are at?

Anyhow, I'm curioius if there is mention of removal of wheel/bumper in other intakes' installation instructions as well, and if there was a work-around in your experiences. Also, for the more common CPE and MS/AEM kits, does the filter actually get located in the wheel well like the Injen appears to? Thanks!



[quote author=MazdaSteve3 link=topic=70970.msg1250812#msg1250812 date=1173149419]
Got mine installed yesterday. Wasn't a big problem, didn't even need to take the wheel off, much less the bumper. BTW, I found out that a T20 Torx wrench will work well enough for the 3.5mm hex bolts for the MAF.

Still, though, what a bitch to pull the filter for cleaning...

Installed a low tone horn (Fiamm from Advance Auto) while I was in there. Funny thing is that once you remove the air deflector, there is a bracket sticking out just a few inches away from the existing horn with a nut welded to it, doing nothing. The stud on the horn screws directly into this bracket, without even needing the bracket and nut that come with the horn. It's perfect! Sounds like a real car now.

God this CAI makes a lot of racket. Amazing how well the stock system controls noise.
[/quote]

 

[mellman]

removing the wheel and bumper take about 5 minutes each...or you can leave them on and be kicking yourself and take an extra 1-2 hours to do to the job with them on.

Just remove em - its really quite easy

 

[blackjack2125]

[quote author=Unoriginalusername link=topic=70970.msg1249933#msg1249933 date=1173124641]
[quote author=Boost Addict link=topic=70970.msg1249079#msg1249079 date=1173086026]
Real world data has shown otherwise

STIs are no problem from a roll...

EVOs are a bit tougher to reel in, they trap a bit higher and should have a good carlength over us...

But stage 2 MS3 will only have 1 problem... traction
[/quote]

Would love to know where you are getting that information... the last motor trend (here - http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0512_rally_cars/specs_price.html) comparision the STI was quicker in the quarter mile and trapped faster stock to stock
[/quote]

Well, honestly both of you are right. STI's and EVO's are kinda finicky in that each one will differ from the next. Dyno's on each car can vary as much as +/- 20 HP on the same dyno. Don't want to generalize too much but from a roll the MS3's should be neck and neck with most stock STI's. Most Evo's tend to have better top end than STI's and MS3's. The good news is, it's up to the driver. Stg 2 MS3's still be able to hang with most stg2 STI's/EVO's but for the most part won't end well. Just realize your wallet is probably a lot thicker than theirs anyway.

 

[Nikolai]

So you removed these on your CAI install? Went back on very easily? When I designed/installed a turbo kit for my Integra GSR, I had a helluva time getting the bumper to fit correctly after I had taken it off, and I definitely don't want that to be an issue with a new car I plan on owning a long time!

[quote author=Mellman link=topic=70970.msg1411695#msg1411695 date=1179247632]
removing the wheel and bumper take about 5 minutes each...or you can leave them on and be kicking yourself and take an extra 1-2 hours to do to the job with them on.

Just remove em - its really quite easy
[/quote]

 

[blackjack2125]

This might sound stupid, but does anyone have a detailed description of the steps needed to remove the front bumper? I know on some cars its a nightmare. I searched but couldn't find anything definitive. Thanks

 

[Oatmealboy]

[quote author=Nikolai link=topic=70970.msg1411815#msg1411815 date=1179250577]
So you removed these on your CAI install? Went back on very easily? [/quote]

I, too, was hesitant to remove the front bumper cover when I installed my CAI. But seeing as how it would be a major pain-in-the-ass to remove the air deflector with the bumper cover still in place, I gave it a try. The bumper cover came off pretty easily, and went back on just as easily. I didn't take it completely off, as I did not unplug the fog-light wiring, but having the cover hang on against the styrofoam piece behind the cover gave me enough room to remove the air deflector.

[quote author=blackjack2125 link=topic=70970.msg1411857#msg1411857 date=1179251697]
This might sound stupid, but does anyone have a detailed description of the steps needed to remove the front bumper? I know on some cars its a nightmare. I searched but couldn't find anything definitive. Thanks
[/quote]

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=41782.0

It's for the bumper cover for the Mazda3 sedan, but the bolts/screws/fasteners are in the same place. So this should help you out.