Just got my MazdaSpeed CAI!

29648 Views 469 Replies 77 Participants Last post by Nikolai, May 17, 2007

ElyasWolff

Discussion Starter · Feb 22, 2007

4

Guess I am the first on the board!

Here are the pix everyone wants:

The intake is very well made, the two pipes are TIG welded and the welds are of excellent quality and appearance (there is some minor over penetration, no big deal)
There are two silicone couplers: one 90*, one straight
Two MazdaSpeed die cut stickers (would look good on my toolbox ;-) )
Two bottles of cleaner for the filter (this is good for one cleaning at 20,000 miles if you follow the instructions)
One AEM dry-flow filter
One splash shield
Bolts, clamps, and hardware all packed neatly in Styrofoam popcorn with MazdaSpeed on the side of the box

The instructions are clear, and should be enough for anyone to follow. (Mazda wrote them for their own techs)
It is not necessary to remove the front bumper as with the CP-e CAI.

Not much else to say about it now... I paid $310 and picked up at Tonkin after work (guess I had to pay shipping too, not really bothered about it though)

I will be installing this Saturday at the latest. (and sometime after that my TurboXS race pipe and Hybrid BOV might actually arrive)

And I will leave you with a pix of intakes being loaded onto the UPS truck (one trip of many)

See less See more

421 - 440 of 470 Posts

Snowspd3

· #421 · Mar 8, 2007

Just drove the car today with the CAI on. I haven't driven the car in over a month so I can't really tell if there is any difference.
Upon mashing the gas with the DSC off and dry pavement the car really scrambles for traction to the top of second and gains composure in third gear. The intake does make the turbo whine and BOV noticeable.

ZooZoom

· #422 · Mar 9, 2007

selling my new, never installed MS3 CAI here: http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=71475.0

dread

· #423 · Mar 9, 2007

why

ZooZoom

· #424 · Mar 9, 2007

see last reply in the FS thread

brecker

· #425 · Mar 16, 2007

Where are all the promised before and after dyno results with the MS CAI??

proclam

· #426 · Mar 16, 2007

Well my before is up, but I haven't had the time to get back there to dyno it with it on. There was a link somewhere to another site though showing 24whp, and 24.3wtq or something like that. He had before and afters also if I remember correctly. The only reason I am not sold completely on it is the fact that my numbers and his didn't line up. But that could be an elevation issue. Not sure where he was. (My baseline was significantly more powerful than his with the CAI. On a dynojet also. No need to thread jack about different dynos even when the same brand etc. making different numbers, I am well aware.

)

noobinacan

· #427 · Mar 23, 2007

Hey all
I am going to attempt to install mine this weekend.
quick question. can I do the install without getting under the car ?
do I need to remove the bottom shield ?
so I'll just be removing the splash guard and the wheel. will that be enough ?

thanks

mattleegee

· #428 · Mar 23, 2007

[quote author=NoobInACan link=topic=70133.msg1285739#msg1285739 date=1174625738]
Hey all
I am going to attempt to install mine this weekend.
quick question. can I do the install without getting under the car ?
do I need to remove the bottom shield ?
so I'll just be removing the splash guard and the wheel. will that be enough ?

thanks

[/quote]

splash shiled and wheel, and you can take off the wheel wells also, its a few bolts to give you more room
thats all i did

brecker

· #429 · Mar 23, 2007

I just had the CAI put on... With everyone elses install, does the botton of the filter touch the black panel that covers it?? It seemed to be pretty squishy in there..

Midak

· #430 · Mar 23, 2007

[quote author=brecker link=topic=70133.msg1286233#msg1286233 date=1174662220]
I just had the CAI put on... With everyone elses install, does the botton of the filter touch the black panel that covers it?? It seemed to be pretty squishy in there..
[/quote]

Mine does not. I put the wheel well cover back on before the bottom shield.

tjay

· #431 · Mar 23, 2007

Hi guys,

I just got my MS-CAI and I want to install it tonight. I've been looking for the how-to on this installation. Can you guys give me the how-to on this? I know some of the products comes with installation guide but I haven't had a chance to open the box. While I'm still at work I want to gather all the info I need for this install.

Thanks!
-TJay

Midak

· #432 · Mar 23, 2007

[quote author=Tjay link=topic=70133.msg1286507#msg1286507 date=1174669585]
Hi guys,

I just got my MS-CAI and I want to install it tonight. I've been looking for the how-to on this installation. Can you guys give me the how-to on this? I know some of the products comes with installation guide but I haven't had a chance to open the box. While I'm still at work I want to gather all the info I need for this install.

Thanks!
-TJay
[/quote]

It does come with instructions but what it does not do well is illustrate well enough for those unfamiliar with the car itself. The fuel pump ballast mentioned in the instructions will be visible when you have the stock air box off. It is straight down, bolted to the interior. You can recognize it by the warning label on it. If you have 2 jack stands, use them to hold up the entire front on both sides so that you can easily access all bolts for the bottom shield. I actually used two floor jacks since I had them. Don't forget to complete disconnect your battery before you start. Give yourself 3-4 hours to complete it so you don't feel rushed since that is what it is taking most people. Make sure you read through all of the instructions and ask questions here about them if you do not quite understand BEFORE you start taking the car apart to avoid frustration. One thing I did which helped the fitment better, is that I loosened all of the straps once I had it mounted to the wall so that it sort of positioned itself better. For the life of me, I could not figure out which way to face the piece that attaches to the turbo correctly until I did. Other than that, you should go fine.

See less See more

Mostly Harmless

· #433 · Mar 23, 2007

*sligthly off topic*
When you guys put the car on jack stands do you raise each side one at a time or is there a point where you can jack the entire front of the car up? Sorry for the noob question.

brecker

· #434 · Mar 23, 2007

[quote author=Midak link=topic=70133.msg1286413#msg1286413 date=1174667087]
[quote author=brecker link=topic=70133.msg1286233#msg1286233 date=1174662220]
I just had the CAI put on... With everyone elses install, does the botton of the filter touch the black panel that covers it?? It seemed to be pretty squishy in there..
[/quote]

Mine does not. I put the wheel well cover back on before the bottom shield.
[/quote]

I looked - trust me..
Is there a pic that shows the air filter/splash guard installed so I can see the correct placement of the splash guards??

brecker

· #435 · Mar 23, 2007

2

[quote author=sgon link=topic=70133.msg1226526#msg1226526 date=1172228730]
[quote author=dread link=topic=70133.msg1225398#msg1225398 date=1172188580]
is your splash shield upside down? It looks as though it should be the other way and not on top of the intake. Thanks for the pics and the vids. How long do you think the install would have been without removing the bumper.
[/quote]

no I dont think it go any other way if u look at the intake it has v that where u put the srews,
it protect it from the vent from the tire side wall, water splash , maybe dripping on the hood, I know I had dripping problem with injen CAi on mazda3 sedan which cause a check engine on to come on

the bumper removal only take about 10 min to remove no beggie, it give you clear access to what you are working on , I done it so many time with the previews Mazda3 sedan so Im familiar with all the srews,I think the speed3 is much more easy to remove the OEM CAI, I just did not want to jack the car and remove the tires, I'm sure someone here will figure out how to installed it without even removing the tires,

[/quote]

Hang - on - I think This answers my question 8)

See less See more

Midak

· #436 · Mar 23, 2007

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hold on now, that is not yet bolted down and does not even have the splash shield on. I wish I took pics but mine does not touch and I'm sorry but I am not going under there to take pics.

brecker

· #437 · Mar 23, 2007

[quote author=Midak link=topic=70133.msg1286792#msg1286792 date=1174676786]
^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hold on now, that is not yet bolted down and does not even have the splash shield on. I wish I took pics but mine does not touch and I'm sorry but I am not going under there to take pics.
[/quote]

So who's volunteering? :lol:

MS3Sleeper

· #438 · Mar 23, 2007

[quote author=Mostly Harmless link=topic=70133.msg1286638#msg1286638 date=1174673119]
*sligthly off topic*
When you guys put the car on jack stands do you raise each side one at a time or is there a point where you can jack the entire front of the car up? Sorry for the noob question.
[/quote]

There is a central “X” spider frame just aft of the transaxle. Off slightly to one side of the center plate of the “X” frame, there is an “X” about an inch high stamped in the steel. This is the forward center jack point. I had to bring my floor jack in from the passenger’s side wheel well behind the front wheel to have enough clearance for vertical travel of the jack handle to get an initial purchase. Make certain you are on the “X” stamped in the frame. A mirror taped at 45 degrees to a dowel or broom handle and a flashlight might necessary to locate the “X”. The next structure aft looks like frame, but it is soft and several here have pushed it in upward before they realized what was happening. Set the handbrake, use jackstands, wheel chocks, and leave some load on the jack. BE SAFE.

Mostly Harmless

· #439 · Mar 23, 2007

[quote author=MS3Sleeper link=topic=70133.msg1286839#msg1286839 date=1174678043]
[quote author=Mostly Harmless link=topic=70133.msg1286638#msg1286638 date=1174673119]
*sligthly off topic*
When you guys put the car on jack stands do you raise each side one at a time or is there a point where you can jack the entire front of the car up? Sorry for the noob question.
[/quote]

There is a central “X” spider frame just aft of the transaxle. Off slightly to one side of the center plate of the “X” frame, there is an “X” about an inch high stamped in the steel. This is the forward center jack point. I had to bring my floor jack in from the passenger’s side wheel well behind the front wheel to have enough clearance for vertical travel of the jack handle to get an initial purchase. Make certain you are on the “X” stamped in the frame. A mirror taped at 45 degrees to a dowel or broom handle and a flashlight might necessary to locate the “X”. The next structure aft looks like frame, but it is soft and several here have pushed it in upward before they realized what was happening. Set the handbrake, use jackstands, wheel chocks, and leave some load on the jack. BE SAFE.
[/quote]

Thanks.

tjay

· #440 · Mar 24, 2007

So we have to remove the bumper? What is the easiest way to do it? Do I need to disconnect the battery? Can I not do that?

421 - 440 of 470 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.