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Just got some Mod money

3K views 32 replies 12 participants last post by  Czar Quanovan 
#1 ·
So I just got an insurance settlement of about $100. Not much money but it's going towards the car because the COBB SF intake I bought has given me the mod bug...but I want to spend it on the car for sure. Any ideas for mods? $100 is not the limit but I don't want to spend a ton of money seeing as I'm a poor college student. So pretty much I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive mod. I'm very open to suggestions.
 
#4 ·
The motor mounts and the shifter bushings are mods that I have thought about. I'm relatively new to car modification...would you think that I would be able to either of those things by myself or should I pay someone to install them? Brands and prices?
 
#7 ·
I agree with shifter bushings and rear motor mount...those are the two modifications I first went with

after that, I would say go with the cobb sf and turbo inlet combo....it might be out of your price range....but it's definitely a nice addition to your car

all the other upgrades get pretty expensive....like downpipe, FMIC, TMIC cobb AP, etc.....so I would stick with the rear motor mount and shifter bushings for now

Cp-e makes a REAL nice rear motor mount....kind of pricey...but definitely worth it for minimal vibrations and maximum performance....

TWM, mazda3mods, street unit all make shifter bushings
 
#8 ·
Agree, if you've already got an intake, think bushings and torque mount. I'm a big fan of the corksport inserts, and I had a SU previous to that. If you don't beat on your car much and don't want added harshness, the inserts are a great choice. Cheapest, too, and look stock unless you look *very* hard... which is good for any warranty visits. All the mounts are good products, really, just up to your personal preference.
 
#9 ·
race pipe: good bang for buck
 
#10 ·
[quote author=evo2ms3 link=topic=135959.msg2929359#msg2929359 date=1234374607]
race pipe: good bang for buck
[/quote]

Trying to stay CARB legal...
 
#11 ·
Is your Cobb intake CARB legal? I don't think it is yet. Go back to stock when needed.
 
#13 ·
[quote author=trdsw link=topic=135959.msg2930753#msg2930753 date=1234407455]
What part of the bay are you from. There is a great mazda presence here and you can get a lot of great assistance as well. check out your local forum MOCCforums.com
[/quote]

I'm from Castro Valley, but I'm going to school in Davis. I travel betwen both and can go anywhere in between. I know about MOCC but haven't registered yet. You guys having a meet soon?
 
#15 ·
[quote author=Strizzo link=topic=135959.msg2932681#msg2932681 date=1234478353]
you could do shifter bushings and corksport motor mount inserts for less than $100 if you wanted to. the inserts are great if you aren't planning to do much more than the intake, and don't want the added vibrations of a full mount replacement.
[/quote]

Yeah, I'm not really planning on doingt many power mods. THe car is still pretty new and I don't want to get in too deep with all that warranty crap. I plan on doing some autocross though so do you think the corksports are strong enough?
 
#16 ·
IMHO yes the CS mounts would be great for that. The harder mounts I'd be more inclined to recommend for drag strips or anything where there are a lot of really hard (i.e. no-lift) shifts going on with lots of power adders.
 
#17 ·
Thanks...I'm not really into running my car that hard, especially in a straight line. Corksports it is, plus I could always upgrade :)
 
#18 ·
Sounds good man, just make sure you get the black version if you're trying to keep it stealth!
 
#19 ·
#20 ·
Those are correct! Understand, these won't feel much different than stock, but that's the idea. You're giving a bit more support against torque rotating the engine so much under load and quick transitions (gear changes under boost, engine braking, etc).
 
#21 ·
Sounds good to me. I'm not looking for anything that is going to be really harsh. I just want it for peace of mind when I go to autoX or just feel like pushing the pace a little bit. At this point I can't really justify dropping $100+shipping for the StreetUnit piece. Plus I can always upgrade if more money comes my way and it is necessary. Just have to protect the car from itself I guess...it must be masochistic :shock:
 
#22 ·
I am a bit biased, but I think you mad the right choice here. And yes you can always upgrade later if your mods or tastes dictate so. Yes, our car is a cutter, stock... :(

Also there is lots of good feedback on the various brands of turbo inlet pipes. The benefits are not dramatic like a CAI/SRI, but the price reflects this, ~$100-160 (I know one is like $300, I'm just talking about the ones sane people would buy...). Whatever you end up with, let us know how it goes!
 
#23 ·
heh, my last car was an rsx-s with ES inserts front and rear. the vibes were so bad that i had to put some electrical tape on the hood latch to keep it from rattling. that thing was brutal, especially with the a/c on, so i wasn't in a big hurry to end up in the same place with my ms3. the inserts are perfect, no more banging the engine against the hood on shifts, and nearly stock nvh.
 
#24 ·
[quote author=Strizzo link=topic=135959.msg2934413#msg2934413 date=1234542724]
heh, my last car was an rsx-s with ES inserts front and rear. the vibes were so bad that i had to put some electrical tape on the hood latch to keep it from rattling. that thing was brutal, especially with the a/c on, so i wasn't in a big hurry to end up in the same place with my ms3. the inserts are perfect, no more banging the engine against the hood on shifts, and nearly stock nvh.
[/quote]

I have sat in a friend's rsx-s with energy suspension motor mount inserts.....yes its quite brutal....my MS3 with medieval mounts is nowhere near the vibes as his...LOL
 
#25 ·
[quote author=Czar Quanovan link=topic=135959.msg2929563#msg2929563 date=1234379050]
[quote author=evo2ms3 link=topic=135959.msg2929359#msg2929359 date=1234374607]
race pipe: good bang for buck
[/quote]

Trying to stay CARB legal...
[/quote]Well technically your not any more with the Cobb SRI. As far as the rear engine MM/bushings, nice mod for sure. Those were the first mods I did. If you've never done a rear engine MM you will notice a difference right away. You can do it yourself if your mechanically inclined. Pretty basic, I did the install (for both) in about an hour and a half...
 
#26 ·
^^^

Good to know...I just ordered the bushings last night. I'm probably going to order the MM inserts this weekend. Thanks for the info
 
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