I just bought this 2008, can someone help identify the upgrades

[Whiteboy]

OP, I don't know what they are planning on doing to your ECU but I will warn you. Make sure they don't lock your ECU so you can't tune it later down the road. I'm fairly positive your intake is kicking the CEL and needs a MAF calibration to get your trims right.

If I was in your shoes, I'd ask the dealer if they would buy you an Cobb AcessPort (AP). With an AP you can get rid of that code easy and you can tune your own car and watch your vitals at the same time. $10 says your fuel pump is pure crap and if that shop tunes your car...I see a big ZOOM ZOOM BOOM in your future. Our cars are not your typical tuner car...you can't just go throwing shit on it like other tuner cars.

Just keep this in mind for the future...

[rguevara]

Originally Posted by nmhforlife as i understand it, the computer is not configured for the mods that are in place. they(the dealer) are taking it to a dyno shop and they have a device which will configure it properly. aside from those details, i cannot say. any particular reasons why? can you tell there is something wrong with it based on this photo? 18k. too much? the kbb on a car with this mileage is listed at around 20k. if it's too much, why?

I'll sell you mine. 08, with 27k miles. AEM CAI, Cobb DP, RMM, amd Cobb AP. Garage kept.
If your interested, email me at rguevarx@bellsouth.net

[jack_hammer]

1) do you have a tuner? what kind? unless they're just going to flash tune your car, you need a tuner.
2) have you looked at the exhaust? if your car is missing any cats, you'll want to know that as well.
3) regardless of what you use (AP, dashhawk, scan gauge) get something to monitor your car's vitals. if you don't, you could end up posting a thread about how your engine blew up.
4) don't freak out. you just need to get a read on where your car stands in the modification process. once you understand that you'll be fine. until then, go easy on the car.

[Whiteboy]

^^^ +1 on what he said. That is the best advice to give you! I know I wouldn't let that dealer go tune my car...fuck that shit!

[nmhforlife]

Originally Posted by broncojd78 1) do you have a tuner? what kind? unless they're just going to flash tune your car, you need a tuner. 2) have you looked at the exhaust? if your car is missing any cats, you'll want to know that as well. 3) regardless of what you use (AP, dashhawk, scan gauge) get something to monitor your car's vitals. if you don't, you could end up posting a thread about how your engine blew up. 4) don't freak out. you just need to get a read on where your car stands in the modification process. once you understand that you'll be fine. until then, go easy on the car.

i do not have a tuner, what would you suggest?

[jack_hammer]

then how is your car getting tuned?

[nmhforlife]

Originally Posted by broncojd78 then how is your car getting tuned?

a dyno shop. i used to word tune loosely here as i am not very knowledgeable on what constitutes a "tune". i think it's probably just the maf calibration. the computer reports it's running lean.

[I Love Brownies]

OP get an access port by cobb. they run 600 dollars new and you should be good to go

[jack_hammer]

lots of reasons it could be lean. but before you let people start tuning your car or attempting a maf calibration (i don't even know how they'd do that w/o tuning software of some sort) i would try to find out

1) what had been done to the car at the time you bought it
2) why is it lean
3) then figure out how to fix it

leaving it all in the hands of others is asking for trouble.

[Monotonous ONE]

I think we all know why its lean


Because that intake blows ass...theres a reason no one runs it.


Go get a Corksport

[Whiteboy]

Seriously OP...you need to listen to bronco and us. I would not let them tune your car. Buy an AP and baby your car until it shows up. Once you get the AP do a test run and post your log here on MSF. We will help you figure it out...it's not rocket science!

[jack_hammer]

Originally Posted by White3265 Seriously OP...you need to listen to bronco and us. I would not let them tune your car. Buy an AP and baby your car until it shows up. Once you get the AP do a test run and post your log here on MSF. We will help you figure it out...it's not rocket science!

well, he asked. we answered. it's up to him to listen or not. or blow up his engine, or not.


good luck.

[nmhforlife]

Originally Posted by broncojd78 well, he asked. we answered. it's up to him to listen or not. or blow up his engine, or not. good luck.

thanks for the input. i do appreciate it. once i get the ap and all that i will post again. until then, i will be driving lightly.

[John]

I would not buy a MS3 with a front-mount from a dealer, just too many unknowns. But it sounds like you already bought it, so it doesn't matter now.

Get EXACT details from the dealer on WHERE your car is going and WHO is tuning it or performing the work. That way, you know where to go if something goes wrong and you can also check to see if they are a reliable source of information. I have not found many 'professional' tuners of MS3, so I doubt they are paying for a rock solid tune.

If you are relying on the factory warranty, you'll be out of luck. Third party warranties are crap shoots, I got one on the MS3 but haven't tried to use it yet.

[nmhforlife]

Originally Posted by John I would not buy a MS3 with a front-mount from a dealer, just too many unknowns. But it sounds like you already bought it, so it doesn't matter now. Get EXACT details from the dealer on WHERE your car is going and WHO is tuning it or performing the work. That way, you know where to go if something goes wrong and you can also check to see if they are a reliable source of information. I have not found many 'professional' tuners of MS3, so I doubt they are paying for a rock solid tune. If you are relying on the factory warranty, you'll be out of luck. Third party warranties are crap shoots, I got one on the MS3 but haven't tried to use it yet.

They told me who was doing the work, so that isn't an issue. I will make sure to check for all these things before doing any stunts in the car. I plan on learning this stuff and tuning the car myself after I purchase an AP. This website has already proven a great resource and I imagine it will be even more so when the time comes for me to get to work on this car.

[Whiteboy]

Originally Posted by nmhforlife They told me who was doing the work, so that isn't an issue. I will make sure to check for all these things before doing any stunts in the car. I plan on learning this stuff and tuning the car myself after I purchase an AP. This website has already proven a great resource and I imagine it will be even more so when the time comes for me to get to work on this car.

This site is the only site worth a damn for the MS3. We are performance oriented! Don't mind the trolls 2 much though. I'd also highly recommend that you donate so when you have questions people will answer you without the typical flamage!!!

[nmhforlife]

so as it turns out they are going to replace the air intake afterall as it was tripping the maf sensor. they are going to put on an aem intake which should not require an ecu tune.

[TRex]

this dealer is strange imo......why would they not be forcing OEM stuff on to you?

[rfinkle2]

Originally Posted by TRex this dealer is strange imo......why would they not be forcing OEM stuff on to you?

They may have some gen1 AEM mazdaspeed cold air intakes in their inventory.

[John]

I thought the AEM CAI was the same as the Mazdaspeed CAI for the 1st gen MS3

[Ex_WRX_driver]

Originally Posted by TRex this dealer is strange imo......why would they not be forcing OEM stuff on to you?

Aftermarket usually cheaper than OEM. Plus it doesnt sound like he is dealing with a Mazda dealer. Could be wrong though.

[jack_hammer]

Originally Posted by TRex this dealer is strange imo......why would they not be forcing OEM stuff on to you?

See below

Originally Posted by rfinkle2 They may have some gen1 AEM mazdaspeed cold air intakes in their inventory.

Originally Posted by John I thought the AEM CAI was the same as the Mazdaspeed CAI for the 1st gen MS3

AEM CAI = Mazdaspeed CAI

OP - see if you can push them to get the air straightener as well since they're hooking it up. or maybe even an SRI. or just take the free intake cause it sounds like they're really trying to take care of you.

[TRex]

yea i see all those points...it just sounds.....strange imo...the whole situation is off

[nmhforlife]

Originally Posted by TRex yea i see all those points...it just sounds.....strange imo...the whole situation is off

i would agree normally but they have been very forthright with me the whole time. they are actually having to order the part so it's not as if they just had it lying around. i mean, they can't sell me the car until it passes emissions and this is what they need to do it, so i don't see that as unusual.

[Ex_WRX_driver]

Originally Posted by nmhforlife i would agree normally but they have been very forthright with me the whole time. they are actually having to order the part so it's not as if they just had it lying around. i mean, they can't sell me the car until it passes emissions and this is what they need to do it, so i don't see that as unusual.

Yeah, well my WRX had the same issue, they did the same shit, WRX took a shit 2000 miles later. WRX was modded incorrectly by previous owner, just be careful. This is why I decided to buy a brand new 11, didnt want to deal with that shit again.

All the dealer knows is what they found or what the previous owner told them. Its not likely they know how long that car has had those mods. Highly suggest getting the AP ASAP to run some logs and make sure all is good before letting her rip.


Dealer is no ones friend, they are just trying to complete the sell.

[nmhforlife]

Originally Posted by Ex_WRX_driver Yeah, well my WRX had the same issue, they did the same shit, WRX took a shit 2000 miles later. WRX was modded incorrectly by previous owner, just be careful. This is why I decided to buy a brand new 11, didnt want to deal with that shit again. All the dealer knows is what they found or what the previous owner told them. Its not likely they know how long that car has had those mods. Highly suggest getting the AP ASAP to run some logs and make sure all is good before letting her rip. Dealer is no ones friend, they are just trying to complete the sell.

good advice and spot on. will do with the ap.