Returning MS3 owner looking for guidance

[MikeDro228]

Hello to all! Just bought a 2011 Mica Black MS3 with 235K KMs on it in Montreal; fourth 4-wheeled vehicle in my fleet along with a couple of 2-wheelers ;-) . Basically, just for fun... Car seems solid, got it inspected, Carfax is clean. I had a 2013 new, and blew the turbo on Mont Tremblant at just over 80K (replaced on warranty - LOL!), and I was wondering what to do first on this car... I want a car that will primarily be rock solid, so I don't want to go for crazy mods. If I change the turbo for reliability, what should I consider? Stock or upgrade? Ideally, don't want to have to modify fuel system Also, as I may do mild track days, looking at upgrading the brakes... does a cold air intake help at all? And what about ECU chips, etc.?

Lots of questions... sorry if there are already threads on these, I'm new to forums in general.

Thanks!

 

[Rod4893]

Assuming your car is healthy (leak down & compression test hold up) Start with hpfp internals, an accessport, and a rear motor mount (Jbr or DM) I’ve had both and loved them.

Then move on to flow mods: 3.5 inch intake (since you plan on turbo) and down pipe. After TMIC should suffice as you don’t want to mess with fueling. Make sure you get tuned as soon as you slap these parts on (Freektune ftw). If you have e85 around you might as well get tuned on it too. That would leave you at a more than satisfactory daily driver.

 

[Awafrican]

Welcome back to the speeds, hpfp internals (autotech or corksport) are a must before any power mods even an intake, then you can get your access port and an intake I'd go with 3-3.5", personally I'm a fan of tmic ETS or CPE is your best bet, downpipe will yield a good bang for buck on power, tuner you can use an e-tuner I recommend freektune or purple drank.

You'll certainly want a RMM before turning the power up, damond motorsports is the way to go for any motor mounts, if you plan to track it then a PMM is probably good too, and solid shifter bushings will make shifting a dream.

Brake wise, stop tech (centric high carbon) solid or slotted rotors along with some EBC yellows are great, others have started using Gloc brakes and they're doing really well if not better. ATE type 200 brake fluid is your friend.

Some bilstean or Koni shocks will be great too, white line rear sway bar.

Personally for turbo if you want reliability on stock block and lots of fun for the track I'd go with a BNRS3.

Transmission fluid tribodyn is excellent engine oil checkout this thread
https://mazdaspeeds.org/index.php?threads/best-engine-oil-all-mod-levels.7931/

 

[chad]

I'd tool around the forums a little bit, everyone is going to pretty much say the same thing.
hpfp, intake, downpipe, rmm, upgraded tmic, and tune. That's all you need. You do not need to delete EGR or get a catless downpipe and honestly shouldn't. If you want a more reliable turbo that's really similar to the stock one go for a BNRs3. If you want a little more powa, shoot for the s4. As for routine maintenance, get the valves cleaned and inspect/replace VVT kit as needed.

 

[Awafrican]

Oh yes thanks Chad, 235k make sure that vvt has been done at least once probably around 160k km, assuming it was it'll be due again at 320k clean those intake valves service injectors check compression. Prior to getting into more power.

 

[Rod4893]

Personally for turbo if you want reliability on stock block and lots of fun for the track I'd go with a BNRS3.

Cst4 is another great option too. Compromise spool time for a bit more top end but it’s still super fun and reliable. I’ve been dailying mine for over a year and I love to beat the crap out of it lol

 

[Awafrican]

Cst4 is another great option too. Compromise spool time for a bit more top end but it’s still super fun and reliable. I’ve been dailying mine for over a year and I love to beat the crap out of it lol

I personally don't consider it a good option, I know many do. Spool time is going to be key if you're in a racetrack and not dragstrip

 

[chad]

I personally don't consider it a good option, I know many do. Spool time is going to be key if you're in a racetrack and not dragstrip

If you're all about the sp00l wouldn't it be best to get a like garret gtx28xx series turbo?

 

[Awafrican]

If you're all about the sp00l wouldn't it be best to get a like garret gtx28xx series turbo?

Not all about spool, however you're correct a GTX2867r is certainly the best option compared to the bnr and CS turbos really I think a PTE 5556 probably reigns supreme over all of them.

 

[Rod4893]

I personally don't consider it a good option, I know many do. Spool time is going to be key if you're in a racetrack and not dragstrip

Thought OP just wanted a fun daily though not racetrack or drag slip.

CST4 fully spools at around 3200 and goes all the way to redline (6500 or more depending on motor) while K04 spooled
at 2800 and dies around 5600. That’s at least 400 more RPM of fun.

Once he upgrades turbos 1st and 2nd gear will be spin city so it’s not like he can really zip around in town and benefit from quicker spooling of Bnrs3. The car ultimately then becomes a highway killer at which point CsT4 wins.

Not all about spool, however you're correct a GTX2867r is certainly the best option compared to the bnr and CS turbos really I think a PTE 5556 probably reigns supreme over all of them.

I got to read up on those. Once my cst4 blows I’ll want to go bananas and take full advantage of my new built motor.

 

[Awafrican]

Thought OP just wanted a fun daily though not racetrack or drag slip.

CST4 fully spools at around 3200 and goes all the way to redline (6500 or more depending on motor) while K04 spooled
at 2800 and dies around 5600. That’s at least 400 more RPM of fun.

Once he upgrades turbos 1st and 2nd gear will be spin city so it’s not like he can really zip around in town and benefit from quicker spooling of Bnrs3. The car ultimately then becomes a highway killer at which point CsT4 wins.



I got to read up on those. Once my cst4 blows I’ll want to go bananas and take full advantage of my new built motor.

OP mentioned mild track days, don't know if the cst4 ever truly wins if the exhaust housing cracks or waste gate fails as they do... but hey that's probably a little down the line for OP, that's a good amount of routine maintenance the OP to do first.

 

[Rod4893]

OP mentioned mild track days, don't know if the cst4 ever truly wins if the exhaust housing cracks or waste gate fails as they do...

I thought that was old news and has since been addressed by CS. To your point he’ll have plenty of time to evaluate, it took me months to finally decide between S3 and Cst4.

 

[chad]

Thought OP just wanted a fun daily though not racetrack or drag slip.

CST4 fully spools at around 3200 and goes all the way to redline (6500 or more depending on motor) while K04 spooled
at 2800 and dies around 5600. That’s at least 400 more RPM of fun.

Once he upgrades turbos 1st and 2nd gear will be spin city so it’s not like he can really zip around in town and benefit from quicker spooling of Bnrs3. The car ultimately then becomes a highway killer at which point CsT4 wins.



I got to read up on those. Once my cst4 blows I’ll want to go bananas and take full advantage of my new built motor.

You can make up the lack of turbo on the top end with some corn and timing pretty easily. At least mine turned out that way on k04.