My Daily Driver Build

Hello all! I've had a 2013 MS3 Tech for the past two years and absolutely love this car. I bought it completely stock with 33,000 miles on it. I've also had a 2007 MZ3 for about 6 years and its the reason why I've come to love Fordzdas. Before I bought the MZ3 I test drove a MS3 and fell in love, but I didn't have the money for it at the time. I swapped a 2.5L '15 Ford Fusion motor in it but thats a story for another thread! I've been lurking here for a while and finally decided to make an account. I mostly browse reddit/mazdaspeed3 insta/dmvspeeds however the lack of moderation is starting to get really annoying. I live in Maryland and would be down to attend some meets and Nator.

AEM Cold Air Intake P/N: 21-642C
AEM 21-2029DK Air Filter with DryFlow Water Shield
CX Racing FMIC & Piping (planning on upgrading to Treadstone TR8 eventually; is it worth it?)
Synapse Engineering Synchronic Valve P/N: SB001A (BPV full recirculation to TIP)
CP-E “Nviscid” Turbo Inlet Pipe ‘for Stock Turbos’
OEM Hitachi K0422-882 turbo (replaced at 33k mi. 09/2019 prior to ownership)
CP-E “QKspl” Catted 3” Downpipe
OEM Catback Exhaust
Autotech HPFP P/N: 10.127.100k
NGK 6510 LTR7IX-11 .025” Gap
CP-E “xFlex” Stage 2 Rear Motor Mount
Cobb Accessport V3 Street tuned by Will at PD
93 Octane only ever used
Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic 5W-30
Bosch 3330 Oil Filter
235/40/18 Michelin Pilot All Season 4 tires
Bosch 3 BAR MAP Sensor (with JBR pigtail)
Grimmspeed Boost Controller configured in Interrupt
Corksport Steering Wheel
Corksport Weighted Shift Knob
Corksport Aluminum Shifter Bushings
JBR Hood Insert

Next on my plans are replacement rotors and potentially a Treadstone TR8, but haven't determined if its really worth it for the re-tune. I also have a new JBR BPV hose I need to install still since the OEM one is looking a bit janky as you can see below. Overall I am extremely happy with how she looks and performs. My first car was an overly modified Honda, so I've been trying to set more boundaries on myself with age and since this is my DD I need to maintain reliability.

In the long term I would like to get a BNR S3 or S4 but I am hoping I won't have to be swapping out turbos any time soon.. LOL

Here are some photos of my build:

The night I brought her home:


Cristened at Skyline Drive




First long trip! Sittin pretty on South Beach

 

Cape Canaveral


South of the Border for the lolz




Paint correction during COVID time off

 

No CX-7 spoolys here


And so it begins..

 

I know CAI doesn't really make a difference with these cars but I think its cool and I got a great deal on it!

 

It was only a matter of time..




Doing this seemed important..


Trimmed off some nubs on the core support seemed to make the IC sit flush better

 

Love this Synapse!

 

Really need to do something about that hood baffling,, would love some input on this.




Full dash replacement under warranty. THANK YOU MAZDA! I went ahead and had the clear screen bezel replaced at the same time.. Still salty that piece of plastic was $300..-.-

 

Reinstalling my wheel after the dash install. I took it off so it wouldn't get damaged.


The most expensive tires I have ever purchased. These things are incredible!


Threw on a EBCS due to some boost cut issues that arose during tuning. Can't believe the difference it made in throttle response.


JBR insert installed. The unfinished look of the gaping hole was killing me. Gotta love VRM


Somehow stuffed a 9cu.ft. chest freezer in this bad boy. I was thoroughly impressed.

 

My two baes


Heres a few shots of my MZ3

 

Finally found a diecast of our cars! If anyone knows where to get a 1:18 scale MS3 PLEASE LET ME KNOW!



Now for the newest project! Picked up some Mazda 5 rear brackets for $8 today. Definitely need to hit em with the wire brush and some paint.

 

Nice build so far! Yes the TR8 is worth it especially over the CX Core. I barely saw temp drops with the CX and my BAT would climb toward redline because it doesn't flow well or have the fin quality that Treadstone has. Once I put a TR8 in then I can watch temps fall within seconds.

 

I definitely am seeing the same issues with hardly any difference with the BATs. Thanks for the input!

 

Great pictures. Fun to see the daily driver. Especially love the chest freezer you got in there. Must be fun rolling up to the grocery store with that monster of a car.

 

You shouldn't really need any sort of retune for the new intercooler. Our ECU can adjust wastegate duty cycle and I doubt it will even really need to. You will just have better bats for longer so the car can run at optimal levels. Maybe you would want a retune if you were in the edge of it already and could push it a little further but that's not usually the case.