Japanese and Mexican Manufactured Fitment?

[rdtk1]

Hi,
I have a 2012 MS3 and I need new front struts and live in canada. Presently i have these really cheap struts that came with car and have a suspension noise which I believe is coming from strut mounts. I would like to get rid of these struts and mounts.

I am looking at RockAuto.com which has Monroe oe spec struts for Mexican manufactured ms3's. I cant seem to find for US/canada. I am assuming Mexican means it is for vehicles manufactured in mexico and US/Canada is manufactured in japan.....

Other threads talk about manufacturing moving back and forth at one point but they didnt talk about the suspension. Except revisions may have been made before mexico.

That makes me think since I have a 2012, it may be mexican but I dont know where to look to confirm..

When i go to monroe site for us/canada there is no struts listed what so ever. only strut mounts.

But if I go to us koni website the koni orange's fit Ms3/mazda5/and a bunch of volvo's.

I would think the struts would fit both japanese and mexican but wanted to check with the community because I am kinda forced to order online or pay a huge premium for local koni oranges in canada which if I could get red for the price i am quoted I would go with those but I dont agree with the prices I am seeing for the oranges.

FYI, I want to try to keep oem suspension feel and height. Not really interested in paying mazda dealer pricing either..

[Db09ms3]

FWIW, I used them O'Reilly top hats & bearings. No idea where they were made and really don't care, they bolted in and work like a charm. I also used the Sach's shock & struts from Rockauto.

Should be no different for the Pu's

[rdtk1]

What year is your Ms3? I see sache for gen1 Ms3. And they appear to be for us market on rock auto. I would have been fine with those to.

[Db09ms3]

2009 genwon

[rdtk1]

So you have a vehicle manufactured in Japan with the intent for sale in usa. U dont have my dilemma. But Thank you anyways!

[Db09ms3]

Originally Posted by rdtk1 So you have a vehicle manufactured in Japan with the intent for sale in usa. U dont have my dilemma. But Thank you anyways!

Let's get this out of the way, what is the first letter in your VIN?

Here I assumed all speeds were made in Japan but what the fuck do I know?

[monkey.bones.007]

You have an issue with parts that are meant for the Mexican version of the MS3 that you drive in Canada? You realize there's no difference, right? They don't spec a different suspension setup for different regions. That would be a shit show from a manufacturing perspective. Generally the difference in regions is relegated to things like head light height or which side the steering wheel is on.

[rdtk1]

J. My understanding is if it starts with a 3, then it is built in mexico. Nice to know my car is jdm but. Just now I emailed koni asking if there struts work with both originating models. But it's Friday..

[rdtk1]

Just to point out rock auto displays part as intended for mexican built cars. Not all parts for this car state this. Rockauto thinks this part is different... If they didn't specify this I would not be concerned and would buy the parts. I normally buy parts from them and in past for 2 different models of mazda as well as Nissan. This is a first. So I hope I don't sound crazy..

[Db09ms3]

Yeesh. Good luck man

[rdtk1]

Front struts and rear shocks designed for MS3's made in mexico fit models made in Japan.
To no ones surprise....
But I have confirmed by buying them and installing them.