'12 MS3, the all-around build.

[Flawless]

Hey all, wanted to start my diary . . . plans to go BT in the near future. (Assuming I don't become a traitor and buy an RS . . .)

I bought my speed in March of 2015, and I quickly started modding (lets be honest, I bought it to mod). I bought it with right around 34k on the clock. I'll try to list my mods in order!

Stickers - 100hp each at least.
Cobb SF Intake - easiest install ever, but boy do I wish I had done the TIP when I did this.
Cobb TIP - Not done at the same time as the intake .-.
Cobb AP - Got a v2 for crazy cheap!
"HKS" BOV - Needed that sweet ricer sound (but this thing absolutely sucked)
JBR SSP - Got it cheap, figured a little shorter throw would be nice.
Rallyarmor Red Flaps - The single most defining feature of my car . . . I'm the girl with the red flaps.... Don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.
AT internals - NOT DONE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE TIP, man I am bad at planning. Pretty easy still.

At this point I was making enough power on a cobb OTS that I was having a hard time driving around, so I decided to do some beefing up.

JBR 80A RMM - Easiest install of my life.
Drag DR-31 18x8 wrapped in Bridgestone S-04 Pole positions - Like these tires a lot! Great for autox and dailying (which I do a lot of).
Laminex fog light yellow vinyl - For that hella JDM look.
Tinted VHF red tails - I hate that white look
JBR Heavy shift knob
GFB BOV - I learned my lesson with the shitty HKS BOV, this thing is great!

Now I decided I needed some more oomph in the suspension for autox.

Eibach Sportlines - Got these way too cheap, and they were terrible, I quickly swapped for something better.
Koni Yellows & H&R Springs - I thankfully I did these at the same time!=
JBR RSB - boy that sucker is big!
Magnaflow Axleback Exhaust - Thing sounds great, the only thing I've had a shop do (I can't weld)

Video of exhaust, launch control, and beautiful booty

Now I was ready to do some E85. (Thank god for Iowa!)

UR Test Pipe - probably one of my hardest installs . . . those bolts were hard to break cuz I dont have a lift, and the bf was out of town and I didn't have my muscle.
Stratified e30 tune - At this point I was making right about 300whp on a good day.

So the strat tune made a lot of power, but it was pretty useless. It came in really early, and I just spun. Decided to get FREEKEDDDD.

Freek 91 tune - Making around 280whp.
Freek e43 tune - Making 330whp.

CP-E TMIC - Bats are amazing! Never over 20 ambient at WOT.

And since then I've gone incognito mode, put my stock wheels back on and I drive him about 100miles a day to school.

Got some sweet winter wheels (sparco terra, 16x7.5 with 215/55/16 General Artic Altimaxs).


Will update with some install photos, and as I start to go BT next spring!

Pic of the car as it sits now:


My latest vdyno:


A girl and her Mazda, it's a beautiful thing:

[WAMBUSHHHH!]

Interesting. I've had my HKS for a while and haven't had any issues or gripes with it. Actually one of the favorite units I've owned (had the forge v1 and v2, TS dualport and the HKS). I've run the HKS for a short time in VTA, which I didn't like the throttle feel and its been in recirc ever since with no issues. I always like to ask when I see a person take the time in a build thread to state that one part sucks. I've heard great things about the GFB though.

Good build thus far though, any plans for a BLT (big little turbo)?

[mxlplx71]

lookin good

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by WAMBUSHHHH! Interesting. I've had my HKS for a while and haven't had any issues or gripes with it. Actually one of the favorite units I've owned (had the forge v1 and v2, TS dualport and the HKS). I've run the HKS for a short time in VTA, which I didn't like the throttle feel and its been in recirc ever since with no issues. I always like to ask when I see a person take the time in a build thread to state that one part sucks. I've heard great things about the GFB though. Good build thus far though, any plans for a BLT (big little turbo)?

Mine is "HKS". (knockoff). I wanted to run VTA, and the throttle response was atrocious, and it leaked . I like that the GFB feels stockish even at full VTA, and you can adjust. I'm sure the ACTUAL HKS is pretty good.

The plan is a s3 or a gt28 series. Gotta keep it reasonable for Autox.

[WAMBUSHHHH!]

Originally Posted by Flawless Mine is "HKS". (knockoff). I wanted to run VTA, and the throttle response was atrocious, and it leaked . I like that the GFB feels stockish even at full VTA, and you can adjust. I'm sure the ACTUAL HKS is pretty good. The plan is a s3 or a gt28 series. Gotta keep it reasonable for Autox.

Aye, I see the quotations now. Reading > me. Yeah, I love my HKS but if I find a GFB that comes up used, it'll be added to the list of parts I've tried. I can confirm though that even the real unit in VTA, feels slightly odd, especially at tip in. Throttle feels real squishy. Other than though, the sound is beautiful. Just couldn't justify sacrificing feel for sound. Good luck lady!


edited: because not a man, she's a lady.

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by WAMBUSHHHH! Aye, I see the quotations now. Reading > me. Yeah, I love my HKS but if I find a GFB that comes up used, it'll be added to the list of parts I've tried. I can confirm though that even the real unit in VTA, feels slightly odd, especially at tip in. Throttle feels real squishy. Other than though, the sound is beautiful. Just couldn't justify sacrificing feel for sound. Good luck man!

Based off my "HKS" the GFB sounds very similar, and there's almost NO throttle control loss. My only compliant is that running a 50/50 or similar results in increased backfiring (but hey maybe that's your thing). I just run full all the time. Lots of noise, holds pressure well, and doesn't sound ricey.

[NCspecV81]

Is that a turbo on whoever's pants?

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by NCspecV81 Is that a turbo on whoever's pants?

That's me and yea. They're my "engine bae" yoga pants. I try to wear them to shows haha

[NCspecV81]

ooo youre a girl. ib4 10 pages.

[Flawless]

Added some hood struts today. Nice addition, but honestly, who uses rivets??

I read that this was a "super easy install" and "took 10minutes" and I had to buy a hand riveter . . . srsly.

[MS3Shadow]

could have went with Corksport. took like 5mins.

No Rivets, looks like stock.

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by MS3Shadow could have went with Corksport. took like 5mins. No Rivets, looks like stock.

I heard nothing but great stuff about this brand... Definitely disappointed. Oh well, live and learn. It's functional and looks okay.

[Flawless]

Some updates. Got the car on the rollers, 297whp and 374wtq at 4k rpm and 130F. That was with the hood closed and a fan pointed right into the scoop. So I decided fuck it, time for a FMIC.

Picked up a Cobb FMIC on the cheap, so far so good.
Plan to pick up a DP sometime in the next few months and install that as well, and then a retune come spring when I can get good E again.

He's on a 91 tune for the winter now, and went DD mode with my rally wheel setup.

Ended the autox season SUPER strong, I don't have much competition in DSP, but doing really well compared to most of the STX cars (except those fuckin FRSs . . .)

post is useless without pics:

[Code Monkey]

Love the license plate.

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by Code Monkey Love the license plate.

Ha most people don't even get it . . .

[Casanova]

Nice car... Got any more pictures of you in your yoga pants? Trying to decide if I should get some for my future GF...

[Flawless]

Picked up some new toys, got the yakima roof rack on (for that grocery getter lyfe).

Ordered a new skid plate, a prosport boost gauge, and a UR downpipe.

Should have them all on by next week sometime, and I'll post pics

For now this is all you get! And yes, it's awesome in the snow!

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by Flawless Ha most people don't even get it . . .

How. About. Them. Hawkeyes?! Lets just pretend the last game never happened.

Love the license plate and great looking speed.

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff How. About. Them. Hawkeyes?! Lets just pretend the last game never happened. Love the license plate and great looking speed.

Let's just pretend the last two didn't happen. We were in a local wing joint watching the mich state game and I almost cried on the way out. I was actually washing the car when the rose bowl started and by the time I came in they were 3 tds down. I told the bf to just turn it off.

I go to Uiowa so I'm an obligatory fan.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by Flawless Let's just pretend the last two didn't happen. We were in a local wing joint watching the mich state game and I almost cried on the way out. I was actually washing the car when the rose bowl started and by the time I came in they were 3 tds down. I told the bf to just turn it off. I go to Uiowa so I'm an obligatory fan.

I went there for Mechanical Engineering (ha...siemens center)! I usually visit at least once a year to be a degenerate in Iowa City. The booze runs deep there that's for sure.

I went to the Big Ten Championship and I about cried as well. It was like getting slowly stabbed by a big ol' spartan weiner for 10 minutes straight at the end.

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff I went there for Mechanical Engineering (ha...siemens center)! I usually visit at least once a year to be a degenerate in Iowa City. The booze runs deep there that's for sure. I went to the Big Ten Championship and I about cried as well. It was like getting slowly stabbed by a big ol' spartan weiner for 10 minutes straight at the end.

Ha I'm a MechE as well. I work up at Rockwell and commute down there.

I'm just happy I went to the purdue game. It's fun to watch a blow out when your team is doing the ass stomping.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[sheston]

I think I like you. Yoga pants with turbos, and looks like the BF washes the car for you

[Flawless]

Originally Posted by sheston I think I like you. Yoga pants with turbos, and looks like the BF washes the car for you

That's actually my best bud. BF is in charge of doing all the heavy lifting! Dog is on tool duty.

[Flawless]

A few news things to keep me busy in the cold. New boost gauge, new vinyl wrap, and a new skid plate. Having a lot of trouble with skid plate install and will need to revisit it (My FMIC is VERY in the way of the connections to the bumper).