Hi, first of all. This is my first post. So hi all! Now, I have a Mazda 3i I really wish I would have gotten an s model or a speed. But I was just wondering how i could make a few extra horses. I plan on getting a cai and advancing the timing. I also plan on an exhaust. Just wondering if there was anything else I could do to increase power, specifically low end. also, does anyone know how much hp all these mods would gain? And would it be noticeable? Thanks in advance!

 

nothing really...TBH. I have a speed 3 now and it is a huge difference over the 2.0 that i had.

Advancing timing is a waste of time since the ECU will return it to the normal position

 

Basic things are: Short ram intake (I suggest Simota), MSDS headers, and for exhaust I recommend Racing Beat or Corksport exhaust (some people go with the race pipe to gain a few more ponies but it makes the car REALLY loud.) If you want to go further than that, you can get a flash tune. dynotronicstuning.com You have to remove the ECU and ship it to them, they tune it, then ship it back. Its like $450 for the tune, I have absolutely no idea about shipping. Um, you can also do an intake manifold but its not easy and will throw a check engine light. Weapon R makes it for 03-07 2.0 which is basically the same and Godspeed makes it for the focus which is basically the same. The godspeed requires a little bit of work to make it fit, I'm not sure about the Weapon R. I think someone tried to put a set of 2.0 Miata cams in a Mazda3 2.0 but I dont know if it worked out. The mazda3 2.0 and Miata 2.0 basically the same internally except the cams. Thats why the Miata gets like 170bhp. I do know that with the Headers, exhaust, intake and flash tune, you should be faster than a 2.5. You'll chirp going into 3rd so its pretty noticeable.

For advanced timing, when the engine ECU notices you changed something, take off the negative battery cable for ~5 min. Then the ECU resets itself to how it was from the factory so the mod is good again. Dont expect much from the mod though.