Picked up something new - and it's not British!

[mattyprice4004]

Well guys and girls, I picked up a new toy last week.

It's a Mazda 3 MPS, quite different to the MG Rover vehicles I'm used to.

Blimmin' quick, and fun too!
Hopefully it behaves.

 

[mattyprice4004]

Very true, it's a real rocket.
This one was only a cheapie as it's on 100k to see if I like the car itself - turns out it's pretty fully loaded with odd options like Cruise Control.

No idea on how these are staged - but it's got a silly FMIC, upgraded fuel pump, remap, stainless exhaust and a few other bits and pieces.

 

[mattyprice4004]

From memory the wheels are original.
No idea who did the map - I'll see if I can find out.

To be honest I prefer the Mk2, but I just wanted to see if I liked it. For £3k I'm happy.

 

[mattyprice4004]

Yea how odd

I looked at a few and none had cruise control.
No need to be a ****

 

[mattyprice4004]

Okay, so a quick update.

I've done around 1,000 miles so far - on a 500 mile return trip to Southampton at between 60 and 70 I managed to average 40MPG. Quite impressed!
Did the return trip on just a smidge over one tank.

I went through the history, which was surprising - all VVT work has been done, the oil restrictor mod has been done, it's had a recon turbo not so long ago... and has a Versatune upgrade installed with a 'medium' map. That explains a lot!
Also seems to have a stainless exhaust.

It's riding too low, so it's either had lowering springs fitted or has lost a coil or two. Luckily Amazon had one set of OE Eibach Aero springs for £98 left...
Can't get the blimmin' thing on the drive until I fit those.
Also, a nasty rattle from the front suspension - I'm thinking ball joint or drop link. We'll see when it stops raining...

In short - yes, tax is a nightmare but it's absolutely worth it. Lovely little car.
Just had a Grom BT3 unit delivered to add Bluetooth to the OE stereo. It's a good Bose system, so worth keeping OE for now.

 

[mattyprice4004]

Another update!
Looks like the knocking noise is indeed front drop links - they're remarkably similar in design to the Rover 75 items I sell, which are also a very weak point.

Average MPG is awesome on a run, nudging 40MPG easily - but as expected, absolutely shocking when around town or actually using the power. Circa 25MPG seems to be about the norm.

The EML came on last week, starter catalyst below efficiency threshold - no effect on performance, so I'll probably just ignore it. Who needs a cat anyway?
Going to in-depth service it soon, there's a bit of hesitation sometimes when coming on boost so hopefully plugs will cure it.

Apart from that, it's been fantastic!

 

[mattyprice4004]

A quick update...

Well, the primary lambda was past its best, as was the MAF. Changed them both along with the plugs, and the hesitation issue is much better but not quite gone.
Myself and a couple of specialists think it could be an issue with the map it has loaded.

Apart from that, it's an absolute machine for what it is. I'd recommend these cars to anyone, a useful amount of power and plenty of handling ability.
Just not one to own if you're scared of spanners...

 

[mattyprice4004]

Okay, so another update.
The hesitation issue was something absolutely ridiculous.

The intake system has been replaced by the tuning company that owned it - a good move, as the standard intake and MAF housing isn't ideal.
The one they fitted included a plastic airflow straightener in the pipework preceding the MAF... however the mount for this airflow straightener had broken, and it was rolling around in the air filter about 6 inches in front.
This will have upset the airflow over the MAF depending in what position it was sat, causing cutting out and erroneous MAF readings.

Now glued back in, and running beautifully.

Also installed the VersaTuner software, and flashed over a basic but slightly improved map - power from the MAF readings is estimated to be around 285BHP.
I'm having a proper map written as I type this, ready for a rolling road day on Saturday.

*facedesk*

 

[mattyprice4004]

Another update - all absolutely perfect after the plastic was re-inserted.
The chap at the RR says it was probably time for lambda to be done anyway at over 100,000 miles - AFR readings were spot on, he reckoned in part to the new OE sensor.

Ran 283BHP, just having the mapping tweaked now as I've been logging various readings via VersaTuner.

 

[mattyprice4004]

And you'll all laugh but...
It's getting sold.

Today I was offered the same car, but with the engine already having had a full rebuild with forged rods and pistons, a new crank and literally thousands spent on it. All for a snip over what I paid for the car in the OP.

No pics to hand yet - but it has somewhere in the mid-300s in terms of BHP and is absolutely terrifying.
More to follow!

 

[mattyprice4004]

All still running OK surprisingly. Made 319BHP and 320 lb/ft on the dyno so it goes well for what it is, but the mapping needs updating as a lot of the mods were done after. Around 360 at the flywheel is expected once this has been done.

 

[mattyprice4004]

Sorry for the necro, but thought I should update for anyone else looking for advice owning one of these.
The original K04 turbos are made of cheese - the first one smoked slightly on idle, but it let go on the next owner. No harm done, second-hand BNR S3 fitted (big upgrade) and fine to this day.

The second 3 MPS was a little too much power-wise for the chassis - I finished off the modifications and mapped to suit and with getting on for 400BHP it was just too much for FWD. In a 6 with AWD it'd have been brilliant - but wheelspin in 4th in the dry was just annoying.

Overall, I'd absolutely recommend these cars to anyone looking for cheap thrills - but I'd buy a Mk2 (as a few issues were ironed out) and make sure the VVT pulley and timing chains etc have been done.
I really miss the first one I had (the silver Mk1) - she's now on quite high mileage and according to the next owner has been faultlessly reliable since I owned her, save for the turbo failure.