Engine mounts are still defective, at least on the first year of gen 2s (2010). replacing my passenger-side one (at 83k miles) later this week. Also had MAF and both O2 sensors fail between 75k miles and now.
Found a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 for $5k at 140k miles
Parker Walker
Andrew Cook
speed 3, btw
Jaxon Brooks
yea no shit lol. Rear mount is garbage, passenger is shit, trans one is the only half decent one but mine tore so i replaced it with OEM because no one makes a efocus tier one for the passenger/trans anymore.
I only have a 2.5 but wanted a speed3. ill probably sell it and buy a speed3 when they are cheap or swap in a 2.5 turbo from a cx9.
Bentley Torres
Anybody have any issues with the regular gen 1 3?
Cooper Baker
Bump
Jordan Martinez
Yes, most of those were fixed in the gen 2's but they are fixable, Even some mistakes being made again on the gen 2 (aka motor mounts)
Mounts and rust are usually a thing with the gen 1 but not on gen 2. so aim for a gen 2 if you want a mazda.
Wyatt Phillips
I drive an 04 Gen 1 MZ3, (no turbo). I have over 200,000 on it, and the only thing I've done to it maintenance wise is just normal shit that wears out on any car of that age.
Brakes all around
>went with OEM, because I got 150k out of my original set, and found new OEM pads for $130, all four corners
Passenger side motor mount
>$50 on Rockauto and takes 5 minutes to change after the car is in the air. Convenient time is during an oil change
rear motor mount
>ditto as above, went with an AWR 70 durometer. Stiffened up my shifts big time, but did a bit of NVH. For me, the added noise was actually quite pleasant. YMMV
New shocks/struts
>Went with KYB Excel G's. Ride and handle exactly the same as new OEM's, but cost 1/3rd
rear trailing arm bushings
>You need a press to get them in and out. Just pull the arms, take them to your local mechanic, he'll charge you $40.
Rear wheel bearings
>easy as hell
Front wheel bearings
>press
front LCA's
>fucking EASY, except passenger side. To get the front bolt out, just jack the engine up 2-3" by removing the bolts from the passenger side motor mount, then it slides right out
outer tie rod ends (inners were fine)
Spin on oil filter conversion
>guides all over the 'net, cost me $20 for an adapter off of a Ford Fusion
Kevin Cooper
Fuck yeah, thanks for this.
+1
Like
Jacob Powell
I already have an '08 3 with the 2.0L, just under 60k km on her. Was just wondering if there was anything I'd have to look into in the future. Thanks friend and sorry about highjacking the thread
Samuel Peterson
motor mounts if you haven't done them already. but there are good mods you should do as well, solid shifter bushings (basically washers), corksport shifter if manual, short shifter, lighter wheels, turbo brakes, list goes on.