Mod Virgin. New mods coming with budget, what should I get done...

[faibs]

So here is where I stand.
This is my first car (06 gt, 5spd)
I have about 600 to spend on upgrades including labour

here is what i have planned, out of all these , what should I do in order of improvement to performance and just all around MUST HAVE.

CAI
Short Shifter
GROUND WIRE KIT
Blue LED Bulbs (i know it wont increase performance, but its nice and cheap)
Exhaust (not a big fan of this)
Rear Sway Bar
Power Trunk release
Aluminum Pedals/Dash Colour Trim (prolly do this anyways)
dropping my car is really not something Im into, wheels and rims are also way out of my budget.

feel free to add anything that I left out.

[WhiteSpeed3]

Cai

[Skarbro]

Rear sway bar is too low on the list. It should be #1 in IMO, since you are not into dropping the car. Handling is the weakest link in this car's performance. With a good rear bar like the Progress one, you will greatly improve cornering. The best bang for your buck.

Next, go with the CAI or short shifter (in my case, I went with the SS because I hate the stock shifter. Now its waaaaay better).

[KenYork]

+1 rear sway bar..

[MattC]

You have to do all that with 600$? good luck!

I agree with the guys though, Rear Sway is really important, also Lowering your car slightly will help with bodyroll/handling alot too, you don't need to go down 2" to get it either, 1-1.5" will do it too.

[faibs]

600 is the most I can spend, so just wanna see how many of these I should do until i max out. so i figure CAI would go 300 tops, SS would be around 250, then that leaves me with 50 (dome lights or painting trim would be remaining option)
or whatever other combination I can do. how much is a sway bar anyways

[yearoftherat]

Racing Beat sways will run about 150 US before shipping

[KenYork]

Try this $20 mod, cheap and works (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=18220), then add a rear sway bar and SS. About $450 in total, it leave quite a bit for other things.

[MattC]

you can get a Fujita CAI from SSG for around 250 or so.
He prolly carries the shifter too... Either that or check out CTA Patricque's store hes got some good stuff for sale.

Take that 50$ and get a sharkfin instead of painting the trim :)

[3GFX]

For 600$?

1. CAI (love the sound and its technically a performance mod)
2. Sway bar (will really help handling)
3. Blue LED interior bulbs (just for looks I guess)

You'll have enough left over for some decent cleaning products. These are some tasteful and useful (for the most part) modifications.

[Kevin@nextmod]

I'd say short shifter and sway bar. $600 is enough to do both with labor. Find a progress rear sway bar its about $150 now? plus $50 labor. And then a Short shifter which is about $150 ? plus a members labor. :) and there you go. Lots of money left.

[rcd001]

Rear sway bar is the must, the rear on the M3 has to much body roll and the tyres slip away on heavy cornering.

Camber(tip them towards the centre of car) your front tyres and you won't need to lower for increased handling. You loose wet traction but on cornering they will flaten out when you need it most.

CAI is nice, but the handling is more important on the M3. Injen CAI are available for $275US/CAD on e-bay including shipment. Carry $120 for the install unless you want to spend 4 hours doing it.

[Skarbro]

Camber(tip them towards the centre of car) your front tyres and you won't need to lower for increased handling. You loose wet traction but on cornering they will flaten out when you need it most.

I can't disagree more with you on this. Fooling around with the camber will result in premature tire wear and added stress on suspension components.

Your camber should be aligned to proper specs at all times by proper alignment apparatus.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Rear sway bar is the must, the rear on the M3 has to much body roll and the tyres slip away on heavy cornering.



if the rear tires slip on heavy cornering with stock suspension, they will lose traction quicker with a rear sway bar.

in that case, get some grippier tires before adding a rsb...especially on the sedan that has less inherent body roll than the hatch.

and, handling isn't the 'weakest link' in the 3, the tires are.

[Skarbro]

and, handling isn't the 'weakest link' in the 3, the tires are.
Tires are a component of handling.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Tires are a component of handling.

ok, let me rephrase: the rear sway bar is NOT the weakest component of the "handling" system in the 3, the tires are.

tires should be #1 on the list....you're recommending a rsb at #1 which will lead the average driver to easily exceed the capabilities of the RS-Ass (the RS-As are already overwhelmed by the stock suspension).

[Skarbro]

ok, let me rephrase: the rear sway bar is NOT the weakest component of the "handling" system in the 3, the tires are.

tires should be #1 on the list....you're recommending a rsb at #1 which will lead the average driver to easily exceed the capabilities of the RS-Ass (the RS-As are already overwhelmed by the stock suspension).
Ok I can buy that. But an experience driver should know the limits of the tires. That's why I would go with new tires after the rear sway bar.

[rcd001]

I always thought the good year tyres were not the best but many people seem to like then. The "eagles" I find have horrible traction compared to lower cost tyres.

I cambered the tyres on my Dad's BMW M3 and we noticed 0 premature wear. The wear was equal. They may have lasted 20% less, but the handling increase was brilliant.

We drive it a lot at the track, so 90% of the time is spent in a turn.

For street driving it really helps for ramps. Maybe not the best idea for the average driver as the wet traction is horrible and can be very dangerous.

[rcd001]

I can't disagree more with you on this. Fooling around with the camber will result in premature tire wear and added stress on suspension components.

Your camber should be aligned to proper specs at all times by proper alignment apparatus.

Also, performance upgrade are for performance and not designed for reliability. If you do any mods to your car and expected factory reliability you re-think your plan.

[Skarbro]

we noticed 0 premature wear. The wear was equal. They may have lasted 20% less

You're contradicting yourself. :)

[Skarbro]

Also, performance upgrade are for performance and not designed for reliability. If you do any mods to your car and expected factory reliability you re-think your plan.
I disagree. Performance upgrades most definitely can be for reliability. In fact most people are upgrading daily drivers on here.

Take for example upgrading brake pads. We do it to stop better, not necessarily to race in Auto-X.

Same with the rear sway bar. I upgraded to the progress bar to get rid of body roll - which it has done to a nice degree. It's perfectly reliable.

Not everyone upgrades performance for racing.