hey all!

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Hey guys (and perhaps gals?),

I'm Sean, from the national capital region (aka the dark side for you leaf fans)

Im not sure how many of you folks are outside of toronto & in the ottawa region... but anyways enough about me.

I'm driving a Carbon Mica '07 Mazda3i Touring Edition that i bought used about a year ago. Ive picked this one up got the 140k km bumper-bumper warranty. I love this car... best purchase i have ever made.

After reading some of these threads and starting some of my own i decided to do some light modding of my zoom-zoom.

Here is what the car looked when i bought it last year:

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/SeanCar1.jpg

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/SeanCar1.jpg

So far i have tinted my windows with 35% front 20% back, bought a stubby antenna, and bought an axela badge for it on ebay :D. (ill try to keep this updated with pics)

I also ordered some new rims and tires that are getting installed on wednesday. Ordered some RTX Neurotoxin 17" with Hankook K110 Ventus V12 205/50-17s. Pumped to see them on the car!

Thanks for all of the tips and help that i have gathered on this forum. Hope to have a regular stint on the ToM3 forums!

[th3r3n3g4d3]

oops... see how much of a n00b i am? cant even post the right picture ahaha

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/SeanCar6.jpg

[stevenma188]

^Picture is still of a stock car.....

Anyways welcome to TM3. I know there are a few members here from the Ottawa area.

[RECREATIONAL_ANXIETY]

Very Stocky.

[th3r3n3g4d3]

ahaha yea well i did say 'light mods'.

but like i said those are from a year ago when i bought it... ill post up some pictures of the updated car soon

[Garyjai]

looks really nice!

[DualSoul]

:welcome smiley

[Nextmod]

Welcome to the club =)

[poke65]

Welcome aboard

[th3r3n3g4d3]

thanks! i just installed the rims today. they are amazing! the dealership ran out of hankook k110s but upgraded them to Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD07. What a difference in driving these made, it feels like i put in a 2.3l with the pedal responsiveness and the cornering is intense. I went 80 down a 90 degree turn where most cars go 30 and they didnt even screech. I have pics but the car is dirty so ill wash it tomorow and retake them for appearance ahaha

[klym]

Haha welcome to the club. Looking forward to seeing new pics, you sure do move fast when it comes to mods!!

[Mr Fatty]

welcome

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Here's the car after the rims, a little dirty from the backroads.

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/IMG002.jpg

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Got the car cleaned yesterday and went to see a buddy who has a modded '04 mazda3 in my neighbourhood... couple of pics to show

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/IMG006.jpg

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/IMG005.jpg

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/IMG008.jpg

http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/IMG009.jpg

And a closeup of the rims
http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad141/th3r3n3g4d3/Car/IMG007.jpg

[stevenma188]

Man you need a drop! Looks like a SUV!

[3Sheets]

Nice wheels - looks great the way it is.

[mazdathree]

Nice mods so far...your 3's crying out loud for a drop!! Welcome to TM3!! :)

[th3r3n3g4d3]

thanks guys. Ill paint the calipers probably this weekend and upload some pics.

Quick question cause i'm still a noob at most car things. Do I just need springs to drop the car or do i also need struts & camber links as well?

Im asking because I can get a MazdaSpeed sport spring kit w/ camber on special for $380 at my dealership, but if i add the struts were looking at $400 more and added install costs

[stevenma188]

For lowering, it depends on how low you want to go. For a mild drop, just springs is fine. Past ~1.5" in the rear, and you will start maybe needing camber links. As for changing the struts, for most springs, the OEM ones will be fine, although some people argue about the life of the struts after lowering. If you are going to do both springs and new struts, maybe it's time to look at coil-over kits, as they won't be that much more than getting both. BC Racing has fully adjustable coil-overs for the 3 for ~$1000.

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Alright, thanks for the info. From the pictures (which make the gap look worse than it is) what would you recommend for a mild drop height? What springs are best for the 3 if i did keep the oem struts?

Depending on who i ask they say its worth it/not worth it to lower the car. It supposedly lowers the life of the car dramatically when it comes to struts, tire wear, alignment, and other problems. Is this true? I want to keep my car for a while so the longer it lasts the better. I also have the 140k km bumper to bumper and I don't want to void it by modding the vehicle too much, and as well stay away of trouble for my insurance company.

Any info would be appreciated! thanks

[stevenma188]

Eibach Prokits seem to be the most popular choice.

[xdutrax]

Car looks great after the tint and rims. The rims look like rims I have been looking at!

Where did you get them and how much + rubber?



I think a shark fin, or stubby would look nice. But definitely think about lowering! That alone would make a dramatic difference.

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Car looks great after the tint and rims. The rims look like rims I have been looking at!

Where did you get them and how much + rubber?



I think a shark fin, or stubby would look nice. But definitely think about lowering! That alone would make a dramatic difference.

I dont know what your getting at with stubby... i do have a stubby.

I got the rims (17" RTX Neurotoxin) from a mazda dealer in Gatineau Quebec, basically at cost. Rubber was also hugely discounted. This was mainly due to their incompetence and luck on my side. Rims & Rubber & Tuner Lugs & Install & Mount came to about 1000 bucks taxes in

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Update: I just bought aftermarket fog lights off ebay. Should get them in a week or so. Anyone have a how-to for installing aftermarket fogs?

[xdutrax]

I dont know what your getting at with stubby... i do have a stubby.

I got the rims (17" RTX Neurotoxin) from a mazda dealer in Gatineau Quebec, basically at cost. Rubber was also hugely discounted. This was mainly due to their incompetence and luck on my side. Rims & Rubber & Tuner Lugs & Install & Mount came to about 1000 bucks taxes in


Wow, sorry for that! I didnt even notice!

Yeah the car looks great, did you purchase the yellow or clear fog lights?

I believe foglights are going to be my first install, if you have a good experience with the buyer and item let me know! :) If I come across a how-to or some sort of instructions, I will PM you :)

[Nextmod]

looking good =)

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Thanks for the input guys!

and durax I bought these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180538514310&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123) ones. So far the buyer has been helpful, should take about 7 business days to get here. Unfortunately, from what i gather, none of the ebay ones come with step by step instructions.

[xdutrax]

Thanks for the input guys!

and durax I bought these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180538514310&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123) ones. So far the buyer has been helpful, should take about 7 business days to get here. Unfortunately, from what i gather, none of the ebay ones come with step by step instructions.

Awesome, thanks a lot!

I'm sure you could find some sort of instructions online, and if not.. they shouldnt be too hard to install. I do believe it involved removing the bumper though.

[Jackal]

ahaha yea well i did say 'light mods'.

but like i said those are from a year ago when i bought it... ill post up some pictures of the updated car soon

Did you buy the car with tints and the axela badge already there or was that part of your first mods?
Your ride looks great!

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Did you buy the car with tints and the axela badge already there or was that part of your first mods?
Your ride looks great!

No i added tint, stubby & axela myself

Thanks!

[th3r3n3g4d3]

just with a quick update... just received the fog lights and ill try and install them today. Hopefully they are not complicated :D

[th3r3n3g4d3]

well after all that waiting i decided to put them on. Only problem is that they didnt fit!!! A little pissed off now so i gotta return them.

[against the grain]

welcome aboard!

[th3r3n3g4d3]

Thanks!

So the ebayer will be refunding the entire thing including shipping. The lights i bought were advertized as compatible with the 2007 but the 07 and 08 fogs are completely different. Fog lights Round 2 will be starting soon!