[amillion3]

Just looking to gather everyone's opinions on the first or 'must do' mods.

For me, it's window tint! Keeps the car cooler and I don't feel like I'm sitting in a fishbowl anymore.

I installed Android Auto and that is a super cool piece of tech (Waze and Google Maps is a great combo).

What else is necessary? Tires? Audio? Fuzzy dice from the rearview?

 

[Hawk94]

Just looking to gather everyone's opinions on the first or 'must do' mods.

For me, it's window tint! Keeps the car cooler and I don't feel like I'm sitting in a fishbowl anymore.

I installed Android Auto and that is a super cool piece of tech (Waze and Google Maps is a great combo).

What else is necessary? Tires? Audio? Fuzzy dice from the rearview?

I’d say tires is the next best thing to change out. A lot of people hate the stock ones because they’re so noisy.

A lot of people like getting a better rear sway bar as well. I think the consensus on the forum for best first mods are tires and rear sway bar from a performance standpoint.

 

[maktas1973]

For Sport and Touring models (US), GX and GS models (Canada) without LED lighting, I would upgrade many lights on the car, high beam (drl) to LED low beam to LED or HID (I prefer 5000k HIDS, have better light performance), replace side marker bulb (the little orange one to white led) no need for it to be orange! Replace licence plate and back up bulbs to LED.

 

[squelchy451]

I would say a short-shifter kit has had the biggest impact. For me, how it feel with the short-shifter is how it should have come from the factory. The side-to-side is a bit long but it helps you really make sure you're in the gear you want to be in. I drove my friend's Si and I always had to make sure I was shifting into 3rd instead of 1st or 5th because they were so close horizontally. The bushings included help get rid of the mushy feelings and it doesn't feel like you're shifting with a two feet long pole.

I wish more car companies understood that manual trans buyers are enthusiasts and will take a bit of NVH for more engagement.

General Altimax isn't bad for its price, they're a bit quieter than the stock tires, but I'll definitely be going with something even more quiet or with more grip the next time. I was very pleased with the Kumho Ecsta when I had my VW Golf.

 

[Odi]

Proper all-season floor mats that cover the dumb carpet dead pedal.

 

[CerealKiller]

My first and easiest mod was changing out the interior lights for LEDs. The set I'm linking to comes with the bulbs for the license plate too.

https://corksport.com/corksport-led-light-kit-for-2014-mazda-3.html
CK

 

[JDabzzz]

I did tint and minor appearance mods first, then "engine" mods. However, if I were to re-do it again, I would prioritize the suspension upgrades before somewhat useless stuff such as a SRI or exhaust despite how much I love my Borla.

 

[maktas1973]

I got these.... they look fantastic....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Floor-...var=413060405792&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[Snappy2.0]

1st mod was tint, I have all black interior. 2nd was brakes. Stop tech rotors and pads on all 4 wheels with stainless steel brake lines. Stops on a dime now.

 

[SUTTONRIDER]

Tint & Eibach Pro-Kit.

 

[amillion3]

Love that color SUTTONRIDER!

I think a sway bar and lighting will be next up. I'll probably burn through these tires and do a wheel/tire upgrade next year. Lots of commuting miles this year. Hella horns in there too at some point for the many folks that aren't paying attention. :rolleyes 1:

 

[squelchy451]

1st mod was tint, I have all black interior. 2nd was brakes. Stop tech rotors and pads on all 4 wheels with stainless steel brake lines. Stops on a dime now.

Which pads? I like the stock ones enough, but haven't a chance to test them on any emergency stops. Initial bite is non-existent though you feel it working. Very easy to modulate and consistent pedal feel.

Tint & Eibach Pro-Kit.

Stock shocks and struts? I have Racing Beat on stock and it's lowered enough that it doesn't look ridiculous. The alignment guy looked at me like I was crazy when I told him my car was on lowering springs hahaha! i would have liked more drop but the ride quality and handling is without fault on 90% of the roads I drive.

 

[SUTTONRIDER]

Which pads? I like the stock ones enough, but haven't a chance to test them on any emergency stops. Initial bite is non-existent though you feel it working. Very easy to modulate and consistent pedal feel.







Stock shocks and struts? I have Racing Beat on stock and it's lowered enough that it doesn't look ridiculous. The alignment guy looked at me like I was crazy when I told him my car was on lowering springs hahaha! i would have liked more drop but the ride quality and handling is without fault on 90% of the roads I drive.

Eibach springs on stock shocks. No alignment needed. Was done by my Mazda dealer.

 

[M3Nitro]

I would say for me the ULTRA GAUGE
UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool & Information Center


It does most things a good Basic Diagnostic Scanner can do and IMHO looks good on the dash.

 

[gruuvin]

I ordered the all weather OEM floor mats the day I purchased for under $100, then had the windows tinted the next morning. The OEM rubber mats fit perfectly, look great, and make the interior feel a LOT more premium than the stock mats, especially now after owning for a year. Those stock mats would have worn and curled up, but I have them in a box in the garage, in perfect condition. The car still feels brand new.
These are nice: 2014 2015 2016 Mazda3 Mazdaspeed hood damper strut lifter OEM Joint Mazda Axela BM - THESPEEDLINE ~ The Speedline nabobery

 

[Road Trip]

The “best, first mod” is the one that will make you happy that you have started personalizing the car toward being yours.

It will vary for each person, based on budget, need, what they want to change and many more variables.

For me, it was removing many of the superfluous factory badging/emblems on the rear of the car. Why, becuase I removed them within ten minutes at almost no cost (Goo Gone and dental floss), and every time thereafter when I came up to the rear of the car, it looked cleaner.

Doubt this first mod will be important to anyone else — but does that matter?

Your best, first mod is the one you want to do first!

 

[M3Nitro]

...... removing many of the superfluous factory badging/emblems on the rear of the car. Why, becuase I removed them within ten minutes at almost no cost (Goo Gone and dental floss), and every time thereafter when I came up to the rear of the car, it looked cleaner.

Doubt this ..... mod will be important to anyone else — but does that matter?

^unk:^

:smile2:

I also covered the lower reflectors....

 

[Crainjo]

I changed all stock interior bulbs to LED, reverse bulbs to LED, license plate bulbs to LED. Mazda logo projectors for doors, footwell and underseat LED. Also added some accent piping to interior. https://youtu.be/UsvhXutYNTI

 

[sevec]

for me the first mod would be the front plate relocation kit from @minsanity ����

 

[maktas1973]

I changed the side marker bulbs from the orange incandescent to high power LEDs, Im very happy with the result