My New 2005 Mazda 3 S Hatchback + Questions

[skulkingghost]

I just got my 2005 Mazda 3 S Hatchback. I purchased it from a local dealer for $10,995.

Mileage: 29,242
Engine: 2.3L
It wasn't the greatest day out! Ill take better pics later!

I have a bunch of questions now:

The previous owner had an audio setup installed, he left the speakers and cabling in but removed the amp. Everything works fine at the moment, but what benefits will I get from hooking up an amp? I was just given a car amp by one of my customers that looks pretty nice, should I hook it up or stay stock? The wiring is already there for a trunk mount

The previous owner installed the LED footwell mod, is there a way to swap the LED's easily for led Strips? Reason being they aren't as bright as I would like

The tint is very dark, but if I bought it from a dealer with a new inspection it should be legal right? My last car I was forced to remove the tint when I moved to Williamsport, PA by a police office. But I now live in West Chester, PA again if that matters.

I installed a GROM audio kit in the head unit and ran the cable into the cupholder. I would also like to put an led strip under where the cuholder opens so that the cupholder is illuminated if I open it, has anyone done this before / have instructions.

Why do the LED footwells only turn on when I turn the car lights on via the stick off the wheel? I thought they should come on when I unlock the car.

For my next oil change should I go synthetic? If so where should I go to get this done?

 

[coxmaster]

Im going to address a few of your questions, im sure others (who know more than me..) will answer the rest.

For the tint. Just because you bought it from a dealer doesnt mean its legal. PA tint laws are 70% all around and from those pics it looks WAAY darker than 70%.

For the turbo. It probably doesnt have one. Does it make any "turbo noises" while running/accelerating? A turbo isnt something people would install, and then trade the car shortly after.


Otherwise, looks good!!

 

[finbarqs]

how is it NOT the greatest day? overcast = even lighting = God's soft box! You just need to dial your exposure a little more, and you'll get something (as steve jobs will say) "magical!"

 

[skulkingghost]

Im going to address a few of your questions, im sure others (who know more than me..) will answer the rest.

For the tint. Just because you bought it from a dealer doesnt mean its legal. PA tint laws are 70% all around and from those pics it looks WAAY darker than 70%.

For the turbo. It probably doesnt have one. Does it make any "turbo noises" while running/accelerating? A turbo isnt something people would install, and then trade the car shortly after.


Otherwise, looks good!!

Thanks, The tint is less on the front windows than the back, heres an unedited photo without post processing for comparision. My friend said he thought maybe 28 front 35 on the 2 rear, but who knows. Here is an unedited photo.

 

[skulkingghost]

how is it NOT the greatest day? overcast = even lighting = God's soft box! You just need to dial your exposure a little more, and you'll get something (as steve jobs will say) "magical!"

I just couldnt drive it where I needed to shoot / driveway was not clear enough to get a good angle. Going to take it to a lot I usually use for car photos this weekend.

I removed the turbo question as I finall found a video of a mazda3 with a turbo installed and now know that I definitely dont have one!

 

[punjabiplaya]

http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/2010-mazda-3-how-guides/2096-diy-led-cupholder.html

Synthetic is up to you really. I wouldn't know of any local places, ask some local people who know good shops nearby or just do it yourself. If you drive a lot and don't want to change the oil a lot, then go for it. Otherwise synthetic is a waste of money on that engine and you can just use dino oil. Follow the manual for oil changes (I think it's 5k, I haven't looked at mine in awhile). If you search, you can look for ways to re-wire the led footwell lights to turn on whenever you want do (wiring will change depending on when you want them on/off).
Can't really help you with the sound system as I have no real expertise there.

 

[Sid59]

Lots of posts you can search or start over at http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/

Congrats!

 

[skulkingghost]

Lots of posts you can search or start over at http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/

Congrats!

Thanks for the links! I was just singing up on mazda3 forums but was looking for some other forums!

 

[sdifox]

Im going to address a few of your questions, im sure others (who know more than me..) will answer the rest.

For the tint. Just because you bought it from a dealer doesnt mean its legal. PA tint laws are 70% all around and from those pics it looks WAAY darker than 70%.

For the turbo. It probably doesnt have one. Does it make any "turbo noises" while running/accelerating? A turbo isnt something people would install, and then trade the car shortly after.


Otherwise, looks good!!

Mazda 3 don't come with turbo and no one in their right mind will attempt to install one themselves. Mazdaspeed 3 is a different story.

 

[Gibson486]

<----looks forward to your maintenance issue threads for your car....

 

[T2urtle]

car is decent but i would of asked to knock out more price since its modded. even if you like it act like you hated it and knock out money.

tint looks to be about the 15-35 from pictures. no freaking way will it pass as 70. so ticket if they care.

Oil change, you can do w/e you want. its the same really IMHO. nice car, i liked it but heard it had horrible gas mileage for the power you get. low low 20's

 

[CraigRT]

You would be better off getting that car rustproofed since you are in PA, than spending money on synthetic oil for the engine. Mazdas love to rot and PA is in the salt belt.

 

[Gibson486]

You would be better off getting that car rustproofed since you are in PA, than spending money on synthetic oil for the engine. Mazdas love to rot and PA is in the salt belt.

yeah, my 07 mazda 3 is rusting already The car has such a cheap paint job.

 

[ichy]

I removed the turbo question as I finall found a video of a mazda3 with a turbo installed and now know that I definitely dont have one!

I wonder what kind of retard would turbocharge a Mazda3 on his own, since for a few thousand additional dollars you could just get a Speed3 with a turbo.

 

[Gibson486]

I wonder what kind of retard would turbocharge a Mazda3 on his own, since for a few thousand additional dollars you could just get a Speed3 with a turbo.

the same retards who rice out civics...

 

[Arkaign]

I wonder what kind of retard would turbocharge a Mazda3 on his own, since for a few thousand additional dollars you could just get a Speed3 with a turbo.

I don't know about 'retard', perhaps someone might pick up a cheap used 2.3 and then turbo it. Provided someone does it right, it could be a decent enough performer, particularly if they also install the limited slip diff.

Now that the much improved 2.5L Duratec is out for '10+, a turbo 2.5L done right would actually be notably better than the '10+ speed3 that still uses the old 2.3.

If someone went to a shop and paid $6k+ to do it, yeah that's pretty much a waste, but picking up some parts on Mazda forums, goodies from parted out Speed3s, etc, it could be done for a cheap price and produce a pretty nice result.

There is plenty of logic in taking a custom path for speed, just as you can take a base or GS Vette and supercharge it with some supporting mods and have something in the realm of a $100k+ ZR1.

 

[theeedude]

I have a 2006 of that exact car in that exact color. Congrats.
I would check under the driver side floormat, my original carpet wore through under there, I put some plastic tape there (the kind they use to mask carpets when painting houses) on the new carpet, and on dead pedal area. The carpet is pretty weak, I think they just glued their engineer's pubes to the cardboard or something.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I think they just glued their engineer's pubes to the cardboard or something.

Epic quote.

 

[skulkingghost]

You would be better off getting that car rustproofed since you are in PA, than spending money on synthetic oil for the engine. Mazdas love to rot and PA is in the salt belt.

I always read that rustproofing was a scam and that newer cars did not need it?

 

[sdifox]

I always read that rustproofing was a scam and that newer cars did not need it?

I don't know what is the deal with the Mazdas since all cars get dunked and galvanised. But there is a lot of rusted Mazdas out there, including the 2002 Protege5 I had and the 2008 Mazda3 my sister in law has. I also see quite a few on the road with rust. So better safe then sorry I say. Probably not built for salt country.

 

[soulcougher73]

If you live in a humid environment the AC will suck donkey balls. Was a known issue that caused me to get rid of me 2005 Mazda 3 after 6 months. Was just unacceptible here in KS during the summer months. 30 mins of it on and the car would still be uncomfortable.

Not sure if they have fixed it on the newer models. I hope they have since its a great car outside that issue. At the time it was the number 1 issue on the mazda 3 forum.

 

[Gibson486]

If you live in a humid environment the AC will suck donkey balls. Was a known issue that caused me to get rid of me 2005 Mazda 3 after 6 months. Was just unacceptible here in KS during the summer months. 30 mins of it on and the car would still be uncomfortable.

Not sure if they have fixed it on the newer models. I hope they have since its a great car outside that issue. At the time it was the number 1 issue on the mazda 3 forum.

nope, still was issue up to 07, at least.

 

[Tristicus]

Why would you not hook the amp up...?

 

[skulkingghost]

Why would you not hook the amp up...?

I don't really know the benefits of it, and need to find a manual / guide online.

 

[ivan2]

nope, still was issue up to 07, at least.

i have a 09 and the AC still suck. the official solution is to turn it to top vent only and point straight at you while running max fan speed.


OP, i really think that footwell light is currently wired for show, you should wire it to the cabin light if you want it to be functional.