I've paid as much attention to the threads here and done as much searching as I have spare time. But I need some help consolidating this huge wealth of knowledge into the answer for a specific question.

Considering the relative lack of tuning options (I can't accept down-time as this is my only car): Which of these mods are safe (and recommended) without any engine management?

intake

headers
catless midpipe
exhaust

injectors
fuel pump upgrade
ignition upgrade

And what upgrades would you recommend that I haven't thought of?

 

This would be my list of upgrades in order of installation.

Cobb AccessPort
BHR ignition
AEM intake
BHR midpipe
Catback exhaust
BHR fuel pump upgrade.

And I'm not just trying to sell our products. They do that by themselves.

 

^+1

but first read the sticky for "your first $100."

 

Correct me if there is something I missed, but the Cobb AccessPort is not available for a 2011, right?

 

why dont you list some information about your car. things like mileage and work already performed

 

You're right about that.

If you plan on getting a header and a midpipe, just hold off on both of those. At some point BHR will be releasing a header and you will need a special midpipe(from what I read in Charles posts recently) to go with it that they will also include. It would suck to spend $400+ and then have to sell it if you chose to go with the BHR header as well. Someone feel free to correct anything if I gave wrong info.

There a couple options for the intake, AEM, racing beat revi, MazdaSpeed if you can find a used one(its just the AEM intake really). There is also the k&n typhoon but I think that ones just like a short ram intake and takes engine bay air and not a CAI.

You do have another option for tuning, pettit can or will soon be able to do a tune on an s2.


One pretty much free mod you can do is to disable the VFAD, I bought a pack of vacuum caps at autozone and just disconnected the hose right behind the throttlebody. Then I capped the nipple and zip tied the hose to another thing near it. Would take about a minute to go back to stock if need be(warranty work). I don't know if there are any actual gains or not, but the VFAD as I understand it flows less air at lower rpms(below 5500 I think) and this just keeps it open all the time. There is a DIY around somewhere that you might read and decide for yourself if you want to do it. Lots of small mods that can be done in the "first $100" thread.

 

Excuse me. I didn't see the year of your 8 in your sig. No it's not available for the 2009 - 2011.
Sorry.

 

posted in SII forum

 

I'm at about 3,960 miles and haven't had any work done to it yet.