I originally owned a 2013 ms3 and loved it but had to part with it. So when I got a few bucks I purchased another one because I intend to take at least one of these cars to my grave. I purchased a 2011 mazdaspeed 3 with 132k for a very reasonable 4 grand in 2019. Sun damage severe on hood and roof put the ask at 5k and I gave 4k fast only to realize when I got it home the rear tail lights were too new and certain things well it had been in and nicely repaired from a rear end collision. Kbb being 10-12k and nice models or any models at dealers costing 15k I really figured it a good enough deal because I had 15k cash to spend and thought it a wonderful project to build my 15k ms3 out of this and so I did. Shop found that fuel pump parts on tank were cracked and never repaired or known about prob. But I was at a shop that does alot of good business as well as prepping miatas for the track and the mechanic owned a mazdaspeed 3 himself so I figured I was in good hands. I got new bilstein road coilovers with adjustable hight factory set dampening 1400. Motor mounts and trans mount upgraded all 3 too diamon mounts 700. Ordered spark plugs 30. Got too much really in hignsight but all these upgrades are necessary when you read about them and totally better than stock right your own personal hignsight I learned is your only 2020 vision into the give and take of these products. Others never share my concerns I continued in my ignorance to order what I thought justified and not crazy. I didn't order as a first thing a turbo or anything in fact I saved that for last and ran out of money long before that. But I ordered water pump. I ordered an upgraded intercooler but with stock top mount location 400. I ordered all the parts for updating the timing chain 700 and told my mechanic when I got to the shop to order anything I missed and he got many stock parts I missed and I really didn't see any of him just taking advantage because he knew he was getting all my money and that there was already give and take on what could and could not be gotten too. I had spent and spent and when I had 5k left in budget I thought I better put this in the shop before I run out of money to do so. I had ordered a kit to delete the egr. And an oil catch can with vented filter to open air on top and had him install it. I am savvy to work on cars but to change so much at one time I employed a professional enthusiast for help at 100an hour at his shop. I also had exhaust put in cat back only. He did a walnut blast and got the valves really clean. He dropped the tank new pump new lines. I had ordered stop tech rotors pads and steel braided lines to the calipers as a kit for 800. I can show paperwork of all the work and atuff but he put new oil pump new belt everything but the turbo radiator catalytic converter and engine were replaced but not the ign. Coils or maf sen. Or throttle body or heads or cams . Without opening the engine we replaced all the components I could afford and I was confident with the comp test 165 165 165 165 15 low from stock but all the similar. I got the car back after a month and every thing he had done worked great I was ecstatic knew the turbo days were numbered but it was 1 owner before me an old man and like me I think he uses it but not exxessivly and the turbo and clutch are ready to break records in longevity because never before had a car been cared for thusly I thought. I burned alot of oil but nothing unnatural just alot at high boost because the turbo is 132k I now have 150k and problems I probably caused. It eats oil fast and I let it get lower than I should have and thus dirtier to often. Until the car litteraly changed while I was driving down the highway it turned into a diesel truck. I pulled in where I was going and it idled like a old diesel and I thought that's not good what's changed. Oil pressure light never came on the dash but it was low and dirty and put new oil and oil flushed it and it was better so I was like ok maybe I just put a little wear on it and 5k later no I didn't smoke the bearings or anything like that it can run smooth and rev high and gets great mileage. But my dad says may be I damaged more the top of the engine the heads or cams or valves or something. Anyway it started to misfire and I really always noticed the car was better but not really because it ran but not ever as good as before and now the extra noise and vibration that didnt worry me because it was steady the same never got worse until now the car blinks periodically the engine light when it's misfiring and the light was allways on solid because I deleted the egr but I had an accessport v3 and monitored all 32 parameters and they were all healthy even with engine light because it only ever said egr unplugged no read you know. Any way the blinking light only happened when the clutch was not engaged with a gear like the motor can't be stable rpm without a transmission holding it steady rpm wise. I figured maybe it's the coil ignition pack failing at 150k so I replaced all 4 coils and all 4 spark plugs yesterday and the plugs with 20k on them looked horrible big buildup on the finger and white and black buildup on the ceramic and irridium that was barely left leaving a huge bulge of junk nearly fully skewing it like worn plugs. So of course that helped alot but it still blinked when I push the clutch then 20 miles later it would not stop blinking and was rough and didn't want to increase rpm without rattling so I almost pulled over scared but I remembered what my dad told me I said if something got down in the cylinder couldn't my engine just blow it out the exhaust valve and no problem. He said ya if it doesnt get stuck in the vavle of something that triggered in me the guts and gusto and of course with alot of thought you know good smart ones I figured well he'll I can't be scared forever I havnt gone full throttle in 10k probably and back then after the repairs and cleaning when I did it screamed no break up no bad numbers perfect and smooth it screamed in the past so I figured what the he'll I got onto the highway well I was on the highway going 50 in 4th or 5th amd I put it in 3rd and flored it and it sung for the next 20 miles no misfires just burning oil and otherwise running great. Before I changed the plugs and coils it was black smoking super heavy on any boost but now just burning oil so that's an improvement and driving like a race car it maintains good mpg and revs smoothly so nothing is broken my next move is too clean or replace the maf and throttle body because I can't get it to stop misfiring at low rpm and when I press clutch coming to stop. I cleaned the maf with what scotty recomended 2k back and noticed befor I cleaned it had alot of oil or dirt on one side and I could only get 80% clean and I fear now when I look at it if it's really dirty again that even a new maf would get dirty very soon. I did replace the air filter yesterday too cone type of course it had the old one from when I got it. Help I know I need a new turbo eventually and I think maybe my catalytic converter is shot because when I start the car black pieces of rust and suit seem too cough out the exhaust and all that black smoke I was making it almost feels like my Italian tune up might have just helped to get some flow out of a clogged cat and that my car running rough weirdly yesterday with new plugs was that it couldn't breath out properly. I also recall puddles making it blink 4k back and it made me think the water was cooling the cat too much for the already worn cat or something. Any suggestions how I can go forward to further reduce my misfires. Also my accessport got stolen so my car has the stock tune and I can't do the data collecting in real time that would be so helpful but I do have code reader. Random misfire cylinder 3 misfire and no data from egr I have not checked the new blinking light I assume it's same misfire code what's next do I need to take it to the shop or can I try anything else have yet to clean maf Sen. Or throttle body hope it does alot when I do but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated .

Love , Robert a long time viewer of scotty's