I am new to this forum and am posting a summary of my experience with a 2007 MS3:

Bought April 2012 in Fort Worth:
Car had following mods installed by previous owner:
Tein springs, Injen air intake, Cobb DP, resonators removed, CP-E stage 1 RMM
Compression check: 170/165/160/154 in June 2012

Now has 110K miles and has had extensive repairs/updates since bought:
*All Brake calipers/rotors replaced with new OEM parts
*Three wheel bearings replaced
*Left CV axle replaced
*Tein springs replaced with RaceLand coilovers (junk) replaced with 2010 MS3 OEM springs/shocks
*Thermostat and water pump replaced
*Two bent wheels repaired
*Installed full-time running lights
*Replaced driver side rear control arm
*Installed 20" glasspack and AP 3738 muffler (much quieter now)
*Replaced RaceLands left front strut bearing
*Clutch replaced
*Rear O2 sensor replaced
*Replaced front and rear stabilizer bushings and links (right front stab clamp bolt had broken off and basically had been running over 2 years without front stabilizer bar working)
*SPC adjustable Camber link installed on rear driver side (Pass side installation is about a 4 hour labor charge due to emissions canister blocking removal of non-adjustable OEM camber link bolt. Used GM part number from Amazon "ACDelco 45K0187..." )
*Installed RMM ("6068A CM5Z-6068A 13-14 Ford Focus Electric").
*Installed BECK/ARNLEY PMM

All together about $7K in repairs/upgrades over past 3 years.

Remaining tasks:
Replace timing chain
Decarbonize intake valves
Install new sparkplugs
Replace trans fluid with Motorcraft MTX-75 & IB5 XT-M5-QS
Use AP2 to tune for high altitude (5000ft) operation (only abt 12 psi max boost now)
Figure out how to install pass side adjustable camber link at a reasonable cost.
Attack NVH with sound deadening as last resort

In summary, a lot has been learned about what NOT to do in buying an MS3. If buying an MS3 today I would buy one that is totally stock, under 40K miles, and owned by a little ol' lady school teacher. (I also own a '94 turboed Miata that has only had oil/anti-freeze changes the past 12 years) This MS3 has been a very high maintenance bitch that I wouldn't care to repeat. But, it reminds me so much of the '58 Volvo 444's handling and feel I used to have that I will not now give up this MS3-

Rant off

I installed the SPC Camber adjustment pieces on a first gen MZ3. The part was a PIA, but didn't take 4 hours. I wonder how different the process is for a 2nd gen MS3.

Not sure why the platform is so expensive to maintain. I cut my losses on the MZ3 when it developed rod knock with about 60k miles on it.

I had my speed for 3 years. I'm more or less a self appointed guru on the palatform. The rear camber arms are almost the exact same as the MZ3 shadow.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I had full suspension, upgraded turbo, and every bolt on you can think of making 415/450 at the wheels.

Please send all questions to Mortose's attention prior to month end, or they'll be lost forever.

That sucks, how many miles did it have on it when you purchased it?

My 2007 has been great, had around 38k when i bought it and i'm at 97k now,
have replaced:

idle-pully tensioner thing?
transmission shifter seal (thanks Sha'!)
rotors, brakes,
front/rear stabilizer bar bushings
endlinks
shocks/springs


so overall not much and have been very happy with the car, aside from the damn suspension bumps/rattles/clunks that were only temporarily fixed by replacing the bushings...