Just got the new car(v6) and having an issue with air intake/throttle response, there was a big dirty split in the flexi pipe which had many many repairs to it, to get it home I added my own layer of duct tape, you could hear it was running rough and almost fighting to take a breath, I've stripped all the crap off, got a uniform fix with fresh duct tape and this has helped a great deal, but it still sounds a little rough and struggling. Its now off the road till payday, ill be giving it a service and new flexi pipe, but in the meantime anything I should be checking, vac leaks etc? I'm pretty good with the 1.5 engine, bit the v6 is still fresh ground.

Usual, new plugs (6 remember!), leads, cap and rotor arm always help. Check the TPS position, mine needed tweaking a fraction and helped. As I said before, mine was pretty rough, especially low down and at idle, until I fitted a new dizzie cap.

For intake leaks, spray carb cleaner on any pipes and see if the revs dip slightly, normally helps identify a leak. I also cleaned the airflow metre (spraying only) and the throttle body inside as well, that made the throttle less sticky.

As for the intake hose, good luck unless you make one or go for a CAI. I lucked out and found an intake pipe in perfect nick from the scrappers, then fitted a K&N filter in the existing filter box and removed the convoluted intake that goes up inside the front wing (bumper off and a bit of wiggling to get it around the aircon pipes), that way it still looks stock

Thanks Jon, that's a great help, I have some carb cleaner so ill give that a go, and its been looked after, rather than really well looked after, engine was covered in cobwebs, it id in need of a service

Mazda millenia ones fit. Rock auto 25quid

With that many past repairs done a LOT of crap's entered the air system..
Time to pull it all apart CORRECTLY & give it all a total clean

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Speed is subjective to only how far you keep your right foot down..

tldr; Mazda dealers still sell air intake hose for MX-3 that definitely fits 323f BA 1.5, and they are also available from Autodoc etc.

As of Feb 2025, here in the UK these 323f 1.5 are only getting older, with parts harder to find. The air intake hose is famous for splitting and causing problems (too much unmetered air gets in through the splits). I'm all for some careful taping (gaffer, self-amalgamating as discussed elsewere) but watch out for the engine temperature affecting your repair.

So I did some searching and I think the part CAN be sourced for under £30 (in UK as of early 2025)

According to partsouq.com the part number is B6KP-13-221
https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine ... d=60977&q=

That same part also comes up for the MX-3, but as B6BF-13-220C
https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine ... d=56219&q=

On both diagrams (323f and MX-3) the air hose looks the same

So a bit of hunting turns up some options:
Autodoc.co.uk under £30
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/b6bf13220c

Onlinecarparts.co.uk under £30
https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/oenumb ... 3220c.html

Amaya (may be better for other parts of the world)
https://www.amayama.com/en/part/mazda/b6bf13220c

(As at Feb 2025 eBay has them but more expensive)

I bought one from Autodoc and can confirm it fits my 1.5 BA. All connections are the right size and it is exactly the same shape and form as the original Mazda air intake pipe I already have on the car

Here's an earlier forum thread that shows a picture of the proper item (scroll down to see it)
https://www.club323f.com/forum/viewtopi ... se#p748610

By the way, the 1.5 air hose sometimes has one side-pipe and sometimes two. Bottom line, block off any not-needed side openings.

This same part might fit a 1.8 BA though I am open to correction on that