MX5 mk1 tuning

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
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I want to remove the rear badges. However there may be pins and therefore holes left behind. Can anyone confirm if this is the case on UK mk1 1.8 models? I tried using dental floss but it is catching on something solid in various places.

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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I fitted the stubby aerial conversion kit from MX5 parts. The black plastic collar is too short so rattles around. The screw threads are as tight as can be and I also added a rubber washer. It is still too loose.

Still wondering how to mount the seats. I might make a template out of something thin and easy to work with. Maybe thin wood, acrylic, or 1mm aluminium? Then I can take it to a metal fabricators to copy in thick steel. Too hot today though and I'm feeling lazy!



EDIT:

Thanks guys. Just removed the rear badges with no issues. I used a credit card and white spirits. It came up perfect with no marks or ghosting, after some rubbing. There were two tiny holes on the right hand side as you advised.

Right - the bonnet badge. Does this leave a tiny hole or a large one?

Also can the plastic rear window be removed and replaced with glass? Or do you have to buy an all new hood. My hood is pretty new apparently, so that might be wasteful. I ask as there is a tiny area of plastic with a bit of surface "wobble" to it. I like things just so biggrin


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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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Ok thanks. A roof is on the list but after the other bits.

Apparently the wheels will be here Tuesday.

I may sell the carbon seats due to the hassle fitting them. So may just get black leather instead.

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Sunday 24th July 2016
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Update: I sold my carbon seats for £1500 today. So...


Can anyone suggest decent seats for my mk1? I had an elise and the seats were one of the worst things about it, so not those (which seems a new trend). Are any of the mk2 seats better? More comfy? Lighter? The leather mk2 certainly seem cheaper! There are some on Ebay now which I may bid on. What is a good price to expect to pay?

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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Cool, thanks. cool

I wanted to double check as the sellers automated listing sizing thing said they are not compatible.

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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Great stuff. The seller said the same. Purchased. My poverty spec car is slowly getting better smile

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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I guess we are all different. I found the lack of adjustability of my 111R seats to be a pain after twenty minutes. At the other extreme, the standard cloth seats in my mk1 are almost too squidgy. So I'll see how I get on with this design. Until I've had a long drive its impossible to know. All I can say for now is I like the look of integral head and back.

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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I noticed a company offering mohair hoods on Ebay. But they are up north. Can you guys recommend something down south? Who are known to be the best quality? I won't be buying this until later, so just researching for now.

Thanks as always! smile

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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That sounds ace, thanks! cool

Once the oily stuff is finished I'll be getting one before winter arrives.

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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I also ordered a Voodoo solid metal ball gear knob. I went for the textured matt black OEM look.

I also have a small silver ENKEI sticker on the way to cover up my rear badge hole. That'll do until Chips Away can do a professional job on that rear panel.

MX5 Parts have ignored my message regarding a screwed up order and they aerial conversion not fitting correctly. The black plastic spacer / collar is too short and rattles. Minor niggle of course.

Cant wait for the wheels to arrive tomorrow! biggrin

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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New mission...

I wish to upgrade my door speakers to a slightly larger size. However my window winder handles will foul the edge of the new speakers. Therefore I would like to find some winders with shorter arms.

Has anyone found anything shorter which will fit? Do winders from other makes of car fit?

Failing that, has anyone seen some plain aluminium handles (with no holes) so I can drill new holes exactly where I want and mod them...

Thanks all smile

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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Rickyy said:
Mine is going to Jack Smiths on the 8th of August for a new mohair roof. I'll take plenty of pictures before and after.

Quoted me £290 with a glass screen.
That is half the price I'd have guessed! It's amazing how good value some of the parts are on these little 'uns biggrin

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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JeremyH5 said:
To solve the speaker to window winder interface issue you could convert to electric window lifts.
True. Although I love keeping things basic. I only need to gain 1cm or so. If anyone knows of some decent alloy winders I can always have new arms cnc'd

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Monday 25th July 2016
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They have brand new leather. So clearly they will cost more than the typical half knackered examples. I'm selling my old cloth ones for next to nothing if you want those biggrin

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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Well, mini update. Good and bad.

The Enkei wheels arrived. They are stunning! So damn light, beautifully packaged, lovely build quality, just amazing. Very happy with those!

So... back to those seats. Looks like the laugh was on me after all. They are not leather at all! They are 100% man made plastic rubbish. Every panel has a man made mesh material on the back of every panel, instead of real suede leather backing on the genuine article. The texture is "fake" printed leather. All panels fail the leather tests: smell, they do not absorb water droplets as real leather does, they are just wrong in a number of ways. The chassis were half rusted too. Plus screws were missing. All this for +£500 plus delivery. The advert only said "Leather seats". Nothing about man made tat.

The seller apologised and offered me a £250 discount. I refused as I don't want to sit on plastic, even if they are free. So they sent a courier to collect them today. Just waiting on a full refund. Not what you expect from a major company. The mods on MX5 Nuts are not interested in letting their readers know either. So it looks like I am done with that forum as it serves no purpose.

Oh well. You live and learn! Back to OEM.

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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The "leather", err I mean £50 worth of plastic:

fake by s_worksair, on Flickr

For legal reasons I'll state here that it may be an honest mistake from the seller. Or maybe they sell hundreds like this. Who knows.






Right, lets be positive again! biggrin

The wheels are GORGEOUS. Bought direct from the Enkei website to avoid fakes. But no pics until my build thread. Boo! hehe But have a label...

IMG_6027 by s_worksair, on Flickr

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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HorneyMX5 said:
Other "mighty" mx5 forums are available if you're dissatisfied with nutz. wink
I'm all ears...

Although you guys are serving me very well so far! Thanks for all your help chaps. Always appreciated smile

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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True. There are tw@ts like me asking loads of daft questions for a start hehe I was just feeling a bit peed off so threw my dummy on the floor really.

Anyway...



I'll be getting the Michelin PS3 fitted tomorrow. Then I'm just waiting on: finding some half decent black leather seats. Annoyingly I just missed some cheap tidy OEM black leather ones. Plus the M2 mirrors are still on the way. Then I may even get a full respray, as there are a few minor bits here and there. It is 98% good. But I'd like perfection ideally. Being silver it may be better to get the whole thing done rather than bait here and there. Then Scuzzle will be let loose for an initial fettle. Then I'll be skint for a little while.

Seems like there's tons to do!

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Original Poster:

9,070 posts

180 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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MX5 parts came though in the end. They sent my missing item for free. Then they sent me a solution to my aerial issue with more free parts. All sorted - great customer care!

I suggested we get some more Enkei to use as lamp shades. Unfortunately my girl didn't go for it.

Typical, not a single half decent seat on Ebay now. Urggghhh. PLEASE let me know if you spot anything mint, or at least very tidy.