Chris' Mazda 323F V6
Discussion
This brought back memories of around 2 decades ago where 2 chaps in Egham going to Royal Holloway uni (my friend went there) had these in green, which was surprisingly a common colour for them and in that dark navy blue colour. Sounded awesome at the time.
Always liked how Mazda were a little different from everyone else.
Always liked how Mazda were a little different from everyone else.
Another busy day on the 323F
Ever since purchasing the car, the interior has been a mix and match. The biggest gripe has been the door cards. Having a dark green dashboard, green A pillar trims then black door cards followed by more green.
I finally managed to track down some green door cards and they were with me within a couple of days.
A shout out to Andrew aka MazdaMan in Biggleswade for supplying them. He's also helped me with the replacement intake hose, vacuum solenoid and a couple of other smaller bits.
The eagle eyed readers may have noticed the driver's seat in the first photo is green. This is a spare seat I collected from Andrew. I've been experiencing some back and forth play/movement in the seat. I've pulled mine apart and all I can put it down to is the mechanism for the lumbar support and the reclining adjustment. Unfortunately this one is the same if not slightly worse. I guess its just part of the design and I'll have to learn to live with it.
The little cubby compartment on the front door cards are a cool little feature. Infact I think the whole door card is much nicer overall.
The passenger side window switch trim has certainly seen better days. Unfortunately this version is a different shape compared to the black door card, so I'll try and source a replacement in better condition.
After accidently pulling the front sunroof drain out I struggled to find where it went. I didn't initially plan to strip it this much but I got carried away.
I finally figured out where the connector was, tucked away in the corner behind a layer of foam and insulation
The drain tube is a loose fit inside the white connector so extra care needs to be taken if you're messing about with it further up
I blew out the drain tubes with a compressor and tested it with some water, I was happy to see it trickling out from behind the wheel.
I also removed the wiper scuttle to check behind and it was bone dry. The leak must have been the partially blocked drain tube. I still need to dry the carpet but that can come later on now I know it wont leak any more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaFBFQ4Ssl0
Ever since purchasing the car, the interior has been a mix and match. The biggest gripe has been the door cards. Having a dark green dashboard, green A pillar trims then black door cards followed by more green.
I finally managed to track down some green door cards and they were with me within a couple of days.
A shout out to Andrew aka MazdaMan in Biggleswade for supplying them. He's also helped me with the replacement intake hose, vacuum solenoid and a couple of other smaller bits.
The eagle eyed readers may have noticed the driver's seat in the first photo is green. This is a spare seat I collected from Andrew. I've been experiencing some back and forth play/movement in the seat. I've pulled mine apart and all I can put it down to is the mechanism for the lumbar support and the reclining adjustment. Unfortunately this one is the same if not slightly worse. I guess its just part of the design and I'll have to learn to live with it.
The little cubby compartment on the front door cards are a cool little feature. Infact I think the whole door card is much nicer overall.
The passenger side window switch trim has certainly seen better days. Unfortunately this version is a different shape compared to the black door card, so I'll try and source a replacement in better condition.
After accidently pulling the front sunroof drain out I struggled to find where it went. I didn't initially plan to strip it this much but I got carried away.
I finally figured out where the connector was, tucked away in the corner behind a layer of foam and insulation
The drain tube is a loose fit inside the white connector so extra care needs to be taken if you're messing about with it further up
I blew out the drain tubes with a compressor and tested it with some water, I was happy to see it trickling out from behind the wheel.
I also removed the wiper scuttle to check behind and it was bone dry. The leak must have been the partially blocked drain tube. I still need to dry the carpet but that can come later on now I know it wont leak any more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaFBFQ4Ssl0
Inbetween the rain showers I finally managed to wash the car for the first time since purchasing it.
The ZXi models originally came with some stickers underneath the side repeaters. I'm pretty sure both of the front wings have been replaced at some point and have been painted.
I spent an evening re-making the graphic and my friend Ross at Vinylution kindly cut them for me. He was able to do a two layer vinyl giving it an outline. These are now available from Ross in a large selection of colours, making them customizable for all builds and colour schemes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_JQNeXTZx0
You may remember back when I first got the car that the exhaust was blowing. I ended up using 4 repair bandages to seal it enough to get it through an MOT. That 'repair' only lasted a week or two so something needed to be done sooner rather than later.
I searched and searched for a replacement centre section but failed. I dread to think what Mazda would have quoted especially with shipping from Japan. The only other option was to go for a custom stainless exhaust (what a shame! I hear you all cry)
I contacted a few local companies and they were coming back with quotes nearly £1000 for a cat-back system....holy hell! I understand inflation is a thing but DAAAMN has stainless really shot up in price that much in the past few years?!
One company got back to me with a reasonable price (still expensive IMO) but it was the best of the bunch. That company was ISC Power Flow in Ipswich,Suffolk so not too far away being >50 mile/1hr 30mins each way.
I didn't get any footage of them building the exhaust. Mainly because I was too shy to ask and the other reason being not everyone wants to be filmed. I did get a cheeky photo though.
They decided on a 2.25" system from the cat-back, fitting a larger centre resonator (it's probably 2-3 times the size of the stock one)
Majority of the pipe work was bent rather than cuts and welds which was a nice surprise. There's a short welded in piece where it goes over the rear subframe, then a single piece at the back
They held up a couple of different rear resonator/silencers but even their smallest one made the car quiet. The larger centre resonator probably didn't help.
In the end I decided on NO rear silencer and it's just the right volume. Its not too droney sitting at 60mph and not too deafening on acceleration. It's a nice deeper tone rather than rasp like a 350Z, not that there's anything wrong with a raspy 350Z
The original exhaust is a twin round tip backbox, I decided to go with a twin oval which fills the cut out in the bumper nicely
The ZXi models originally came with some stickers underneath the side repeaters. I'm pretty sure both of the front wings have been replaced at some point and have been painted.
I spent an evening re-making the graphic and my friend Ross at Vinylution kindly cut them for me. He was able to do a two layer vinyl giving it an outline. These are now available from Ross in a large selection of colours, making them customizable for all builds and colour schemes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_JQNeXTZx0
You may remember back when I first got the car that the exhaust was blowing. I ended up using 4 repair bandages to seal it enough to get it through an MOT. That 'repair' only lasted a week or two so something needed to be done sooner rather than later.
I searched and searched for a replacement centre section but failed. I dread to think what Mazda would have quoted especially with shipping from Japan. The only other option was to go for a custom stainless exhaust (what a shame! I hear you all cry)
I contacted a few local companies and they were coming back with quotes nearly £1000 for a cat-back system....holy hell! I understand inflation is a thing but DAAAMN has stainless really shot up in price that much in the past few years?!
One company got back to me with a reasonable price (still expensive IMO) but it was the best of the bunch. That company was ISC Power Flow in Ipswich,Suffolk so not too far away being >50 mile/1hr 30mins each way.
I didn't get any footage of them building the exhaust. Mainly because I was too shy to ask and the other reason being not everyone wants to be filmed. I did get a cheeky photo though.
They decided on a 2.25" system from the cat-back, fitting a larger centre resonator (it's probably 2-3 times the size of the stock one)
Majority of the pipe work was bent rather than cuts and welds which was a nice surprise. There's a short welded in piece where it goes over the rear subframe, then a single piece at the back
They held up a couple of different rear resonator/silencers but even their smallest one made the car quiet. The larger centre resonator probably didn't help.
In the end I decided on NO rear silencer and it's just the right volume. Its not too droney sitting at 60mph and not too deafening on acceleration. It's a nice deeper tone rather than rasp like a 350Z, not that there's anything wrong with a raspy 350Z
The original exhaust is a twin round tip backbox, I decided to go with a twin oval which fills the cut out in the bumper nicely
Ah those were the days , we had a 323ZXi P185UGJ from new for few years , so smoooooth
From memory about 140bhp , but it was no rocket ship , the only problem was rear comfort , our kids found it very claustrophobic ,so after a few years it had to go . I eventually found out it was one of the first cars to be ULEZ scrapped
From memory about 140bhp , but it was no rocket ship , the only problem was rear comfort , our kids found it very claustrophobic ,so after a few years it had to go . I eventually found out it was one of the first cars to be ULEZ scrapped
Scoobydrew95 said:
Sorry to move the thread over but christ, any more info on this?!? Cool as f
k
I understand it was built by Mazda back in the 90s when they were in BTCC as a PR tool that toured the showrooms (it was original in that weird purple colour they raced in), so it's got all the competition bits like Leda adjustable dampers and coilovers, full cage, extinguisher cells, adjustable PAS, rain lights etc... just the drive train is the same as a stock Xedos 6. i gave 2k for it in 2020 and have enjoyed many track days since. At Brands on April 24th next - if anyones about.k Now, back to that 323!
I got the car up on a ramp at work to have a closer look at the new exhaust and to also check the exhaust hanger rubbers. The exhaust company mentioned the hanger rubbers aren't covered under their warranty. If they failed causing the exhaust to drag along the road, which in turn damaged it i.e putting a hole in it then it wouldn't be covered in the warranty.
It seems two out of four had been replaced, why they didn't swap the other 2 is beyond me. But they look to be a good condition anyway so nothing to worry about just yet.
I've been eyeing up another camera to help with the content creation. I'm hoping to move over to my Canon SLR but thats too bulky when it comes to filming tight spaces, like the suspension/brake areas, underneath the car etc.
Back in the day when I used to go drifting I used GoPros, starting off with their original Hero (which I still have, the battery has swollen though), Hero 3 and a Hero 3+ (you can see how long ago this was). After having numerous issues with the 3s I gave up and lost faith in the brand.
I was planning to go back to the brand and pick up a Hero 10 until I came across DJI's version, the Osmo Action.
Their latest model the Osmo Action 4 is compatible with their Mic 2 which I purchased not long ago. After watching a few videos I decided to take a gamble and ordered one.
In my latest video I talk about some features of the camera before heading out to capture some videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmgVWhjtn0Y
A couple of photos while out on the drive
I'm keeping an eye on the weather for the next week or so, hoping to take some annual leave to tackle one job I've had planned for some time.
I also have a replacement clutch kit ready, just waiting to hear back from a friend about helping me if not I'll have to get a garage to do it due to the lack of free time.
It seems two out of four had been replaced, why they didn't swap the other 2 is beyond me. But they look to be a good condition anyway so nothing to worry about just yet.
I've been eyeing up another camera to help with the content creation. I'm hoping to move over to my Canon SLR but thats too bulky when it comes to filming tight spaces, like the suspension/brake areas, underneath the car etc.
Back in the day when I used to go drifting I used GoPros, starting off with their original Hero (which I still have, the battery has swollen though), Hero 3 and a Hero 3+ (you can see how long ago this was). After having numerous issues with the 3s I gave up and lost faith in the brand.
I was planning to go back to the brand and pick up a Hero 10 until I came across DJI's version, the Osmo Action.
Their latest model the Osmo Action 4 is compatible with their Mic 2 which I purchased not long ago. After watching a few videos I decided to take a gamble and ordered one.
In my latest video I talk about some features of the camera before heading out to capture some videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmgVWhjtn0Y
A couple of photos while out on the drive
I'm keeping an eye on the weather for the next week or so, hoping to take some annual leave to tackle one job I've had planned for some time.
I also have a replacement clutch kit ready, just waiting to hear back from a friend about helping me if not I'll have to get a garage to do it due to the lack of free time.
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