2006 Mazda MX-5 NC 2.0 Sport
Discussion
K68 said:
Don't forget the Bilstein suspension has been swapped out for standard Sachs, they didn't match the factory spec when the suspension was swapped last year so it's now sitting like a standard MX5.
Wait, is that literally this car?
Good work as always. You’ve inspired me, I’ve ordered a BMW gong for a whopping £6. I might mount it near the rear/centre speakers, my last few cars with factory PDC have used the surround effect of the stereo speakers to indicate where the parking sensors are registering something, having the gong mounted behind my ears might give a similar effect and keep the cable run short.
Given how soft most wheels are it doesn’t look like you gave it a particularly hard hit.
Given how soft most wheels are it doesn’t look like you gave it a particularly hard hit.
Accelebrate said:
Good work as always. You’ve inspired me, I’ve ordered a BMW gong for a whopping £6. I might mount it near the rear/centre speakers, my last few cars with factory PDC have used the surround effect of the stereo speakers to indicate where the parking sensors are registering something, having the gong mounted behind my ears might give a similar effect and keep the cable run short.
Given how soft most wheels are it doesn’t look like you gave it a particularly hard hit.
Quite a nice idea, didn't really think of that. It'll definitely help with the wiring length, as well as having plenty of things to attach the speaker to. Yeah I don't think it was too hard, the alignment 'seems' fine but I'll be going to get it checked tomorrow nevertheless.Given how soft most wheels are it doesn’t look like you gave it a particularly hard hit.
I have a lot of plans for this car, cosmetically and performance wise. Cosmetics will be subtle and will remain with a 'factory' look. The idea behind the car is to build it to what the 991 GT3 is to the 991; a track focused 'edition' but to keep the daily driver vibe. I've been inspired by the 'Club' editions of the later NC models, and have mocked up a design.
This is how it is now:
And this is what I'm planning as a finished result:
Cosmetics changes:
- MSW 85 (made by OZ) 17x7 ET45 wheels
- Seat Cupra splitter
- Rear diffuser (not pictured)
- Door stripe
- NC2 rear lights
- Yellow accents (door logo, calipers, fog lights and seat belts will be the only accents)
- Side skirts (not too sold on these in the picture, may swap with NC2 skirts)
Performance changes:
- ST Suspension (made by KW) 30mm drop springs
- EBC Yellow Stuff pads and MTEC coated discs
- HEL braided brake lines
- Rear roll bar
- RX-8 anti-roll bars
- Pipercross foam filter
- Tubular exhaust manifold (with remap)
- Redline gearbox and differential oil
- Millers engine oil
- ATE 200 brake fluid
This is all 'in the future' stuff that I'll slowly be implementing over the years, but it's what I'll be aiming for. The standard exhaust will remain as I don't want it to be loud if I'm pottering around town. The manifold, filter and remap could allow gains of up to 180bhp (similar to BBR's Super 180), which is all I'll be aiming for. The list isn't including things such as Xenon headlights, and other small bits and bobs.
Thought you'd all like to see what it could look like in the future. I'm quite excited from looking at it, so I need to start saving...
Edited by geraintthomas on Thursday 3rd December 16:59
mattman said:
Have you also considered moving the front number plate off the plinth - either stick on or to one side?
I have briefly, but did think it looked a little... 'tuner'. Not too sold on it at the moment. The edging for my cut-up air box had arrived, so I've managed to install it today. Looks a little neater now.
Still need to get round to acquiring some duct piping for it, but currently I've not noticed any difference in power. I may get round to it when I fit the pipercross foam filter.
Considering how determined you are to make it look OEM+, the top rubber piece is as rough as a badger's arse 
Get your dremmel tool and grind down the leading edges of those slats, then just put a strip of edge protector along it without needing to cut out sections for the slats.
Get your dremmel tool and grind down the leading edges of those slats, then just put a strip of edge protector along it without needing to cut out sections for the slats.
Edited by TheJimi on Friday 4th December 17:46
TheJimi said:
Considering how determined you are to make it look OEM+, the top rubber piece is as rough as a badger's arse
Get your dremmel tool and grind down the leading edges of those slats, then just put a strip of edge protector along it without needing to cut out sections for the slats.
...you're not wrong! I'll revisit it soon.Get your dremmel tool and grind down the leading edges of those slats, then just put a strip of edge protector along it without needing to cut out sections for the slats.
Edited by TheJimi on Friday 4th December 17:46
To be honest, I may end up replacing this with a proper induction kit. I don't like bodging things, so would rather something engineered than bodged. Mine is fine for now as it's a free modification.
Something like this:
But at £158, it's a lot of money for a metal pipe and a cone filter, so there's no rush to get it.
Something like this:
But at £158, it's a lot of money for a metal pipe and a cone filter, so there's no rush to get it.
TheJimi said:
Honestly, just make the top section neater and it'll be fine 
I've had to buy more as - weirdly - the edging was exactly 1 meter, so I've ordered some more to re-make the top section.In the meantime, I've bought some new LED 501 W5W bulbs to use as the side lights and the numberplate bulbs. I'm very skeptical of non-OEM LED lights as they tend to be very blue, which is something I want to avoid. However, these particular ones from Amazon seem to be very 'white'. These, along with a HID kit that I already have to go into the dipped beams (I'm waiting on the adapters), should finish the look at the front.
Here's the standard bulbs
A comparison in bulb size
Very bright!
Nice and white, rather than blue
It's done wonders to modernise the front. I'm just about to place them into the numberplate lamps, but I couldn't pull the bulbs out without risk of smashing them. I'll give them another go shortly.
Since having the shock absorbers on the front replaced, and since I bumped the N/S/F wheel recently, I've been meaning to get an alignment done. Had the chance today before starting work, so I headed there nice and early.
A&A have been great every time I've been there, and they've just had a brand new hunter system installed only weeks ago.
The difference is sublime. As said, this is the first time I've had an alignment after the failed shock absorbers, so it's the first time the car is set up the way it should be. Very happy with the feel of it on the road, much more confidence in the steering especially on uneven roads.
The HID adapters came today, which gave me a good excuse to fit the Xenon HID bulbs that I've got lyring around.
All fitted, very happy with the results.
I went with 4300k for the OEM look. The 4300's have a slight pink hue to them due to swaying the other way on the kelvin scale. It's what's commonly used in early HID examples, which matches the age of the car.
I'm aware of the gap in the projector cut-off and was worried about glare, but there isn't any glare at all, which is great.
The only issue I had installing these were the black HID adapters. The adapters didn't have a big enough surface for the headlight clip to hold onto, so the bulbs were at an angle and the light output suffered. I used large plastic washers on the back of them which was enough for the clips to hold the bulb into place. The light output is outstanding, and a huge upgrade to stock.
I'm going to run the car as is for a while now, all of the things I wanted to do that were easy/cheap have been done. Next up will be the suspension, alloys and tyres, but I'll be doing a track day before I consider replacing any of these to get a feel for the car.
Hopefully Accelebrate will be keen on coming with me, I could use the support as I've not taken my own car to a track before!
A&A have been great every time I've been there, and they've just had a brand new hunter system installed only weeks ago.
The difference is sublime. As said, this is the first time I've had an alignment after the failed shock absorbers, so it's the first time the car is set up the way it should be. Very happy with the feel of it on the road, much more confidence in the steering especially on uneven roads.
The HID adapters came today, which gave me a good excuse to fit the Xenon HID bulbs that I've got lyring around.
All fitted, very happy with the results.
I went with 4300k for the OEM look. The 4300's have a slight pink hue to them due to swaying the other way on the kelvin scale. It's what's commonly used in early HID examples, which matches the age of the car.
I'm aware of the gap in the projector cut-off and was worried about glare, but there isn't any glare at all, which is great.
The only issue I had installing these were the black HID adapters. The adapters didn't have a big enough surface for the headlight clip to hold onto, so the bulbs were at an angle and the light output suffered. I used large plastic washers on the back of them which was enough for the clips to hold the bulb into place. The light output is outstanding, and a huge upgrade to stock.
I'm going to run the car as is for a while now, all of the things I wanted to do that were easy/cheap have been done. Next up will be the suspension, alloys and tyres, but I'll be doing a track day before I consider replacing any of these to get a feel for the car.
Hopefully Accelebrate will be keen on coming with me, I could use the support as I've not taken my own car to a track before!
Ah,there you are. You may remember me on CCUK from such threads as, "I've found some rust on my Gen4" ,
After nearly 12 years of ownership and modding,it looks a little better these days..
I've also bought this earlier in the year as a 'daily'..
Accord Euro R 'CL7' .
You left your Boxster thread in the Non Celica section over on Celicaclub hanging... this is why then
I posted in there earlier that you should update it with what you have now,,after all its only 12 pages so far to catch up on and it's not like you've done much to it.. ha. We're still about y'know.
Your cars have always been tip top and I know you missed your T-sport.. great credit to you. As is the Mazda though, what a turnaround.Looks bloody lovely Geraint. Don't be a stranger though eh
In the meantime,consider yourself Bookmarked,keep it up!
Sherv
After nearly 12 years of ownership and modding,it looks a little better these days..
I've also bought this earlier in the year as a 'daily'..
Accord Euro R 'CL7' .
You left your Boxster thread in the Non Celica section over on Celicaclub hanging... this is why then
I posted in there earlier that you should update it with what you have now,,after all its only 12 pages so far to catch up on and it's not like you've done much to it.. ha. We're still about y'know.
Your cars have always been tip top and I know you missed your T-sport.. great credit to you. As is the Mazda though, what a turnaround.Looks bloody lovely Geraint. Don't be a stranger though eh
In the meantime,consider yourself Bookmarked,keep it up! Sherv
Edited by BEAMS 162 on Friday 11th December 20:51
geraintthomas said:
Since having the shock absorbers on the front replaced, and since I bumped the N/S/F wheel recently, I've been meaning to get an alignment done. Had the chance today before starting work, so I headed there nice and early.
A&A have been great every time I've been there, and they've just had a brand new hunter system installed only weeks ago.
The difference is sublime. As said, this is the first time I've had an alignment after the failed shock absorbers, so it's the first time the car is set up the way it should be. Very happy with the feel of it on the road, much more confidence in the steering especially on uneven roads.
What alignment settings did you go with? I'm looking to get mine done soon and have heard about many different settings that people have applied to theirs. I doubt I'll be tracking the car so would prefer a more standard setup but you never seem to hear about those!A&A have been great every time I've been there, and they've just had a brand new hunter system installed only weeks ago.
The difference is sublime. As said, this is the first time I've had an alignment after the failed shock absorbers, so it's the first time the car is set up the way it should be. Very happy with the feel of it on the road, much more confidence in the steering especially on uneven roads.
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