A couple of nights ago I spotted a thread on fitting an RX-8 wiper stalk into the Mk3 to provide variable intermittent wipe. Brilliant idea, and a fix for something that has already been bugging me, so off I popped to eBay and a stalk is on its way to me. But that got me wondering what other simple and cheap modifications / improvements can be done to the Mk3. I did browse through the ‘Show Us Your Mods’ section for a while but there is a lot of stuff in there, and much of it is for other models. So I thought a quick post to see what other people have done.
So, is there anything else from the Mazda parts bin that can be retrofitted to the Mk3? Or are there other mods that people are aware of?
Aero wiper blades. All plastic, quiet running, no metal linkages to freeze up in winter, don’t rust, no need for the original driver’s side spoiler. Cost approx £10.
Blue 501 5 watt capless bulbs in the front sidelights for a brighter white light similar to DRLs.
Thanks folks, some good suggestions there. I wasn’t aware the RX-8 wheel was an option - I wonder if anyone has pictures to show what it looks like fitted?
As far as I’m aware, from posts on Miata forum, its not an option. Best thing to do is get your own or a 2nd hand wheel re-trimmed by Royal Steering Wheels. At the same time adding thumb rests and increasing the thickness and thereby getting rid of the stupidly thin wheel Mazda fitted to all Mk3’s. Not particularly cheap though. Picked up a wheel off ebay for £50 and they charged £150 to retrim.
Just do a search on Ebay for RX8 anti roll bars, you should find some listed as yellow dot. I think that there are also red dot and maybe orange dot, I believe that these are off the different models of the RX8, and vary in stiffness. I have a set of yellow dot RX8 bars in my garage, just haven’t got round to fitting them yet, going to replace the drop links at the same time. After a bit of research I decided that yellow dot was the correct bar for my needs.
I ordered a set of RX-8 ‘yellow dot’ ARBs last week - hopefully they should be turning up soon. I got them from eBay but at the time they were the only set on there.
Regarding the wheel, I have already come across Royal Steering Wheels while researching the RX-8 one and had decided that was a good option. I have plans for the interior of the car so will be mailing Royal to see if they can do something in two-tone colours that will match the planned interior!
RX-8 wiper stalk turned up in the post today
Added a stubby aerial to the list, although I may just go with the MX5parts one for ease. Same with clear side repeaters (would also like to de-tango the headlights but that’s a larger task). Also going to look for some bonnet lifters and I’m considering fitting some DRLs.
I’m unaware of anyone managing to remove sun visor stickers/transfers on a car less than five years old.
I’ve tried all the suggested methods myself with no success so now suggest that our favourite Owners Club should produce a Club over-sticker rather than yet another window sticker. Anyone else want to support this idea?
Defo give Royal a ring he was excellent to deal with and the quality of his work is very OEM. They even do an exchange option.
tbh I’d go with Cravenspeeds stubby. Its been designed to fit the base perfectly and doesn’t leave the silver ring others who have bought the MX5 parts version complain about.
Well mine are gone and to the naked eye its impossible to see that they were even there .
The process mentioned in he thread does work. It’s not a 5 minute process though and you have to rub at the transfer for a bit before the solvents begin to break it down.
How about de-tangoing the headlights (removing the nasty orange plastic lenses for the indicators) - which is essentially free other than time (and a pair of silvervision bulbs), but really cleans up the look of the front end?
Thanks, I will follow your advice on both. I have emailed Cravenspeed to see if they will post one to me. I’ll give Royal a call when I am ready to move on the interior changes.
It’s definitely on my list but I have read many horror stories about the process of splitting the headlamps and I’m a bit nervous about trashing them. What I might do is buy a second hand set (if they are not too expensive) and de-tango those as if I break one it’s not going to result in the car being off the road. Having said that, perhaps you can persuade me that it’s easier than I think?
On a different topic - is that your scissor lift and if so which one is it? I’m currently in the planning stage for a new extension and thinking ahead to installing something just like that into the new garage.
I bought the IL Motorsport lifters from MX5Parts and the struts were much too stiff for the ali bonnet; I could see it flexing when I began to lower it and needed to help the struts begin to close. However, I found some struts with the correct push from SGS. I’m guessing now, but if I make up some brackets, I think the IL struts would be strong enough to lift the steel bonnet on my Mazda3!
