NB8B door card mismatch

[ock66k]

First time posting here! I recently bought a NB8B grey import from the UK and have spent the last few weeks chasing rust.

The driver's door was particularly bad, so I replaced it with one from a local wrecked car.

After swapping all the components between the doors, I found that the inner door handle did not line up with the UK door card.

2017-09-28 11.39.55.jpg

The replacement door has no card so I will need to source one or somehow modify the handle position. Any thoughts?

Australian door and UK door for comparison:

2017-09-26 17.22.19.jpg

2017-09-26 17.22.07.jpg

[ManiacLachy]

If your car is definitely NB8B, then the new door is NB8A. Or, it could be vice versa. They two are the same shape but they have a few pieces in the middle in different places, such as the mechanism.

[93_Clubman]

Welcome & congrats on the purchase!
Did your NB spend most of its life in the UK?
IIRC, a forumite adapted NB8A door cards to their NB8B, & at least one other was trying to do the same, but couldn't find the info, which might have been in someone's garage thread. The big forum (Miata.net) might be the best place to look for guidance - here's the NB8A to NA retrofit:
https://www.miata.net/garage/door_panel/index.html
Or DIY: viewtopic.php?t=64796

[Mr Morlock]

It should not be hard to just source a used door trim for the local door- thats not expensive and probably quick. Brave buying an imported car from UK- we don't have the salt on the road here.

[KevGoat]

If your car is definitely NB8B, then the new door is NB8A. Or, it could be vice versa. They two are the same shape but they have a few pieces in the middle in different places, such as the mechanism.

Main differences from memory were top screw on the door pull/arm rest doesn't line up - can just drill a new one - but harder to fix is the door handle doesn't line up (as shown) and requires either a mod to the actuator arm or modification to the door card.

Either way, I'd be looking around for the correct door to fit and sell this one in preference to mismatched doors.

[ock66k]

If your car is definitely NB8B, then the new door is NB8A. Or, it could be vice versa. They two are the same shape but they have a few pieces in the middle in different places, such as the mechanism.

Main differences from memory were top screw on the door pull/arm rest doesn't line up - can just drill a new one - but harder to fix is the door handle doesn't line up (as shown) and requires either a mod to the actuator arm or modification to the door card.

Either way, I'd be looking around for the correct door to fit and sell this one in preference to mismatched doors.

Thanks for the responses! I'll definitely be looking for the correct door card or making my own.

I did a VIN lookup on my car and the donor and both returned a year of 2005.
My car: JMZNB18P2004xxxxx
Donor: JM0NB30P1001xxxxx

Looking closer at the old door there appears to be signs that it was modified for a different door card - I doubt Mazda would have left it this messy at the factory.

2017-09-26 17.22.07.jpg

It looks like new holes were drilled out for the door card screws, redrilled and poorly welded up. There are also signs that a strengthening plate, present on the other door, was removed at some point. Has anyone seen something like this before?

Here's a photo of the car before as I bought it. Absolutely filthy!

2017-09-24 11.26.10.jpg

[93_Clubman]

I did a VIN lookup on my car and the donor and both returned a year of 2005.
My car: JMZNB18P2004xxxxx
Donor: JM0NB30P1001xxxxx

Quoted donor VIN prefix of JM0NB30P1001xxxxx is from an Australian domestic market 1998-2000 NB8A - the P1 revision number is the give away:

Australian delivered MX5 VIN numbers:
Model-Eng--Build date range-VIN number range
MX5-1.6-B6-3/89-8/92----JM0NA306100100001-200000
MX5-1.6-B6-8/92-9/93----JM0NA306200200001-210000
MX5-1.8-BP-9/93-12/94--JM0NA30P300100001-200000
MX5-1.8-BP-12/94-12/95-JM0NA30P400100001-200000
MX5-1.8-BP-1/96-11/97---JM0NA30P500100001-200000
MX5-1.8-BP-1/98-9/00----JM0NB30P100100001-200000
MX5-1.8-BP-8/00-8/02----JM0NB30P200200001-300000
MX5-1.8-BP-9/02-10/03---JM0NB30P300300001-400000
MX5-1.8-BP-9/03-12/04---JM0NB30P400400001-?-production ceased 12/04, but some complied in '05, ie SE
MX5-2.0----7/05-?/0?------JM0NC30F100100001-?
MX5-2.0----?/0?-?/1?------JM0NC...
MX5-2.0----?/1?-?/1?------JM0NC...
MX5-1.5----?/15-?/?--------JM0ND2EA6...
MX5-2.0----?/15-?/?--------JM0ND...

Where for an NA8:
J-Japan
M-MAzda
0-Car
NA-Model
30
P
3-model revision number
0
0-Hiroshima
1.....-car build number

[Mr Morlock]

Sounds like a P2 trim would fit and there must be plenty around. P1 and P2 is the difference here for VVT and different wheels/ size etc. I also would doubt a P2 as being 2005.

[ock66k]

Quoted donor VIN prefix of JM0NB30P1001xxxxx is from an Australian domestic market 1998-2000 NB8A - the P1 revision number is the give away:

Wish I had seen this list a few weeks ago!

It will be interesting to find out what the NB18P2004 number means, I might ask around on the UK forums.

The paperwork I have (Qld Gov and REVS) lists a manufacture date of 2006 and compliance in 2016 but this seems unlikely.

[ock66k]

Sounds like a P2 trim would fit and there must be plenty around. P1 and P2 is the difference here for VVT and different wheels/ size etc. I also would doubt a P2 as being 2005.

A P1 trim should be the go as that's the new door I've fitted. Been looking around the local wreckers for one but no luck yet

[93_Clubman]

will be interesting to find out what the NB18P2004 number means

It has the 'P2' revision number, so NB8B, ie late 2000 to mid 2002.

[Mr Morlock]

VIN's are the key to the spec of a car- its the birth number and defines what parts fit etc. Go to Mazda spares and invariably they ask for the cars VIN. Even the year of a car is often not precise enough because models get introduced during a calendar year. 8A 8B are just short hand that dont mean anything in the trade.