billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:48 pm

part 1

my thoughts on the brown/davis roll bar install. this is by far a lot harder than it looks. best advise i can give any-one - don't tackle it by yourself - or better still pay some other fool to install it.
the bar is pretty heavy and you require room to work. remember if your carless and scratch your paintwork it will cost you a lot more than the cash you save/heartbreak fitting it yourself.
honestly, that bar been here for 6 months. i couldn't be bothered trying to install it. if some-one had walked into the yard half way through this install - i would have give it to them to get rid of it.
any-way here's how it went.

take out your ignition key

dis-connect your battery. remember.mines out anyway. all you have to do is disconnect one terminal

remove the front bucket seats. 8 bolts. quick and easy. now before you remove the drivers side seat - from underneath unclip the drivers side airbag switch.

PAY ATTENTION!!! see this switch under the seat if you fail to plug it back in and turn on the ignition - air bag sel for you and a trip to the dealer.

THAT IS REASON WHY YOU DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. for starters you will mostly likely forget about it- jump in the car and turn on the ignition. .........nothing.
straight away you will remember what i said - did i re-connect the airbag switch and if so then on to the battery.

probably a good idea to remove the console. 2 screws at the front and a couple under the rear console lid. pull it towards you and lift side ways to the right. unplug the power window switch and cut the length of tape holding the wires .

next up - remove the windblocker - 2screws either side

once thats done don't remove it briskly - right in the centre are the wires for the speakers. unplug these.

prise up the cap and remove both seat belt bolts

if you happen to drop them - here is the correct location of the parts

remove both the side panel

remember i removed this cover to paint - yours stays

on the opposite side of this plastic panel there's another. remove this one only. one each side

the passenger side has a connector for your heated rear window - so be vareful with the removal

now it's out with the drill and a 10mm bit. my car has both plastic panels removed to show how easy the site is for the drill bit. you will be drilling out the bottom one ( both sides)

[IMG]http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/wildbill2010/DSCN1804-1.jpg[/IM

once completed - should look like this

now go to the boot

remove the full rear part of the boot liner - plus the fuel filler cover plate. you need access to this area to tighten the roll basr bolts

part 2 tomorrow - why .......i still have'nt completed it

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:09 pm

billybunter wrote:hi lokiel
always open to ideas - and the gator was a good one. just bought it. the 3 pieces for you rear deck - as a 3 piece and easy run with the spray can.
at the moment fitting the b/d roll bar - bit of fooling around work with this one.
thanks again for the gator thread

Get in touch with Benny on this forum (Scala Leathergoods) manufacturer of Benny's Boots.
Gregt thread.
Greg.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:39 pm

b/d roll bar install part 2

now with the help from a friend carefully place the roll bar in it's bolt down location between the tops of the seat belt mounts. i wrapped the top of the b/d bar in bubble wrap to avoid scratching the surface
wither do this with the roof up and place in position. or down and slide in position.
line up your anchor points side and top.

anchor point fitting kit. the 4 large bolts and steel plates attach to the section where you are about to drill the holes. the other two with captive nuts are side anchor bolts - see photo

bolt down loosely either side of the seat belt mounting points. place the bolt throught the seat belt mounting hole and slide the other parts in - from below

once this task is over bolt down both sides of the seat belt towers. now to the sides bolt from the inside and go through and held by the captiver nut - see above.

to drill the back section - the roof must be up. because of the angles there's no room for a normal drill and bit. i had no choice but to buy a 90 degree adaptor plus a new bit $42

here is how it looks inside the cabin. not much room and i strongly advise a brand new 10mm bit or it's gonna be hard work for you

closer view of the 90 degree adaptor

hole through the floor -rear section. one down and 3 to go

once you drill through the floor its just a matter of inserting the 4 bolts from inside the cabin and with your helper in the boot area - place the metal plates and bolt them down.

fix up your trim and its over. job done.

did i enjoy this install............NOOOOOO!!!!

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:52 pm

I can vouch for the BD bar being an absolute prick to install.

my girlfriend and I installed mine in my driveway one evening and didn't finish until about midnight.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:24 pm

I'm surprised you didn't paint it red BEFORE you installed it

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:52 pm

hi lokiel
the only thing RED was me. :oops:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:33 pm

unfortunately this time - i had to do it myself :shock:

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 8:23 pm

Goddamit! 90deg adaptor! How stupid is that! I've got one and forgot all about it when I installed my BD twin hoop bar...I did it on my own and man it was a B!ITCH!

...I undid the back of the soft top :oops:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:08 pm

thought about that - but was a bit worried about damaging the plastic trim. anyway it's over and out of the way and back on with the build:D

damaged paint area in seat beat pillars re-painted. thanks too the bar.........

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:04 pm

just a heads up

that plug under the drivers seat is just for the seatbelt warning light

i disconnected mine ages ago, was sick of it beeping at me everytime i started the car

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:41 pm

in that case -my mistake. i remember once removing a plug under the drivers seat on a bmw z3 i had and it was an airbag plug
that produced a cel and a trip to the dealer. :frown:

Gmi · Postby **Gmi** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:45 am

I've been following this thread.. Car looks awesome!! Wish I could paint so well!!!

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:06 am

Pretty sure the side airbags in the seats did not arrive until the NC. Only the two frontal airbags in the NB. But that's still a good warning about what happens if you unplug an airbag.

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:05 pm

I disconnected the plug under my seat (2001 NB8B) as the red light distracted me when I wear a harness.
From my research the Supplementary Restraint System (air bags) deploy both bags when the vehicle is subjected to the appropriate impact regardless if the drivers seat belt is used or not.
Could be wrong :?:

and don't intend to deliberately hit anything to find out.