mx5cartalk.com

Hey guys Iv been around the forum for a while now, Iv owned my nb8b for about 4 months now and since the mods are slowly coming along I thought I would share my car with you. The mx5 is my first sports car and my first RWD car. Ever since I knew what a car was I have always been obsessed by them always modding them and tinkering with them so I guess you could say cars are my hobby and passion along with track days Since owning my mx5 I now completely understand why these are the most popular and the best selling sports car. Every time I drive my mx5 it puts a massive smile on my face, they give you a great feeling one I have never had from driving any other car.

The mx5 had 94700 km when I bought it, one owner, log books etc looks immaculate for its age only a couple of small stone chips on the paintwork other then that looks fantastic and the interior looks like it did the day it left the showroom floor.

I haven't done any serious mods yet, mostly just maintenance with a few little dress up items not long after I bought it I had some Bridgestone RE002 tyres fitted and changed all fluids.
I got the 100 000 km service done, new radiator (old one was brown and starting to crack) new hoses thermostat etc
Had a new clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder fitted, these 2 made a massive difference also had a new braided clutch line fitted as well.
Got new brake rotors and pads, decided on Hawk HP+ for the front and just running mazda pads in the rear, had braided brake lines fitted at the same time.

Other items Iv replaced or upgraded are a new leather handbrake cover and gear shift boot, motorworx gearknob, Roadster rubber non slip pedal covers, rubber shift boots, cam position sensor and crank position sensor, magnecor spark plug leads, car was running a little rough but purrs like a kitten now, also have a works engineering oil filter relocation kit fitted to make oil changes easier for track days.

Few things Iv got in mind are

Coilovers
16" wheels of some sort, probably either RPF1's or Buddyclubs
Magnaflow catback
Swaybars
Sparco sprint v
Iv got a fire extinguisher to go in
Autometer oil temp and oil press gauges

Anyway that's enough talking if you made it to the end thanks for reading and feel free to leave any suggestions or comments. Now for some pictures ;)

couple of more pictures

Couple of small updates, I got some BC BR coilovers fitted yesterday. Drives so much better now and much smoother and more compliant then the old suspension. Also fitted a fire extinguisher, I hope I never have to use it but better to be safe then sorry.

Back up to mx5 plus next Friday to check the ride height and double check all the bolts then getting a custom wheel alignment done, then off to QR the following Saturday for a track day. Not too sure what the ride height is set too, I just got it a little lower in the front then stock then made the rear level with the front.

Im very happy with the new coilovers took it for a drive through the hills this morning and I couldn't stop grinning. Money well spent!

Nice job on the ride height. Looks really good.

Thanks mate appreciate the comment.

I love the height at the moment, only have an issue with the tall speed bumps but that's no biggy.

Perfect height. Looks exactly like my old nb!

Geez SF - almost as low as mine!!

Looks great!

Yesterday (Saturday 28/9/13) I had my first track day in my mx5 out at Queensland raceway. What a truly fantastic day, it took me a few laps to get used to the car and the way it handled track driving but after that it was great. Id only ever used FWD cars at the track my mx5 is my first RWD so I had to change my driving style. The 4th sesson (last session) was my best one overall, I found a setting with the coilovers that worked really well, stiffened the chassis up nicely and tamed most of the tail happiness. Only upgrade to the suspension is the BC coilovers so a front swaybar and possibly rear swaybar might be on the cards to neutralise the handling, it quit liked hanging the tail out around most of the sharper corners, not that Im complaing lol it was really fun. Next time should be a lot better now I know how the mx5 performs at the track and hopefully next time Ill be able to be smoother and keep the rear end in line and drop a few more seconds off the lap times. Throughout the day I as improving my times and being more consistent too. Overall it was a epic day so much fun. Love my mx5 this ones definitely a keeper

Thought Id update this since its been a while. I went on another track day at QR, I didn't improve my times much since the first outing but I was a lot more consistent which is the main thing plus, I don't go out to be the quickest I go there to have fun and I sure did have a lot of fun.

I done the foamectomy mod to my drivers seat, I was having some headroom and back issues, I had actually thought of selling my mx since its my daily driver I was too cramped and my head was sitting on the roof lol but I decided this was a stupid idea (didn't take too much convincing lol) so I pulled out some tools and cut away most of the foam in the seat and it now feels a lot better to sit in. Its not perfect but its much much better then it was, its made it more comfortable to drive. I gained about 3 cm of headroom.

Yesterday (13/12/13) my mx5 went into Automotive Plus to get a new clutch and flywheel fitted. I went with their B6 HD clutch kit and B6 chromoly lightened flywheel combo. Also got the rear main seal done (YAY to no more oil leaks) along with the gearbox/tailshaft seal and got some Redline oil put in the gearbox.

The difference with the new clutch and flywheel is huge, absolutely amazing. The pedal is much lighter to use and takes a lot less pressure to hold it in, it engages a lot sooner where it should, it revs a lot more freely but best of all there is no more shudder

During the week I had some parts arrive from MX5 Mania so I fitted them up this morning.

I got a xforce muffler, clear side reflectors, clear side indicators, new door to glass weatherstrips that run across the top of the door (outside) and a works engineering magnetic sump plug.

Only subtle changes but Im stoked with how it looks now, you don't really notice how horrible the orange is until its gone haha.

Im really happy with how my little mx is coming along, were slowly getting there. I didn't get any pics of the clutch and flywheel install unfortunately but I took some pics this morning while fitting the other parts.

There's still a few things I want to do eventually,

Whiteline front and rear swaybars to finish the suspension
Wheels (either 16" or go down to 15")
4.3 LSD diff
Black hardtop
Fit my autometer oil press and oil temp gauges and get a water temp gauge for track work


That's all I can really think of for now so Ill leave it there and post some pics

Some pics...

more pics...

Good to see that you are keeping the car

Instead of guages you could consider some simple warning lights like:

These cost about $40 each for a pressure or oil temp or water temp alarm from http://www.racerindustries.com.au/afawcs0161689/CATID=247/Warning-Lights.html

The issue on the track is that if you put your guage down low you need to take your eyes off the track to scan your guages. A simple warning light on/near the dash will be seen in your peripheral vision. A combination of the two (alarm/guage) will allow you to scan the guages once you see the warning light(s), this is what I have done. However, my guages form part of the data logging for the car hence why I keep them

Also let me know when after the 19th you want to pop over to try some different wheels out. Out of interest what were your QR times?

Car is looking great. The clear reflectors and indicators look great. I think the difference is even more noticeable on a lighter coloured car. How is the quality of the IL products?


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Magpie wrote:Good to see that you are keeping the car

Instead of guages you could consider some simple warning lights like:

These cost about $40 each for a pressure or oil temp or water temp alarm from http://www.racerindustries.com.au/afawcs0161689/CATID=247/Warning-Lights.html

The issue on the track is that if you put your guage down low you need to take your eyes off the track to scan your guages. A simple warning light on/near the dash will be seen in your peripheral vision. A combination of the two (alarm/guage) will allow you to scan the guages once you see the warning light(s), this is what I have done. However, my guages form part of the data logging for the car hence why I keep them

Also let me know when after the 19th you want to pop over to try some different wheels out. Out of interest what were your QR times?

I know right, I realised quickly the idea of selling it was stupid lol so I got the add closed and bought more parts for it and Iv been motoring happily since then haha

Those warning lights look good, Iv already got my oil temp and oil press gauges but I could look at a warning light for the water temp? Im sure its fine but the stock gauge like any stock gauge isn't that accurate and doesn't move until its very hot and normally by that time your engine will be cooked, Im sure mine is fine on track but just in case if by spending $40 or so on a warning light could potentially save thousands of dollars down the track its worth doing, same for the oil temp etc. Can you set a temp for the light to come on?

I cant remember the exact times for QR (sprint circuit) but I was around the 1:08's which Im happy with. I think the only way to go quicker is better tyres, more grip, as mine is very tail happy at the moment, not that Im complaining lol but need more grip to go faster and some front and rear swaybars to even out the handling with the coilovers.

Cheers Mark Ill send you a message around the 19th to organises a time to come over.

AntHarmer wrote:Car is looking great. The clear reflectors and indicators look great. I think the difference is even more noticeable on a lighter coloured car. How is the quality of the IL products?


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Cheers mate, appreciate the comment.

It looks amazing like I said above you done really notice exactly how horrible the orange is until its gone lol. I walked out to the shed again before and looked at the mx and just smiled lol its made a huge difference to the looks. Really cleaned up the styling. The quality is great, felt pretty much like the factory ones I pulled out, very well made and feel strong. It came with bulbs with short amount of wire attached but you didn't/don't use that. I guess maybe the Jap cars have indicators down there or something? But it took maybe 10 minutes to fit both of them, very easy.

Ill be giving it a quick detail tomorrow morning so Ill snap a few whole car pics to really show the difference.

The new xforce muffler sounds great too, just audible at idle and cruising but when under power it gives off a nice throaty noise. Exactly what I wanted.

I gave my little mx5 a polish and clean this morning so I thought Id go out and take a few pics to really show off the new upgrades.