An MX5 Called M1L3S

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:16 pm

De-tandoing the front indicators. The instructions said to put the units in the oven at 120 degrees for 10 minutes. Except, that it's 120F NOT 120C, like I thought.

Viola - one pair of cooked indicator units!

Luckily, emailing some local MX5 mates turned up some replacements. But I couldn't get them until Monday evening...

Thankfully, 93_Clubman offered to lend me some LSI's. How awesome are these?!?

This evening I had another go with the units I acquired off Ben and Alex. It took a while and a lot of swearing, but I finally got it done! These are what I needed to remove:

It's too dark to fit them tonight. I'll do it tomorrow and post photos then.

Some advice: If anyone ever says to you "I know, let's de-tango some MX5 front indicators!" the only correct response is to punch them in the face!! It took two attempts but I finally got it done. I am never doing it again. Ever!!

trader · Postby **trader** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:38 pm

I agree a bugger of a job! And they're anything like mine they will leak like crazy. I ended up getting some el cheapo's from US. Much better!

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:46 pm

You cooked them, Masterchef style!

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 4:12 pm

bruce wrote:You cooked them, Masterchef style!

Indeed. I tried to find something cookery-based I could use in the background, but could only find last week's Age supplement with the Masterchef competitors on the cover.

You've got to keep a sense of humour, or you'll just go around stabbing people (as my old drill Sargent used to say...) :evil:

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 4:47 pm

Wondered how bad the OEMs were - wow they are over cooked! :mrgreen:

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 4:58 pm

Bake em a bit longer and they shrink like chip packets.

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:51 pm

Finished results:

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:44 am

They are bright! Looks great.

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Mon May 06, 2013 7:30 am

Ever since I've had this car I've had something rolling about loose inside the driver's door. When I accelerate hard it rolls from one end to the other with a loud clanging noise. Yesterday I finally got around to pulling off the door card and finding out what's been making all the noise:

I presume they're off the electric window kit (or a previous one?). The window works fine, however.

I also discovered that a previous owner had replaced the original OEM speakers with some JVC ones. This pleases me, as it is the first 'modification' I have found on the car. I was saddened by the thought that M1L3S had been kept stock for 19 years until I acquired him.

jimmy_vee · Postby **jimmy_vee** » Tue May 07, 2013 9:25 pm

stilletto_rebel wrote:I presume they're off the electric window kit (or a previous one?). The window works fine, however.

They sandwich the window and hold the roller guide in place, there should be a second plastic piece aswell.

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Thu May 09, 2013 2:00 pm

Hmmm... Thanks for that, Jimmy. I'll pull the doorcard off again and check on the glass.

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Sat May 18, 2013 3:40 pm

The reason I wanted a white NA was to realise a dream I've had since my first visit to the Nurburgring back in 2008, where I saw a Lancia Stratos in alitalia racing livery. Today I collected M1L3S from RacePaint...

When I dropped M1L3S off last Saturday, I asked for a price to have the alloys painted white. The owner quoted me $200 a corner. When I arrived to collect, he said that he couldn't stand the look of the car with the silver alloys and just had to paint them. For FREE!!! :shock:

I am over the moon with the job RacePaint have done and highly recommend them.

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Sat May 18, 2013 5:20 pm

Looks great, Miles. The Martini livery suits an NA to a tee.

Smacca · Postby **Smacca** » Sat May 18, 2013 5:34 pm

+ 1. I'm a big fan of the Martini livery (especially for my Forza 4 garage haha). I've never thought about what it would look like on an MX-5, but that looks brilliant! And the rims painted white for free? Hats off to the workshop.