billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:39 pm

the z3 is running the 2.2 litre 6. with the 5 speed manual its not a bad car ...then again its not a good one either...lol
if i look back at the z3's starting at the 1.9 4cy - then a 2.8 after that a 3.0 and now this 2.2 plus toss in the z4.......they are more a looker not a goer and very expensive to fix and run and about the 3rd of a car the mazda is.
seeing have both cars i naturally hang out on both forums. i like giving it to those z3 wankers...lol :roll:

...errrr

they get on the forum and rave how well they handle but they don't.....all 5 of mine tramlined badly....not only mine they all do!...lol but the z3's look good so thats why i have another.
what i like telling them on the z3 forum is this - in a run through the twisties in a z3 you would have to be a very good driver to keep up with an mx5 but you don't have to be much of a driver to sit on the ass of a z3 but they never comment at all.
now i have never had a z3m -that's the power plant model and a 5 second car to 100 kph but might happen one day.
in the 100 plus cars i've had going back to the xygt and the e38 rt charger plus the monaro then the euro crap i think the mx5 se is the best car i have owned so thats why it is still with me after 3 years. prior to the se - most cars lasted here for 3 to 6 months.
porsche was not a bad car and handled really well but developed a rear end oil seal leak which was quoted at $5k to repair and if that fail $15k for a replacement motor...so off it went to the ACT

todays run on the car didn't live up to expectations. purchased a sh*t spray gun from supercheap and it had a plastic suction straw. this reacted with the thinners and the suction straw fell into the paint pot and tossed drips all over the boot. nothing i could do but wait it out so i can wet sand it out. try again tomorrow

timk · Postby **timk** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:55 pm

Man, I wish we got white SEs here!

Postby **Okibi** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:29 pm

We got White SPs, almost as good. :mrgreen:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 1:54 am

I might put some more updated photos up. I forgot all about it

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:02 am

I know I'd love to hear more about your SE. With the way you enjoy trying different cars I was wondering if you even still had it anymore!

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:51 am

my se is still the best overall car as a complete package i have had/dríven in around 45 years of driving and that's out of well in excess of 100 cars.
not rubbish cars either. I'd put this car well ahead of my old days favourite cars too like the xygt/e38 rt charger/and gts monaro
I had all 3 and all genuine. gtxy heavy lumpy car to drive with a very knotchy top loader box and a clutch to match. e38 good in a straight line but scary in the corners plus hard to believe no power assistance to the brakes and pedal pressure than would test any-one in the muscle power dept. gts these were a pretty good car except for that pathetic steering wheel...lol
I can look back at 2 cars which I had and could say they handled well. one was a fiat x19 I purchased in 1980 -a mid engine car and although plague with issues -it did handle.
another was the alfasud ti which was also purchased new in 77 and at that time was classed as the best handling small car in the world. I would agree with that...a bit gutless but could straighten out the bends....lol
although some don't like my comments on our so called supercars they are usually dream buyers but I have had all 3 cars and when it comes to the crunch they were just the basic model with add-ons
the se is a very hard car to beat. I still have my z3 and mgf but its hard to believe I have never kept any car as long as the mazda mx5 se.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 11:48 am

following the re-spray of the front and rear end I applied several coats of clear coat and waited several days prior to the wet/dry sanding.
I start off with 1000 w/d then upped it to 1500 and finally 2000. just quartered the sheets and used the sponge block plus the bit of warm water and a little detergent.

surface nicely blocked out now and ready to be cut polished

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 4:53 pm

due to many years ago cutting fire wood the shoulders are now shot so I was looking for some easier method than a hand cut/polish. I stumbled across this meguires da 9duel action) polisher and decided I might give it a go.
it attaches to your power drill. the instructions recommend a 240v power drill but my cordless handled it fine

this standley fatmax drill had enough power to handle the job. I applied the cutting compound to the pad and ran it on speed one and after a while upped it to speed two. kept it moving all the time and let the polisher do the work with very little pressure on the handle itself

better look at the foam application pad

this is a very good fine grade cutting compound, cost a bit to buy but does a very good job....or it has for me

looking over the rear boot to the far side of the car you can see where I cut the clear coat down with 2000 grit wet/dry by the dull appearance. I've always liked the Norton paper. its as good today as it was 25 years ago. no much like that today.
in the foreground you can see where I ran the da polisher and remember this is a cutting compound I have not polished so it gives you some idea it works. well I think so anyway

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 5:14 pm

following the buffing of the tail I then did a quick polish. same place in the shade as we all know we don't polish in the sunlight. well the end results came out alright so I'd be happy to say if anyone was thinking of buying one of these polishers to polish or do a bit of buffing on their car I think the $120 outlay was no a bad price to pay for it.
after this bonnet up next

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 5:50 pm

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:31 pm

bonnet sprayed and clear coated then rubbed down first with 1000 grit wet/drit follow by 1500 and finally ending in 2000 grit

following same procedure as the boot lid

still have front and rear bars to go. not too sure if its really worth the trouble. I plan to take this car for a run to the open speed section of the n.t. in early july and that's around a 9,000kl trip. I'd say a good possibility of stone chips and I will most likely be painting it all over again.
anyway I will see what pans out. I still have the doors to do.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:10 am

Normally I REALLY hate them but for your NT trip, a car bra would be a good option.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:56 am

something to think about there.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:27 am

well over the past week i've done 3 things to the car and after the final one today took it for a run and was surprised - I had picked a quite a bit more bhp!

1. K&N oil filter on the BIGI CAI was pulled out wash dried and lightly re-oiled.

2. I dropped out the old oil and purchased the Mobile 1 5w-30 fully synthetic from the Sydney guy who imports it from the USA. plus fitted a new filter.

3. Had the local mechanic remove and replace the old fuel filter with a new one. he told me it was very dirty and after having a look for myself I could see the black crap oozing out of it.

After leaving the garage I decided to take it for a bit of a quick spin along one of the quiet back roads. Bit of a wet track but I decided to give it a 3rd gear pull to 100kph and from 70kpk on I could feel myself being pushed back into the seat and I was only playing with it.

My last dyno run pulled 190/191 rwhp and going by todays effort I'd say I am more than likely closer to the 200 mark. Overall in 4 years of ownership of this car - it's the best I have ever had.....and I've had some pretty good stuff!