1999 NB to 2001-2005 Facelift

[Jakeeyjones]

Hey guys, just purchased a red NB8 and would like to replace the boring front with the post 2000 front bumper and headlights. maybe going to get some angel eye front lights to replace the original ones aswell. anyone know if this is just a straight swap or is there more things involved in performing this facelift?

Cheers

BTW: if anyone reading this happens to have a spare red facelift bumper for sale please let me know!

[Mr Morlock]

you might want to check what car you have. If its a P2 then it has projector headlamps not standard reflector lamps and H4 as in the earlier car. The P2 also has a number of other definers like 6 spd transmission. Changing headlamps and bumpers is not going to be that easy and it will cost to repaint a bumper at the very least plus of course new lamps etc.

[taminga16]

Check Reggie's Garage Page.
Greg.

[timk]

I have done this on mine, the bumper and lights are different plus some stuff underneath like linings, radiator ducting mouth, mounting bits for bumper. The wiring for the lights is different too.

[Boyracer]

I have all the bits to do the swap if anyone is interested.

[Lokiel]

DO IT - timk's NB looks a million times better with the newer headlights.

[Mr Morlock]

The logic escapes me. Why buy an early NB then want to change the front bumper and lights to be like the next model? Many people would struggle even noticing the difference It will cost more than you think like a full repaint of a bumper and purchase of a new set of lights- $750- $1000 and then the car is still not the same level as a P2.

[Okibi]

I did it to my 98 NB including seats, tail lights, centre console, wheel.

They're all nice upgrades.

[KevGoat]

Just add a GV lip or factory style front lip and as Okibi mentioned change to the later tail lights. My 98 had factory front lip and side skirts and the later 8B tail lights and looked great.

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[greenMachine]

Do it!

The fewer cars that look like mine, the happier I am!

[Mr Morlock]

An NB P1 is car is a car in its own right. A cross between a P1 and P2 is neither one nor the other and by the time you finish whatever saving in purchase price is gone. Weigh up what is the cost and if that makes sense to you and its a fun exercise then its your call.

[smy0003]

It's not like you're creating a mutant animal, Morlock.
If it looks good (which it does), why not?

[KevGoat]

Mr Morlock, not everyone wants to just have a stock factory car and always leave it that way, despite costs. I thoroughly enjoyed searching for parts and modifying my NB8A's interior to look more like a later model SE and felt proud of the final result and the positive comments I received about it. I had also looked in to changing the front but got sidetracked ...

Now that I have my low mileage SE, I was initially afraid to touch it ... but that didn't last long ... I'm just making sure any mods are reversible.

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[Okibi]

If you don't get the whole modified car thing than that's cool. Perhaps you could avoid reading threads about modification.

Perhaps in 50 years there may be some delight in having a 100% concourse original MX-5 but given it's the most popular sportscar in the world then I'm in favour of modifying it to suit yourself and the motorsport/driving you do.

Buying an MX-5 and not doing motorsport is akin to always having sex with the lights off.

[greenltd]

You can have sex with the lights off?