E30Andrew's 'Slow Burn' Build Diary - [Red Pepper]

Discussion in 'Mazdaspeed 3 Build Diaries' started by E30Andrew, Feb 26, 2020.

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  1. Raider

    Raider Administraider Administrator Platinum Member

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    Yup
     
    Raider, via a mobile device, Mar 17, 2020
    #21
  2. E30Andrew

    E30Andrew Greenie Member

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    It's been a while since I have done anything to the speed; its been a rock solid DD these last few months, even if it was only being driven once or twice a week during quarantine. However, this past week I install my CP-E stage 2 RMM, and boy what a difference. Right away the car feels so much more connected, responsive, all around much more solid.

    mount2.jpg
    motormount old v new.jpg
    m5.jpg

    I also went ahead and installed some WELLvisor wind/rain visors per @SharksInSpace 's recommendation, and am really happy with them. They have a very clean low-profile look to them, the quality is top notch, and the service was excellent. My initial package from them was missing a rear visor, and after contacting them, they sent one out right away; no questions asked.

    wind2.jpg
    wind3.jpg
    car flags.jpg
     
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  3. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    Nice work, jelly of how pretty she is.
     
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  4. Db09ms3

    Db09ms3 Silver Member

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    And the bumper is still hanging in there!
     
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  5. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    god you make me miss my red genwon.
     
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  6. E30Andrew

    E30Andrew Greenie Member

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    Finally got around to getting some more stuff done on the car this weekend, so figured I'd update the thread here. This weekend I finally had my windows tinted to 20% carbon tint, and don't know why I waited so long. With how lot it is down here, it definitely makes a huge difference. She's lookin pretty sex now.

    PXL_20201025_005443157.NIGHT.jpg
    PXL_20201025_004627763.NIGHT.jpg

    I also installed my new short shifter and aluminum bushings earlier today. JD hooked it up with his Ebay searching powers and found me this guy with the bushings together for $69. Its basically a carbon copy of the JBR shifter, and was not terrible to install.

    comparison.jpg

    I did run into one issue with this Chinese knock off, and that was the fact that side action ball stud is ever so slightly larger than the factory one, so when you put the ball stud cap on the new one, it does not want to fit nicely back into the side action actuator plate.

    platebad.jpg

    I ended up just filing down the ball stud cap a good bit all the way around, and then it fit fine and was all gucci. Other than that, no problems at all with this little kit. (Will write a review thread for it soon.)

    All in all though, the feel of the aluminum bushings and shorter shifter is a night and day difference; really happy with how it feels.

    shiftyboiy.jpg

    Also seen here is a nice delrin 100g shift knob I got from good people over at Maisonvi Shift Knobs ;) Its been great in the heat, and feels good in the hand. Quite enjoy the weight vs the ~300ish grams of the stock one.

    Lastly I added some nice little LED lights in the rear to replace my red stock reflectors. These guys are smoked during the day and light with the brakes when the lights are on. For $25 im pretty happy with em.

    light2.jpg
    light1.jpg

    light3.jpg

    I did have to remove my rear flaps to get the back bumper off to install them, but the process looks more cumbersome than it was; it was actually pretty fast and easy.

    PXL_20201004_180047160.MP.jpg
    Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
     
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  7. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    Tempted to downvote because I still see the fucking door trim. :rage: I would also recommend joining the Cool Kids Club of having removed the 3 from the rear emblem.

    Those bumper LEDs look dope, too; I always scoffed at them when I'd see them available online but fuck, I'd have put them on my old juan if I'd known how good they actually look.
     
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  8. Awafrican

    Awafrican Moderator Gold Member

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    Never got the hate on the door trim sure it looks better without it but people are ass holes and have doored my car enough times I wish I had it on the gen2
     
    Awafrican, via a mobile device, Oct 25, 2020
    #28
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  9. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    The shape of the doors makes the moldings useless. The bottom of the door curves inward, and even with the side moldings the upper portion of the door is the wider part that will see contact first from another person's wayward door in a parking lot. The only way they're effective is if you have something short enough rolling to the car to hit specifically the molding strips, directly.
     
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  10. Cfoldone

    Cfoldone Gold Member

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    A picture of your lights install, or what lights part number you used. I like that mod. The double row is eye catching. Took me a double read of thread, and the posters to figure out the door strips.... On red.. look OK..
    I don't have on mine... So learned something new!
     
    Cfoldone, via a mobile device, Oct 26, 2020
    #30
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  11. E30Andrew

    E30Andrew Greenie Member

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    I kind of feel the moldings match the 'stock' look as long as I am rocking the stock wheels. When I end up getting some new black wheels they will def have to come off, if I haven't done so already. I will probably remove them over the winter since its cooler now and I can finally work in the garage more without dying. Also tempted to remove the 3 on the back; I do like that idea. May do both at the same time.

    Also, I haven't seen them install on a pu in person yet, but for $22 you can give em a shot.

    Ebay - Pu rear bumper reflector LEDs - $21.49

    These [Ebay Link] are the ones I bought, pretty cheap and easy install. Am going to put up an install / review post later this week and will link it back here.
     
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  12. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    Don't tempt me; I don't want to have to pull my rear bumper lol.
     
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  13. E30Andrew

    E30Andrew Greenie Member

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    Its not terrible lol, my bumper was off in 15 mins. pop the tail lights out, then it was 2 screws and 4 fasteners and its off. The pu looks pretty similar from the instructions in the workshop manual.

    bump.jpg
     
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