My 1.6 16v

[nightstalker]

Sorry if I get this wrong or confuse anyone on here (I'm from the UK).

Well last weekend I bought my mx 3 for a very reasonable £375 gbp (don't know the price in $ but it was a complete steal).

It needs a little work as will be explained hopefuly in this thread:

So to start:

The car was cheap because there is a little work that needs doing that the previous owner couldn't be bothered to do.

First off, one of the lights was broken.



But after searching ebay I found a replacement and fitted it straight away.





One of the spot lights is broken too but I haven't looked for one yet.



There was a small mark on the bumper


But with a little bit of polish and scrubbing it came out.


Hey I'm from the UK, the weather sucks and we have rust!



So I'm looking to get the rust fixed or even buy a new hood, depending on which is the cheapest option.

The wheels are really scraped and there are a few dents


But the car has been booked in for next weekend to get the wheels fixed and powder coated, I don't know whether to get them done in black or anthracite.

Now some pics of the car and the progress so far and what I have planned










I started in the engine, cleaning it up and exploring it. First thing was to add a little bit of colour.



I want the block coloured and the next picture is similar to what I want (only it is on a V6 not a 1.6)


I also want the leather interior from this model


Also getting an LED dash conversion done next week to give the dials a fresh new look.
Thanks for looking

[umcamara]

Nice looking car man. You may want to do some research on BP swaps rather than sink any money into that engine.

[nightstalker]

Nice looking car man. You may want to do some research on BP swaps rather than sink any money into that engine.

They've made it very hard to do engine conversions here in the uk from what I've read recently without spending big money. One day I may think about it but due to emmissions Tax and insurance costs, I'm happy with the 1600 at the moment.

[nightstalker]

Wow. I haven't been on the international site for a long time, so time to update you guys.

As you know when I got the car a few months ago it needed some tidying up.
So, where was I?

I'd just replaced the headlight and was awaiting to get the car booked in to have the wheels refurbished and powder coated. Whilst I was wauting I ordered a new oil filler cap:



I am getting the Cam cover powder coated next year and it will be mettalic blue and the inlet manifold will be getting chromed This will be done by the same company who brought the wheels back from hell:




this was the wheel that was badly damaged!


I found a new shifter knob on abay for a very reasonable price:


(it's real leather too!)

I looked in my spare parts bin from my previous cars and found these speakers:


and found they are the perfect size for the 3!


THen some pretty interior lights:


And some bad photos!









I went a bit mad with some JDM stickers:





but find an ace with the japanese "mazda" sticker:


and some pretty dust caps


So after messing around with stickers it was back to the real work. I decided the lights needed updating so I tore them apart and resprayed the internals. Black with chrome centres:





I also found some spot/fog lights from the uk site.



And finally the most recent change, the replacement bonnet:






Thanks for looking.

The new year holds a brighter future for the 3 now all the boring needed stuff is out of the way. I'm hoping to get the engine bay tidied up as I have said, a nice chromed (and blue) Cold Air Intake, some Samco Hoses, Coilovers and a new exhaust system. Aesthetically I am looking to find a JDM Kouki front bumper and possibly a high wing some smoked lower bumper lights and rear clusters. Then for the interior, a full retrim of the seats and new carpets.

[chrome730]

not bad not bad. hope all goes well with the build. but as a suggestion instead of shipping your cover to get powder coated you could possibly do it your self to save a ton of money. im sure high temp spray paint will work as a cheap substitute. i know you can buy your own powdercoating gun for cheap at summit's website. all you need is the gun the materials and a oven. good luck.

[nightstalker]

not bad not bad. hope all goes well with the build. but as a suggestion instead of shipping your cover to get powder coated you could possibly do it your self to save a ton of money. im sure high temp spray paint will work as a cheap substitute. i know you can buy your own powdercoating gun for cheap at summit's website. all you need is the gun the materials and a oven. good luck.

#

I won't be shipping it, it will be done by the same company that did my wheels in the UK

I've been quoted a decent price for it £40gbp (around $73) which isn't bad considerinmg the quality of the work they do and that's chroming the inlet mani too (they did my wheels for £140 ($258).

I considered doing it myself, and have done my previous cars before but I feel the effect is slightly lacking, I want all the work on the car to look top quality.

[Dark_Rider2k3]

that doesn't seem bad to get powdercoating done.. i know places around here can get expensive with it.

Good luck with the work! It's looking good so far!

[hotsiit]

Your new hood (bonnet) emblem is upside-down Car looks good though

[nightstalker]

Your new hood (bonnet) emblem is upside-down Car looks good though

I hadn't noticed that! I wonder if that was a factory mistake?

[chrome730]

lol wow thas funny

[nightstalker]

Once again, it's been a while since I've been on here, so here's a few updates:

I've been trying and trying to find an OEM front lip or a JDM front lip but have come up with nothing (or felt like I will have to sell a body part!) so went to a Seat garage and bought this:





(It's Seat Leon Cupra R front splitter and cost me £23 from the dealership!)

I also bought some seatbelt pads from the US:



I felt the wheels needed something also-Rim Tape:




And then something extra- lightweight wheel nuts:




And some aero wipers:



I also decided to add my titanium gear shifter:



Then I got bored one night after work:



I bought some Honda Civic Super Sonic Blue paint and.......









This is what my dog thinks


I'm also looking into a turbo conversion sometime, so keep watching

[SteeleMX3]

thread revival...what did you do with that other shifter knob?? you didn't happen to keep it and think about shipping it to Canada did you

[nightstalker]

thread revival...what did you do with that other shifter knob?? you didn't happen to keep it and think about shipping it to Canada did you

The other knob went in the girlfriends car because my girlfriend was complaining about the coldness of the titanium one on the cold mornings.

It was only a cheap one off ebay

[DeadMaker]

Your next step would be to throw away these stickers..And put up a lowering spring:)
Very nice car!

[nightstalker]

Your next step would be to throw away these stickers..And put up a lowering spring:)
Very nice car!

Already lost the stickers dude and I'm not going for springs I'm after a full coilover setup for ultimate tunability