Many Japanese RX-8's owners are feeling the same thing.
The rear plastic bumper of RX-8 is cheap.
now, they performed such a work.
Someone hollowed out Meshes of the net of the imitation made from a plastic,
and other guy painted Silver.

EAST MOON has attached this image:
http://www.knowledgelink.jp/user/tk/030803/08_00.jpg

http://www.knowledgelink.jp/user/tk/030803/08_01.jpg

http://www.knowledgelink.jp/user/tk/030803/08_02.jpg

I am the same feeling as him, but maybe I will take other way.
BTW: This Lower plastic bumper and. upper body clor bumper is "the set" in Japanese Mazda dealer.
That price is 60.000 Yen...around 500 USD.
We cannot buy only the Lower plastic bumper in my dealer.

thanks
EAST MOON

I like them both! Thanks East Moon for the great pics and ideas.

East Moon, 60,000 yen is about $500 to $550 US dollars.

I like your idea! Thanks for the pics!

Dale

dcfc3s Thank you for your help!

It was my "usual" mistake.
I corrected it.

thanks
EAST MOON

Can you please give a little more detail of how this was all done? I looked at your pictures, looked at my car, and it certainly does look like a cheap fake plastic replica of a screen for sure.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but how does someone:

1. cut each little piece of plastic (maybe 200 pieces?) out of the bumper down there?

or

2. paint each little raised area around the little fake pieces with silver paint (little brush while standing on your head, perhaps?)

Cetainly looks cool, but hopefully an easy solution is available that is not obvous??

Also, do you think or know if the 'cut out' version would reduce the heat in the trunk from the muffler being 'right there' underneath it??

Thanks!

East Moon, I noticed in the top picture the rotor shape around the rear fog light appears to be painted 'silver'. Is that correct?
Does this confirm that the rear rotor accent piece and rear fog light can not be used together?

Spin9k
Can you please give a little more detail of how this was all done? I looked at your pictures, looked at my car, and it certainly does look like a cheap fake plastic replica of a screen for sure.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but how does someone:
1. cut each little piece of plastic (maybe 200 pieces?) out of the bumper down there?
or
2. paint each little raised area around the little fake pieces with silver paint (little brush while standing on your head, perhaps?)
Cetainly looks cool, but hopefully an easy solution is available that is not obvous??
Also, do you think or know if the 'cut out' version would reduce the heat in the trunk from the muffler being 'right there' underneath it??


>>1. cut each little piece of plastic (maybe 200 pieces?) out of the bumper down there?

Yes
His hand made by the hand Router.

>>2. paint each little raised area around the little fake pieces with silver paint (little brush while standing on your head, perhaps?)

Yes ...but maybe The brush which he has bought in the store. .:D

>>Also, do you think or know if the 'cut out' version would reduce the heat in the trunk from the muffler being 'right there' underneath it??

I think so...but "little"
and I think that the intensity of a bumper is spoiled.

thanks
EAST MOON

TreknMazda
I noticed in the top picture the rotor shape around the rear fog light appears to be painted 'silver'. Is that correct?
Does this confirm that the rear rotor accent piece and rear fog light can not be used together?


>>I noticed in the top picture the rotor shape around the rear fog light appears to be painted 'silver'. Is that correct?

Yes He painted it.

>>Does this confirm that the rear rotor accent piece and rear fog light can not be used together?

Uh---mmmmm...sorry I don't know about it.
I will try, ask him on the Japanese site.

thanks
EAST MOON

i was going to start a thread about how i absolutly HATE the FAKE rear mesh and if there were any solutions to solve that problem. then i saw this thread. i really like the cutout, looks gorgous. how exactly do u do the cut outs? does the mesh part come out? what do u cut it with? someone help me!!

Looking good! I'll have to think hard about doing this one.....

Originally posted by tribal azn2
how exactly do u do the cut outs? does the mesh part come out? what do u cut it with? someone help me!!
A Dremel tool and lots of patience.

I think the cutout version would look great if painted silver.

that looks way too difficult and time consumering. 4 cuts per box, around 200 boxes, thats 800 little cuts that have to be straight. i dont have that kind of patience or the tools. are there any type of stores/shops that would do this kind of work?


or i was thinking just to cut the whole mesh out all together. that might not look too bad. can someone please photoshop that

Originally posted by tribal azn2

or i was thinking just to cut the whole mesh out all together. that might not look too bad. can someone please photoshop that
Might not be a bad idea if it will still be structurally sound. Then you could put a real piece of mesh/screen in the cut-out...hmmm

tribal azn2
i was going to start a thread about how i absolutly HATE the FAKE rear mesh and if there were any solutions to solve that problem. then i saw this thread. i really like the cutout, looks gorgous. how exactly do u do the cut outs? does the mesh part come out? what do u cut it with? someone help me!!

He did the work using these tools for cut out.

EAST MOON has attached this image:
http://www.egroups.co.jp/files/eastmoon/030803/rout000.jpg
...step by step. :D

EAST MOON

Originally posted by TJRX8

A Dremel tool and lots of patience.

Geez..how 'bout that?! :D

Hmm, I think a Testors silver enamel paint marker would work pretty good for painting the plastic. As long as it's enamel it should last quite awhile, and easy to touch up with..

Just make sure you get the enamel and not the acrylic ones.

Testors Silver Paint Marker (http://www.testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1442)

Anybody else notice that the Rear Fog lights look different in all three pictures. The top picture looks like the factory Rear Fog light. In the other two pictures it looks more like a reflector.

I'm still trying to figure out how to get the Rear Fog light for my U.S. model.

As a cheaper option, I think a reflector would be kewl, instead of a rear fog light.

Bought some real black diamond pattern steel mesh for the rear, 2 pieces 4"x19" each, no problem - but on checking what is behind the fake plastic, I find that most of the supoports attach to the back of the 'fake' bits......cutting and replacing them will be a major pain, have to arrange some supports elsewhere.

Doh!.....no pictures tonight!
.
.
.
doc

how do u take the mesh part off

My plan WAS to just cut 'em out and replace with steel, but with all those supports on it I am having to come up with a plan 'B'.
.
.
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doc

Originally posted by Doctorr
My plan WAS to just cut 'em out and replace with steel, but with all those supports on it I am having to come up with a plan 'B'.
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.
.
doc

no i mean how do u take off the whole thing. u need to be able to take it off to cut it and what not. u can see the 2 cracks on the inside of both the exhuast pipes, so it clearly can be taken off. just a question of how

I was wanting to customize the front grill in the middle right below the mazda badge. Anybody got any ideas on that

anyone

Liked what EAST MOON showed us, so here's my result. I used (from the local craft store) 'Plaid' brand 'Paint Plastic Primer' (clear) and 'Paint Plastic Siver', followed by 'Paint Plastic Sealer' (clear). Application took about 10 min per coat using a 1" foam brush. Not really hard at all.

Total cost $2 + $2 + $2 + $.50 (brush).

What do you think? Seems to add a lot to the from-the-rear view to my eye. After all, the grill was there, just with no paint for some reason?

Looks real good. Any tips? How did you keep it from running?

How about another pic from straight behind it far enough to see the whole rear end.
Thanx!

The primer is liquid and dries invisible, so just brush it on. The (aluminum) paint is a gel like substance. It doesn't go anywhere, esp. when on the brush I used (see pic). The clear coat is clear too.

The plastic grillwork is raised off the background plastic so the wide brush, if you're just reasonably careful, rides atop the ridges and doesn't get in the valleys. I used the little brush for a couple places near the crest cause the wide brush was too tight there. Also as it is water based, I used the little brush wet to clean a couple spots by swirling it on the plastic and dissolving the paint.

It drys in 30 minutes, and 'cures' in 48-72 hrs/ coat. It is billed as water resistant after curing, but not water submersible. The primer helps adhesion on the plastic, the clear coat helps duribility and adds more water resistance.

Spin9K,

It is billed as water resistant after curing, but not water submersible. The primer helps adhesion on the plastic, the clear coat helps duribility and adds more water resistance.

does this mean that i need to be careful when i wash the car? i am impressed with your work, but i am just a little worried about the paint coming off after a few months.

have you washed the car since the paint job? anything happen to your work?

i would be leaning more to your solution than cutting out the entire section.

thanks for all the info.

santino

I think it means you can't drive underwater... no just kidding. ;)

I did a little testing on some plastic mesh I used on the front oil cooler spaces. After drying and curing time had passed, I couldn't wash it off, even with hot faucet water and rubbing.

I haven't had enough time to cure it yet (on the car), so I have not washed it. If there is a problem I'll post by week end.

perfect

yes, your work looks flawless...it looks MUCH better than the way it was, IMO...could you perhaps take an extreme closeup? i'd really like to see how well it covers the ridges

My digital camera doesn't do any closer than I showed before. FYI first coat is not quite complete coverage, the brush leaves lines like a little rake sort of. 2nd coat can cover these nearly completely depending on how carefull you are. I stopped there, as from more than a couple inches, it looks as you see in the pic, nearly perfect!

IMO no one is gonna get **SO** up close and personal with my car's arse but me, I would guess, to see what little imperfection there may be left! :)

well you got me sold...the pictures look great...i wonder if i'll like it on my black one though...i may have to request someone a photoshopped picture of the grill on a black one...any takers?