OEM Bonnet Struts
 

Can one of you guys get the part number for these? I heard they are an option in Europe.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...HoodStruts.jpg

OK, here is the part number: FE15-V4-620A

http://www.mazda.co.uk/Owning/Accessories/

http://phwt.mazda.co.uk/mazda/GetIma...BC49C458EFADB3

Is everyone sleeping in the UK? haha

I better call up the guys at P&M Pumps to see what they can do for me. Everyone I have contacted cannot get these!

have you checked ebay? I got mine from a dealer in Europe selling on ebay.

Hmm those looks pretty good. I never liked the look and fit of the aftermarket ones but I might actually consider these. Price?

Those look pretty good.......I'm not sure if I like where those attach though?????

I still like my Tein hood dampers though and my gap is actually pretty non-existant.

See https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...82921#poststop
and
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...82922#poststop if interested.

Well I like where these attach on the hood. It seems to me it would be rather easy to bend your hood with the Teins, no?

Somebody needs to start a Group Buy for THESE struts...

I'm in!

Not really IMHO........unless you are an animal and just yank it down. Anyway........I can't really see where the dampers talked about in this thread really mount down inside the engine bay. I guess it's down on the fender well somewhere?
Can someone get a pic of that?

There is absolutely NO reason to have a hood gap!

Pitiful design - even the ones I made in my garage are better, and NO GAP!!

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...7&d=1078545240

Sad.

S

But then you can't see your fancy green hood struts with the hood closed!! Oh wait, that's the idea.. :lol2:

Very funny! Mine are black anyway and no real gap. :eyetwitch

I'm in if I haven't got mine from ebay when GB time come.

There is no group buy. I was trying to get somebody in Europe to reply if they would source these for me. Nobody posted yet...

Don't know if you sourced these youself but the OEM struts are available from any Mazda main dealer here and in the UK. For example,
http://www.mazda-accessories.com/aca...r_Styling.html
also Ebay, do a search

I am using the OEM bonnet stays myself and are excellent. Fitting them requires the use of a special tool to rivet nuts to the body and hood.

Did you install it yourself? or Dealership did it for you?

Could you please take some closeup pics of how they are fitted? I am curious..

The kit comes complete with all the hardware required to fit, but you do need a 'Rivet Nut Tool' to fasten the threaded inserts to the bonnet and engine bay. I had to borrow mine from a local retailer, nice guy to do so, as the tool was very expensive here. Some photo's to give you some idea as to how it is fitted.
6mm Rivet Nuts- http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...mRivetNuts.jpg
Bonnet fully open- http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...dGasStruts.jpg
Strut fixing points up close- http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...utRightTop.jpg
and - http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...ightBottom.jpg
Very easy to fit so long as you follow the instructions.

Any drilling involved? Just ordered a pair off of that ebay link.

Yes drilling is required. I think a 10mm drill bit is needed, its a year since I fitted mine, so I can't remember exactly.
If you look closely at the bottom mounting position you can see that it is utilizing an existing hole. This hole was for the cable tie holding the wiring loom in position. It was a simple matter to open it out the required size.
The top mounting requires 4 holes to be drilled into the bonnet. Care is required here as it would be very easy to overdo it and possibly be the cause of visible damage to the top of the hood, the hood is only made of aluminum.
The rivet nut tool I used was a simple hand operated tool similar to any blind rivet tool but designed specifically for these rivet nuts, for example-
http://rapidrivet.thomasnet.com/item...46339?&seo=110

Found this ad on the net, http://www.rivetnuttool.com/ Looks OK for the job.

Incidentally when the bonnet is closed this OEM strut lies where the large wiring loom is situated and obviously the loom has to be moved slightly to allow for this.
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s...utsClosing.jpg

Installed mine this weekend. Instructions and installation easy to handle with the right tools. Thanks!