3 hr DIY rear bumper mod
 

yup, so theres nothin a sawz-all, a utility knife, and a dremel wont solve. Today lifted the rear up an cut away the mesh reliefs in the bottom of the rear bumper. Used a sheet of aluminum siding as a guide so that the guard of the sawz-all wouldnt beat up the bumper. Also used several files to clean up any uneven cuts. Have to say that realitivly speaking the bumper is very soft, at the right rpms cut though it like butter. Installed mesh using the flanges that used to hang the part I cut away. I was going to paint the mesh flat black to be a lil but more stealth but after dry fitting the formed mesh I liked the contrast that it gave to the black plastic.

i must say, looks nice!!

Nice job

looks good !!

thats cool..i thought about this as well but was too lazy to try it..

I'd love to do that but the moment I went to the track I'd have to punch a hold into it for the toe hook.

Looks great!

Mine took only 15 minutes to do and it costs me 99 cents.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-better-looking-oem-rear-diffuser-132286/

lol, but there is no comparison.

real mesh makes it look real clean. well done

I like it. but if I did it I would paint it black.

Damn you!!! Now i have something ELSE i want to do!!
olddragger

looks good, I've been thinking of how to do something like this. I really dislike the look of the fake mesh. its little touches like this that really make the car stand out!

Where did you get the mesh, and what type of material/pattern was it? I just recently did my Oil Cooler/Lower Bumper Guard with RX8Strakes.com kit and matching the back bumper would look good IMO.

Your post makes me wanna go out and do this today. My G/F will be happy I'm working on my car again :icon_no2:

thats ok I plan on the same thing, just ordered my autocraft tow hook, an once I get I can engineer a gromet for it... once I make it I'll send ya one

Home Depot rain gutter:lol: The mesh inst a true diamond mesh but it still looks great, one piece was 1"in too short so but after cutting for the "V" shape it fit,,,, cost $1.50 a piece....cheapest mod ive done, and really does change the look of the rear tremendously... thanks for the comments guys:) :) :)

i've been meaning to do this for the longest time, but i've been to scared about screwing up my bumper.

maybe we can meet up, i'll bring the beer.

do you think there is any better flow at cruising speed by doing this? sort of like opening holes in the bumper parachute, or you think there is minimal air flow considering the muffler is right there?

looks good. haha i like se3p's idea. rofltacular

looks good, where'd you get the mesh from?

^^ read post 13.

Yay! Someone actually likes my idea!

to add to rotr8: easier DIY, read reply
 

:) 1)heat gun
2)thin blade or knife

heat up bumper, but not in concentrated areas but rather in generalized areas. then place knife on the edge ur comfortable in making the first cut... heat up a lil bit with light pressure on the plastic, and wait for the knife to sink in like butter.

move the knife along the cut with the heat gun and moderate pressure.

shouldn't take more than 30 minutes tops!

sorry i didn't contribute this earlier as noone in my area or the meets i go to seem interested in cutting their new car up as i did.

hope those that will proceed with this can help my technique useful... if at all more cost effective.

mine only took 5 minutes to install from rx8strakes.com and look just as good.

How about a DIY?

Also, I have the RX8Strakes.com kit too, and it needed a lot of trimming, plus doesn't look near as good because of visible screws and the plastic behind it.

is their any interest in the possibility of performance gains or is it all just for the wow factor?

I was also thinking about a similar procedure for the front. Half of the front grill is blocked with fake holes. wassup with that? unless the mazda people saw a flow pattern that was more efficient with less opening to our radiator?

HA! just like Johns!!! renesisse3p