I think that it looks really good! :D

 

not even a chip or scratch to report so-far. I have 5k now. Good luck to all and merry christmas.

 

Hey everyone, question to ask you.

If I decided to paint the mesh on the back lower bumper with the touch-up paint from Mazda, would it work? Would it stick to the plastic? I thought of lightning yellow mesh to match the car. I'm not sure how the silver mesh would look plus I don't think anyone has done a body match color yet on the mesh. Thanks in advance for your help.

PS - What about painting the diamond shapes and not the lines themselves? A Photoshop opportunity for anyone who would like to do it.

 

thats a good idea

 

yea def good ideas. i went with the mesh painting a long time ago. still looks good. def post pics if you do it

 

SEM Makes a vinyl paint that you can use to touch up the mistakes on the mesh, it will match any factory trim color.

Just an FYI. You can buy it at any local automotive paint shop.

 

haha i didnt take it off. a nice comfy mat, and a slightly sore back n neck cause i just layed down to do it :-p . i dont think anyone has cut the mesh as of yet.

 

Cutting the mesh out is an idea I thought about after reading this thread.

What do you think would look better... black or silver/metal? I am thinking that silver/metal would look best in the rear and it might accent well with the front if you replaced the stock center grill... That grill mesh Tony Orlando used on his 8 would look badass IMHO.

 

im working on the kelspeed rear bumper.
just need some funds but when done it will compliment the
8 so much more.

 

Ive got lots of experience in home brew painting. After a while the paint will start to look crappy. Just keep that in mind if you do it you may have to repaint it every once in a while.

The best thing is to scuff the surface, use bulldog spray adhesive, and use eurethane paint. Followed by a clear coat.

Of coarse this is the more expensive rout but if you want it to last as long as the body paint.

 

said 7 - I didn't think about that. Great insight. Thank you. Damn, back to the drawing board.

 

nice!

 

I painted my mesh as prescribed here right after the idea was posted and it looks fine - still, since Oct. and many washings AND I did both accent rotors too. IMO the painted mesh completes the look on the rear of the car. Now, when I see one unpainted it looks like part of the bumper is missing or something - from a distance. The forum member who came up with this idea is great.

 

Nice job. Looks just like mineexcept your exhaust tips seem to have held up over the months and still look very clean and silver unlike mine whichhave this permanent black stain on the bottom center that I cantget rid of.

Unfortunately mostpeople that I showthe car to dont even notice the mesh unless I pointit out to them since its so low on the car

 

Question: I have a titanium, and was thinking about painting my emblems either black or a dark gunmetal gray. If I paint the emblems a dark gunmetal gray do you guys think the mesh would look cool done in the same fashion, as well as the rotary accent? How about if I paint the emblems a gloss black like some of the members with black cars have done? How do you guys think that would match up with painted mesh and accents?

 

Man, 10 days later, and nobody has answered my question?

 

I dont think it would look good. Just my opinion

 

Finally read this one - my question is, has anyone actually cut the plastic out and replaced it with grill work?

Would this help with air flow or hinder it?

 

Would you like it in bright aluminum or black aluminum? :D As soon as I finish the front grill replacement, this is my next tackle. Thhe hardest part of doing something like this would be that the rear bumper may have to be totally removed as it would be very difficult to cut it out without doing so. Perhaps a keyhole saw or somthing else but you would have to be very steady handed to do so. I have replaced the front center grill on my RX-8 with large diamond paterned aluminum griill that I have coated with spray plasti dip black.

Air flow would improve but to what advantage, I could not say.

 

Wow that sounds cool. I wont see.

 

Hey Dennis, I looked at the body shop manual, and removing the bumper would most likely be required. That way you could devise a method of attaching the grill work. I'm wondering about the material also, and I think the back would benefit from bright aluminum to match the emblems and exhaust. There is the small door for mounting the tie down bolt you have to deal with also.

 

I just painted mine. Use a very small roller, but mask the surfaces all around it and you'll be fine. This will save a lot of time, but you still have to be careful! Make sure you use very little paint on the roller at once, just go over it a few times. I made that mistake, and the paint ran a little, and i had to touch it up with some black. Other than that this is pretty damn easy.

 

I'd paint my new one just to do it again, if it weren't for the fact that my new one came with the accents. I don't think it'd look too good ... chrome-looking paint mixed with polished accent.

 

bump for pics reposted.

Thanks.