hey everyone im new on this forum and i just bought an 04 rx8. i just had some questions about cleaning exhaust tips and rims.

first: are the stock exhaust tips supposed to be shiny? they look that way in the pictures but mine are completely black. i tried some never dull and they turned lighter but not shiny.

second: after doing some searching ppl are saying that the rims are painted surfaces. i just bought some black magic cleaner can i use that?

and one last thing doesn't belong in this section but everytime i have my car in neutral and step off the clutch, there is a rattling noise. does anyone else have this problem?

thanks for all the help!

 

Better learn to search before the "Search Police" show up!

1.) Well, it depends on your exhaust actually, but I use http://www.englishcustompolishing.co...hotchrome.html
If your tips are black, it gonna take quite some time and work to get them back where they should be no matter what you use!

2.) I wouldn't use anything but a mild soap and water on your rims. I'm assuming you have stock rims and to be honest, I don't know if they are just painted, but I think not. I thought they were aluminum and with a coating on them. Use mild soap, water, towel and elbow grease and get to it! Same thing applies......will take a while. I'm not recommending it, but if you have a lot of brake dust build up, you could use some wheel cleaner designed to get that off, but don't leave it on very long.


3.) Not sure about the rattle noise........can you tell where it's coming from? Engine compartment, cabin, shifter? BTW....you don't have your hand on the shifter during this time do you?

 

^ The english is really good too.
^Not sure about the rattle noise........can you tell where it's coming from? Engine compartment, cabin, shifter? be more specific! Search!!!! All clutches make some noise when engaging or disengaging?


Personally I use Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish for the exhaust tip, if there a dirty as you suggest this may take a few application as carbon build-up is very difficult to get off.
My wheel I use a strong soap & water solution and wax after there good and clean to help with brake dust adhering to the wheel.

 

the rattling seems to be coming from the engine compartment. theres no sound when the clutch is engaged but as soon as i step off there is a continuous rattling noise. i thought it was the flywheel or something but im new to manual and my dad said the rattling wasn't normal.

 

possibly a blown motor mount.

 

More like a worn throw-out bearing, not engine mount.

 

alright i think im going to get it checked out sometime next week
thanks for all the tips

 

+1.... the throw out bearings on this car are loud, even when they're good. I bet its fine.


I use mothers mag polish on my exhaust.... took about 30 minutes per tip to get them from black to shiny.
(That is snow on the dirty tip picture.)

On the wheels... do you have the chrome wheels or are they painted silver? Both you should only use mild soap and water... but I don't think you'll be able to "polish" silver paint.

 

As do I (on my wheels as well, albeit only occasionally).

[QUOTE=RXeckless;3191036...Personally I use Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish for the exhaust tips .....[/QUOTE]

 

clean tit

 

well the most important question is whether the stock exhaust tips are supposed to be shiny. i just bought a used one and the tips were completely black. on pictures they look shiny so should i waste my time polishing them?

 

I'd like to know how you guys get your tips black. Mine are always shiny except for a bit of the lower interior edge that easily washes. Clean them!

 

Polish them up, it looks so much better with the shiny exhaust tips <3

+1 for the throwout bearing also, its KNOWN to make noise, its just something you have to live with. Changed out my clutch not too long ago, and got a replacement throw-out bearing, still makes the EXACT same sound as it did before.. -_-;

 

If your saying that you hear a sound when you put the car in nuetral my car makes a somewhat rattling sound when I am sitting still. My Mazda dealer didnt say anything about it so personally i wouldnt worry about it.

Your tips can get black if the car is running to much gasoline. My check engine light actually came on and they said it was a secondary air induction code and it was running rich on gas so i got it fixed. Gas mileage went up lol

 

Think a lot of people are buying used now and they are all dirty when the get them, so once you do get them clean you can always just keep a rag in the garage hanging right by the rear of the car, takes two seconds to wipe them off. That's what I do everyday I get home from work. Grab the rag and wipe off that lower edge if there happens to be any that day. Most days there is just a small spot or two. Of course ya have to do the main polish every so often.

 

I guess then dirty exhaust tips would be a good clue as to how well a used '8 was maintained. Add it to the inspection list when considering a pre-owned purchase!

 

Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish. If you keep up with cleaning the tips you should never have a problem. Goes on and off fast in 30 seconds

 

If they are really dirty, first use an APC to remove it, or try Stoner's Tarminator. Then if they are still really bad, follow with steel wool grade #0000. Finish off with Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish. Last but not least, apply Klasse All-in-One followed by Klasse Sealant Glaze for protection later. I have been doing this and it hasn't failed me. Many people on the Autopia forums do the same. I have only used steel wool #0000 on the inside since my tips aren't neglected, but it did wonders on the insides after we had a 2 week rainstorm and no chemicals could remove the soot inside the tips.

 

how'd you fix that. took it in to the stealership?

 

Blue Magic wheel polish works awesome on my tips. They are always black and when I used Mothers it took a long time to rub off. But with the Blue Magic it came off pretty much instantly!

I bought mine from Autozone.

http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/bl...c/products/210

 

anybody ever give Brasso a try on the tips? My friend with a Mercedes recommended when he saw my dirty tips.

 

READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! oh yeAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JK

motor mount, plus 1 (rattle)

 

ditto

 

Personally I use Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish for the exhaust tip


yes mothers !!!!! good shiiiitt man first time i clean my exhaust tips after 4 years and they look like new thanks mothers

 

That is the same exhaust system I have on my 8...I have used Never Dull but that doesn't get them to where I want them to be. Can I get Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish at any auto shop?