| I've just had the "carbon-fibre" moulded dash kit delivered from Serious Autos and unfortunately it just doesn't cut the mustard so it's going back. Has anyone tried spraying/painting/crayoning their centre console? Any views on the ease of doing it, durability etc. (11/99) |
| Try http://www.mxfive.co.uk/ (11/99) |
| Have you considered having it covered in leather? Mike Satur could probably do it although I've seen much better quality leather work on Chris Colemans' Mk2 Instrument binacle. Can be painted any colour you like. 2 Problems though 1) Made of polypropylene (PP) - normal paint does not stick 2) Is flexible to a degree - normal paint may crack. (11/99) |
| These issues are also true of some external panels so bodyshops are geared up to be able to deal with this by the use of the right chemical additives in the paint. Some good diy solutions are available from accessory shops though... (11/99) |
| Formula 40 do a product called polyprep - is a special clear primer for PP that allows normal car paint on top - Works great where I have tried it and won't peel (One reason my mk2 looked immaculate at Billing was I had re-sprayed my easily scratched door pull handles - now much more resiliant and better matt finish than the original) (11/99) |
| If you still wanted the Carbon-Fibre look, why not try buying a roll of the Carbon-Fibre look film from Foliatec (try Demon Tweeks, Xtreme Motorsports, any other Boy-racer outlet). Can cut and apply to wherever you like then. (11/99) |
| I considered that, but was put off by the thought of having to get the film/fabric/whatever to follow the contours of the console. (11/99) |
| Yep, Done that to mine, with the wood effect, and it looks pretty good. It does take a bit of time and effort with a hot air gun to get it to form round the bendy bits, but considering the price difference !!!! And it's been on almost a year now with no signs of peeling ! (11/99) |
| Did this to mine with the fake carbon fibre stuff from a local shop the job was fiddly but it came out well and looks as good if not better than the kits you can but for big bucks I also did the ashtray top etc. but left the actual surround which looks much better than those pictures (11/99) |
| I have tried various methods on my car. First, I tried the carbon
film from Foliatec. This looked great, but was a struggle to fit
around the contours. After a year or so, the stuff started to shrink
in the hot sun, causing any joins to move apart from each other,
concave curves to peel away etc. Not good. Next, Foliatec interior colourspray. Three part paint. Primer, colour, clear lacquer. I bought the red (car is classic red), but it was waaayy too pink. I ended up using some of the Foliatec primer with various cans of red oxide primer and Ford somethingorother red, with some Auto Glym to richen the colour up. I did try Halfords Classic Red, but it too was too pink. Results? See for yourself. http://www.mxfive.co.uk So far so good, I only did the console around the heater/radio, I thought the one between the seats would get scratched too easily. I have been careful not to scratch the bits I did paint - It is fairly resilient, but wouldn't take much. I feel it is worth it for the looks. If it was my daily runner subject to more wear and tear, I would think twice. (11/99) |
| Has anyone been in contact with Serious Autos in the states recently? I returned the carbon fibre dash kit to them almost a month ago and I still haven't had the refund come through. They're not answering my mails and I've tried phoning them but get no reply. As if to add insult to injury, I recieved a mailshot card through the mail the other day about the moulded dask kit I've returned! Up until now, all my dealings with the companies advertised on Miata.net have been great. Any ideas? (12/99) |
| It looks like Serious Autos are in my good books again (well, maybe just better books). I've just got a mail saying "your account has been credited" (although I've yet to check my credit card account). Thanks to all who offered advice (12/99) |
| The write-up of my centre console spraying is now up at http://www.intuitive-solutions.co.uk/petec, along with a "guess the wing thing" section. (12/99) |
| Looks good.. I saw another red mx at Billing with a red center console and it looked great! Let us know how the paint stands up to wear'n'tear please - I'm definately tempted to try this. (12/99) |
| The wing things look like marker lights, I have seen several Roadsters coming in from Japan with them on. Have you not found the switch for them yet? (12/99) |
| Despite looking like they should light up, there are no wires coming from them. The best explanation someone's come up with so far is that the Japanese bloke who owned the car before me was completely bonkers and just thought they'd look nice. I've not been brave enough to try and take them off yet for a proper look. I know I'd end up needing 2 new wings. (12/99) |
| I tried the Foliatec kit. Their red came out very pink. I ended up using their base coat, some Ford red (forget the name, but Halfords' Mazda Classic Red also came out pink) and a good dose of Autoglym on the top. Actually ended up with a very good colour match, and no wear problems yet, though I am being careful not to scratch it - it's not a daily runner, and that helps. (12/99) |