Saw a great wooden trim on the MX5 mods site - no contact details.

Well, actually, there was a link to my site, which is where the picture was taken from (with my permission!;-)

To save you going back to the mods site, here's my URL: http://www.woodhouse.freeisp.co.uk/mx5page.htm where I think you'll find the answer to most of your questions, including a link to New England wood dash which I hope you'll also find useful.

Can anyone who has fitted a wooden trim to their dash answer the following questions Availability - Supplier, No. of pieces in kit, Range of woods available Price Fitting - Easy to fit or do you need someone to do the job for you Problems encountered

There were 5 pieces in the kit, but one of them was redundant because of my MSSS type radio/cass/cd system Other kits (e.g. from mmmiata.com) have more pices but they are much more pricey. If you like a more moulded look, there is one in wood effect plastic, but I forget where, and it's getting a bit late now!

There was a variety of wood, and it was easy to fit - just watch the bend at the bottom of the radio. Follow the instructions carefully (use a hair drier) and there's no problem.

For the price I think it's the best value, and the company actually returns your e-mail questions and is very helpful, which makes a change from some! (5/00)

My Rosewood dash arrived from US just under a week from ordering .

As stated cost was $100 + shipping which turned out to be $42 . Excellent packing about a foot square flat envelope .

Inside were 6 pieces : radio / air vent / controls surround gear lever surround ashtray surround elec window surround instrument panel piece + 1 piece which I assume is for the air vents on a Mk 2 Miata see http://zyworld.com/martinclayton/wooden%20dash.htm

My car is a mk 1 1994 L reg 1.8 Roadster which according to Eddie at New England is also a Mk1 Miata BUT in 1993 they changed the Miata dash layout presumably to what we know as the Mk2 so be careful , I sent Eddie a photo of my centre dash just to be sure I got the right one .

Fittings easy - just clean off plastic trim , I used ' white spirit ' but only clean area to be covered ( it tends to turn the plastic white )

Peel of backing sheet from trim, position and press into place . Sounds easy BUT trial each piece into place first before peeling of backing sheet . Once stuck can't remove ! Try small piece ( window switches ) first , not so visible either if dont get it right first time .

The instrument panel is obviously the hardest , steering column covers to remove ,instrument cowling to remove ( 2 screws and pull forward sharply ,3 latches on back of cowling to disengage from instument panel ) The clear plastic window covering dials is super glued into black surround of panel and at first seems impossible to remove ,however use a small bladed screw driver and gently prise one from other.If you do it gently and slowly, moving around circumference afew times it will suddenly 'fall apart' ,hopefully not because its broken but because you've cracked the glue . I had to ease my trim to fit around dials and into sides of cowling ( used rough grade emery paper )if you have to ,do it gently and take your time and you shouldnt bend the trim I didnt bother super gluing panel back on just used outer black cowling to hold in place . (5/00)

On the MK1/MK2 dash point - the MK1 Car has had TWO dash styles in its life that are SIMILAR but different enough for parts to be changed in the trim level. HOWEVER in the UK spec car we didn't really see the change as it was associated with passenger airbags from memory on LHD cars. The piece that I am fully conversant with is 1/4 light demisters which changed shape around 1994 on LHD drive cars from oblong to sort of oval. I have NOT found a UK MK1 car with the modified 1/4 demisters, but no doubt someone out there will now contradict this 10 fold, and I believe the statement to be true for the imported Roadsters.

Anyway, my understanding is that for a MK1 UK or Roadster owner you would always need MK1 car parts and stay with 1/4 trim for the early car when offered a choice UNLESS you know the 1/4 demisters on your car are an oval basis rather than oblong. (5/00)