2003 Protege5 back from the brink: budget rebirth.

Dropped My RX8 wheels off at the powder coater finally! Hopefully I will have them back on Friday and maybe get my tires mounted on Saturday and then onto the car! I am super pumped to be getting this done after months of starring at the wheels in my office. Sorry no pics in this post, but I wanted to share that an update is coming soon. Also I got my LED trunk light in and it's way brighter than stock and now My LED replacements are about complete. Pics of that soon too.
 
My trunk LED is the best thing evar! Fortunetelling, my license plate LEDs are having trouble. I noticed they were flickering like a rave party. I looked closer and some LEDs on the post were going in and out. I took my covers off (broke one in the process and yelled a number of expletives) and while wiggling one, watched it blow. Now I have one seizing LED and a yellow peanut bulb. The LED the blew totally fried on of the lead/connecters (the metal pin that delivers current). I took a better look at them and they were dingy, and moldy looking. Moisture got to my two exterior LEDs and killer them. My plans are to get two more LEDs and the use some clear silicone to seal the light covers. If there is a watertight seal and I have LEDs, I should never have to remove the cover
 
A bad cell phone pic taken in the garage, but here's a sneak peak of my RX8 wheels that I just picked up from the coater tonight. Can't wait to see these babies in the sunlight! Getting the tires mounted tomorrow and then on the car. I'll be sure to take lots of pics this weekend.

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skittles,jaffas all pretty tasty in their own way, my car looks stock but not that's what makes us unique from each other.
 
This car is more and more awesomer (and yes I am making that an official word for this post) every time I read this thread!!
 
Okay! Time for some pics and video!

I am in love with these wheels! The Illusion Violet color that I had the coated is nuts. It's also very hard to take pics of. Most of these pictures do no justice compared to seeing with your own eyes.

Sometimes the look so deep purple that they're almost black. Other times they look almost kandy red. And sometimes they are bright purple/pinkish. Either way they look sweet and the gloss wheels compliment the matte finish of the car in a great way.

Check out the pics and I also uploaded a video.

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Nice to see how the paint has held up. Looking good as always! Any thoughts on modding your headlights? Maybe bake them apart and color match the car?
 
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Nice to see how the paint has held up. Looking good as always! Any thoughts on modding your headlights? Maybe bake them apart and color match the car?

Not sure really on the headlights. I just ordered some purple lens tint for the tail lights. I'm hoping the pure red of the factory tail mixed with the translucent purple tint will give them a "close to the wheels" look without looking to noticeably changed to cops. When I went on that cruise this past Sunday a few people at the meetup spot suggested that if the tails were purple it would flow better and this is something I actually thought myself when I mounted the new wheels. We'll see if I end up liking it or not. Next few things on my list are black lug nuts, the protege bumper-gap fix kit and the mazda6 rear wiper swap.
 
See about getting purple bulbs for the front marker lights and rear turn lights. AAC sag fix FTW. I plan on getting the Mazda6 wiper too. I think the wiper delete and plug would look great on your car, but you probably use it as much as I do
 
See about getting purple bulbs for the front marker lights and rear turn lights. AAC sag fix FTW. I plan on getting the Mazda6 wiper too. I think the wiper delete and plug would look great on your car, but you probably use it as much as I do

Yeah I don't want to delete. Whenever I drive a car without a rear wiper in the rain it drives me freakin nuts! I like the look of the 6 one. clean.
 

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