Appearance mods

[Tedster]

Ok i have a green 01 Protege ES and am wondering what kinda exterior mods are out there... I dont want anything extravagant like body kits or whatever... what ideas do you have? I see there arent many pics on this site with people who have done stuff...

This is what ideas I have...

Painted calipers - maybe chrome
Metal grill mesh in the front
Tint job - Already have this done
Sidemarker lights
Fog lights - Mine already has the factory fogs but one of them has a hole in it and doesnt work, $125 for a new one... yikes.
Altezza talilights - Not sure i want this really
Chrome wipers - Not sure about this one
I was thinking of taking the mudflaps off, I hear its not very aerodynamic to have them on... what you guys think?

Any other ideas you guys have?? And do you guys have any good websites with pics? Thanks.

 

[GhostMercury]

thats about all the apearance mods there are without get a cf hood/trunk or body kit. some of them like chrome wipers are to ricey for me but whatever floats your boat

 

[sam1]

spokane, huh!? I'm just across the border in cd'a! =) But anyways, I tinted my tailights and sidemarkers and love the blacked out look. Might go better with green than the chrome & altezzas do. Theres a green protege around here with altezzas and I think it looks pretty tacky. just my .02 If you ever come out to cd'a, we can meet up and I'll show you what I've done with mine...

 

[mickeyreategui]

take off you side molding!!! this will give you a clean look under $5, or paint you headlights black or whatever color you like, or even get rockblocker overlays for your headlights, fog, taillights.

 

[Tedster]

Cool beans Sam, sounds good.
So Mickey, when you take the molding off, is there paint under it or what? Does the glue stick onto the car?
So is there a way to get the front signals cleared? Or would you have to buy the whole headlight assembly?
And I see most of the cars on here have the mudflaps off... so I might start with that... hehe thats free and easy. Even tho for our cars, the mudflaps dont look bad at all, nice and small and sporty.
Thanks guys.

 

[mpvpsu]

Don't go with the chrome wipers, I'll see if I can get a close up of my wipers. They're from Bosh ( one of the only good things bosh makes) and are a Thin/ Low Profile wiper. I think these have a much cleaner look and they actually stick to your window over 45mph if you need to use the washer fluid.

 

[jomoyo069]

theres a nice front lip you can buy.. no altezzas or chrome windsheild wipers... im gonna paint my calipers too soon.. the grill might be cool.. foglights are nice

 

[jomoyo069]

the front lip is here http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123654359
hes a good seller

 

[mickeyreategui]

Cool beans Sam, sounds good.
So Mickey, when you take the molding off, is there paint under it or what? Does the glue stick onto the car?
So is there a way to get the front signals cleared? Or would you have to buy the whole headlight assembly?
And I see most of the cars on here have the mudflaps off... so I might start with that... hehe thats free and easy. Even tho for our cars, the mudflaps dont look bad at all, nice and small and sporty.
Thanks guys.

there is just glue under the moldings, an eraser wheel is the best way to get the extra glue of, if not just heat them up with a heat gun and pull slowly and use adhesive remover to get the excess off.
to clear the signals in the headlight you have to take them apart and take out the lens, while your at it you could paint it whatever color you want.

 

[sam1]

yeah, removing the side modlings is easy and free, and looks really nice. I did that quite a while ago...

painting the headlights is cheap and easy, too. There's a write-up in the how-to section.

 

[mpvpsu]

No one has mentioned wheels yet? you can get a nice set cheap if you look around. you don't have to go big, 17's look great on our cars. There is usually a set for sale by another member atleast 1-2 times per month.

 

[exNeon]

i used to see a full LX fog light kit on ebay for 100.
im sure you can either find a partner in crime to sell the rest of the stuff to, or maybe even just a single light.

 

[njaremka]

the front lip is here http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123654359
hes a good seller

thanks for the "props", man.

if you want a front lip, i just started a new thread....
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123662421

 

[Tedster]

Hey thanks guys. Sorry I've been in Pittsburgh all week so havent had time to reply. I'll see what I can start on first. Not sure about taking the amber part of the signals out... too much work sounds like. I'll see what i will start on first. Probably paint the calipers first and then maybe a front grille. Has anyone painted the top strip of the rear window the color of their car? Tha looks cool sometimes, or the top of the windshield too. Laterz.