I guess I should do an intro...

[gannongs]

Hey everyone,

My name is Greg and I am now an addict. This forum was my gateway drug. It has got me on lockdown (whip) and its only been a week and a half. All I think about are my car, this forum, car parts, online retailers, various mail carriers, the date/calendar, and getting all man-sweated and greasy working on my car. Usually in that order.

I own a silver 2002 P5 manual transmission that I bought in late December last year. Her name is Brooke, named after Brooke Burke (bowdown) (May she stay MILF forever, Amen). She (the car not the babe) is virtually stock at the moment but is in the process of being unstockethed.

Pics will come after I give her a wash and borrow a digi but until then here is a pic from google that is about right.

Unlike that car I have a US roof rack, but I am looking for the rubber filler strips (canadian I think?) so if anyone has some they are willing to part with please let me know. I am going to try tomorrow to see if the dealer can get them and how much of my lifeblood they want in exchange but I heard it is expensive. Any chance of personally fabbing them?

Here is a listing of things as they stand now

Parts/Mods completed:

• Kartboy Bushings
• Eclipse Receiver
  -decent quality deck but i bought it 4 years ago for another vehicle so its time for an upgrade
• Windows Always on
• Moonroof always on
• Kill Doorchime
• EGR valve clean (not really a mod but oh well)
• removed crossbars from roof rack

Parts/Mods waiting for install:

• B&M Short Shifter
  -problems with the install, will post later on the normal board
• Passenger Door Lock Switch
• Disable Automatic A/C - Defrost Modes
• Rewire Fogs for Always On
• Making Door Locks Flush

Parts enroute to me:

• AWR Front and Rear motor mounts
• SR Shift Boot (blue thread)
• SR E-brake Boot (blue thread)
• Injen CIA Black
• GReddy Counterweight Shift Knob
• Sparkplugs (long reach)

Things that Miss Cleo sees in my future (in order of most wanted (hitit) ):

• Canadian filler strips
• Audio system
  -Been looking at the Kenwood decks (KDC-x890)
  -not sure what brand speakers to get
  -2 amps, a two/four channel and a mono; probably Kenwood
  -probably a set of 10" subs, no brand yet
• Stubby Antenna (waiting till i get deck that can play mp3s)
• Change all Climate Control lights to blue
• Change random interior lights to blue (not dome light probably)
• Lowering Springs
  -really only want 1-1.5" drop, maybe 2"
• Tires + rims
  -17" or 18", haven't really thought about color/styling
• Axleback exhaust
  -don't want it loud, just a nice low rumble (well, as nice as you can get from a 4cyl) and not super annoying when you get on it to pass the inevitable oldfolk on their way to the Country Kitchen Buffet

Well thats all I remember right now, but there is probably more too it. This is all (except the Eclipse deck) since discovering this forum about a week and a half ago. If anyone thinks there is something I should do that it not on my list or you have recommendations for something that is on my list please let me know. I am not looking to totally race her out, win trophies for looks, or compete in any audio competitions but I am trying to get her above halfway in all areas. Then I would only have to teach her to cook.
(lol)

I plan on making the accent color blue. Hence all the blue related parts/mods. I think it will both accent and blend into the colors of the car.

Thanks from me to all the people who have taken part in the How-tos I have used/planned on my car. Even if it was just a "Hey it worked for me too" your posts were helpful.

Also I attend college at Viginia Tech so if any Hokies are on the board holler at me. I have seen at least 3 different P5s around here but they all look stock like mine so there is no telling. It would be tight to be able to get help and extra tools from each other since doing things is so much easier the second time.

I should be posting pics later this week, hopefully by the end of the weekend.

-Greg

P.S. Really looking for those roof strips. Let me know if have them and your trying to get rid of them!
P.P.S Will work on a sig once I get picks

 

[Lord_Zath]

welcome to the forumz.

blue and silver always looks nice

 

[JOMO]

Yes, another person hooked.

Enjoy the car, and Welcome to your new home.

 

[ebmp5]

welcome

 

[CTt3P5]

Run now while you still have money...haha

Your intentions sound good, just don't forget to post those 'post mod' pics. Before going to the dealer for the filler strips, try ebay and the f/s section on here. I picked mine up for $45 from a fellow member. Have seen them go for about the same even cheaper on ebay.

For axle backs a lot of people like the magnaflow or the racing beat. I picked up a used racing beat from an 03.5 MSP and love the sound. Not bad on the highway and sounds great in town (would sound better without the auto tragic).

 

[G-Papi]

Be at home among us!!! Welcome!

 

[gannongs]

Okay I took some pics this weekend after a long drive home. In the front close up you can see all the bugs from the drive. I tried to size the pics smaller than they were. I am new to this forum stuff so if I do something wrong/bad let me know.

Nasty bugs! I had to clean the windshield twice on the way home (about 6 hours)

This weekend I was able to put in the B&M shortshifter and I love it! I will put a SS in all my future cars I love it that much. With the GReddy counterweight knob the height is nice and low but not too low. The throw is great!

Plenty stuff going to be installed this weekend. Eibach Pro Kit springs, Injen CAI, and RB cat-back.

 

[RaiderMS3]

Nice look, great color. I remember when my car looked like that!

I recommend those side moldings come off. I did the mod, it looks so much cleaner now!

 

[gannongs]

Hmmm. I read a thread about that the other day. Will they come off easy even after being on there for 5 years? I don't want to damage my paint more than it already is (damn other drivers can't park).

 

[RaiderMS3]

I took mine off after 2 years, no problem at all. Do it when the car is out in the sun for a wile, and use fishing line to work it off a little, then pull the rest of it off. I hear a heat gun works well too, but I did not have one of those.

I used PB DSR (Decal Sticker Remover and a plastic paint scraper to remove the adhesive. Be prepared to wash and wax the area after. Totally worth the time.

 

[gannongs]

I'm almost convinced to do it but then one thought popped into my head. Paint fade. The uncovered area will be like factory new. I might try to pull off a little bit and see the difference. Any chance of putting a piece back on? Just some decent non-somethingorother adhesive? Hmm, I have enough to do with the car this weekend but I might put that on my list of stuff to do.

 

[RaiderMS3]

I had no fade after 2 years. Really, the worst fade will be on the yellow p5's, which did not have a clear coat.

Be careful when removing them, if you want to reinstall them. Mine went into the trash. 3M makes double stick tape if you want to reinstall them.

Oh, another idea. paint the top part of the front grill silver.

 

[Protephile]

I had no fade after 2 years. Really, the worst fade will be on the yellow p5's, which did not have a clear coat.

Be careful when removing them, if you want to reinstall them. Mine went into the trash. 3M makes double stick tape if you want to reinstall them.

Oh, another idea. paint the top part of the front grill silver.

Welcome new guy--and Raider---I've been thinking of doing that with my own grille and wondering how it would look! Thanks for posting that, I like it.
I know what my next non-performance mod is going to be.

 

[1sty]

• Audio system
  -Been looking at the Kenwood decks (KDC-x890)
  -not sure what brand speakers to get
  -2 amps, a two/four channel and a mono; probably Kenwood
  -probably a set of 10" subs, no brand yet

Welcome

Id go for a different brand then kenwood. They have sub par QC.
Unless its a specific feature your after Id stick with the eclipse.
Choosing a speakers is easy, just take your favorite CDs into some stores and buy what you like the sound of best. Stick to the major brands and your fine for QC. Aviod the audiobahn, jensen, MA audio crap of the earth stuff.

Sub wise if the dealer is installing it then go JL, otherwise look at stuff like REaudio and Image Dynamics. Stay away for eD (Elemental Design) which is crap, and CDT which although cheap is often replaced quickly.

 

[gannongs]

That grill piece does look nice. Mine has waterspots and stuff that I can't seem to get out. This seems like a good fix.

What type of paint did you use and did you sand it at all first? The color seems to match well in the picture but what about in person? What brand/color?

Thanks for the advice 1sty. The Eclipse Deck I have is outdated and I think it was an entry level when I bought it. I was looking at some of the new Eclipse and I am not sure. It's tough to find a deck that has *exactly* what I want. The ones I like always seem to be missing a feature that I really want. I need to spend some more time researching. I am definately leaning towards the full color organic EL display so I am going to have to spend some money, mine as well get what I want. I am thinking about holding out on the audio until some price drops and instead put some money on rims+tires.

The problem with in-store research is that the only car audio place around here only carries Alpine and Kenwood decks. I can't stand the "Alpine look" and from some posts I have been reading I have also been shying away from the Kenwoods so that leaves me screwed until I visit home. And by QC you mean quality control? quality content?

 

[RaiderMS3]

The paint I bought is at any Advanced Auto Parts store, or anyone who sells Duplicolor. It is a standard silver paint, not sure the color type they sell it as, but it is a perfect match. I will see if I kept the can from when I did it and post it up tonight.

 

[Protephile]

Wow--you didn't even use Mazda color to match...can you use OEM touch-up
paint for the plastic?

 

[RaiderMS3]

I am not sure. I only got a tiny bottle with a brush, that would look like it sounds. If you have spray, sure it will work. The Duplicolor is $5 for paint, but I used primer and clear as well.

 

[1sty]

That grill piece does look nice. Mine has waterspots and stuff that I can't seem to get out. This seems like a good fix.

What type of paint did you use and did you sand it at all first? The color seems to match well in the picture but what about in person? What brand/color?

Thanks for the advice 1sty. The Eclipse Deck I have is outdated and I think it was an entry level when I bought it. I was looking at some of the new Eclipse and I am not sure. It's tough to find a deck that has *exactly* what I want. The ones I like always seem to be missing a feature that I really want. I need to spend some more time researching. I am definately leaning towards the full color organic EL display so I am going to have to spend some money, mine as well get what I want. I am thinking about holding out on the audio until some price drops and instead put some money on rims+tires.

The problem with in-store research is that the only car audio place around here only carries Alpine and Kenwood decks. I can't stand the "Alpine look" and from some posts I have been reading I have also been shying away from the Kenwoods so that leaves me screwed until I visit home. And by QC you mean quality control? quality content?

What Eclipse do you have?
- They make one of the best line of SQ decks available

What features are you looking for?
Other then HD radio add on, I don'texpect any features to drop in price. in fact the only thing that is dropping is Sound Quality features which are being replaced by dancing lights.

You only really need to do in store research for speakers. Decks you can shop by spec and reputation. Pioneer makes a nice unit. I typicly go for the Premier line to get the extra year of warrenty and in this age of over packed decks...you need it.
Hows this:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069882_291094587,00.html

Full Color here:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069882_291159491,00.html
but a waste of money for just a display IMHO. It has some more features but I highly doubt you will even realize the 24-bit Burr Brown D/A with just a speaker and deck upgrade. Maybe if you were doing $3,000+ in speakers/amps/subs but otherwise a waste.


Quality Control. Kenwood sucks at it.

 

[RaiderMS3]

OK, I have the can oif silver used. It is a very special name. "Silver Metallic"
DSGM340