I just bought my MP5 :) Many questions

[iliveonnitro]

It's weird looking out the window at my new car, I like it. White, 28,300mi, factory warranty until 2007/50k miles, and I got it for 10k out the door.

I have some questions:

1.) Part of the sale agreement was that the dealer is going to install a roof rack (for my bike). I would like to save the equipment to put it back to stock, if possible. What do I need to save, just the rails and the clips? Did I give the right name to those?

2.) I am going to buy a B&M short shifter - I heard it isn't too short, but it helps a lot. The cheapest I can find it online is $97 and I'm not sure I trust the website. Does anyone have a better website that sells it for less? I saw it for $92 somewhere else, but lost the link. Any reasons I should not get the B&M?

3.) I'm not sure how knobs work. I want a weighted one, but I don't know the specs of the MP5 one (threaded, non, size threads?) I don't want to spend more than $50 or so, what shift knob would you recommend?

4.) How exactly should I mount my road bike on the roof of my car? There are a million different styles of racks and even more reviews/recommendations. I would like it removable for gas mileage and a lock so I can lock my bike in place. I know Thule and Yakima (sp on those?) are good, but I just need something cheap and simple.

5.) Are there any white rims that match the Pure White paint job? What size should I get? I don't want all performance, just something nice that is decently cheap - and something that won't have a negative effect on my gas mileage.

6.) I would like to upgrade my lights to HID or something better. I have no experience in this and I haven't seen a MP5 specific website for upgrading the lights to something cool/better.

7.) Are those sleeper headlight covers worth looking into? How much should I pay for them?

8.) Lastly (I think), what % tint should I get on my car? Tint is illegal in IL on the front driver and passenger windows, so I do not want it all to look retarded. I also want to be able to see out of them pretty well, but still look cool. Any suggestions? How much should I spend and how long will it last?

I will post pictures as soon as I wax it.

Thanks!
James

 

[Thieu]

I'll be the first to say Welcome and that the Search feature is your friend. You can find everything you're looking for by looking through old posts.

But let me answer some of your questions.

I would go Yakima for a bike rack. I've had a Yakima rack before and I loved it. Although you may go dealer/factory route with the mount... I'm not sure.

Short shifter wise, I have a TWM with a TWM weighted knob (1lb) and it's great. Kartboy also makes a great shifter but it has been discontinued. I've also heard good things about B&M. Try looking through the For Sale forums. There are usually some short shifters looking to be sold.

Tint depends on your state.

HID is possible (easy Search)

Hope this points you in the right direction.

Good deal on the car btw!

 

[wmbeaver]

welcome, sounds like you got a good deal on it

 

[cheapmiata1600]

The megan racing shifter is a great knockoff of the B&M and is really cheap. It also comes with a nice knob. I love mine.

Unless you get your wheels painted you probably aren't going to find a good match for the white, and white wheels on a white car usually looks a little odd.

 

[RaiderMS3]

1.) Yakima is pretty popular for a rack, I would search it here.

2.) I have a B&M and love it. Get a good knob with some weight to it, and go to kartboy.com and get some bushings, too. The B&M is the highest of all short shifters, iirc. I am tall, and like how it site. I can now fit big cups in the holder, without the shifter touching them.

As far as where else to get the shifter, call Cullen and Mike at Street unit. 321-251-6124, or if you want, PM me, and I can get you our lowest price. I am a rep for Street Unit on the forum.

3.) I have a MOMO knob myself, and love it. Check the FS section for knobs, they tend to get posted frequently for sale.

4.) Like above, search for Yakima in the p5 section via advanced search. There are a lot of threads.

5.) There are white rims, but to be in protege5 white color, you will need to have them painted in protege5 white. Just advise, wheelmax.com is cheap, but they have not-s0-good service. I got my rims there, and will never go to them again. tirerack.com is a good start. Street Unit can get you rims too, we just need to know what you want to get.

6.) HIDs are available and I know someone with experience doing it, and he had it in pretty easy. I did not want to spend $300 on a kit, so I got Luminics from Street Unit (I know, shocked I am sure).

I have the titanium white low beams and yellow fogs. Pic is here.


7.) I am not a big fan of them, personally. Have not seen any in person on a P5. Usually redneck trucks. If it makes the lights dimmer, what is the point?

8.) I am not sure what the % is for me, but I got it dark in the back, lighter up front, so I can see out at night. Pic is here. There is a tint picture thread here somehere, search p5 section for tint pics.

And last but not least, here is my welcome that I usually give to new members:

Welcome to your new addiction! This is the advice I have given for new P5 owners.

Right after I got my P5, I got the intake. You can get a short ram intake (SRI), which is what I have. Others have cold air intakes (CAI) They are about the same on ebay, but you may also opt for name brand. I have the ebay...

The next thing I did was get rid of those god forsaken Dunflop piece of s*** stock tires. I hydroplaned within the first week or so I owned the P5. I ended up with the Yokohama AVS ES 100's. 205-50-16's on the stock rims. After 23000 miles, they were through, so I got aftermarket wheels, and Kumho Ecsta 711 205-40-17s. There are a bazillion threads about tires. These I highly recommend for rainy climates. (Bottom line, get out of the stock tires before you have a problem!)

I just got (after 2.5 years of owning my car) a Racing Beat exhaust. I got an insanely good deal on it. It is on the higher end of the pricing range, but you can score one used at a good rate if you are on the forum within the .245 seconds someone posts it for sale used. They run in the high $400 range new. There is a Mazda Sport (Mazdaspeed) exhaust which is also popular, but people have complained of droning, or an annoying sound at freeway speeds. The Racing Beat does not do that. But there are a bazillion threads about the exhaust subject too, look them up.

Then there is the tinting of windows, a stereo, springs/shocks/body kit, Underdrive Pulleys, carbon fiber everything, etc you will see around here for sale.

Short shifter is next on my list. Kartboy makes a great one, I have seen it in person. The shifter bushings are a must. Get them no matter what. Huge difference in shifting!

I found by moving to synthetic engine and transmission fluids, I get better mileage, and it shifts smoother too. So easy to do, it is worth it.

One more thing you should consider when you mod is a header. OBX and Ractive are the most common. I just installed the Ractive, and love the HP gains. Be sure to look up the Spark Plug non-fouler trick for the 2nd o2 sensor. It prevents the CEL from coming on.

Well, good luck, and check out the for sale section, and work with the Authorized Venders and sellers! Oh, search for threads about a question you might have. Most likely, it has been covered.

Most important, is the greeting by the great Sir Nuke

Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have.

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!

 

[iLisa]

after that big long post by Raider.. the only thing left for me to say is.. Welcome

 

[RaiderMS3]

lol, sorry.

 

[iLisa]

lol, sorry.

nothing to be sorry about.. we are here to help!!

I have the B&M ss (with kartboy bushings) for 2 years now.. and i'm starting to get some sticking while in neutral.. but I love the height that it sits at!

 

[CTt3P5]

Welcome and from what I have seen P5's sell for it looks like you got a good deal. Now just sit behind the wheel and enjoy the ride!!! (burnout)

 

[Protephile]

Welcome to the site.
There are a lot of good and helpful vendors here, and I hope I am counted among them.
I have the Kartboy knob/shifter/bushing set and could not be happier. The shifter is very short but the weight of the knob is just perfect for the height, IMO.

With regard to your HID question, I will have a new shipment of kits in my hands in about 10 days. The post-GB price will be $230 shipped to the lower 48. PM me if you're interested.

 

[brouhaha]

Welcome. Plenty of great info to be found on these forums!