painted moustache

[SportWagN]

Tasteful. I like it. Probably would pick other wheels, but those still look fantastic. The red line draws them in. Nice job!!

 

[redspeed3tk]

so the dealer drilled 2 holes for the front license plate but my state doesnt require them and i saw the one guy who just painted it and i didnt like that so i decided to smooth it out and paint it i really like it makes the front look better

 

[SwampAss]

that license plate cant be good for airflow..

air flow to what? Your AC condenser?

 

[CaSHMeRe]

nice redspeed3tk !!! looking good!

 

[BHOUST528]

I dont have a speed 3 just a 3 5dr and im opinion i like the painted stache better than the stck black myself it looks cleaner to me when painted

 

[MM3Canuck]

that license plate cant be good for airflow..

Thats what I was thinking, would be worse if you placed in the center.

I love the rims however! Not sure about the stach though.

 

[DredPir8Roberts]

I think having the black moustache makes the front end look more aggressive, fools you into thinking that the air inlet is bigger. Yeah I know it's only for the radiator, I guess it would look cooler with a FMIC behind it.

 

[AG DesignWorks]

I think that looks really good smoothed out like that, redspeed3tk, nice work!

I think a replacement piece could be designed to give it a little more style...but i dont know exactly what is underneath...is the crash foam butted up RIGHT underneath the moustache, or is there some space to play with?

 

[Jasonstiller]

smoothing it out really takes away from the agressiveness of the front end IMO. It still looks good, it tamed the car down a lil.

 

[crystalmeth3]

i prefer the painted look because the stock unpainted is so misproportioned, it looks bad. smoothed out looks tits, i considered for a moment when i get my silver speed to match the "stash", the area around the fog lights and the plastic the mazda emblem sits on to my gun metal wheels. i got the idea from the yellow speed3 that was at some show some where with 19in wheels and wider fenders, its on this site somewhere.

 

[redspeed3tk]

the foam pad it right up against it and they plastic rivited 3 tabs that hold it on from the back side other than that it just clips in...i only painted it bc they drilled holes in it and i didnt like it painted wit the ribs it looks a lot smoother in person i do agree about the agressiveness

 

[shockdoctor]

Here is my favorite mustache treatment.

 

[crystalmeth3]

after thinking about it i beleive it would be possible to pay a metal fabricator to make a piece out of alum to replace the stock plastic piece. it can be made to flush mount with the bumper instead of sticking out the 3mm or so. i would ask for it to be an inch shorter height wise so that the bottom air inlet is larger. i would buy some of the black pastic mesh from mazda and cut out an inch to align with the mesh already there. then new alum piece would be painted to match car color.

i used paint (crap quality) to give an idea of what i had in mind. i gave the new top piece a slight curve where it meets the mesh, inspired by the speed6. i also have the grille, fog lamp surrounds painted gunmetal to match the factory painted wheels, inspired by the accolade body kit. i also have the lower portion of the side sill extensions coated with rhino lining (or some other spray on plastic) to prevent the noise loose stones make and to make the front treatment more cohesive. any suggestions, or thoughts?

 

[Falconx84]

i would ditch the rhino-lining deal @ the bottom..... looks like you've been driving through dirt and missed the bottom edge when washing

 

[crystalmeth3]

small detail changes including the suggestion made by falcon about the rhino lining type material.

 

[Falconx84]

hmmm.... looks pretty good, considering done using paint shop. I would try to find a member w/ too much time on their hands and get them to photoshop it before you do it

 

[shamrock]

after thinking about it i beleive it would be possible to pay a metal fabricator to make a piece out of alum to replace the stock plastic piece. it can be made to flush mount with the bumper instead of sticking out the 3mm or so. i would ask for it to be an inch shorter height wise so that the bottom air inlet is larger. i would buy some of the black pastic mesh from mazda and cut out an inch to align with the mesh already there. then new alum piece would be painted to match car color.

i used paint (crap quality) to give an idea of what i had in mind. i gave the new top piece a slight curve where it meets the mesh, inspired by the speed6. i also have the grille, fog lamp surrounds painted gunmetal to match the factory painted wheels, inspired by the accolade body kit. i also have the lower portion of the side sill extensions coated with rhino lining (or some other spray on plastic) to prevent the noise loose stones make and to make the front treatment more cohesive. any suggestions, or thoughts?

How much did it cost you to have the wheels powder coated in gun metal

 

[crystalmeth3]

It is a color personnel, you cannot find it, it is necessary that the carriage-builder the factory.

this is minishumi's car, he wrote how it was specail ordered. alot of people are saying $80 per wheel for a quality low temp powdercoat. i feel i could do a decent job if i painted them myself. the gloss will not be the same, more like a semi-gloss but the durability and looks can be tough to beat for $30 and a weekend of your time. wheel paint will not be as durable as powdercoating but i beleive nearly every oe car leaves the factory with wheel paint and if protected and maintained, it lasts for the life of the car.