Silver Build

[inspekt]

Hey Scoobs! I did finally get the Optilux bulbs installed in my fogs, and they are great. Max Archer posted a very accurate image, and I'll post one too if I can manage to get my camera to capture it well. SLR chips don't handle light in the yellow and red range in the same way your eye does, so it's hard to get the camera to accurately expose so that you can recover the color. The yellow is really excellent from the Optilux bulbs, but it's very hard to capture. I highly recommend them.

I'm also waiting to see what CRG does with his attempt to remove that glare-blocking cap that we have in our fogs. I might do the same. The other thing I'd like to do is wire up the fogs to be always on like a DRL setup. At the moment those are my only plans. I've been lucky to have crazy amounts of work lately, so I haven't even had time to scheme on anything Mazda2. I'm definitely hoping an aftermarket projector headlight becomes available. I'm also always eagerly anticipating what CS might do next for the 2... Love seeing your build though - very excited to see more, especially since everyone seems to something a little different...

 

[scoobs]

The whole point I thing of mods is to be unique

As for the fog glare caps I'm thinking of removing them too, I may have to cut them of or bend a screw driver 180 to remove the screw.

 

[CRG Racer24]

I've tried to separate the glass housing from the plastic housing, and I've had no luck. I've chipped the glass on both.. tried to use the same method as I did with my headlights, but to no avail so far. I've done that a while ago, so sorry to everyone that I haven't updated the situation.

 

[inspekt]

Bummer to hear that! Does anyone know - Are the non North America fogs the same size as ours? Maybe it's possible to simply swap out the lens/body portion of that unit... Scoobs, if you do decide to try the 180 screwdriver thing, let me know if that works. I have a set with small bend, but I'm not sure if the reach would be long enough. You can find them at most hardware stores (like ACE) in a set of a flathead and philips together.

 

[inspekt]

A few updated pics:



On this second image, check out my license plate relocate. With this technique you can place your black bumper insert cap back over the license plate recess to keep that clean nose line. I zip-tied the plate through the two bottom mount holes on the plate to the 2nd row of honeycomb up from the bottom of the smiley grille. Then you position your plate so that the top of the plate sits just below the outermost lower 2 clip holes for the black bumper insert. when you clip the bumper insert in it will sandwich the plate between the insert and the normal plate mount area and the zip ties will keep it from being able to move at all.

Hope you are all having a great spring/early summer!

 

[scoobs]

Looking good bud

As for spring/summer it's not really good so far, lots of rain and it's cold

I'll look into the fog screw location this week and see how much I have to bend the screwdriver to take it off. I think it may be possible but I don't want to break the fog.... I'll see what I can do

 

[inspekt]

My late summer project may end up being a headlight retrofit. I've been doing homework on LED retrofits, and jwspeaker is making some retrofit setups for buses (I've seen a lot of them here in Portland) which also are typical sizes for car headlight retrofits, and they are also making drop-in swap kits for jeeps and motorcycles (been seeing these lately a lot too). Check out this thread awesomeness below. This guy retrofitted a jwspeaker 6"unit. I don't love the angel eye circle he added, but the base unit is awesome, and it looks pretty amazing: http://www.f150forum.com/f38/true-led-head-lights-retrofit-169254/index10/

Here are two of their units. One is a retrofit unit the size of a typical projector: http://www.headlightrevolution.com/JWSPEAKER_90L_p/jw-90l.htm
More info on this same unit: http://www.jwspeaker.com/other/new-90mm-led-projector-headlights

The other is a high/lowbeam combo unit that is the size of a jeep wrangler/~late 80s BMW 3series headlight: http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_801X_PG.htm

If I'm going to bother doing a retrofit, I might as well go big and interesting. I want to do this very, very badly.

 

[inspekt]

Update! I just switched to Eibach springs. I will write more soon regarding the Eibachs, but I also wanted to mention: If anyone is interested in buying my H&R springs, which are in pristine condition and only used for 6 months/2000 miles, send me a PM.

 

[mykflo]

Why the switch?

 

[CorkSport]

I would like to hear your feedback on the difference since you have had RB, H&R and now Eibach.

-Derrick

 

[scoobs]

I would like that too, you had almost all of the springs so far. All that is missing is the CS springs, Derrick should give you a set for free so he can do a review on all of these springs

 

[scoobs]

Bummer to hear that! Does anyone know - Are the non North America fogs the same size as ours? Maybe it's possible to simply swap out the lens/body portion of that unit... Scoobs, if you do decide to try the 180 screwdriver thing, let me know if that works. I have a set with small bend, but I'm not sure if the reach would be long enough. You can find them at most hardware stores (like ACE) in a set of a flathead and philips together.

I'm going to try this soon while my next oil change. Keep you posted

 

[inspekt]

I'm definitely loving the Eibachs. After a few days with them I'd say they are noticeably softer than the H&Rs, but control body movement and roll better than the Racing Beats. After having been on all three sets I would say that, especially paired with the CS adjustable shocks, they are the ideal spring for the spirited daily driver who won't be seriously autocrossing.

I changed springs for a few reasons. I personally found the H&Rs to be well paired with the CS shocks, and cornering on the street was staggeringly good. Dangerously good. My wife did not agree that the trade-off was worth it, and she started refusing to drive the car. In Portland we really have sh*t roads in town, and I'll admit they were starting to beat me up a bit. Major shock absorption was good, but every damn imperfection in the road is communicated through the wheel and the body with the H&Rs. It just gets tiring. Also, the car would tripod every time I'd try to get into the driveway, and if I didn't enter at just the right angle I'd scrape the front. Got tired of that too.

The Eibachs seem to be the perfect middle ground, the look is less aggressive in stance than the H&Rs, but the ride height is nearly identical. The biggest plus is ride quality and the reduction of stress on the body of the car. The Eibachs are really excellent in this respect. No more tripod in the driveway, I can drive over railroad crossings and speed bumps without tensing my body and cringing, and there isn't anywhere near as much shock to the car over general bumps and driveways around town. All that good stuff. I also have Fat Cat bumpstops installed in the front.

So here is my take on the springs available:

H&R: Buy these if you must have that more aggressive nose-down look, but expect lots of compromise on ride quality. It handles superbly and looks incredible. Got lots of comments on the car with these.
Racing Beat: Buy these if you essentially want a firmer spring that will play well with the OEM dampers. The Racing Beats are an excellent spring and might be the best ride quality spring for the 2, and the handling improvement is very noticeable. It lowers the car, but not enough for my personal taste.
Eibach: Buy these if you want to be lowered for looks and better handling, but not compromise on ride quality. I'd guess these springs are about 10% firmer than the Racing Beats. I can't comment on how these play with the OEM dampers, but they are excellent daily driver springs with the CS adjustable shocks.
CS: I haven't been on these, but my impression from others is that they are equal or superior to the H&Rs in performance, but it sounds like the ride quality is better. You are slightly lower, which can be a problem depending on where you live.

I'll post new pics soon!

 

[deadlydave]

Great looking car, it has an "OEM+" vibe to it, which is just about perfect. Thanks for posting the feedback on the springs. As a noob with this platform, my google-fu is weak with regards to this level of detail on the springs.

 

[inspekt]

Thanks - I definitely aim for that OEM+ vibe! And I'm very happy to dish the info on my experience, let me know if there is anything else you want to know about. I wish there had been more detailed info when I bought springs 1.5 years ago+ (spring rates, any good, clear pictures of the drop, etc.) With springs, I feel like it's really a crapshoot when you buy a set as to what you get, aside from looks.

Hopefully my experience will help other 2 owners make a more educated purchase, so you come out happy the first time!

 

[BigBlueDart]

Great looking car, it has an "OEM+" vibe to it, which is just about perfect. Thanks for posting the feedback on the springs. As a noob with this platform, my google-fu is weak with regards to this level of detail on the springs.

Ha! So, I'm no the only person that uses the term "Google-Fu"!

 

[deadlydave]

Ha! So, I'm no the only person that uses the term "Google-Fu"!

Hehe, no sir. There is an art to it!

 

[scoobs]

Nice write up

I got the CS, I was going for the Eibach but I told my self....wtf go for the lowest of them all But I got to get the dampers next summer, our roads are bad too here so the oem dampers can't do the job right.
For my wife it will be the RB with the Dampers will make her happy, she want comfort and a bit more performance. She doesn't care how high the Mazda2 is, she always wanted a Jeep lol

 

[inspekt]

I just bought the Dynotronics tune today. As I go through the process I'll post an update, or updates if it seems appropriate, so that those of you considering the purchase can have a better idea of what you will get!

 

[inspekt]

Hey everyone! Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be selling my 2 soon. If anyone in the Pacific NW (or any place else) is interested, please feel free to PM me, or email me at pleaseyesplease at g mail dot com (trying to avoid bots). I have 7,700 miles on the car. It has had two scheduled synth oil changes at the dealer. The car is flawless in every way and very very clean. The sale would included all my mods to date: CS short shift kit, adjustable dampers, intake and intake duct, front sway bar and rear torsion bar, cat-back exhaust, eibach pro kit springs with fat cat bumpstops up front, and a mazda cargo net, and 16x7 Sparco Assetto Gara wheels with 205/45/16s that look brand new with only 4k miles on them.

This is not a sale listing, but more of a feeler to see if anyone is interested. If so, we can continue off line. Thanks!

Edit: Not selling the 2!!