T.Ts 323F Daily Driver

[T.T]

Hey guys!

After a bit of reading in this forum, I decided to register and be a part of the community.
Since the 323/Protege isn't the most used car in my country, there isn't that much information in Norwegian. I'm hoping you guys can help me with some issues.

About the car:
2002 Mazda 323F BJ
1.6L 16v, 98hp
150 000km






The orange wheels are BBS's from a Golf GT. I am currently looking for a set of new wheels, 16" or 17".

I am thinking about lowering it, but I can't spend a whole heap of cash on it. Do any of you have some comparison pictures of a 323/Protege with 40mm lowering springs? I don't want to buy new springs if you hardly notice it's been lowered...

Anyway, hope you like it! I will post some other problems later on.

Thanks!

 

[Targaryen420]

Those are nice Fog lights, did they come stock with the car? I am enjoying the shape.

 

[T.T]

Thanks, man! Yes, no mods on this, except the wheels. I guess the bumper/body kit is the main exterior difference in the EU and US models. I would rather have the US front bumper, but I'm guessing this is hard to come by here. Am currently on the lookout for a descrete front lip, if you have got any suggestions.

 

[915_P5]

You can use the toyota corolla s front lip with no modification, yer is 99-02 maybe 99-04

 

[T.T]

You can use the toyota corolla s front lip with no modification, yer is 99-02 maybe 99-04

Yeah, here in Norway there are 3 or 4 different Corolla models between 99-04, so I'm not quite sure which one you are reffering to. Would you mind posting a pic or link to the spesific model? Thanks for the info, btw.

I'm pretty sure that has the front end of our sedan protgs over here. With the single bulb headlights and squarish fogs.

That may be, I'm not too familiar with the different models. I've only seen the sedan, hatchback and Sport versions here, but it seems there are more models in the US. Or maybe it's just me.

I couldn't find a wheel/suspension sticky thread in this section, only for the Mazdaspeed. Are there any threads like this for the standard model? I would like to see some pictures with different wheel and lowering spring combinations to get some inspiration.
I planned to fit some 7,5x16 Azev A replicas, but sadly they have been used badly by the previous owner so they are as round as an egg...

 

[JDM323J48]

Same in Australia, we have the protege/astina then the sp20/se20 with the dual headlamps and sports bodykit.
Mazda mx5/miata nb 16" mags bolt straight up.
Mazdaspeed protege/Protege5(P5) suspension section will be applicable as the body is the same, mounting wise.

 

[915_P5]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123824251-DeathIncyde-Building-Thread/page5

Its a 2001 corolla type s lip

 

[P-Funk!]

Nice car! Welcome aboard.

Great engine to turbo, eh?

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Welcome aboard. Are those headlight washers on the front bumper and do they really do much without wipers? And I would be so messed up driving in Europe trying to keep track of what side of the car to get in and which side of the road to drive on when lft/rt hand drive varies from one country to the next. I see you do left hand drive in Norway, what is it like to go somewhere where it is right hand drive and you have to drive left hand drive car on the opposite side of road?

 

[T.T]

Sorry for the incredibly late post, kinda forgot about this thread.

Yes, those are headlight washers. They are helpful in the winter, as the roads get really dirty. It dissolves dirt on the lamps, so they help even without wipers.

There's only the UK that drive on the left side as far as i know. The rest of EU drives on the right, so it' really not an issue. There is a guy here where I live who's got a rhd Mazda RX7. It looks difficult to sit on the right side of the car while driving on the right side of the road, but I've heard it's just something you get used to. If I go to the UK I have to drive on the left side of course, but I can't imagine I'll take my car there.

Tried tinting my headlights today, but the film was so damn thick so it did'nt follow the curves of the lamps. Ripped it off and put some film on the foglights instead.



What do you think? Should I tint the headlights aswell, or keep it as it is?

Found out what kind of front lip I'm going to fit to the bumper. There's something called EZ Lip, that's just a rubber lip you just glue to the bumper and cut to fit. Cheap and easy.

 

[T.T]

Sadly, I don't think this will be getting any engine mods. Keeping it really simple with this one, as I'm getting a Golf Mk2 as a project car later this year.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Is the wing on the wiper arm something you can get separately or would need the whole arm?

 

[T.T]

Do you mean the spoiler thingy on the windscreen wipers? That's how they are made.

 

[T.T]

Before:




After:




The car os dirty and the last shot was a bit poor, but you get the idea. I think the front looks alot cooler now.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Can you get me one of those wiper arms? New or from junkyard. Paypal ready.....................I like the top of the grill black but not sure about emblem..........

 

[T.T]

Sadly , I don't live close to a scrapper, and there aren't alot of these cars anyway. Bet you could buy them new from teh interwebz.