Tedster

Ok i have a green 01 Protege ES and am wondering what kinda exterior mods are out there... I dont want anything extravagant like body kits or whatever... what ideas do you have? I see there arent many pics on this site with people who have done stuff...

This is what ideas I have...

Painted calipers - maybe chrome
Metal grill mesh in the front
Tint job - Already have this done
Sidemarker lights
Fog lights - Mine already has the factory fogs but one of them has a hole in it and doesnt work, $125 for a new one... yikes.
Altezza talilights - Not sure i want this really
Chrome wipers - Not sure about this one
I was thinking of taking the mudflaps off, I hear its not very aerodynamic to have them on... what you guys think?

Any other ideas you guys have?? And do you guys have any good websites with pics? Thanks.

Jackelope

no chrome wipers..... "blackout" sidemarkers? headlights? shaved trunk?

Tedster

Hm cool. Whats blackout sidemarkers?

Jackelope

https://www.mazda3club.com/showthrea...ght=headlights

you are talking about the turn signals right? dont think ES has "sidemarkers"

well, at least mine doesnt https://www.mazda3club.com/showthrea...ghlight=tinted

Tedster

Ya they dont have sidemarkers, but you can put them on aftermarket.
So you blacken the turnsignals in the oven? Hm sounds scary to me... and i'd be annoyed if they didnt both come out the same. Won't paint work better? But yours looks good man.
This is what I did to an Acura Legend I used to have, painted the side blinker a chrome paint, looked pretty good cuz the car had quite a bit of chrome trim and stuff on it... and as you can see the sidemarkers too. So has anyone put the grill mesh stuff on their Protege's? Later.

Jackelope

put 'em in the oven just to open them up... painted them after taking them apart

Tedster

Ah i see, that makes sense. So when you open them, can you take the orange plastic part out and just have clears?

major error

I'm curious as to how sticking 'em in the oven works out in general...

I ordered a set of Angel Eyes from Umnitza...
So I'm reading up on the installation procedures while I'm waiting for them to arrive--I didn't have any problems with the directions until I got to the part where they said to put the headlights in the oven @ 200 for 20min. I don't really have any problem with dismantling things, but I get a little queasy at the thought of tossing a set of xenon HIDs in the oven...

Jackelope

worked ok for me, just really careful - gotta redo 'em though.. something wrong w/ the turn signals

KrayzieFox

You gotta heat up the glue that's holding the headlight together, so that's the whole concept behind that. Just don't leave them in there for too long, and don't set the temp too high ..

major error

ok. That makes sense.

My main worry is that the plastic will start to deform before the glue is soft enough, I'll warp it while handling it, or that it will cool in the wrong position...

So how long is too long?

Jackelope

haha.. totally read that wrong.. there is post somewhere on how to do it.

https://www.mazda3club.com/showthrea...ighlight=black - one link anyway...

major error

cool. thanks for the link.

Now I don't feel so bad about the mod....but I won't be rushing to do the installation when the kit arrives. I'll probably use some vacation time once it gets (and stays) warmer

Maybe this will be the excuse I need to finally get a decent camera?

Jackelope

worked for me! course.. now im always forgetting to use it...

KrayzieFox

Let's hope you don't find out
I have never done this, but I would say too long is anything over 30 minutes.