Does anyone have detailed info as to how the 93 interior trim plastics changed over the model year? I ordered some new pieces from Mazda and they're more dramatically different than the old ones. My originals are dark black with a smooth finish and a bit of a reflective sheen. The new stuff is nicer and more of a dark gray matte finish. It's nice but it doesn't really match the older pieces.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone knows the lore here. I think there may have been several revisions during the model year before they went to the 94 textured finish.

 

I think they changed them again after 94, because I've seen some dealer replacement parts that were more rubberized than the 94 ones.

 

Yeah, the replacement 93 panels look more like a satin/flat black coating or paint sprayed on, instead of the originals which were like a thin vinyl film that had a little more of a reflective sheen—sort of like the screen protector on an iPhone.

The new ones match pretty well once on the car, and they don't peel like the shitty originals.

 

How much were the pieces.

 

I agree the replacement interior pieces are definitely a different shade of black. I replaced my gauge cluster, climate control, and arm rest paneling about 2 years ago and the replacements are definitely a different shade, however more durable finish. If I were to take a pic you probably wouldn't notice it but it looks good. I replaced my panels because they had slight peeling and got tacky/sticky. I would recommend if your going to replace any of interior panels with OEM ones for the 93 model year to do all the pieces at once so they all match. Your only other option is to take them to some one who can sand them down and refinish them for you.

 

Expensive. I paid a few hundred for all 3 pieces I bought.

 

Unfortunately the driver's door trim is NLA for the 93 finish. Bummer.

Incidentally neither the 93 or 94 finishes are available new as full sets anymore. For 94 I think its the stereo panel that's NLA.

 

Get used to it, more and more parts are becoming NLA for these cars.

It sucks, I knew this was coming someday but doesn't make it any easier.