So i've neglected the MS6 a little bit. But yesterday, washed the car, it was terribly dirty and did a couple of things to it which i'll be adding to the list. I'll also be making a list for the FC as well.

1. Right Rear window will not fully roll down, most likely bad motor gears
2. No Floor Mats
3. Some of the door card leather is becoming undone
4. Hazard Lights do not work
5. Front overhead light (driver side) doesn't work
- Corksports LED bulb kit didn't fix this, got another overhead light from ebay but not in good condition for me to swap it, tried to remove the board/circuitry from the ebay one to put in to mine but running in to hiccups.
6. Driver Side Running Light out
- Purchased Corksports LED bulb kit and got this taken care.
7. Bunch of door dings
8. Rust spot on the passenger side rear rocker
9. Minor surface rust on the underbody
10. Leather seats (front passenger, rear seats) have some tears
11. Expected but hazy head lights
12. Rear tail lights have signs of water seepage (completed on 7/27)
13. Install OEM Acrylic Visors (completed on 7/27)


Debris inside tail light but other than that, not bad condition.

Gasket failed at one point and water flooded the light.

Brand new lights i got from Japanparts.com (was pictured previously)

Before the replacement.

After the replacement. Very satisfying for small things. Next step will be LED tail lights.

Now time to install the Acrylic Visors. Need to clear some space in the garage and get rid of boxes, lol.

Brand new OEM Acrylic Visors from Japanparts.com (was pictured previously)

Before the install

After the install

Another view of it

Got to love OEM fitment

If anyone wants to buy the tail lights, I have them available! Let me know! Lol

 

Been doing a few things here and there and of course getting too excited and not taking pictures.

So got another shipment from Japan thanks to @Ka Kui once again. I'll take some pictures but it wasn't a big haul.

One of the things I got was a Mazdaspeed Strut Bar for the 1st gen Mazda 6 / Atenza. I took a chance to see if it would fit and on the first attempt, did not fit at all. Luckily reversing the mounting brackets and bar, it was able to fit though its very tight and making contact with the intercooler cover. May cut the cover a little later on. There is no benefit to this strut bar other than clout and will pair well once I install the Mazdaspeed Intake.

 

Sometimes, its the small things that matter. Got a couple of small items installed on the FC.

- New Hood prop, satisfying to clip it on to something


Out with the old

In with the new

- New oil dip stick





Super small updates but just satisfying to have.
I did order new headlights for the FC from Racing Beat, waiting for that to come in sometime this week. Thinking or getting the LRB undertray for the FC as well and painting it flat black but still on the fence. I still need to pull out the windshield wiper switch as it's currently only working at regular speed and no other speed. The next big job for the FC is getting the fuel injectors cleaned out and hoping that solves the hot start issue on the car.

 

I love those small quality of life improvements. They all add up.

 

I agree 100%, I was overjoyed on how satisfying the dip stick fits snug and you can feel the tension knowing it's sealing compared to the old one that was loose. And being able to attach the hood prop to something before closing the hood *chefs kiss*.

 

Went to @SakeBomb Garage last Friday to get their new LED headlight kit installed. I originally had their HID kit installed on the car which was purchased back in 2013 I think and it did well for a long period of time. Just last year though, the lights went out and changed out the ballast. It worked for a few more months then it went out again while driving. It intermittently worked before fully going out on the passenger side. I originally planned on changing out the wiring but decided to get the LED kit and I'm glad I did, it performed way better than the HIDs did and overall am just very pleased with the results.


Just another rotary meet at Sakebomb.

LED Kit housings are identical to their older HID Kits, not much of a difference there.

Just another view of the LED kit installed.

LED kit outshines their previous HID kit. Literally outshines. That cutoff, love it.

 

One of the very best mods for these classics!

 

Not only one of the best, the quality of life and safety aspect makes this like a top 3 mods you need for the FD. I don't know what the other two are yet but this definitely tops the list. Hahaha.

 

Did a couple of more things with the FC, i purchased a Mazdaspeed Strut Bar but didn't inspect the pictures fully (no mounting pictures) and didn't notice a bend on the driverside. Both the bar itself and the mounting bracket were bent/stretched. It bugged me enough and was able to source another Mazdaspeed Strut Bar which is straight. So, I exchanged it and now have a bent Mazdaspeed Strut Bar sitting in the garage. I also was able to get another privacy cover but with intact pins (i guess thats what it is?) and the compartment separator so installed that on there. I have a loose privacy cover now available for a 2+2 or for those who don't care to have a compartment separator.


Non bent Mazdaspeed Strut Bar installed

Only thing is...its missing a small rivet

Good looking Privacy Cover though the area where it pivots are damaged.

This privacy cover was one for a 2+2 so no compartment divider.

Put the "new" privacy cover, mounting area is intact, only flaw is the hole on top.

Got the compartment seperator!

 

Legible parts number stamp on Mazdaspeed plates?! Big flex.

 

you may get a hoot over the MS titanium strut bar, lol

 

I'm thinking the next thing I should install is the Sakebomb/Circuit Theory LED tail lights for the FD.

 

Very nice score on the truck divider and privacy shelf. Those are hard to come by.
A small wooden dowel along that pivoting point on the forward edge underneath would add some strength to it. Additionally you could use some 3M adhesive headliner spray and get some new fabric to recover it if you choose to spruce it up a bit.

Strut bar is a massive win, I love seeing the progress.

 

I definitely got lucky with the privacy cover, luckily my buddies have FC parts galore and was able to score it from them. I was definitely thinking about putting a small dowel around those areas, will definitely get that done to ensure integrity. Thanks for the tips to spruce it up! Someone should make a fiberglass shell of the privacy cover. I only got a small 3d printer, wish i had one of those large industrial ones and i would do it. Haha.

 

super jealous of the privacy cover! Nice find.

Tail lights look great too.

 

I do have the JDM privacy cover available without the compartment separator.

 

Any rubbing or scrubbing up front with the BBS 18 x 8.5" + 42 235/40/18 setup ?

Are your front fenders rolled or stock ?

 

I'm on stock front fender.
There is a little bit of rubbing when during freeway speeds and hitting a decent bump but normally no rubbing at all.

 

Thanks for the response. This thread keeps me coming back. Always excited to see updates on the CW FD !

 

There will be a couple of minor updates on the FD but she'll be going into the body shop this year to get the long awaited refresh.

 

Did something small on the FD before the Rotors & Boba meet. Decided to finally install the Mazdaspeed Titanium Strut Bar i got so many years ago. Another shoutout to @Ka Kui for sourcing me this. I think this was the start of our rare parts partnership. Haha. Anyways, I wanted to know what you all think about it? I prefer the red R-Spec strut bar, it pops out more but will keep the MS strut bar on for the time being just to freshen it up.


Old photo just for reference on the R-Spec strut bar (which I know you all are familiar with)

 

It looks soooooo stock under the hood!
I need to get out to one of those boba meets. Even though I don't know what boba is...

 

Lol, it is very stock under the hood! You don't need to know what boba is to come out and chat! Though you should try some! It goes in drinks and taste like honey or brown sugar.

 

Strut bar looks good. The stock ones are hard to argue with, but the MS bar isn't gaudy and deserves to be used.

 

Can't wait to see the MS SMIC in there too.