Well, my bad luck continues with my RX-8 that I love so dearly. Last night in Kansas City we got about 1/4" of snow, just a real light dusting. I was out all night and didn't know it had snowed. When I went out to go home I saw it and groaned.

I made it all the way to the street my house is on with only a few problems and then disaster. I started to go up a little hill on my road and the back end went out. I was doing 3 or 4 MPH and riding the clutch in 2nd to try to put as little power to the wheels as possible. As soon as the back wheels started to slip the whole car slipped to the right and I hit a curb.

The right side of the front fender body work is thrashed. Both top and bottom pieces. And my right front wheel has a really bad case of curb rash though it looks like it will survive.

So, my question to you guys is if this is something I can fix myself and save a load of money? I know several places online that sell RX-8 body work but I *don't* know if that stuff comes painted? When I had my accident back in June I got all this front body work replaced and I see I was charged for paint.

I don't want to make an insurance claim, but if this is going to cost me $3k I'll have to. From looking at parts lists online it seems like I could get the parts I need for quite a bit less than I was chanrged back in June but would a layman be able to install them? I'm pretty handy and I'm not afraid to tear my car apart but I can't paint and I don't have any kind of special body tools that might be required.

Looking for advice.

 

Call up Mazmart. They are a sponsor of this web site and have used parts available for the RX8. You could get a new front bumper all ready painted in Brilliant Black.

 

That's the front bumper cover, not the fender, so you may be able to purchase one already painted. Give Rosenthal Mazda or Trussville Mazda (see vendor section) and ask. Removing and replacing that unit is not very difficult. Check out some of the DIY threads for projects that require removal of the bumper cover for instructions. As I recall there are several DIY's related to installation of the protective screens in front of the oil coolers and A/C condensor.

Also, clean up the wheel and check VERY carefully for cracks. These wheels seem to break easily and if there are cracks, you will want to replace the wheel immediately. Try eBay for that or order one from your dealer or the dealers mentioned above. They are expensive, BTW.

 

I notice you still have the stock Potenza's on there. Looks like another case of the stock tires being the worst possible tires ever for dealing with snow.

 

Thanks for the replies all. I took the bumper cover off so I could get an idea of the extent of the damage. I took some more pictures and I was hoping you all could help me identify some of the parts so I know what to ask for.

I've been been looking at the diagram on this page:
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=1&catalogid=2
and I think I have the parts figured out but I'm not sure if the thing I have labeled as "spoiler?" is number #20 or if it's built into #1 on that diagram.

Also, I wanted to see if the thing I have labeled as "bracket?" is just the bracket? Or do I need to buy the entire assembly? The fog lamp still seems to work fine. I took it out, plugged it in and it lit.

Thanks a ton for the help all.

 

Another case of shelling out $500 for snow tires could have saved an owner $3000 worth of damage.

if you're in an area where it snows, snow tires go on the car...period. it only takes one time – and a mere dusting – to lose control of the 8 with the stock Potenzas.

 

I know now. This is my first year with the car. I didn't realize just how bad this car was in the snow. It's pretty bad

 

fixed for you

 

Spent 30 years in KC out in Leawood - Overland Park area. It is cold and snowy for sure. Mazmart is your best link to cheap parts. This is an easy fix for you.

 

yes, you need to realize it's not the cars fault that you tried to go skiing without skis.

 

Wow, that sucks. Sorry you had to find out about the tires the hard way.

 

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but, I see tons and tons of posts demanding everyone get snow tires in areas where it snows. I live in a townhouse. I do not have a garage or a storage shed. If I purchased snow tires, where would I put the stock tires? They certainly won't fit in the trunk. Snow tires are not an option. Are there less costly ways of getting the best winter performance from stock tires? If the RX-8 was weighed down in the rear, will that help?

Thanks for anyone's information,

Chris.

 

Have closets? Storage area? 4 tires dont take up that much room.

 

That's true. I probably could convince the roommates to use some of the storage. However, there is the whole risk vs. cost issue. I live in Northern Virginia. On average, we have one decent snow storm per year. There are some instances of sleet/freezing rain. But, I feel the nasty weather does not come often enough to justify spending $500, dealing with storage, ect. I figure somebody would have invented something that would improve winter weather performance on stock tires. A magic slipper or spray. :>

 

If you don't have a friend or co-worker that will not "rent" you some space in their garage. You can look into rental storage places where you can store your out of season tires. You can sell your wife that wall hanging tires are newest thing in interior design.

 

Just to pull the thread back to topic a bit, can anyone let me know if I have those latest two pictures labeled correctly? I want to be sure I ask for the right thing when I call Mazmart.

 

Just point Paul to this thread

 

Tell them you need the front bumper cover with fog lamp brackets and spoiler and they should understand exactly what you need. Keep in mind that an optional front lip/spoiler is offered as part of the appearance package, so if you have the rear wing you probably have the oprional, larger front spoiler (I can't tell by the pics).

 

Thanks a ton Go48. I really appreciate it. I do have the rear wing so I'll try to work it all out with them. Thanks again to everyone who responded!

 

Folks, these are "summer tires." That means good weather. It rarely snows in the summer; these tires don't work at all in the snow.

My driveway has perhaps a 1 degree incline. Both our S2000 and our RX-8 freewheel in neutral trying to go "up" this incline, with even a dusting of snow with the stock summer Potenzas. Both cars will go though many inches of snow, no problem, when properly shod.

It's not the car that bad in the snow. Either get proper tires, or don't even think about driving it in the snow. Or suffer the consequences. But don't blame the car.

 

You can always get all season tires for your car, but they won't perform as well as the other tires. Summer tires are driveable until about 40 degrees F. After that they go to crap.

Be glad you're not dead and your car isn't totalled. Summer tires are at best three season tires. Trying to do anything else is very, very dangerous.

 

You're welcome, but I need to modify my comment about the rear wing. I checked the Mazda web site and the rear wing is listed there as a separate accesory--separate from the appearance package as I stated. But...if you have the rear wing I would guess that you also have the front spoiler, or air dam as Mazda calls it. Not sure whether or not the air dam was part of the appearance package on the '04 models like mine, but I thought that was the case.

 

It looks like I do have the air dam. I just found the original window sticker in my documentation and front air dam is listed. $970! Wow!

So I guess I am going to need the front bumper cover and air dam. This is gonna hurt...

 

I'm pretty sure you can install a bumper cover without the optional air dam. Of course, then you won't have the air dam. Take a look at the RX-8s at a dealer to see what the front end looks like with and without the air dam and then make up your mind before spending that kind of dough. Perhaps you can get a used one from Mazmart much cheaper.

 

Go48 is right, if you want to save some change you can definitely get a new bumper without the air dam. If afterwards you decide you really dont like the look without it, you can always add it on later. Rosenthal has new ones for less than $400.