I got the new RX-8 B pillars from Rosenthal today. Here are a couple of pictures on my RX-8

The first is a close up of the B pillar.

 

This second one is from a distance...

 

And this third one is from an angle.

 

These were easy to install and I think they look really great. The quality is excellent and they are thick enough to bring the level of the pillar to that of the door at the top. :D

 

These are another must have! Looks great. What's up with the center of the wheels? Any close up pics?

 

Also it looks like you have some protective strip between the doors. Does that protect the edge of the front door?

 

They look great!, I love the center caps on the wheels.......I need them.
The Baller

 

If I may ... you can see more on the wheels here.

 

Thanks WHealey.

As for the door edge guards...that's what they are. They are an option and you can get them at any place that stocks Mazda RX-8 parts and accessories but I would highly reccommend either Rosenthal or Trussville Mazda. They are both awsome for delivery and prices. The door edge guards are a bit controversial because they squeeze on over the door edges and you really have to use a section of 2X4 to bang on to get them on tight. There is no adhesive or finish protection. I have a brick house that I park next to and with careless children and misses, I wasn't going to take a chance. :D

 

All you got to do to get some is take your wheels off, mask them and paint them. The best part is as soon as you get the wheel off, you pop them out then put the wheel back on and go to the next wheel. Take them, paint them, let them dry between coats then pop them back in.

Let me ask you this? Would you pay $50 for a set so long as you sent yours in as a trade? This is just a test marketing question, not an offer.

The paint I used is color matched and I started with a primer, then two coats of base and finished with a clear coat. The main labor involved in doing this was masking and painting. The cost of materials is the greatest of which it would be for the paint (a color matched custom mixed spray can is $29 but it would paint many center hubs, good primer and clear coat by the same company at $12 a can each.) The center caps are $29 retail for the set of four.

The paint cost could be reduced with the addition of learning to paint using an actual compressor and paint gun but I doubt that it could ever become such a big selling item to warrant such.

Which reminds me of something. I had a 2000 Neon that I just wasn't happy with it's looks. I put blackouts on the head lights and the tail lights. Since I stuck with the two basic colors of Salsa Red (burnt orange to me)and black, I also painted the side moulding which was originally in the body color. The front grille was a thin chrome strip with the Plymouth logo in the center. I took the logo and masked it off then painted the rest of the strip trim black. The new Neons now have a black trim colored body side moulding. They stole my idea! LOL

 

I'd give ya $100

 

The B-pillar pieces look great - I'm also just about to order them. Two concerns though: I think they are prone to fingerprints, and what is a bigger problem: they might get scratches easily, especially if their material is the same like the interior 'piano black' plastic.

What do you think, how will they hold up? It would suck to get swirl marks all over them after a month or so...

How solid / hard are these trim pieces? Isn't it easy to deform them?

Oh, and one more thing: it is kinda strange that they don't go all the way down to the black plastic trim... there is a gap at the lower edge of them. Hm.

 

They are a urethane material. They suggest that after you apply them you use isopropyl alcohol in a circular motion to remove hand prints.

They are not hard but kind of soft. I plan on only cleaning them with a mild detergent and not touching them much. They are nothing like the interior piano black plastic trim. It did say exesive pressure will indent the urethane. The adhesive is very tight and covers the entire back.

The gap could have been avoided by me, there was only supposed to be a 1 mm maximum space from the bottom. Once one side was on, I did the second the same way to make sure they looked the same. If I could remove them, I would have but I made the mistake of being too ambitious.

 

Those look nice D MENAC 7. I've got the ones with the rotor shape with RX-8 in the center. They are piano black and probably the same as yours just with a different logo.

Anyway, I've had them for several months, and I haven't had any problem with swirl marks or excessive fingerprints. I believe they'll hold up really well. I don't go out of my way to put my hands all over them, but I do naturally touch them when I'm shutting the door, and the prints aren't really noticeable. I simply wash them with regular car wash the same way I wash the rest of the car and no scratches so far.

I think they really add a nice finishing touch to the side of the car. There's no longer that matte-look pillar in between the glass windows, it's all glossy.

 

Yeah, that's what I liked about them, they are so glossy they match the rear window trim that is under the glass. It finishes off the door in that place.

 

where'd you get the rotor shape logo ones?

 

I got them from Canzoomer. They are the Japanese B pillars, and I think are more expensive because they are imported.

Edit: I just checked and, yes, the JDM B pillars I bought are twice as much as these that D MENAC has. I think I prefer the design on mine, but not THAT much. Oh well, I was in a hurry.

 

Here's mine. $45+s/h from Rosenthal was too good to pass up.

 

side picture

 

Dayum that looks sharp. Is the lettering a brushed or polished look?

 

It's a polished look. Bright and you can see reflections in it.

 

Damnit you guys! A friend of mine (Doccable) got these, and while they are beautiful I wasn't really tempted... UNTIL NOW! With my 30% tint, it never occured to me that the glossy would look better. Now I know better. :D

 

They are good quality and they do not collect finger prints as I thought maybe they would. Or at least, no more than normal with the flat black trim that is underneath them. Besides, the price is right, there are few accessories that look as good as this one for the cost...well, maybe excepting my ______________ (fill in the blank) :D