Petrus

How do mount your sideskrits?

I drilled 2 holes on each side of the skirt and mounted it inside each wheelhouse with the OEM plastic clips. Works fine. But then, I used 2 component epoxy glue to attatch it against the door sill. This doesn´t work very well, so I´m curious what you other guys used for this area?

kwescott

I have the MS side skirts and it had the clips you are referring to, as well as four additional holes along the front side of the car, as well as four in the undercarriage. The kit fit perfect when it was first installed. All of the clips from the side have fallen out, and most of the ones in the undercarriage are gone as well. I have had the kit for over 14 months....I just check the clips/bolts in the wheel wells every now and then to make sure they are tight.

FABRO

So hows the fitment now with just having the bolts on the wheel wells? This is what worries me about buying the authentic MS skirts as opposed to the replicas. I know the replicas don't come painted but they are a whole lot cheaper and seem to fit just as good.

kwescott

They fit tightly, but there is a slight space between the skirt and the car. The only advantage the MS kit may have it that they are stiffer than the Urethane replicas....which may sag a little more and may have larger gaps. The MS skirts also have a black spongey material along the top edge which helps to disguise the "gap".

Of note though, this is on my Brillant Black...it may look different (more/less noticeable) on other colors.

Mikeb has the replica body peices and has had the kit on for a longer period of time. You may want to send him a pm to get some feedback on how fitment is on his Velocity Red.

Petrus

HEY KWESXOTT!
>What rims are those? THEY ARE FU****G AWESOME!!!

kwescott

Volk GT-7's in Diamond Black.

presequel

those rims look great. size, offset?

kwescott

here's the link with all the info.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...+diamond+black

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

i needa get newer 3M tape. is 3M double-sided tape from autozone and such strong enough? I tried it, but it didn't seem to work that well for me, maybe someone else had better luck

kwescott

There is an "industrial grade" product out there that should work. When I watch shows on tv, the body shops usually have 3M as well as some sticky black tuff they lay down when putting on side skirts. Don't know what that is.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

I used a nail gun and a rubber mallet.

Seriously though, the tape that comes on the MS skirts is only sufficient if you really get the mounting surface super-clean and the temperature is high (and the body clips are tight).
After a year, my tape has given up and there is a slowly growing gap between the middle section of the skirt and the sill.
I'm gonna remove them at some pont and use the 3M 2-part trim epoxy instead of the tape.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

ouch...

kwescott

ok Ngo, where did you guys get those animated RX8's for your avatar. They are starting to grow on me

FABRO

Does anyone in here know how much or have an idea at least of how much the dealership would charge to install the MS sides? Im just curious to know because I would imagine that it would be a biatch to try and install these pieces by yourself.

kwescott

I installed them myself. And yes, it was a pain because each step you did, you have to do it twice. An additional pain in my install, was that I only had one scissor jack...so I had to do the install in sections as I had to constantly reposition the jack.

Mazda dealers were quoting 2-3 shop hours....so multiple this by their hourly rate to get an idea of how much they will charge you.

FABRO

so roughly about $180 to $200, what a rip off!

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

I made it. photoshop and imageready

XDEEDUBBX

what animated avatars??

Olorin2

iTrader: (6)

If you've never done anything like this before and try to put the MS sides on yourself, you'll know why bodyshops charge so much. It was worth it to me to save the money and put them on myself, but it took me the better part of a day. Of course, I took my time... but damn, what a royal PITA.

kwescott

I beleive the shop manual says 6 hours for the whole kit.

FABRO

Im only getting the sides on, I think the front and back part would be easier espically if you were gonna do it by yourself. Now Im starting to think I should get the front now hmmmm.... . I really don't wanna get the rear since I don't trust anybody from behind. I already got rear ended twice in my 8 damint! Once in a parking lot and they ran away and another time by some 16 year old kid. I wasn't thinking at the time, but I shoulda made his insurance get me a new MS rear.