So Im looking to see what the stock rims will look like with a gunmetal color, or a dark/med gray color.
with the grill, either the stock color around the grill, or the same matching color around the mesh as what i asked for the rims.
heres a picture of the car.
heres the grill i will be using.
JW: buy springs yet?
probably wont unless i get a dd for the winter, other wise it will be a bitch to drive come winter time 2 times a week down the 219!
anyone able to help me out here?
Lies!
Do springs.
Don’t go with a huge drop, the inch of ground clearance you lose makes it look much cleaner
I would just paint the emblem and chrome bar on the stock one…not really worth spending the money on a new grill IMO
the new grill cost me 40$ i didnt care. and ill probably spray paint it if i do the matching color to the rims. either that, or see if i can get my hands on a paint gun, i only have a primer gun, or i could paint this myself.
bump. can i get any pshop help? thank you for the help if you do.
A guy I work with has a Mazda 3 with that grille on it. It looks like something is missing. I’m with boardjnky4, paint your stocke one. But, I would leave the emblem chrome because your lights have chrome housings.
Or upgrade to the Mazda Sport Wagon Grille:
You might even be able to get it color matched from your paint code. I would get the blacked out housings and this grille. Get different tails. Maybe put in the OEM fogs. Little changes like that will make your car look totally different.
Also, I would leave the rims as is. They don’t look bad they way they are. If you want to upgrade them do that and get some good rubber. I would not paint your stockers though. If you could powder coat them then I would go with that. If you don’t prep them right then you will be wishing you never touched them.
well i ended up getting the grill anyways, and i have 2 sets of pictures, i like the one with the mazda badge for some reason, probably because it takes away from the lights sticking out so much. but here they are with the new grill.
and with the badge, which is not on now.
Mazda badge needs to go bye bye…
meh, I would have went with painting the stock grill. the fit looks bad on the new one (large gap at top)…and that emblem looks terrible on the grill. I think that grill would look alot better if your headlights had black housings as said above.
+1
difference with the head lights from 03-05 and 06-08, the 03-05 are chrome and have the fog lights in the head lights as well, the 06-08 are black housing but dont have the fogs in the lights, and have the fogs in the lower part of the bumper. so even if i did change them, id have to buy fogs, which they dont make ones that fit my bumper, due to having the fogs already in the head lights, so i would have to custom design something for lower fogs, which im not trying to spend all that money, and painting them would be an option, but i dont trust myself, heating up the housing and pulling them apart, then putting them back together with no leaks.
but to each there own, i like it. but i still feel im going to paint the outter part of the grill a medium/dark gray instead of leaving it black.
reason i put the badge there, is to take away the standing out headlights.
yes, the badge def takes the eyes away from the headlights, which in turn, makes you stare at a badge that in no way belongs there, or even properly fits (boxy emblem on curved grill)… If your dead set on this grill, leave it the way it is, dont paint the outer grey…it will be too much going on…i say take a chance and DIY those headlight housings black…or, spray the grill the body color.
i was thinking the same color as the body as well, might just go back to my old teacher at ecc autobody and see if he can help me out so i dont have to pay the price for labor with a body shop, unless i can get my hands on a paint gun, in only have a primer gun now.
hell, i have a small paint gun, i will let you use it if you give me that emblem to destroy lol.
edit: also, taking apart those housings isn’t that bad…get the confidence and try it out, it will be a ton cheaper, and way better looking. plus you get that whole “yay i did it” feeling lol.
Maybe put the round Mazda logo on the center of the mesh? I would get rid of the lettering.
This is why Ebay is such a useful tool:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda-6-GLASS-FOG-LIGHT-LAMP-SPORT-VERSION-BUMPER-GRILL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQhashZitem5882402653QQitemZ380142364243QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
These are specially designed for the 03-05 Mazda Sport Bumper 
i like them, but still like the headlights i have, maybe ill paint them! just afraid ill fuck something up, ill try to find someone to help me out on this.
If you do want to paint yous, and I suggest you do, here is a write up psphinx did to show you the before and after:
http://69.175.22.26/~nyspeedc/forums/showthread.php?t=29938
On thing to note; He had to dremel his tails apart as they where not bonded. You should be able to bake your lights, or use a heat gun, and pull the lens off.
I think it would look much better. Then do the tails.
yeah, ill be looking into this when i have a chance to do it! probably take me some time!
