Applicable to: '99-'05 1.8 liter
Speaker, hazzard and window switch trim.
Useless two sided tape used for fastening causes the trim to "stand off" then fall off the mounting surface. The only product I could find that would adhere them to the plastic interior was Bondini gel superglue. Slightly bending the pieces to match the contour of the interior is a must for good adhesion.
Wickedly expensive, perfect match for the NB2 interior brushed aluminum finish. On a scale of 1-10 I would rate them a 9 on quality and 2 on value. IL Motorsport handled the international transaction flawlessly. Try to bundle your purchases from them to save on shipping costs.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '99 +
A chrome surround for the stereo and AC control center console.
Very well made piece, excellent fit, sticks on with the standard two-sided tape. Make sure you have it lined up exactly the way you want it before you reach the "point of no return".
In my opinion this really brightens up a black interior, I ordered this piece via Moss and it arrived in 3 days. Can't wait to see how it looks with a chrome shifter surround.
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
4 chromed A/C vent rings in the Audi TT style
These rings are a beautiful addition to your Miata interior. They come with 4 little black "chewing gum" style adhesive rectangles around the inner rim on each ring. You simply remove the backing and press firmly into place around the vent balls. Be sure to wipe the adhesion area of each vent with alcohol to remove any protectant you may have previously applied.
They look great, but are a bit pricey at $79.95 USD. Also, I'm not sure the included adhesive will be enough to hold them in place, but it will be easy enough to purchase more black chewing gum should they fall out.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '99 +
Chrome plated trim items. Shifter ring follows shape of shifter opening and will work with 6-speed tranny. Power window trim plate frames electric window switches just behind the ashtray.
Easy install on both items. Power window trim plate just needs surface cleaned with provided cleaning pad and sticks on. Shifter ring is easy but requires that part of middle console be removed. I received instructions in German but pictures helped a lot.
Really brings up the interior to a more finished look. Combined w/ MGW cigarette lighter, brake handle, and pistol grip shifter and IL Motorworks vent rings, A/C rings, hazard warning ring, all in chrome, the effect is not overdone in the least. Hard not to look at center console in admiration. Third party unsolicited opinions range from mouths agape to stares to calling friends to come over and check it out. As for me, I love it.
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '99 +
IL Motorsport Chrome Gauge Rings and DIY Chrome Needle Buttons.
I received the IL Motorsport guage rings as a gift. In my opinion, the quality was very high... good fit and finish. Since I had already installed a set of white guage faces, the installation of the chrome rings was very straight forward. You don't even need to remove the gauge pod to complete the install. I would recommend this product.
As a complement to the chrome rings, I decided to also install a set of chrome needle buttons. I found the price of these kits to be somewhat high, so I decided to make a set on my own. The effort was quite easy. I purchased 2 boxes of aluminum button covers at a fabric store (one box of large covers for the spedo & tach; one box of medium covers for the fuel, temp & oil). I used my Dremel to polish the covers to a chome like luster. Finally, I used alittle caulk to attach them to the needles. Total cost... $3.36.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Chrome plated vent rings TT Style. Purchased from the good folks at Finish Line.
No brainer install. Wipe the surfaces of the vent surrounds with some alcohol. Peel the protective tape off the preinstalled (very sticky) double stick tape. Stick into place. The only decision is how you wish to orient the six "dimples" (I went with 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 o'clock).
They look great! I like the polished chrome finish and the "dimples" kinda' match the screws in my Momo Champion steering wheel, my I.L. Motorsports shifter plate and my chrome fuel lid. The price is comparable to most other trim rings, and Finish Line has become my favorite Miata company to work with - good prices and very reliable service.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '99 +
I agree with John's comments from 1999 below. Unfortunately nothing's changed. The product is nit worth US$120. The chrome finish is not even on the whole plate either. RSpeed forgot to send the 4 screws for the trim ring. There are no installation instructions provided. I generally like the look, but I don't see the value considering that it's not perfectly finished and that you're left on your own to install it.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '99 +
Chrome rings for vents, hazard warning switch and A/C controls
Very easy to install just make sure that surfaces are clean. A/C rings are friction fit.
The chrome stands out from even far away outside the vehicle. Dash chrome rings for 10AE speedometer and tach are duller compared to IL Motorsport products. I may just have to go w/ some matching ones in the future. Installed along w/ a KG Works type 3 style bar (polished stainless steel). I think that the rings compliment the interior very well and give it a nice finishing touch. I prefer them to the Audi TT style rings. Vent rings may get a bit prominent but the effect from the A/C rings are a bit more muted. I would install again in future Miatas.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Chrome Shifter Plate and Ring purchased from RSpeed for a 90 Miata
Installed on 8/8/00. In my opinion it is an eye catching piece that really makes the console and my red leather shift boot and Momo Race Red leather shift knob stand out. Along with the Brain Storm Chrome Fuel lid and Chrome GT Mirrors the appearance of my red 90 has changed for the better. Chrome style bars are next.
This is a well made part from Germany. It took about an hour to install. Tools needed, Phillips screwdriver, drill, allen wrench and knife. Took the console out of the car, then removed the leather boot. It took a little positioning to get the plate just right on the console. I then marked and drilled the 4 holes. It is necessary to cut a notch out of the ridge on the underneath side in order for the 4 nuts to seat properly, but it cuts easily with a pocket knife. The screws are small and it needs to be worked on where they can't be dropped and lost. Once the plate is installed using the 4 screws and nuts I installed the ring and then put the shift boot back on, put it back in the car, screwed the knob back on and said "Wow". I don't know about later Miata's but for those with a flatter console it is a very nice addition.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to '99 + 1.8 liter
This is an update to my review of IL Motorsport's Shifter Plate with Ring (p/n 135), now available in chrome. After many months of disassembly and reassembly, I have hit on a way to make the plate sit low in the console, dramatically increasing my satisfaction with the item.
Basically, I removed completely the OEM shifter plate. This allow's the IL plate to sit down in the recess about the same as the OEM plate. Unlike the OEM plate, IL's plate has no structure underneath to support it, so you do need to add spacers of some kind to go over the mounting bolts. I believe you will also need new, longer bolts--I bought nice knurled black anodized bolts at a hardware store, which contrast nicely against the aluminum.
Now, instead of looking like a "tacked-on" afterthought, the plate looks like it belongs there. For new purchasers, it can now even be considered "removable without damage"--you can simply unbolt it and snap the OEM shifter plate back into place.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter
This review concerns the following pieces, made in Germany by Ingo Leidiger and sold by RSpeed: p/n 132 Ventilation Control Rings set, 039 Vent Rings set, 122 Hazard Flasher Ring, 138 Door Grip Rings, 139 Power Mirror Plate, 131 Dash Switch Plate, and 129 Power Window Switch Plate. Also available in chrome, I personally prefer the silky smoothness of mirror-polished aluminum. With two exceptions, these pieces are as perfect as they can be, and I am quite pleased with the glitter they add to my otherwise all-black interior.
The Door Grip Rings, meant to be mounted by removing the door latch "cup", placing the ring, and reattaching the cup, have exposed unpolished edges. This ruins their look, at least to my mind. RSpeed graciously accepted their return; I now have on order with RSpeed the KGWorks 908-053 Billet Door Opener Cups as an alternative. The other problem piece was the 131 Dash Switch Plate, which surrounds the foglamps and cruise control switches and the instrument illumination thumbwheel. The opening for the paired switches was far too small. Laborious Dremeling and filing was required to make the plate fit.
These pieces coordinate well with my other IL pieces and my Voodoo polished aluminum shift knob and brake handle. Every few weeks I use Griot's Mag Wheel Polish on them--Griot's product has the advantage of being water-soluble, and it is therefore easy to wipe off the inevitable smears on the vinyl dash and console.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter
This review concerns the Middle Console Plate (p/n 130) and Shifter Plate with Ring (p/n 135), made in Germany by Ingo Leidiger and sold by RSpeed. Also available in chrome, the two pieces complement each other--using one without the other does not work aesthetically. The Middle Plate is attached using "black chewing gum", and is therefore simple to mount and is theoretically removable. The Shifter Plate is designed to be mounted with bolts, and therefore requires drilling and cutting of console parts. Its installation requires considerable skill and patience, especially when no directions are supplied, as mine was. RSpeed is now working on providing directions.
Unfortunately, the Middle Plate is not large enough to completely cover the factory stereo/ventilation controls surround panel. IL needs to re-tool it, so its quality matches the excellence of their other trim items. The Shifter Plate is much too thick--its unpolished edges are exposed to view. It is also supplied perfectly flat, whereas the console area it mounts to is slightly concave, aggravating the problem. Removing the ring and gently bending the plate to closely match the curve of the console before bolting the plate down improves matters slightly. You can then loosely screw down the flat ring, leaving a gap underneath the ring. The only real solution, however, is for IL to start making the plate in the same thin sheet as the Middle Plate, or to re-engineer the plate to replace the OEM shifter plate, not just sit on top of it.
My problems with the Shifter Plate were communicated to both IL in Germany and RSpeed; to their great credit they both went to extraordinary lengths and expense to make me happy with it. Ultimately, however, both pieces require redesign before they can live up to your initial "Wow!" when first seeing pictures of the pieces on RSpeed's or IL's websites. I'd gladly be first in line to buy redesigned pieces.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
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