Clubjazz - Honda Jazz & HR-V Forums
Honda Jazz Forums => Gallery => Topic started by: Chris_Music on December 27, 2018, 08:33:45 AM
-
Hey Guys
I thought I would start a build thread for my latest Jazz.
A 2015 Honda Jazz Si in Orchid Pearl White
I took a HUGE gamble and bought the Jazz at a Salvage Car Auction, and let's just say there have been a lot more problems with it than I was hoping for! ::)
Here's the car in it's current state. And before anyone points it out, yes the rear bumper is the wrong bumper!
The previous owner who "attempted" to repair it, put on the wrong rear bumper (and tailgate for that matter) ::). I'm waiting for the correct bumper to arrive in the post.
Next to it is my current 2006 Jazz Sport, which I will be selling over the next few months.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6d/8d/BGd8EPpx_o.jpg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/93/39/UGYMQHU1_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f3/e8/Yzdd9gdA_o.jpg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/6d/27/Hq3Ct9x3_o.jpg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/9c/5a/ZPZmo0pi_o.jpg)
I spent the best part of Christmas Eve detailing the car with Meguiars Clay Bar Kit, and it came out pretty nice ;D
Current Mods are:
Integra DC2 gearknob (from my old Jazz)
Mugen Pedals (from my old Jazz)
Aftermarket Arm Rest
Si Badge for front Grill (it really should have come with one of these standard!)
I've not got any huge plans, as I like the way it looks stock, but
Current plans are:
Si Rear Bumper
Mugen Style Wind Deflectors
Paint the Callipers White with Black Honda decals.
Sound deadening on the inside for a quieter ride.
Try and get hold of a USDM/JDM Sport boot spoiler.
Possibly carbon wrap the chrome boot surround.
Might lower it on Eibach springs, but we shall see about that.
Updates to follow :D
Chris
-
I agree the rear bumper in the wrong one but the wrong tailgate, I would be very surprised the Jazz Si would have a different tailgate to the other models of the same shape.
-
I agree the rear bumper in the wrong one but the wrong tailgate, I would be very surprised the Jazz Si would have a different tailgate to the other models of the same shape.
Sorry, I should have elaborated!
The tailgate that the previous owner used to "fix" the Jazz is from a JDM import Fit Hybrid. It had the wrong wiring loom and locking mechanism, which meant the boot didn't work. So I had to buy the correct wiring loom and locking mechanism.
Also the colour is not the same. They resprayed the outer boot lid the correct colour (even though it's still slightly off colour), but inside it's a cream white, as well as the spoiler is the wrong white. Plus the Si didn't have the chrome boot surround.
-
Hi
I thought you could buy the chrome for the tailgate. Are you sure it is not just stuck on. It is also expensive to buy
The wiper park is wrong but does not matter as long as it works
Many thanks
John
-
Hi
I thought you could buy the chrome for the tailgate. Are you sure it is not just stuck on. It is also expensive to buy
The wiper park is wrong but does not matter as long as it works
Many thanks
John
The chrome version comes with the Hybrid. I could remove it and purchase a black one if I wanted to.
I'm in two minds about the chrome, it looks alright.
The wiper I did, its the JDM wiper mod :)
-
Small Update
Arm rest arrived from China, took less than two weeks, which is pretty good.
Quality is alright, but for £35, I can't really complain.
The Fitting is really easy, and I like the fact that you don't have to screw into the centre console to fit it, leaving the plastic undamaged if you wanted to remove it at a later date.
It's a bit snug between the two seats. I would've preferred it slightly slimmer.
Here's the link if anyone's interested: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162722856720 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162722856720)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2a/5b/4CMNDH42_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ea/84/BIWLgBH9_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ae/00/DEIgX1LD_o.jpg)
And the Si Bumper also arrived, It feels like Christmas :D
Some marks and scuffs on it, which will either buff out, or I can touch up with touch up paint, so I'm not too bothered.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/cb/9a/LrCc8FZc_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8d/ee/sPAhw6qK_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/87/36/t8b0qhB7_o.jpeg)
Test fitted the bumper, and it's perfect :D!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/77/c9/xvfkk3R4_o.jpg)
More updates to follow soon :)
-
Thanks for link to armrest, it looks very smart - just ordered one for my wifes Si
The thing I really notice between the Jazz and our Civic is the armrest and the extra storage it gives, the middle of the Jazz looks a bit bare compared to much better centre console on Civic, hopefully her indoors will be happy with it - thanks again :)
Wish Honda had thought more about the front door pockets, they are not bad for storing taller things and books but due to lack of console storage ( at the moment anyway ) I keep my sunglasses in the door pocket, always curse when I am trying to retrieve the case from the bottom of door pocket, my fingers get tweaked whether it try to get it out from the top or out through the gap in the side of pocket - ouch...
There again the Civic ones are much better designed.
-
The rear bumper looks spot on, you were fortunate in finding another one in correct white & in good nick.
-
Thanks for link to armrest, it looks very smart - just ordered one for my wifes Si
The thing I really notice between the Jazz and our Civic is the armrest and the extra storage it gives, the middle of the Jazz looks a bit bare compared to much better centre console on Civic, hopefully her indoors will be happy with it - thanks again :)
Wish Honda had thought more about the front door pockets, they are not bad for storing taller things and books but due to lack of console storage ( at the moment anyway ) I keep my sunglasses in the door pocket, always curse when I am trying to retrieve the case from the bottom of door pocket, my fingers get tweaked whether it try to get it out from the top or out through the gap in the side of pocket - ouch...
There again the Civic ones are much better designed.
Great, I'm glad to hear it! One piece of advice, don't over tighten the screws into the plastic, I did and it split the plastic slightly, so I made sure the other 3 were just comfortably tight.
Yes, Honda really do need to include an arm rest with storage from the factory! B
-
The rear bumper looks spot on, you were fortunate in finding another one in correct white & in good nick.
Thanks, yes I was really fortunate! It came all the way from Scotland!
I've finished using the touch up paint on it, I'm just waiting the 48 hours for the clear coat to cure before I can polish it and then get it fitted to the car! :D
-
I love those front seats on the Si. Been trying to get some from breakers and eBay. But £200 each is a lot of money. Good luck with the car, it looks really nice in White!
-
Think I may have said this before on another thread but the SI looks a lot prettier (in a good way!) than the other Mk2 models. The styling touches make it look a different car somehow.
-
Think I may have said this before on another thread but the SI looks a lot prettier (in a good way!) than the other Mk2 models. The styling touches make it look a different car somehow.
+1
Took off the standard 16" 185/55 wheels of her indoors Jazz Si and fitted some 15" with 175/65 Avons - the ride is definitely better, and handling not noticeably any worse ( especially the speeds she drives at, I drive it a bit faster). Mytyres website has a neat function where you can show the different wheels on the car and spin it 360 degrees, also change the colour of the car, I showed her indoors what her car would look like with different wheels ( she wanted the higher profile summer tyres after finding the ride on her 175/65R15 Nokians more to her liking than the harsh 185/55R16 tyres she had).
Attached a PDF with a couple of photos...
-
I love those front seats on the Si. Been trying to get some from breakers and eBay. But £200 each is a lot of money. Good luck with the car, it looks really nice in White!
Yeah they are really nice for Jazz seats. They're probably £200 each because of the Airbag.
Thanks! I've always wanted to own a white car since I was a late teen and being involved in the car scene and seeing white EK9's and DC2s at car meets :D!
-
Think I may have said this before on another thread but the SI looks a lot prettier (in a good way!) than the other Mk2 models. The styling touches make it look a different car somehow.
I think for once, the UK has got the better looking Jazz than the US. The Si is basically the Asian RS model, so it's nice to see Honda releasing a sportier Jazz in the UK. Though they really should've included the RS spoiler as well, but I'm just grateful that we got the Si in the first place!
-
Bumper Update
I've used Clay Bar to get out the impurities, used 2 stage touch up paint on all the marks and scratches, waited 48 hours, then polished and waxed the bumper.
If you look closely you can still see the imperfections, but from a far, it looks pretty good :D!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7c/4f/UHKiKuip_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a0/aa/RHkulNh7_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3f/81/HJbefre4_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a5/9d/q37hTkIC_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/81/5d/tue7Mt4t_o.jpg)
Only thing is that now the boot lid and the bumper colours don't quite match. But I'll try and live with it, as I don't want to pay to have the whole boot resprayed :'(
-
Agree I'd live with it , as after 2miles there will be road spray etc .
-
I ordered a Black Tailgate trim, as I didn't like the Chrome, and the Si is meant to have a black one anyway.
I thought I would try some Carbon Fibre Wrap as well.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/96/11/8eCzSOY7_o.jpg)
But unfortunately it didn't quite go to plan. The hard part was around the wiper blade hole, which then made it difficult to do around that area. So I'm just going to leave it black:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/12/60/DrHQntrU_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/18/ce/jMB5yPHb_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/98/b3/GG8oX8yS_o.jpg)
I've got a load left over, so I might experiment with some of the interior trim.
Also, the Spoiler arrived from America. Genuine Honda Fit Sport Spoiler, same as the JDM Fit RS Spoiler. Cost me £100 inc shipping and import tax.
Just have to wait till pay day before I can get it resprayed :D
(https://images2.imgbox.com/dd/96/Ub2xFi6P_o.jpg)
-
Black garnish now on the car, and I test fitted the spoiler to make sure it fitted ok, and luckily it uses the same holes as the smaller OEM spoiler I have on the car, so no drilling needed which is good :D!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1f/b8/GLTiMPAh_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/94/85/1muhxUZq_o.jpg)
Another modification i will be doing to the car is sound deadening.
The Jazz has too much road noise. It's better than my previous GD, but still not good enough in my opinion.
So I ordered some 2mm Silent Coat sound deadening panels, along with some 10mm Closed Cell foam insulation for the worse areas like the wheel arches.
I'm waiting on the 2mm Silent coat to arrive, so I thought I would put some 10mm Closed Cell foam insulation under the bonnet. I didn't want to go crazy with the stuff, I just did the areas that most people recommended to do.
The Standard insulation:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e6/65/DmtMLwDu_o.jpg)
After removal and clean up of the surfaces:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/33/37/7mEZmWED_o.jpg)
Used some paper to cut out templates for the 4 sections, then outlined them on the insulation and cut them out:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/18/89/82YuR7YG_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/2d/7DvVSibt_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/66/bb/YCLaAhQC_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f0/b6/mtZINPXV_o.jpg)
Then fitted them to the under bonnet and replaced the original insulation:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/94/73/sca9MyVQ_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a1/eb/sPfoL3sX_o.jpg)
I also put some spare insulation under the gap where the bonnet fastener is.
I don't know if it will make a massive difference or not, but I thought it couldn't hurt :)!
-
hi Chris, noticed the si badge on the front of your jazz, was this honda or after market . how much and was it easy to fit. many thanks Trevg
-
hi Chris, noticed the si badge on the front of your jazz, was this honda or after market . how much and was it easy to fit. many thanks Trevg
Hi Trevg
I bought it from eBay for £3.89 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222997190130 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222997190130).
The quality is surprisingly good considering the price.
It was a little fiddly to fit, its easier to fit if you take the front bumper off, but I did it by feeding the bolts through the front grill and putting my hand through the gap in the engine bay to screw in the fixing nuts.
It really should've come with that badge as standard in my opinion, as the Asian market RS has the badge on the front and rear.
Hope that helps!
-
Small Update
One thing I always thought The Jazz was missing is footwell lighting.
You can buy Kits for £20-30 on eBay, but I didn't like the colour options with those, and they don't work with the interior light switch.
So I set about doing it myself.
I bought a 1m strip of Warm White waterproof LEDs, 3m of Red/Black wire and I had some spare LED connectors from a past project, as well as an old LED interior light I had bought in the past, and didn't like the colour, but kept it just incase :).
First thing I did was remove the interior light:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/79/cb/DfnWRx0u_o.jpg)
Then I soldered the wire to the Positive and Negative connectors on the light fitting:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4a/03/osundyx8_o.jpg)
I cut all the correct lengths of LED strips I needed, and with the remaining LEDs, I made a light for the ceiling, so all the lights would match and be the same colour. I mounted 3x10cm strips to a piece of thin cardboard, and used the connector from the spare LED interior light to connect it to the light fitting:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/61/e8/WMr46ZKV_o.jpg)
I then soldered on the connectors plus a wire to go between the driver and passenger side and tested to make sure they all worked:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6e/99/xAP6S9nq_o.jpg)
I then stuck the LED strips to the footwell plastic where the light would be shining from:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0b/a8/DByK41qQ_o.jpg)
Now it all worked, next was the task of fitting it to the car, I removed the door seal and ceiling handle to route the cable to the footwell:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/08/fe/NmNeKM6z_o.jpg)
I put everything back and made sure it all worked. And here's the final result:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f5/29/AL64eSnJ_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/dc/ae/BZ4MDQJ3_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/40/d5/1Hbyy4fn_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/05/7a/Scz1OFad_o.jpg)
I will get some better pictures when it is dark.
Over all, I'm really happy with the lights, and they all work from that one switch, which is what I wanted.
Cost me around £5 to do, so saved a bit of money too!
If anyone wants to do this to theirs and has any questions, please feel free to ask :)
EDIT: Some night shots :D
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e3/6c/cqLseEIC_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c0/4a/4zeEgi5s_o.jpg)
-
Hi chris
Looks lovely
Here are 2 pics that I did (with help from forum members)
Many thanks
John(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190314/80f880ecad01d4f3887e5505c3f7fbda.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190314/8c7dde0c4e49ea74d6517d860f2f9e98.jpg)
-
Hi chris
Looks lovely
Here are 2 pics that I did (with help from forum members)
Many thanks
John(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190314/80f880ecad01d4f3887e5505c3f7fbda.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190314/8c7dde0c4e49ea74d6517d860f2f9e98.jpg)
That looks awesome. Is that the official Honda kit? I was surprised to learn that Honda actually offered a footwell lighting kit! And even more surprised that it was blue!
-
Another Update
I purchased a Rhino Lip, after seeing how good it looked on Rhysfjf's Black Si.
They can be purchased from here: https://www.facebook.com/TheRhinoLip/ (https://www.facebook.com/TheRhinoLip/)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7d/3b/OIVCq9L9_o.jpg)
Overall, I would say the kit is pretty good. Though the instructions aren't great (I had to look online for more detailed examples), and they don't include enough Screws/push clips in my opinion, so I had to use some of my own screws/washers.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/93/d0/XZU9x5qJ_o.jpg)
The front of the Si is particularly hard to work with, because of the sharp curves on the lip. It look me 4 hours in total, and by the end I wanted to throw the kit away because I thought it looked awful, but I waited till I put the bumper back on the car before I passed judgement, as I was looking at the bumper from underneath, which is not the angle you would be seeing it from normally. I'm glad I didn't throw it away, as when I finally got the bumper back on the car, I was really happy with how it looked.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b8/32/DMO2DWkY_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ac/bd/TqxOItAS_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f7/d2/EY6z7ufd_o.jpg)
My only real annoyance is that, because it's the same colour as the road, you don't really notice the lip. I upped the brightness a lot on the photos, as you could barely see it before! But at least I know it's there!
-
Hi chris
Many thanks, it is just like your light strip but blue colour
I was thinking of a rhino strip but not decided myself. They do look good though
Many thanks
John
-
Looking very good. It's nice to see a modded Jazz--not too many on this forum. 8)
-
Hi chris
Many thanks, it is just like your light strip but blue colour
I was thinking of a rhino strip but not decided myself. They do look good though
Many thanks
John
The Rhino strips are good, but they are a nightmare to fit, I pre-warn you!!
Looking very good. It's nice to see a modded Jazz--not too many on this forum. 8)
Thanks, yes they are few and far between! It's a shame, because they are a really nice car, and My Si gets a lot of looks, but I feel the Jazz is one of those cars that people like, but don't want to admit they do, haha!
But it also means I can park it on the streets of London, and not have to worry about someone trying to steal it!
-
Big Update
So I finally got my spoiler back from the body shop, after taking it to one bodyshop who did a crap job (paint reacted), and I asked them to redo it, kept saying it would be done next week, next week, next week, kept discounting the price, and eventually said they would do it for free because I'd been waiting so long. Two months of waiting, one day the guy just says take it back, I don't have time to work on it. So I ended up taking it to a different bodyshop, who had it done in two days:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/78/4b/YiO3CKz0_o.jpg)
Bought some adhesive foam strip as well to replace the factory Honda ones:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/dd/2a/W8wauYGR_o.jpg)
Because my Boot roof has a different colour to the rest of the car, Premium White Pearl, instead of Orchid White Pearl (see first post for explanation), I didn't like the idea of the spoiler and boot roof being noticeably different colours, and I didn't want to pay to have it resprayed, so I had an idea.
Here you can see the colour difference, though I feel it looks more noticeable in real life:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/cd/7d/K4Tn4GfG_o.jpg)
Back in my younger days on the modified car scene late 2000's, the Honda Civic EK9 Type R was reaching the 10 year old mark, and didn't need an expensive SVA test to be imported into the UK from Japan, so they were starting to flood the market and appear at Japanese car meets. And most of them came in the lovely Championship White, which was always so beautiful, as White cars were rare back in 2007, (now white cars are absolutely everywhere), and you definitely couldn't get a white Honda! And the spoiler on the EK9 had a Matte Black base plate, and I always like the black and white contrast this gave. Like so:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/53/c2/EhLgtrrj_o.jpg)
So I bought some Matte Black Vinyl Wrap from Amazon for £6.99 and thought I would have a go at wrapping the boot roof.
I cut the vinyl down to size:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/01/d7/29y0UtJF_o.jpg)
Then set about slowly and carefully applying it to the boot roof. I only used a heatgun and squeegee for the harder areas, everything else I just took my time and used my fingers to smooth it down onto the boot roof, which I felt made it a lot easier.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/60/13/gmuigZ4R_o.jpg)
Then using a hobby knife I cut off the excess and folded it around, and the final result came out even better than I had hoped for!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d4/d6/ED5GXTxh_o.jpg)
Then all that was left was to fit the new spoiler:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/00/b9/0wM2saH0_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/18/7e/p3LBccR8_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/69/31/z4p3PpIA_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2c/c7/9XXvyFso_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6d/eb/JxBpqFu5_o.jpg)
I'm very happy with how it turned out, and I feel the 'look' of the car is finally complete.
Honda really should've included this spoiler with the Si as standard from the factory, as it just looks odd without it.
If you look at the Japanese Market Fit RS and Asian Market Jazz RS, they have the same kit as the UK Si, but they have the spoiler.
(https://image-cdn.beforward.jp/large/201610/687039/BF566049_dfaa97.jpg)
For now, this is all the outside modifications I want to do on the car. In a couple of weeks I will be stripping out the entire interior to lay down Silent Coat sound deadening to make the interior whisper quiet (hopefully).
After the success of the vinyl wrap on the boot roof, it's making me tempted to buy either some Matte Black or Gloss Carbon Fibre wrap and do the front bonnet. But I'm going to sit on that one and think about it.
For those of you who like the look of the spoiler and want to get one for your self. Go over to eBay.com (US eBay), and type in the search bar: 74900-TK6, and it should come up.
I was lucky enough to get one for £100 including shipping and import duty.
You can get copies from China/Taiwan, but I can't speak for their quality compared to the genuine article.
-
Just a small update, but something I've been wanting since I first bought my Jazz Si.
I really wanted a set of the Special Edition Jazz Si mats to go in my Si, but I couldn't justify spending £60 on a set of new mats just because of the Logo, when my standard Jazz mats did the job just fine.
So I set a notification alert on eBay to let me know when a used set came up on eBay, and 6 months later, a set finally came up, and i paid £21 for them. The drivers mat has quite a bit of wear underneath, but you can't really notice it on the top, so I'm not too bothered.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e6/26/bJar9zfk_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7c/5a/ddJeiNa8_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b6/02/84m7Ksg6_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/52/28/GTTofacJ_o.jpg)
Really love the logo and the white stitching! I don't know why these didn't come with the Si as standard!
-
It's been a while and I thought I would update this thread with any mods I have done since the last update.
Painted Brake Calipers - July 2019
I wanted to paint the brake calipers white with black Honda lettering, in keeping with the black and white theme of the car. I used Hammerite gloss white paint for the calipers and Hammerite gloss black for the discs and metal surround
I used a wire brush drill attachment to clean off the calipers of any brake dust.
They were quite clean to begin with, so it wasn't much effort to get them looking like new.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ea/e2/1BNCA0ym_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/76/b3/T9ZtARHw_o.jpg)
I removed the calipers as best I could without detaching the brake hose, and made sure there was no weight being put on the hose. It was a bit of a pain to paint this way, but It was a hot July, so the paint dried pretty quickly.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/06/a2/AOKPxlAb_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8e/e5/QnwKAx1u_o.jpg)
I also painted the discs and surround while I had the caliper off, just to freshen up the look a bit
(https://images2.imgbox.com/73/8f/guLfq3Lf_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/af/43/ZmoWw4rv_o.jpg)
I ordered some black Honda Caliper decals and put a coat of clear coat over it to protect it
(https://images2.imgbox.com/79/08/4RuH2SQ3_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ea/59/HTNap2p7_o.jpg)
The final result:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9b/34/sTcpbGye_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f9/16/okGkZfPp_o.jpg)
I was really happy with how they turned out, but it didn't take long for them to get dirty and for the brake dust to cake onto the paint.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/ac/2VGYsIm0_o.jpg)
3 years on, they haven't held up well, and look dirty even when deep cleaned.
So I wish in hindsight I had painted them Black with white (or red) lettering.
I might redo them next summer, depending on how motivated I am to do all the work again.
I would like to paint them red, but I feel red is so cliche, and black will at least not look as noticeably dirty.
Wrapping the roof in black vinyl - September 2019
I always wanted to wrap the roof black, as I thought it would complement the white exterior well. I ordered some premium automotive wrap with air release (to help if any bubbles formed). I ordered from MDP, and I was very pleased with the quality of the vinyl:
https://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vehicle-wrapping/gloss-wrapping-film (https://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vehicle-wrapping/gloss-wrapping-film)
It was definitely a 2 person job, and took several hours. There were some imperfections, but overall, I was happy with how it turned out.
I had to remove the radio antenna and the side plastic channels from the roof
(https://images2.imgbox.com/73/7f/ppAPuY0l_o.jpg)
Using a heat gun helped a lot as well.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/22/91/h6357B4J_o.jpg)
The final result.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/be/33/qdif5WV8_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/07/b9/DiAfHcty_o.jpg)
Wrapping the Mirrors in black vinyl - January 2020
I had some black vinyl left over, and I had previously wrapped the mirrors in some carbon fibre wrap I had, but I wasn't happy with the previous job, so I removed it and wrapped them with the black vinyl
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e3/b7/eJ7KsYTt_o.jpg)
Wrapping anything with curves is a total pain to do, and even with a heat gun, it was very difficult to do, and not for the faint hearted.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0c/1e/jKNpOWVa_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/85/33/EAUGERNv_o.jpg)
Overall I'm happy with how it turned out and looks pretty good on the car.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b4/83/KTt4k3tV_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/44/0c/eBXM0Elg_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4b/73/qhFR2ngH_o.jpg)
Future Mod plans
So I have a couple of mods planned over the coming months.
I have another roll of Black gloss vinyl and intend to wrap the bonnet black as well.
I have some Mugen Wind Visors on order coming from Japan.
I am currently working on a cold air intake system, but trying to figure out where to place the ducting is proving to be a pain.
So watch the space.
-
Love every thing you do! Keep it up!
-
Love your improvement plan, I would take look over the mods on fitfreak.net should have a couple of relevant threads.
-
You’ve done an awesome job and a fantastic guide for other owners. My whole car has been neglected by previous owners so it needs a good clay bar, cut and polish. What brand of touch up paint did you use? I’m looking for a good paint match.
-
Love every thing you do! Keep it up!
Thank you! It's been too cold to do anything, so I've been waiting for the warmer weather, but updates will follow soon. I'm planning on fitting my Mugen Wind Deflectors hopefully by the end of the month.
Love your improvement plan, I would take look over the mods on fitfreak.net should have a couple of relevant threads.
Thanks, yes I've been on there for a while. Many good ideas, all extremely expensive! Sucks being in the UK sometimes!
You’ve done an awesome job and a fantastic guide for other owners. My whole car has been neglected by previous owners so it needs a good clay bar, cut and polish. What brand of touch up paint did you use? I’m looking for a good paint match.
Thank you! I use Hondas own touch up paint, its not a perfect match, but it's probably as close as you are going to get. Especially if you have Orchid Pearl White paint, which is a pain to match and body shops charge a premium to respray anything in that colour!
If you're looking for good recommendations for car detailing stuff, I've recently switched to Bilt Hamber products and they are very good. the wax and clay bar especially. I still use Autoglym super resin polish because I have a whole litre of the stuff still to use up, but I hear good things about Bilt Hambers own polish as well!
-
As always, excellent work mate!
Keep us updated :)
-
A few updates for 2023 so far.
Red Fuel Cap
I had some red vinyl wrap spare from a work project and thought it might be fun to wrap the fuel cap red for that Japanese Flag look:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fc/b4/qH5SqSRQ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/27/4d/rt0Q6KNJ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0a/90/RP649W0i_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/15/3a/Zdsp970I_o.jpeg)
I don't know if I will be keeping it forever, but it's a nice simple touch that stands out.
New Honda Parts and Air duct from Japan
I found out it's actually cheaper to order New Honda parts from Japan through Amayama.com (https://www.amayama.com/en) than it is to buy from Honda UK in many cases.
I needed some new mud covers for my rear bumper, as the previous owner of my car had replaced the rear bumper from one from a EX and then just cut the mud covers. So when I put the correct bumper on the car, the covers had a gap where it was cut.
I also needed some new clips and a front bumper mount, as I had damaged the current one and broken clips when I removed the front bumper, so the front bumper no longer sits correctly.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8f/0c/GA08dBiH_o.jpeg)
I also learned that some Japanese models come with this air duct to help airflow, and some people fit it to their Jazz to aid performance/MPG. Here's where I found the information: LINK (https://www.drive2.ru/l/536946504498152502/).
The part number is 17244-RB0-J00, and it was £8+delivery. I don't actually know if it has made much of a difference to be honest, but I felt it was worth a try.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0a/7f/N4zcTJco_o.jpeg)
I had to glue it to the top of the ECU cover, as I didn't want to order the ECU cover that has the clips for the duct as well.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f0/ca/njfQZtdw_o.jpeg)
Bonnet Air Duct Refitted
I hadn't realised that the duct on the bonnet had actually made quite the difference to my MPG since I removed it to install the sound deadening. I assumed the drop was because of the 60KG of sound insulation that I added to the Jazz.
I set about removing enough of the sound deadening to allow the refitment of the duct. I also used some aluminium tape to smooth off the surface for better air flow I guess.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0f/a6/SwaduHob_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3c/ec/mxlR0fuJ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d5/84/vyWbsPg9_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/5f/07/W5CXyPyd_o.jpeg)
The MPG has definitely gotten better. I happily average around 44/45mpg now, which was around 42mpg before.
Bonnet Gas Struts
I had a pair of these on my first Civic and loved them, so I thought I would get a pair for the Jazz.
Finding anywhere that sold them for the GE Jazz was a really tough mission. I ended up getting a pair from AliExpress from a company called Xiangshang Car Parts, who seem to be the only manufacturer of gas struts for the GE Jazz.
But when I got the struts, the instructions were very poor and the mounts were completely different to the ones pictured in the instructions. I tried every combination to get them to fit, but the bonnet sat far too low, and the struts rubbed against the plastic.
I had a lot of back and forth from the manufacturer who kept telling me different ways to get it to fit, and eventually sent out a new kit. This new kit also didn't fit, but the struts in the new kit were slightly longer than the first kit, so I used a combination of parts from the first kit and struts from the second kit, as well as a pair of 10mm M6 stand offs to get the kit to fit just right.
I'm happy with the Frankenstein kit that I have, but I probably wouldn't recommend anyone buy one.
Maybe they have taken my feedback on board and made the kit correct now, so if anyone feels brave enough to try, here's the link: LINK (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004398250339.html)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6d/6a/h7mp77Db_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8b/34/bHiWQEOy_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a9/f0/azpP0BEA_o.jpeg)
K&N Filter
I had so much trouble finding the right K&N filter for my Jazz, and I ended up purchasing 2 incompatible filters that said they were compatible from eBay, until I eventually found the right model for my Jazz which is Part number: 33-2422.
I would say I probably noticed the slightest increase in performance, very very small, barely noticeable, but I have noticed a small increase in MPG. Around 1-2mpg, but this also could be down to the weather getting warmer, so it might have made no difference whatsoever. But at least I don't have to change the filter for a while now.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/93/b2/zPW3L5Za_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/44/1b/PN9LxgXu_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6b/0a/btz9x2Y8_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b3/f6/f6N9C6jt_o.jpeg)
Mugen Wind Deflectors
And finally, the wind deflectors. I purchased these from Torque GT (LINK (https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/mugen-ventilated-wind-deflectors-jazz-fit-ge.html)) back in December, but I wanted to wait until the weather got a bit warmer before fitting them.
I've always owned Mugen style wind deflectors on all my Jazz's, but when I looked at the cost of the copies for the GE (around £90 from China), I thought I may as well spend the extra money and get the real deal that I know will be good quality and a good fit.
They were an absolute pain to fit, and the instructions were in Japanese only, so I had to rely on google translate for the English version. It took just over an hour to fit, but I'm pretty happy with them. They are great quality and a nice addition to the car.
They took a bit of getting used to, and make cleaning the car a bit more annoying, but overall they were a good addition to the car.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ca/bf/tdcaWJdN_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/09/c7/2AETq8Zj_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b8/99/WLlIEwWm_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/72/b7/Ar5oTiia_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ab/53/ZpftHz95_o.jpg)
I have a few more plans for the Jazz over the summer.
I have black vinyl wrap to wrap the bonnet, and I'm thinking of buying a Buddy Club Short Shifter, but I want to do some more research first. So keep a look out for more updates over the next few months!
-
...Looks pretty good overall :) , hate the 'gel' look number plate though :o
apart from that 8)
-
...Looks pretty good overall :) , hate the 'gel' look number plate though :o
apart from that 8)
Thanks. I also hate Gel look number plates, these are 4D acrylic plates.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8a/39/jSSe2fYk_o.jpg)
Though, in hindsight, I wish I had gone for 5mm thick, instead of 3mm thick for a more pronounced look. But we live and learn.
-
...Ah just another name for them then :D
What's wrong with standard plates?
I think they are the only things that spoil the look of your car.
-
...Ah just another name for them then :D
What's wrong with standard plates?
I think they are the only things that spoil the look of your car.
Each to their own I guess.
I like the embossed look with the sharp edges, I think it looks smart and subtle.
-
Keep up with the good work ! 8)
-
A small update that probably wont be to everyone taste, but I quite like them.
Dynamic Turn Signals
I came across these on AliExpress while searching for other things and thought they looked pretty cool on a black mirror.
If my mirrors weren't black I'm not sure if I would have liked them. But with the black, they blend in nicely.
I got them from here for around £12:LINK (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004610464764.html)
They seem good enough quality, and plug straight into the original Honda plug.
They are fairly easy to fit. You have to remove the mirror glass, and then pop off the mirror cover from inside by pushing the clips, and then there are 2 Torx screws to remove. Took about 15-20mins in total.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ba/49/UvEPu1sc_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/b7/77/6SJ0GgJ2_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/84/d9/B5R1WZjN_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/b7/23/A6BkLS1C_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8f/e0/KAuN5ead_o.jpeg)
That's all for now, until I stumble across something else on AliExpress!
-
I just read the whole thread start to finish, its come along very nicely!
In my view the best Jazz is this model, and in this particular colour.
And your Amayama suggestion is a very clever one, thanks Chris! :)
-
Did you find when swapping the bumper that you needed the lower arch liner sort of plastic pieces
-
Chris, did you spot the retrimmed front seats on EBay for your model?
They may appeal the asking
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275978355748?hash=item4041978424:g:Dr4AAOSwmAZkyjEb
-
I just read the whole thread start to finish, its come along very nicely!
In my view the best Jazz is this model, and in this particular colour.
And your Amayama suggestion is a very clever one, thanks Chris! :)
Thank you for your kind words. Yes I agree about the best Jazz model. I don't mind the GK, but I can't stand the new GR Jazz, it just looks so ugly. Hopefully the next model of Jazz is nicer, otherwise I might just keep mine forever!
Did you find when swapping the bumper that you needed the lower arch liner sort of plastic pieces
Yes, the Si rear bumper sits lower, and I had to buy new arch liners to fit, which was annoying!
Chris, did you spot the retrimmed front seats on EBay for your model?
They may appeal the asking
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275978355748?hash=item4041978424:g:Dr4AAOSwmAZkyjEb
I don't get why it has RSX stitched into the seat? The RSX is the American Integra.
I think I still prefer the stock Si seats to those to be fair.
-
My latest Summer Update
Black Bonnet Wrap
For a while I had been thinking of wrapping the bonnet black to go with the black roof, and I decided to purchase the wrap, as it was only £20, and if I decided that I didn't like it, I could always just remove it and it wasn't much money to lose.
I purchased the wrap in November last year, but then I realised that I needed warmer conditions to apply the wrap. So I stored it away until the summer.
I purchased my wrap from MDP Supplies (https://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vehicle-wrapping/gloss-wrapping-film), as I was very happy with the quality of my roof wrap that I bought from them, that has air release which makes it much easier if you get bubbles, and 4 years later the wrap still looks good, so I know it lasts well.
I did put off doing it for a while, as the roof was such a pain to do, but eventually I just forced myself to do it on a nice day.
It was a lot harder than I was expecting, probably because of the way the bonnet slopes. I couldn't just pull it and lay it flat to get the "glass" look straight away. I had to take my time and pull and lay it down, inch by inch.
Some dust did get underneath, which was annoying, but you can only really notice if you look closely.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1b/5a/JyX4B0QD_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/cb/68/6NsdLluz_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/39/bf/hQGromso_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6b/82/8SGwNyor_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/bd/dc/MItPQdIf_o.jpeg)
Overall I'm really happy with how it looks, and I was surprised how much it changes the look of the car.
I wasn't expecting it to make such a difference.
I don't think I will be making many more changes to the appearance.
I have been on the fence about buying Red Honda badges for the front and rear, as I feel it will complete the look. But I'm also not a fan of up-badging, and I feel the Red H is solely reserved for a Type R. And if I do put red badges on, I can't go back as you have to snap off the old Honda H badges in order to install the red ones.
I did think about trying to wrap the wheels black (or white), just to have a nice temporary change, but I recon it would be a real pain and I don't know how well it would turn out.
-
A minor update
New Battery and Battery Bracket + Painting.
So my 8 year old Varta battery started showing it's wear now that I don't need to use the car for work and only drive it once a week, it got to the point where I would have to jump start it every time I wanted to drive it, so I decided to replace it with a Yuasa 5000 Silver YBX5054 from Tayna Batteries.
When I removed the originally battery, I found the metal battery bracket was very rusty, so I used some white Hammerite paint I had left over from painting my Brake Calipers to bring it back to life.
The part was quite rusty
(https://images2.imgbox.com/88/17/FabEx6mI_o.jpeg)
Used a wire brush drill attachment to remove as much of the surface rust as possible
(https://images2.imgbox.com/dd/33/nmKkTAcR_o.jpeg)
After 2 coats of Hammerite
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8d/96/zBxa1Mh9_o.jpeg)
Freshly painted part installed
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ab/e4/mv0e4cVd_o.jpeg)
I also decided to buy a new battery bracket instead of painting the black one. I went for a red anodised bracket in keeping with the red Si theme. I got it from AliExpress for £7.38 delivered LINK (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005111214876.html).
(https://images2.imgbox.com/95/b6/JI5v7MF2_o.jpeg)
It fits quite well considering. The bolts are a little long, but they don't touch the underside of the bonnet so it's all good. They could be cut shorter if necessary, or the original ones could be reused instead.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d4/bb/6dRWulF9_o.jpeg)
I'm currently on the look out for some Red Honda emblems for the front and rear, but finding the correct size and part numbers for the Jazz is turning out to be tricky.
-
Good spot the plastic battery tray can often hide a horror story, maybe add a smear of grease across the top of both terminals.
Ive just replaced the battery last weekend with the same model / spec on my wife's Jazz EX.
-
I've got quite a few up dates and I keep forgetting to post them here, so I'm going to do a little update dump.
1st November 2023
I bought some £4 Si vinyl sill protectors from AliExpress for my Jazz Si.
I thought I would share my findings for anyone wanting to purchase some for their Jazz. They also do a Jazz or Fit logo as well.
Here is the link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005615377175.html?
The rear sill protectors were too big to fit the Jazz, so I had to cut them down to size to fit. You could probably make them fit if you used a heat gun to mould it, but I thought it would look odd and not match the front ones. I did use a heat gun to stretch the vinyl on some of the curves and contours, as it wouldn't stay stuck down.
For £4 I think they are pretty decent. Time will tell how well they hold up.
I measured the size it should be to fit the smaller door sill and cut off the excess vinyl, I then used a metal washer as a template to make the cornered edges so it matched the other sill protectors. Now it is small enough to fit the rear door sills.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/41/23/EzyTlLk9_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2a/ff/s5yLVjJf_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/cc/ba/HvU73V10_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3f/00/ShcDvbYz_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f7/0d/AWeFfrkn_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2c/04/m9RtztCT_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/75/9f/FQGK4dyn_o.jpeg)
-
16th November 2023
Fixing Honda's Laziness? Or maybe being a bit OCD?
Anyone else with a European Facelift GE Jazz notice Honda didn't bother to paint the bulkhead in the engine bay and just left it primed? No? Well, you'll definitely notice it now if you didn't before! You're welcome ;D
I had the front bumper off anyway, as I was fixing all the stone chips and replacing the front rhino lip, plus mesh grill I made to protect the AC condenser. And I had that "while I've got it off, I might as well" moment.
Removing the upper bulkhead was fairly easy, it's secured with six 10mm bolts, and then all the brackets and the bonnet latch are also all 10mm bolts. But the rest of the bulk head is one welded together piece, so there was no way to remove it without drilling it out. So I had to get creative.
I didn't want to go crazy and spend all the money to buy primer, basecoat and clear coat paint to get it the exact colour of the car, I thought, as long as it is white, it won't matter if it doesn't quite match, as it is under the bonnet. So I bought some gloss white Hammerite, as you don't need to prime or clear coat, it's just one paint direct to bare metal.
I sanded off all the rust from the upper bulk head and then painted it, along with the 10mm bolts that would be visible.
The white doesn't quite match, but I feel it is good enough to pass, as the Honda pearl paint has a slight cream colour to it anyway, so it wasn't going to be an exact match without using the correct colour paint colour code.
I neglected to take a before photo, so here's one I dug up from a few years ago.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/eb/d8/hvKTMyn0_o.jpg)
The upper bulkhead and the Bonnet latch removed. Not too much rust.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/27/48/nnrowLma_o.jpg)
I had to remove the lights as well to get to all the necessary parts.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/31/84/SvuV8dQZ_o.jpg)
To mask off the side bulkhead parts, I took an old painters sheet and cut two holes in it, so I could cover the entire engine bay from getting over spray, and just have the parts I need to paint poking out.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7a/d8/DZmXxyTq_o.jpg)
All sanded and masked off ready to paint
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c8/be/ysOC2kt1_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/de/a1/yvoeUx4p_o.jpg)
4 light coats of white gloss hammerite. It turned out pretty good.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/44/70/4jA0rcJ3_o.jpg)
Lights and washer reservoir reinstalled.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b9/34/kOdAheJk_o.jpg)
Upper bulk head painted with 4 light coats of white gloss hammerite. It turned out pretty good.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4c/5a/zk95V2lD_o.jpg)
The painted 10mm bolts
(https://images2.imgbox.com/93/f9/FzuPrQEj_o.jpg)
The latch mechanism all cleaned up and re-greased.(https://images2.imgbox.com/24/78/aPR6sRg9_o.jpg)
The upper bulkhead back on the car, looking much better already.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/15/c1/V5HfjiPh_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ba/d8/zm39N5GJ_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ae/94/CpT95trg_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d6/41/Ct2p727I_o.jpg)
The final result. There is a slight colour difference, but it's barely noticeable, and overall looks 100x better than the primed metal.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d5/9c/psZOBgpj_o.jpg)
Overall, I'm really happy with how it turned out. I did chip some of the paint when installing it back on, but it's barely noticeable, and overall looks 100x better than the primed metal.
Any questions, feel free to ask!
-
18th November 2023
Who needs to spend £700 on a stainless steel cat back exhaust when I can spend £16.99 on Amazon for the same look ;D
Amazon link: https://amzn.eu/d/jiZli8p
It just bolts straight to the standard exhaust and just finishes off the rear in my opinion.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e9/c8/qzvCNKSD_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4a/50/IznxUDnQ_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/05/dd/7JHqlfsW_o.jpg)
-
29th November 2023
Front End Freshen Up
The front end of the Jazz was looking a bit weathered, with the 5 year old Rhino lip ripped and falling off and the paint covered in stone chips. I figured it was time to give the front some much needed TLC.
The state of the front end:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9e/de/k0fOB9Ma_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/86/02/muuKANiQ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d0/b7/uWCpWDzk_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/13/4a/hHniEsXi_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2b/85/UUbT9bpG_o.jpeg)
Upon removing the front bumper, I noticed the crash support had some rust forming, so decided to remove it to give it a freshen up as well:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f1/38/LcgE4Svh_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/cb/5f/05j9bKsV_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a7/03/WBTJ4VuY_o.jpeg)
Sanded it down and gave it a couple of coats of Hammerite metal paint:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/60/9d/8BwzUlE3_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/dd/P8a9xxLT_o.jpeg)
Looking much better:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/90/58/nIWCHFBp_o.jpeg)
I also added 2 layers of yellow tint to the fog lights while the bumper was off. I always liked the look of yellow fogs:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2c/5c/DuRimKqX_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/28/62/t1kfxNgb_o.jpeg)
Next was to replace the worn out metal mesh that I had made to protect the AC condenser.
I invested in something a bit better than pray painted chicken coop wire.
Plastic dipped metal mesh. Should be stronger and last even longer:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f1/23/BdVBOaq8_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/04/38/LdHbBloS_o.jpeg)
Next was to replace the worn out Rhino lip, which did last 5 years to it's credit.
Unfortunately the company that used to supply them to the UK no longer exists, so I had to import it from the US which was annoying, but they are a good affordable alternative to factory lips & look great:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e3/03/wUmB5Taj_o.jpeg)
Due to the sharp curvature of the factory front lip, it is difficult to contour the rubber around the 2 points and have it stay in place. I did what I wish I had done the first time around. Rather than using the standard plastic washers, which were fine for a standard curved bumper, I bought some Aluminium bars to create a washer that was the same size and shape as the lip, and then bolt them with stainless steel bolts and locking nuts to force them in place and keep the contour of the lip:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ca/31/KzHGQNwI_o.jpeg)
It took quite a long time to make it, and it looks terrible and rough, but it's under the car, so you'd never see it:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a8/7c/QMNxwwUz_o.jpeg)
It worked even better than I could've predicted, and kept the contours of the front lip perfectly and definitely won't budge. When I was talking to a Rhino lip representative about the best way to contour the lip, he said it was the best contouring he had ever seen with the rhino lip on sharp contours, so I will definitely take complement :P:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/95/d3/xY0ssajH_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a6/03/F1Rp8mO9_o.jpeg)
Next was to get some Red Honda badges and a refresh for the Si and Jazz badges:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4c/67/h2E2W3Mx_o.jpeg)
The part numbers for the Red badges on the GE:
75731-TF0-003 (92mm x 75mm) - GE Rear 08-15 JAZZ
75700-SNW-003 (113mm x 92mm) - GE Front 08-10 JAZZ (Pre-Facelift)
75700-SYY-003 (108mm x 90mm) - GE Front 11-15 JAZZ (Facelift)
Original Purchase links below:
Front Red Honda Emblem: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004763523262.html
Rear Red Honda Emblem: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134012600574
Front Si Emblem: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004175018033.html
Rear Si Emblem: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285312550792
Gloss Black Jazz Emblem: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004989424916.html
The rear badge fits perfectly with the curved surface:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0c/e3/qAyELU2r_o.jpeg)
Front H badge even the 2 prongs lined up correctly. I moved the Si badge a little further to the right, so its the same position as the JDM RS badge, and also not blocking the Air Intake as much:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a6/c1/PXj76FHP_o.jpeg)
The front end all back together after giving it a machine polish and using touch up paint on all of the stone chips, the front end looks new and fresh again:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1b/03/ZHbXTTW8_o.jpeg)
And the final result on the car:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/66/ba/j6juIxRt_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/70/2f/FKFnMr02_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7c/42/Je2TjKYc_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8a/08/cfIGKsxO_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ad/52/4ZoPbHLy_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/40/11/bEnHICyo_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/57/be/MyZGQ2oR_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/17/aa/Vczd4cVi_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/14/fd/TGr2TsQV_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1d/b9/JzqHzsaA_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3c/b7/rx2Az3k0_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/42/db/0glWxz8Z_o.jpeg)
-
1st of December 2023
Less than a year in the sun, my red wrapped fuel door was starting to fade and go pink. So I decided to go with something a bit more permanent. I picked up a Milano Red fuel cap from eBay for £13. It was in decent condition for the price, but had lots of surface scratches, so I had to attack it with the G3 compound and machine polish it, and it came out pretty decent!
The old faded wrap:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/bf/64/nNSUoJgQ_o.jpg)
The new, freshly machine polished fuel door:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/88/3e/uxvU4FDz_o.jpg)
The fading is especially noticeable next to the new fuel door:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/32/21Lo7FNf_o.jpg)
The Red fuel door fitted:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e3/99/cnzIT4P7_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/20/18/bYOiXw6G_o.jpg)
After this I took a break from working on the Car until April 2024.
-
11th of April 2024
LED Daytime Running Light/Turn Signal Installation
I installed some DRL's on my GE Jazz and thought I would document the process, as well as all the parts I used.
Any questions, feel free to ask.
My next project will be installing rear reflector brake lights, so watch the space....
List of Parts used:
DRL Kit from AliExpress 7440 T20: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001854528405.html
Plugs from AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002838169228.html
Piggy back adapter with 5A fuse: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393132895356?var=662065835520
Solder Seals: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005550979525.html
Crimping Kit: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005604596236.html
Heat Shrink: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005192360568.html
Black Cable: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142494219116?var=441488111400
DRL Kit from AliExpress 7440 T20:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001854528405.html
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6b/97/Qc9wSZc8_o.jpg)
The DRL kit has to be spliced with the power to the side lights so it knows when to switch off, but I didn't feel comfortable splicing into the factory loom, so I made an adapter to plug into the side light so I could connect the DRL kit to the side light without touching the standard loom.
Plugs from AliExpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002838169228.html
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a5/a2/9QwbN1mf_o.jpg)
Tested the kit and the adapter I made to check it all works before installing:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/13/08/xrON5LvP_o.jpg)
I wanted to run the wire to the fuse box via the bonnet release cable, and I though it was accessible from the engine bay, so I removed the cowl cover, only to discover it actually goes into the wheel well:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/09/10/P2iMOTxa_o.jpg)
Had to remove the drivers side front wheel and peel back the wheel arch liner to access the hole where the loom enters the interior next to the fuse box:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b8/0c/CHZoC1bJ_o.jpg)
In order to pull the cable through, I wrapped some white tape further down the bonnet release cable and then pulled it through at the other end until I saw the white tape. I then taped the power cable to the bonnet release cable, and then pulled it back through, bringing the cable through next to the fuse box:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/94/69/qZaQPpHP_o.jpg)
I used a piggy back mini fuse adapter with a 5A fuse to connect to fuse 15 on the fuse box, and then crimped a connector so it could be easily disconnected if needs be.
Piggy back adapter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393132895356?var=662065835520
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9e/66/ZFe6odFx_o.jpg)
To make it easier to install the kit and tidy everything up, I removed the front bumper and headlights, which made things so much easier to access, as the engine bay is so tight to reach things in there:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/84/14/qAmMh4eh_o.jpg)
All the cable management. Trying to hide everything and keep it looking neat and tidy. You wouldn't really know it was there:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a9/a1/eLlKNrRP_o.jpg)
Final part was to install the adapter I made. I used waterproof solder seals and then covered in heat shrink to neaten it up. Then I tucked the adapter into the wing, hiding it so it looks as factory as possible:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7d/50/X4VjcuHi_o.jpg)
DRL Turn Signal Kit installed:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/62/5a/hProuh9U_o.jpg)
-
23rd April 2024
LED Rear Bumper Reflector Lights Installation
I installed some rear reflector lights on my GE Jazz and thought I would document the process, as well as all the parts I used.
Any questions, feel free to ask!
Total cost around £20
List of Parts used:
LED Rear Bumper reflector lights:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004314611863.html
3 Pin Waterproof Plug:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32873390417.html
Brake light plug & socket:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006100677080.html
3 Core cable (20AWG):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006584230445.html
Solder Seals:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005550979525.html
The reflector kit has to be spliced with the side lights/brake lights, but I didn't feel comfortable splicing into the factory loom, so I wanted to make an adapter to plug into the brake light plug without touching the standard loom. It was harder than I was expecting trying to find the correct plug, but the solution I came up with works:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c6/a9/YxBosNse_o.jpg)
The New light reflector compared to the original reflector. It's not exactly the same shape, but everything more or less lines up:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/52/fa/dHzN9bQA_o.jpg)
In order to route the cable through the bumper, a hole needs to be drilled:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/44/51/PCDQsGMW_o.jpg)
The new reflector doesn't sit quite as flush as the original, but you can't really notice when it's on the car, unless you are looking for it:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/46/cc/pBFhqbzb_o.jpg)
The metal clip didn't quite go all the way in, so I removed it. I could've trimmed it down, but I decided just to use the screw fitting that is already there instead, which sits much better and doesn't rattle around:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2d/9c/av1tlAJ3_o.jpg)
I was concerned at how close the light cable was to the exhaust, so I drilled another hole above to route the cable away from the exhaust, as well as some heat shrink around the cable:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/27/b3/EbP86Tzf_o.jpg)
I wanted the cable to be neat and tidy behind the bumper, rather than flapping around. So I use some cable clips mounted to the inside to secure it:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/77/02/WW0udyEN_o.jpg)
I used a waterproof plug to connect to the brake light adaptor that will run inside the car, as well as some plug crimps to make it easier to install or remove if necessary:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/39/8d/FZBDvUHN_o.jpg)
I used some waterproof solder seal to wire up the lights to the waterproof plug, and then used some heat shrink to tidy it all up:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/00/33/Kd867UEK_o.jpg)
I used one of the rubber grommets that sits behind the spare wheel well to run the cable into the interior. I made a small cut and fed each cable through one by one. It should still be water tight:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f3/d0/1ZurDv62_o.jpg)
You don't really notice the off fitment compared to the original reflectors once its on the car:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1e/d6/nBAKr7DA_o.jpg)
Now it was time to make the adaptor that plugs into the OEM brake light socket. I soldered the cables from the plug directly into the light socket and then used some black hot glue to ensure none of the exposed contacts made contact with each other. I then tidied it up with some heat shrink:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a2/b6/wDmYVlPD_o.jpg)
The final adaptor ready for fitting:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/de/7a/bfkcabxr_o.jpg)
The light adaptor all fitted and working perfectly. I ran it parallel to the standard loom and just cable tied it to keep it secure. And it all works great without having to damage the original Honda loom, and can be removed without issue if needed:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/4f/h1XwfFmW_o.jpg)
For anyone wanting to do this exact mod with the exact parts I used, here is the wiring colours and their connections:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ea/2c/0m8kriZC_o.jpg)
Brake Light Night time:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d3/46/DaUj43gR_o.jpg)
Normal Light Night Time:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/41/f7/ZSf7sqXL_o.jpg)
Brake Light Day Time:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/97/08/CLWgNS9y_o.jpg)
Normal Light Day Time:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fa/39/cpimKI8u_o.jpg)
-
1st-9th of May 2024
Wheel Wrapping
I decided to try and wrap my standard Si wheels, and this is how it went 😅.
At least the centre cap came out alright!
I have a feeling the slope is too deep to wrap, as the wrap becomes over stretched and tears.
I tried 3 different shaped cuts, but no luck.
I had bought enough wrap for 6 wheels incase I made mistakes, so this was the test wrap to get the technique down and learn the best way to do it.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c8/8e/FSV7TBVB_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/02/1d/UCwj9jBB_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/38/ae/UON0V6xA_o.jpg)
I wrapped one of the wheels black, and I debated wether to continue doing the other 3 (or possibly have them professionally refurbed & powder coated black) or just keep them stock.
I like the black, but I wasn't sure if I preferred it over the stock colours.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b3/ad/FQwdUDfi_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/81/bd/I6ik2ujA_o.jpg)
I tried something different and just wrapped the grey parts of the standard Si wheel.
I preferred this to the all black look.
It was just such a pain to do. I had to wrap each section in 2 parts, so I made some templates to make it easier. It still took 20-30mins per section.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d6/f0/jBjWJw2B_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6f/31/Xgal4Cwd_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a7/c9/wt66ncLU_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7c/18/usgnTkcw_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1c/d6/7HiYgIQP_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1d/54/r7T86aXN_o.jpg)
I wasn't sure if I could be bothered to do all 3 wheels.
So I took a break and lived with it for a bit to see how I felt!
-
12th May 2024
Honda Jazz GE EP3 short shifter install
I installed an EP3 short shifter in my GE Jazz and thought I would document the process.
With the Buddyclub short shifter being discontinued and the Hyrbid Racing one being so expensive, I was looking for an alternative and discovered that the EP3 short shifter was compatible with the Jazz with minor modification.
I watched these two videos for the install:
Here is the Kit I purchased:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181522471805
And the spacer I bought (though it is too big and will need filing down about 0.5mm to work):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192990852151?var=493194958979
I had some teething issues with the install, which I have documented in the photos. But you can definitely notice a difference, especially in 1st gear. It's obviously not going to be as good as the BuddyClub or Hybrid racing short shifter, but for less than £20, it's a good compromise.
I have included photos showing the before and after positions superimposed on eachother. I used the app "Before | After" on iOS to line up the photo.
The short shifter kit (The "C" tool is to remove the plastic cap off the original shifter):
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c8/2c/bQeLbCh6_o.jpg)
The 10mm spacer I made using this aluminium tube: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192990852151?var=493194958979:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4f/02/ryaz4U2U_o.jpg)
The spacer fitted in the short shifter:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9e/80/IlNQF3S1_o.jpg)
Trying to fit the short shifter, I realised the spacer I made was too thick:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1a/c2/HLgO6NNk_o.jpg)
I shaved off about 0.5mm using a Dremel and a round file:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/60/c7/MVLcTUHe_o.jpg)
The adapter fits very snug. I had to hammer it on to get it all the way, but it's definitely not accidentally coming off!:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d5/93/AXNEi3tU_o.jpg)
Installing the shifter, I realised my sound deadening was getting in the way of the shifter now it is sitting lower:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ab/2b/n4Cuegdm_o.jpg)
I had to cut out a suitable section to make sure it didn't rub:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0d/31/UnOO6533_o.jpg)
The bottom of the shifter was very close to the chassis, so I used some 2mm metal spacers that I had, to raise it up very slightly. I also used the metal spacers that came with the kit to replace the rubber ones on the original shifter:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ee/be/iHSToqnY_o.jpg)
Shifter reinstalled and working perfectly with no rubbing:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/29/e2/iQLzehaW_o.jpg)
1st gear comparison:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/db/66/K4g1S7Zn_o.jpg)
2nd gear comparison:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/54/44/U6x0Qylw_o.jpg)
-
23rd May 2024
New Wheels for the Jazz!
I drove a 6 hour round trip to pick up some 8 spoke Compass wheels off Facebook Marketplace on Sunday, which are originally from an EP2. Wheels are 16"x6.5J ET43, so they stick out a little more.
They were quite neglected and were left in a garage for nearly a year. Picked them up for £130.
I spent the last few days cleaning them up and restoring them as best I could, and now they are on the Jazz.
I hadn't planned on keeping them long term, As I intend to use them to swap for the actual wheels I want, the illusive Enkei T1's, but they are definitely growing on me.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/5f/74/kaqhotfs_o.jpg)
In need of a damn good clean:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/16/f3/wZHONfo9_o.jpg)
So much brake dust, it was not fun getting it off:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/29/81/8ddUG8jx_o.jpg)
Used the trusty Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel to dissolve as much of the brake dust as I could:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fe/10/Ps3ihGsc_o.jpg)
Not a bad job:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/08/ed/RQJ11eB3_o.jpg)
The Wheels all cleaned:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/32/b9/cKNjmovi_o.jpg)
I restored the centre caps with metal polish and some new Honda decals. I also sanded down all the curbing and put a layer of clear coat over it to stop it corroding. Long term I need to see if I can get touch up paint made up in the wheel colour.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/27/00/oBXjqVYI_o.jpg)
The wheels on the car. I definitely prefer them to the standard Si wheels.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/57/a2/e8WS0Z7G_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c4/08/aWirUwdU_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6d/e2/OV03lPJH_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c5/54/587cGX8d_o.jpg)
-
28th May 2024
Plug & Play Auto Power Folding Mirror Mod
I always wanted to do this mod to the Jazz, but all the kits available were universal kits that required you to splice into the Jazz wiring loom, which I really didn't want to do. That was until I found a plug & play kit that requires no wire splicing what so ever, and just 3 fuse piggy backs to work.
You simply plug the adapter into the back of the mirror switch, and then plug t
he OEM Honda mirror switch plug into the adapter, and then 3 cables into the fuse box and its all good.
You can easily access the fuse box and the back of the mirror switch by removing the panel with the headlight adjustment button, which simply pulls off. Then you can reach up and unplug the mirror switch from there.
The only thing that isn't plug and play is the wires that go into the piggy back adapters will need to have the wire insulation stripped off the ends, and then crimped into the piggy back fuse adapters.
The original folding mirror button still works as normal with this kit. And if you only want them to fold when locking, but not unfold when unlocking, you simply don't connect up the unlocking cable. and they will still unfold when you turn the key in the ignition (providing the button on the mirror switch is in the 'out' position).
These are the fuse positions I used.
4 - constant 12V+ to power the adapter
36 - To trigger the folding when locking
49 - To trigger the unfolding when unlocking
For this mod you will need:
Auto folding mirror controller: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32690785003.html
A set of Mini Fuse Piggy Back Adapters (you only need 3, but the 5 kit was cheaper than buying them individually:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000960923698.html
You will also need 2x 15A Mini fuses, as the fuses that you remove for the door locking mechanism are low profile fuses and are not compatible with the piggy back adapters.
This is the kit, but I added my own crimp connectors so I could plug and unplug the cables in, rather than it being permanently connected. It makes wiring it up easier, and also easier to diagnose issues:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e0/e6/HJ1cOdmB_o.jpg)
The wires on the kit come with handy labels, which is good because the instructions that come with it are pretty crap:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f4/f9/BBuNI8c7_o.jpg)
I forgot that the standard fuses in the Jazz were low profile fuses, so I had to buy 2 standard 15A mini fuses instead:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1f/13/ctq0gPsc_o.jpg)
I had so many piggy back adapters, with my Dash Cam and DRL in there as well, that I decided to label them up to make it easier for myself. If you copy the fuse positions and adapter angles in this photo, everything should work great:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/13/08/twUpMZRI_o.jpg)
These are the fuse positions I used.
4 - constant 12V+ to power the adapter
36 - To trigger the folding when locking
49 - To trigger the unfolding when unlocking
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d0/22/UbWXwNjz_o.jpg)
Highlighted to show the positions of the fuses in the fuse box.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/29/d1/YnsI2TEp_o.jpg)
A video of the Mod in action:
Watch Video (https://sendvid.com/x5i9w0cp)
-
3rd of June 2024
Honda Jazz GE Throttle Controller:
Thought I would share my latest purchase from AliExpress.
This allows you to bypass the standard 'drive-by-wire' programming from Honda and choose your own throttle setting.
I purchased it from here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003037255372.html
It's fairly easy to install. Just unplug the plug from the throttle pedal and plug in the controller between them.
The cable is a good length, but it wasn't long enough to reach all the way to below the dome light, where I wanted to originally put it so it was inconspicuous. But strangely enough, it uses a lightning cable, so I bought a lightning extension cable off Amazon to test and it works. But I ended up not using it and installing it on the A pillar instead.
It takes a bit of getting used to, especially if you put it into race mode and the throttle is way too sensitive. I've mostly been switching between comfortable mode and sport mode. Eco mode is great if you want your car to feel even slower than it already is. Pedal is very slow to respond, which is good for fuel economy. I find it handy for motor way driving, and then I switch it to comfort mode for urban driving, and sport or sport+ if I need to quickly overtake or pull out of a road.
It doesn't make your car fast, it's still a Jazz after all. But it makes it a lot more responsive, which is a nice option to have. You can also turn it off and just use the default Honda setting as well if you wish.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c4/b9/adX7nncm_o.jpg)
The adapter installed on the throttle pedal:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ef/0a/zJ2SMXc4_o.jpg)
The original position I stuck it:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/73/d7/5p9O9IGl_o.jpg)
Showing the extension cable working:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d7/92/bHVCAQ0V_o.jpg)
The final position where I ended up placing it. Easily accessible while driving, and not too distracting:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/70/70/ybSbcH61_o.jpg)
-
6th of June 2024
Enkei T1s
Well it finally happened guys. Today I picked up a set of Enkei T1s. Nearly a month of daily trawling Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree and Autotrader looking at Civics and asking every seller I found with the wheels on their car if they would swap, I finally found someone willing to swap for my EP2 wheels (plus cash).
They’re not in great shape, and I paid more than I wanted to, but damn it, I’ve finally got a set!
Now I just need to clean them up and get them refurbished.
I’ll miss the EP2 wheels, they looked quite nice on my Jazz and I had started to get used to them.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1b/b0/QlVnNXmH_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7d/8b/aAzLnQU5_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/dd/3f/zrnVt9dz_o.jpg)
And so began the long saga to get them refurbished......
-
10th of June 2024
Wheel side quest....
When I picked up the Enkei T1's, I actually picked up another set of wheels immediately after.
I spotted these on eBay during my daily search for the Enkeis and they caught my curiosity because of how they looked similar to the MG ZR wheels, but 16” rather than 17”. The seller didn’t know what they were, only that they were removed from a Civic.
They looked in very good condition and I couldn’t find any information about what they were online from the info on the inside of the wheel, so I thought I’d bid on them if no one else did. In the end I was the only bidder and nabbed them for £80. When I picked them up, it turns out they were supplied by a local Honda dealership as an optional extra and have been sitting in the sellers loft for nearly 20 years. They still have the 1999 date code on the tyres.
After doing my own research, it turns out they are an old Team Dynamics Monza design, and after contacting Team Dynamics, they confirmed they did supply these wheels to Honda Dealerships as optional extras. Judging by the wheel & tyre size, it was most likely an EK Civic.
My plan is to swap over the tyres from the Enkei’s on to these and put them on the Jazz for a bit until I get the Enkei’s refurbed, and then probably sell them.
I’ve already ordered some more up to date Honda logos for the centre caps.
So if anyone’s looking for a retro wheel for their Jazz, watch the space!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2f/29/ieq5JF44_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/cf/3b/2AWPMNTw_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/36/40/gCEIUXHa_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2c/f4/K9uNJAdh_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/60/19/tHyyECSA_o.jpg)
-
10th of July 2024
Team Dynamics wheels on the Jazz
The Team dynamics wheels are finally fitted to the Jazz with the 205/50/R16's from the Enkei T1s.
I repaired the minor curbing with touch up paint, but one of them was too bad and I paid for a full refurb for that one and the colour match was pretty good.
They look ridiculous, and the front sticks out too far, but I kinda dig it.
I’m gonna rock them until the Enkei T1s are finished, which could be a few months, so we’ll see how the car drives with them on.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e0/71/waIRSVOM_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e6/cf/fjAEsCtr_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/cc/18/39MV4Snh_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/99/e5/nkJGRQnx_o.jpg)
-
16th June - 21st July 2024
The Wheel Refurb Saga
My plan all along with the Enkei T's is to have them painted the same colour as the car, Orchid Pearl White, as I didn't want to paint them plain white and have the colour look off on the car, making the car look cream coloured against the brilliant white.
The wheels were in quite a bad shape due to neglect and a fair amount of corrosion.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6a/50/R2jMyCKS_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/65/da/TMLu0AUm_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a8/b4/Y3Q59zT9_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/51/1f/BbPx1hzX_o.jpg)
I had the tyres removed and started visiting wheel refurb places to get quotes on how much it would cost to paint it Orchid Pearl White.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/30/db/HKVVJ8lS_o.jpg)
After visiting a few places, it became apparent that the wheels could not be powder coated the colour that I wanted, and that it would have to be painted with normal automotive paint.
I got chatting to the boss of one of the places and he wanted to help me in my predicament. No bodyshop was going to want to tackle the wheels in their current state, so he offered to have them stripped and powder coat primed for so I can just take them to a normal body shop to get painted instead.
I was very happy with that offer, so I left them with them for a week.
Once the wheels were acid dipped and sand blasted, it was apparent that the corrosion was worse than anticipated.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/58/d0/3fddbpz8_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/13/c6/TF7ipVb4_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8a/c0/Rdmuqdau_o.jpg)
They used a high build primer, and it did a good job of filling in most of the corrosion pitting, but it was apparent that there was some damage that would need filling to correct.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f1/b4/ZCOb6pOY_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9d/c4/zCN5wH8r_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2a/d4/UOYtPLlj_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a3/9f/gYElc9jf_o.jpg)
The guy very kindly gave me some 3M 180/240grit sand paper to rub down the primer and prep it for a bodyshop.
Currently one wheel down, three more to prep
I have a new found respect for people who do wheel refurbishment, this is a lot of work to prep the wheels for painting. Had to sand back the high build primer, and then fill in any imperfections from the previous corrosion, and then sand again.
I chose the worst wheel to start with, so the other three should be easier.
Still a lot of work to sand back that much primer!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7d/34/1XGuqUcd_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e4/07/RQmw5tvt_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ef/61/GR5BSo04_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/92/a1/yKKFGMSV_o.jpg)
My goal is to have all 4 wheels prepped ready for painting before the end of the month, and hopefully have them finished and on the car early September.
-
1st August 2024
Painting the headlights JDM RS Style
I had wanted to paint the headlights black for a while, like the JDM RS Fit, but I had been putting it off because I knew how much of a pain it was going to be to do (especially without an oven big enough). But I bought the paint and sealant, and gave it a go.
The whole process was a total pain in the arse to do, and I wouldn't recommend anyone do it unless being held at gunpoint 🤣!
Using the heat gun to soften the sealant was a long, tedious & messy ordeal. It took just over an hour to open the first headlight, and I wanted to rip out my own eyeballs from their sockets.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/5f/3d/iPUWYs7U_o.jpg)
After some searching online trying to find an alternative method if you don't have an oven big enough to fit a headlight, I found a few videos where they made a make shift oven out of a cardboard box with a hole cut in the side and a heat gun on medium heat pushed through the hole for 10 minutes to uniformly soften the sealant. I was dubious, but I thought it was worth a try. I found a large sized cardboard box and made sure the headlight was at the opposite side of the hole, so the heat gun wouldn't be directly focussing its heat on to any single part of the plastic.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9b/53/PxvpRrfJ_o.jpg)
After 10 nervous minutes, I removed the headlight from the cardboard oven, and it was a lot easier to open, and only took about 20mins this time, as the whole light being warm meant the sealant stayed softer for longer, and I only had to use the heat gun again on a few areas.
With the headlights apart, I had to then do the laborious task of removing all the old factory sealant from the headlights, which took hours of heating it up and scooping it out. Eventually, I got enough of it out so that new butyl sealant could be installed after the lights were painted.
I used 600 grit sandpaper to roughen up the plastic, and 2 coats of primer.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/86/e6/swDotmXV_o.jpg)
I then sanded the primer down with 1200 grit sandpaper and then sprayed 4 light coats of Satin black spray paint on it. The finish wasn't perfect because I was spray painting outside, but it's good enough not to really notice once it's inside the light.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4a/17/YuRmf3tn_o.jpg)
Once the paint was dry and left for 24 hours to harden, I had the fun task of putting it all back together again.
I installed the butyl sealant, and made use of the cardboard oven for 5mins to soften the butyl enough to put everything back together. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that I had used too much butyl, and the lights didn't go back together properly, and the sides were slightly bulging from the excess sealant. So I put the light back in the cardboard oven for 10mins to soften the sealant again, and I pushed all the excess sealant out the sides until it was the correct amount. On the second light I put less sealant on and it went together much better.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/43/7c/qca0zzhT_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1e/c1/KOtzrpUX_o.jpg)
After that, I put the lights back on the car and gave the car a quick wash. I didn't notice any moisture in the lights, so the sealant appears to be a success, but I will wait for more rainy weather to be sure everything went to plan.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/97/74/YWy6gLhq_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e2/ac/YF5LpmMf_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/07/92/z8ZWZp1d_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/33/04/3gPVtKQ8_o.jpg)
With the RS headlights going for around £600 for a second hand set, you might be tempted to DIY it, after all, it barely cost £20 in supplies to do. But for your own sanity, I implore you to reconsider 🤣!
Or if you have an oven big enough for the headlights, you should have a much easier time of it!
I used some Halfords grey primer, and some satin black spray paint off Amazon, though it was only 400ml, and I feel it could've done with another coat or 2, so would advise on buying a bigger can of paint than 400ml.
And I used some Butyl headlight sealer that comes in a tape like strip. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375417778707
-
6th August 2024
Tinted Sunstrip
I had a tinted sunstrip professionally fitted to the Jazz.
I went 5% tint so it blended nicely with the roof and offered maximum protection from sun glare, which the Jazz is horrible for with such a large windscreen.
I went to the legal UK MOT pass limit, which is where the 2 arrows are on the windscreen.
The tint guy tried to convince me to go lower, but I’m tall so I don’t really need it any lower.
It takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s great when the sun is low. And I don’t really have to use the visors anymore, unless it goes any lower then the sunstrip.
Definitely a recommended mod for all Jazz owners
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d0/cb/hpf3BdP8_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3d/9c/L7PVposu_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/90/68/5K6YMbix_o.jpg)
That is everything up to date. I'm currently just focussing on getting the Enkei wheels prepped and painted while the weather is still good. I will try and be more consistent with my posting, rather than waiting a year and then trauma dumping it all at once!
Hopefully my posts will help and inspire other Jazz/Fit owners with their own Projects.
-
Your car looks amazing. Unique. 8) I love the love you have for your Jazz.
The posts and photos are great to look at, thanks.
-
You've been busy, great look in your Jazz, just a few comments
Dug the folding mirror mod well worthwhile.
You have more faith in AliExpress than me, the optional wheels passed me by don't recall them at all.
I spend time cleaning of the corrosion on the inside of the wheels rims as much I spend on the outside. Mind you my wheels for the Subaru are 30 years old nowadays.
-
Your car looks amazing. Unique. 8) I love the love you have for your Jazz.
The posts and photos are great to look at, thanks.
Thank you. She has definitely been a labour of love!
Something to pass the time and keep the demons at bay.
You've been busy, great look in your Jazz, just a few comments
Dug the folding mirror mod well worthwhile.
You have more faith in AliExpress than me, the optional wheels passed me by don't recall them at all.
I spend time cleaning of the corrosion on the inside of the wheels rims as much I spend on the outside. Mind you my wheels for the Subaru are 30 years old nowadays.
Thank you. Yes the folding mirror mod was definitely worth it. I'm glad someone actually made a plug and play kit, as I wasn't prepared to cut and splice wires!
AliExpress is quite decent for certain things to be honest. I would never use it for expensive purchases, and the customer protection seems to be a lot better. I would say since Temu came along, AliExpress has upped its game to compete and is definitely much better.
The optional wheels weren't a Honda factory option, but a dealer option. Team Dynamics supplied them to some dealers to sell as optional extras, but they weren't in Honda Brochures or anything if that makes sense. That's what I was told by Team Dynamics anyway. And the owner of the wheels said they were supplied and fitted by Ruislip Honda.
When my Enkeis are painted white and fitted, I imagine I will be spending a great deal of time cleaning both the inside and outside!
-
It's that time again for my yearly update!
I keep trying to get better at posting regularly, but I always seem to forget.
28th September 2024
This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but I wanted to do some artwork to go on the side of the Jazz. I wanted something in keeping with the Japanese theme for the car, and what could be more Japanese than the iconic “Great Wave off Kanagawa”.
I used a design that was meant for layered card and I extensively altered it so it could be used for layered vinyl.
I had to lose a chunk of the design due to the curve of the rear window, but I’m quite happy with how it turned out.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/17/77/sTueFU4q_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/04/fd/3VUiUPJk_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/12/9b/eFw1GRx6_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e5/6d/2a1uApOg_o.jpg)
-
5th October 2024
JDM Goodie From Japan
The trim from the JDM Honda Fit with the flare holder.
Part number is: 83162-TF0-003ZA
The LED flare I got from Tegiwa.
You can buy them from here: https://www.amayama.com/en/part/honda/83162tf0003za (https://www.amayama.com/en/part/honda/83162tf0003za)
The Flare can be bought from Tegiwa here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403448206539 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403448206539)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/5e/93/7BNLoO6r_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/95/35/nonULMaZ_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a8/7f/lqJGcnZJ_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/83/01/8tpWBJCB_o.jpg)
-
17th-29th November 2024
Removal of the Black Vinyl Wrap
In the words of Michael Jackson, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white.
My roof wrap is over 5 years old and time to remove. Such a pain to remove! And there’s loads of sticky residue left behind and the roof is now a completely different colour to the rest of the car.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d3/4f/1I6uLM8K_o.jpg)
Finally got all the sticky residue off my roof. Took about 4 hours in total!
Gave it two coats of wax to protect it over the winter, and I’ll get it resprayed sometime in 2025.
I want to enjoy the all white for a bit, seeing as it’s been black for the last 5 years.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4e/e1/gHbxceM4_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7c/fe/ACq2oo8O_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c6/bc/QUIGK491_o.jpg)
Comparing the white to the black:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/21/a9/TO1SXpC5_o.jpg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/ce/4b/t2lmKCJU_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4c/15/Fpt7MNoc_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/40/af/QetFmTvS_o.jpg)
-
16th December 2024
Enkei T1's Finally Finished
It's been a long time coming, but the Enkei T1's are finally finished and painted in Orchid White Pearl. :D
Can't believe I picked these up way back in June 2024.
Pearl white on wheels is really strange to see, the wheels change colour with the light like the body work. I can't wait to see them on the car in the sunlight!
I have to wait 2-3 weeks before I can wax them, so I might as well wait until new year to put the wheels on the car and get 2 coats of wax on them to protect the finish.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f3/d6/Z8ZsaPfM_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/a3/ad/NAd9Gt0x_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/82/a5/4zqE3J6k_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/a8/79/zdiKr5At_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/34/QZSqfx74_o.jpeg)
-
16th January 2025
Orchid Pearl White Enkei T1's Fitted
I finally fitted my new wheels. Only took 6 months from when I originally bought them!
I was hoping to get some better photos of them, but they got so dirty that I decided to just post the ones I took when I first put them on.
Last photo is their current state. :'(
I guess I'm going to have to get used to cleaning them a lot more often now they are white!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/da/3a/VjOeDLUO_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/18/9f/qIUgneo7_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/c3/5c/JcnlDjjt_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/01/c6/KJqAQ9kW_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/22/89/VkBzhmVT_o.jpeg)(https://images2.imgbox.com/b1/d2/dRpkOrO9_o.jpeg)
-
24th January 2025
FN2 Type R Seats
Finally a member of the FN2 seat crew! ;D
7 hour drive to Birmingham and back, but it was worth it for the price and condition.
They need a good clean and some TLC.
And I officially have no room left in my bedroom!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/83/e5/ZuYWsYmG_o.jpg)
I'm planning on getting a custom embroidered Jazz Si patch made to cover the Type R logo.
I refuse to put them in the car until the type R logo is at least covered up!
This is the plan:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9d/be/9zYmq8su_o.jpg)
-
9th March 2025
Some updates on my FN2 seats:
I'm in the process of fitting FN2 seats in to my Jazz Si, as well as changing the type R logo and fitting a heated seat kit.
Originally, I wanted to have a custom embroidered patch made to go over the Type R logo, but after looking at options, I didn't think it was going to look great, not like the OEM type R logo.
So I went to a local interior re-upholsterer and worked out what my options were.
There was no way to perfectly match the black alcantara around the type R with a new piece, and it would always look slightly off. So we measured the rear piece on the back of the seat and it was slightly larger than the front, so we came up with a plan to use the fabric from the back and transfer it to the front, and make a new back piece out of the same fabric that runs down the back, rather than using Alcatara, as it will blend in better than mismatched colour Alcantara, and then using an embroidery machine, stitch in the Jazz Si logo where the Type R logo once was.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/20/09/aCtyHqOS_o.jpeg)
The cost is quite high, nearly twice the price of what I actually paid for the seats, but it's going to be a true one off and look OEM, which is what I'm after.
I made a few different size Jazz Si logos out of card to decide on the right size of the logo. I ended up making one that was slightly wider than the Type R logo, but the font was the same height, so it looked correct on the seats compared to a smaller font with the same width as the Type R Logo.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2c/4f/o8XrEQ4B_o.jpeg)
I gave the seats a really good clean with my Vax SpotWash and they came out quite well.
The dirty water tank was brown, but not as dirty as I was expecting.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c1/39/jMRoZSQi_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1f/e0/fpCh0Qs1_o.jpeg)
I used a Fabric shaver to get the worst of the worn fabric looking better, and then used 1200/2000 grit sandpaper to finish it off, and they came out pretty good for 17 year old seats!
Taking the covers off the seats was a lot harder than I was expecting, even with following the official Honda workshop manual. Some plastic pieces just would not come off, and I had to break them or work around them. Eventually I got them off, which saved me a couple of hundred in labour, but I needed them off anyway to install the heated seat kit.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ed/6e/zW8qfEm5_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b0/78/FzRL34rz_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/02/9a/Z4wwuQZD_o.jpeg)
The top half of the seats are currently with the re-upholsterers and should be ready to collect end of next week.
I'll have to wait until I get the top half back from the shop before fitting the heated seat kit, and it looks quite complicated, but should be fairly straightforward, just need to take my time and follow the instructions.
I had to order some replacement parts for the seats for bits that I broke, as well as a new dash piece where I'm going to install the switches for the heated seats.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/60/9a/E4BNjFBC_o.jpeg)
-
3rd April 2025
Test fitted the FN2 passenger seat frame to make sure the feet from the Jazz lined up properly:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6c/26/pdtRAGk4_o.jpg)
7th April 2025
Got a bit OCD with the exact placement of my new heated seat switches and decided to design a template to ensure they were in the perfect position.
I still messed it up slightly and there is a ½mm difference in their vertical position.
Ended up using the template to cut out a carbon fibre vinyl outline.
I might keep it or I might get rid of it. Haven’t decided yet.
FN2 seats are almost done.
As per usual, it’s a lot more work than I was expecting!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/94/20/XfIfFt1h_o.jpeg)
-
11th April 2025
FN2 seats fitted
The seats are finally in and the heated seat kit is all wired up and working great and the Jazz Si embroidery came out nearly perfect.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d4/8c/wv2rL6Zn_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/45/ca/o9tPueb4_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3b/fa/7xdJURBn_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/42/d8/Zzjb0WTZ_o.jpeg)
I also added a few type R bits to finish off the interior as well like a red stitch gear gaiter and a red steering wheel badge.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/14/40/pvbjTteV_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/20/32/8myYCK1Z_o.jpeg)
The heated seats work great, and I used the template I made with some carbon fibre vinyl to create a surround.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/94/a6/87VUzuc3_o.jpeg)
A very long and tiring journey to get to this point. But the seats are great and a lot more comfortable and nicer to sit in than the stock seats.
-
April 17th
Type R Red Stitching
Using a red fabric pen to colour in all the white stitching red.
It's definitely turning out to be the best bang for the buck mod at £4.74.
Definitely getting my monies worth from it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000KTAP6A (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000KTAP6A)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e5/98/lI7aD7VN_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/13/0c/nteRmboX_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e9/a7/WYCq6VCX_o.jpeg)
-
27th May 2025
Switching over to the dark side
Swapped all the pieces of silver trim over to the dark trim from the Hybrid/EX
Also made an Si Decal to go on the gauge cluster like the RS has.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7d/a7/ikYkLt6K_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/64/43/cOjJM5Aw_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/14/75/BFexDj7m_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/76/c3/hOWtxDED_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/92/61/bzsfjl7I_o.jpeg)
And that's the current situation with the Jazz.
There's a few more things in the works to look forward to.
Progress 19mm Anti Roll Bar:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/02/48/Nc3ssfv6_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a7/f4/TOs4sBkb_o.jpeg)
Takero's front lip and spoiler extension (Fibre Glass Copies):
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1d/b1/9bGgTYwW_o.jpeg)
As well as a trip to the body shop soon to have the roof, bonnet and mirrors sprayed Honda Starlight Black Pearl and have some dents and imperfections sorted out at the same time.
-
Genuine Honda Badges
My fake red badges are starting to fade and crack, and after a user posted about their success with the fitment of genuine badges on the Facebook group, I decided to purchase a set from Torque GT, so hit them up for a set of the genuine Red H badges. The front one only fits the facelift GE, for the pre-facelift GE, I believe you need an FD2 front badge.
The genuine front Si badge can be purchased from here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226529281461 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226529281461)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1a/23/XGjoFrym_o.jpeg)
-
hi chris where did you get the Takero's front lip and spoiler extension from.?
-
hi chris where did you get the Takero's front lip and spoiler extension from.?
So I was lucky enough to get in on a one off group buy on the Filipino Honda group when I met them at JapFest, and they ordered a load of fibre glass lips for the GD and GE Jazz in one go, so the production cost and overall shipping was cheaper. Still cost around £200 by the time it got to my door though, but definitely much cheaper than the real deal or if I ordered it from the Philippines on my own.
-
It's been a while since I've updated this thread, so I thought I would update everyone with the last 6 months of progress on the Jazz,
I also sold the fake Takero's lip and spoiler extension, as I wasn't happy with the quality, and it would cost about the same to prep and paint it as it would be to just buy a genuine one. So I ordered a genuine Lip and extension from Japan instead.
July 1st 2025
Genuine Red Honda Badges fitted.
To be honest, the fakes that I had on the car weren't actually too bad when you compare them next to the real deal.
But they had started to fade and crack on the inside, so it was only a matter of time before they would need replacing.
Hopefully the genuine ones stand the test of time!
Part numbers:
Front:
75701-TGH-A01 Honda Red Rear H Badge - Civic FK8 FK7
Rear:
75700-S5T-E01
Honda Front H Badge - Civic Type R EP3 (Pre-facelift)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fc/d3/WifdNl1s_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/71/cf/9HbqR7dQ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/06/a2/VStkYxos_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3a/a4/ntoTVepP_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/84/d5/YOwjvE5u_o.jpeg)
-
August 25th 2025
Finally got around to painting my CRZ RB1 manifold, which I've had in a box since October 2023
It's probably the last nice day of the year, so I thought I better do it now or it'll be yet another year before it gets done!
I sanded and wire brushed it as best as I could to get the corrosion off and give a good surface for the paint to cling to.
I used some spare vinyl to mask up all the holes and intakes ready for painting.
I used XHT Extremely High Temperature Spray Paint in Satin Black for the finish, and it gives quite a nice uniform finish. Can be purchased from here: https://amzn.eu/d/iyvU4XC
I also used Intake cleaner to deep clean the insides, which is a must! Can be purchased from here: https://amzn.eu/d/iPVGdZ2
Now I just need to get around to fitting it on the car, along with the GE8 RB1 intake. Hopefully it actually gives some noticeable gains and I haven't just wasted £300
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7e/94/fDNX4ulX_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0b/0f/AUhcRjy3_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7c/4a/M7XeJ2CX_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b1/68/bcPSpLdz_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/05/0f/op7x3Ahi_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2a/d7/LKKsjUcz_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/65/51/kLGTXG9d_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fb/87/qz9Vwjv7_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c4/84/8lw3UDBn_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b7/d3/T13FZY0d_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/86/88/snTz6XqQ_o.jpg)
-
September 6th 2025
Auxiliary Fuse Box Install
My fuse box was becoming too packed with a total of 8 fuse taps and I didn't reel like it was safe.
So I bought a 6-way auxiliary fuse box to remove some of the fuse taps.
All the electronics that required the ignition to be on were connected to the new fuse box.
I upgraded the wire in the fuse tap to 12AWG so it was safe enough to handle the heated seats and everything else attached at once.
I installed the fuse box just above the bonnet release catch. I had to relocate two cables so I had enough space, and I used velcro to secure the fuse box so I could easily remove it or reposition it if needed.
Fuse box was purchased from here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007116548083.html
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c1/34/0pkOMZQ3_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6b/ce/hYDKbvpR_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9d/10/g57ThN2C_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/93/bc/GZPpCtUe_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/82/3d/YoSRWFpv_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/df/cc/MDGdls8C_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1c/ba/pmu1lKF5_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/65/e7/FRFWInaw_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b2/70/oZOgvW4e_o.jpeg)
-
September 18th 2025
Bodyshop Prep
Spent the day prepping the Jazz ready to be dropped off at the body shop tomorrow.
Had to completely gut the tailgate so they could easily remove it and paint it inside and out. I suggested this to get a few hundred off the price. It was quite an intense job!
Can't believe it's finally happening! Jazz is getting a new coat of paint and fixing all the niggles and things that bother me with the car.
Work thats getting done:
Roof, bonnet and mirrors Honda Starlight Black Pearl
Respray rear bumper
Respray tailgate inside and out (inside wrong colour and outside poor paint job)
Top of tailgate painted black to match roof.
Respray peeling paint on the A pillars and inner wing shuts.
Sand and lacquer headlights
Fix dents on roof quarter panel
(https://images2.imgbox.com/94/7b/EoI1qUxS_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/27/05/C4veCedv_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/07/e9/TUTgRXeD_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/37/75/Es6SNmiM_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3d/30/RN1clbDf_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f8/e8/ubOnU1nC_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/5a/c4/43Pq4Gxb_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/bf/3f/HebUJV6w_o.jpeg)
-
September 30th 2025
Jazz is back from the body shop ;D
I will get some better pictures up after I've given it a good clean and got rid of all of the dust, but until then, here are some quick photos.
The body shop did a cracking job, and I'm really happy with how it has turned out.
Shout out to Montagu Coachworks LTD in Edmonton, North London.
The Starlight Black Pearl paint in particular is so nice, and a really deep shiny black in the shade, and a lovely pearlescent in the sun.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3b/37/uQwaFtak_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/41/6c/mmKgQL9f_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/40/1d/5xLrnwow_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/dd/3a/KbtVmwmM_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ab/f2/6w1MEtHK_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ab/3b/Kzz6xTWd_o.jpeg)
-
October 1st 2025
Post Bodyshop Car Photoshoot
Took some better photos of the Jazz after the bodywork. I'm so happy with how it looks!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d8/a5/IShjUVqT_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c7/79/jgEXOqvd_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3e/70/6fnMaeHO_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c9/5b/1Mw6RBLZ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c9/2e/06fSI0iJ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/23/81/c0QaC6PB_o.jpeg)
-
October 9th 2025
Installed a second boot interior light.
To avoid cutting into the original Honda loom, I used the original light fitting as a socket and wired the two new lights to it. It's not pretty, but it works and it's out of sight.
I had some plugs left over from my FN2 seats and they were the exact size for the lights, so I wired them up to the original light fitting and made a decal template for the hole and then cut a hole in the right side plastic roughly where the light is on the opposite side.
My interior lights are all warm white, so I used some amber tint from my fog lights to give it a more yellow tint. But tbh, I'm not sure if I like it and might just remove it and have different colour lights in the boot compared to the rest of the interior, I haven't decided yet. I will leave it for a while and see if I get used to it.
The new LED lights are pretty bright and really light up the space.
Definitely a good quality of life improvement!
Links to the parts I bought. Cost me £5.50 in total:
Interior Lights: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006976455205.html
Red & Black 5m 18 AWG Wire: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007356973020.html
(https://images2.imgbox.com/06/24/nsOUU9Fw_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/64/29/1fVGBlHz_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/20/70/1kuStjr3_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/44/31/kpQIt7xM_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/21/8d/BTIVX4Fd_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/09/d2/Dy2w8K3Y_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9e/fd/DQ6pbZbb_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0b/47/gWyl4Lvu_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7c/74/N9HV83Kj_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/49/67/m80CWuLv_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/79/3a/af9IT3P9_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7f/67/teQBdHpd_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a0/16/wzzfAkMd_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/69/75/d6UuDiby_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a1/5d/AH8efAwI_o.jpeg)
I did end up removing the amber tint.
-
October 19th 2025
Cheap DIY Temporary Wiper Delete
I fancied a change and temporarily got rid of the rear wiper, but I didn't want to spend loads of money on the mod.
Used some gloss black vinyl wrap to cover the blanking cap.
Cost a total of £5.06.
38mm rubber grommet: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262281562555?var=564918471437
20mm plastic blanking cap: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115710491120?var=415759801801
Eventually I will put the emblems back on the tailgate and reinstall the rear wiper, but it's nice to have a change.
I made sure to apply some RainX to the rear windscreen to compensate for the lack of rear wiper!
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e6/32/5fRYqybZ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f9/da/cwNfXGxK_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d6/39/BsK0ix16_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/19/8f/k4Qc4BRn_o.jpeg)
-
October 27th 2025
Picked up a little something for the Jazz ;D
Tein Flex Z coilovers with only 4000 miles done on them. Got them for a good price as well!
I just need to order new Honda top mounts and a few bolts and they’ll be good to install.
I'm going to wait until the new year to install them though.
I want to install my Progress rear anti roll bar first so I can see the difference it makes before installing the coilovers.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/3d/a2/Cbuo8eqy_o.jpg)
-
November 1st 2025
Finally fitted tyres to my freshly refurbished Si wheels.
I did think about putting them on the car and running them throughout winter before selling them. But I think they are too nice for winter wheels, so I might just sell them and get some steel wheels to run during the winter months.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d5/3c/Grms89b1_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fd/54/N6inFJKv_o.jpg)
-
November 11th 2025
Weighing the Jazz
I took the Jazz to a Weighbridge today to see how much it weighed with all the sound deadening, heavier FN2 seats and all the other mods I’ve done.
Weight with me in the car was 1260kg, so about 1186kg without me.
Car had just over ⅓ of fuel in.
I’m thinking I’ve probably added between 80-100kg extra of weight if I was to hazard a guess.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/2a/b9/whLyLgRQ_o.jpg)
-
November 14th 2025
Finally got the last pieces for my new suspension set up together.
Parts are:
Progress 19mm Rear Sway Bar
HardRace Drop Links
Tein Flex Z Coilovers
Coilover Covers from CoiloverCovers.com
Eibach Front Camber Bolts 1.75 degree
Direnza 15mm spacers for the rear
And every single OEM part that Tein says to reuse from the original suspension.
Brand new so there are no old worn parts being used, only new parts (apart from the slightly used coilovers). Ordered from Amamayam.com so it was ¼ of the price UK Honda would've charged!
I'm planning on fitting the rear spacers and sway bar on the 17th, and then the rest of the suspension set up sometime in the new year.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6a/73/tdi36pGL_o.jpg)
-
November 17th 2025
Fitted the Progress 19mm Rear Anti Roll bar, 15mm spacers and freshly refurbished Si wheels
First issue with fitting the ARB was that the Euro spec Jazz has a plastic cover around the beam where the spring sits, which the US spec doesn't have, so I had to drill a hole through it for the bolt
Second issue is securing the bolts because of the rubber at the base of the spring. I managed to just about do it, but definitely would be a lot easier with the spring removed. I will retorque the bolts when I have the springs off for the coilover installation.
15mm spacers were easy enough to fit, but are a bit tight behind the Si wheels.
I'm only going to be running the Si wheels for about a month and then I will sell them.
The car corners so much better with the anti roll bar, I was actually really surprised how much of a difference it has made! I look forward to how it drives with the coilovers fitted.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fd/80/CZEWlLPn_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d4/a8/9paW9mE5_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/84/1f/pdx7DI8H_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/01/a8/70KEeJpV_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7f/b5/T8ZdRgMi_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ce/8d/lQWSFyBs_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/70/f9/ghBf2D2H_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fc/1b/JzdPuHRJ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e1/a7/YSHC6Oi9_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/93/73/ItBsYubw_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/76/99/NK7sbpfC_o.jpeg)
-
December 1st 2025
You've heard of OEM Plus, well I give you Poverty-Spec Plus
Picked up my winter wheels today from the wheel refurbishers after having them shot blasted and powder coated gloss black. I also found some generic 60mm black centre caps, and made a chrome decal to go on it to finish the look.
I originally planned to sand and paint them myself with Hammerite. But the rust was taking too long to get off, and I had already burned through one poly disc doing the first and didn't get all the rust off. So 3 hours of work in the freezing cold, and not much to show for it, I decided to leave this one to the professionals. And I'm glad I did. They came out better than I could've ever hoped for! The shiniest OEM steel wheels I've every seen.
I had a little bit of ceramic coating left as well, so I gave it a coat to protect them through the winter.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c6/66/R5QXhxYb_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/43/a3/NgYnKj9h_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/37/85/htTi2DDH_o.jpeg)
-
December 2nd 2025
Poverty-Spec+ wheels are now on the car.
The wheels look better than I was expecting actually! There's something satisfying about seeing gloss black steel wheels. I guess because steel wheels usually look satin or rusty. But we will see how they look after a some driving in the rain!
Had a few hiccups along the way. Couldn't fit them over the 15mm spacers on the rear, so I had to remove the spacers, which means they tuck in a bit more than I would like, which is a shame, but as they are just winter wheels I'll live with it.
The rear centre caps also didn't fit because of the hub sticking out. So I removed the H logo and just installed them on the front so it doesn't stand out too much. I might repaint the rear hubs black so they blend in a bit better, but I'm not too bothered right now.
I also had some black wheel nut caps spare, that I installed over the chrome nuts. I used a trusty permanent marker to colour in the front of the locking nut so it doesn't stand out quite as much.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/83/6e/WcYTOo4X_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/33/d9/aerpn7n2_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e5/58/Owg7TF0o_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9a/e2/auc1dmQw_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/db/cc/07pxjyEp_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6c/7c/E0uErgZ5_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/17/26/3jru0wP4_o.jpeg)
-
December 11th 2025
Christmas came early this year with some car parts all the way from Japan via Shipping Container
Genuine Takero's GE8 front lip and spoiler extension and Mugen GE8 exhaust direct from the land of the rising sun.
A big thanks to Subhna Khlid at @EuroJapanImports for getting the parts to the UK in one piece.
The cheapest way to get parts imported from Japan if you don't mind waiting a few months for the container to arrive.
Cost me £420 for the Takero's parts (£220 for the lip and £200 for the spoiler extension) and £350 for the Mugen exhaust including shipping to the UK, but exchange rates and shipping rates fluctuate, so price might be lower or higher now.
Link to Takero's Website: https://takeros.jp/all-honda/
Mugen Exhaust was second hand, but in great condition, found on Yahoo Auctions Japan.
Takero's take 6 weeks to make their parts, so I had to wait for that on top of the delivery time.
In total it took just over 4 months from my order date until I received the parts, so please remember to be patient when ordering.
A few notes about using EuroJapanImports service.
- You have to find the parts yourself using sites like Yahoo Auctions Japan, UpGarage, Mercari or direct from the Japanese manufacturer like I did with the Takero's parts.
- The parts have to be shipped to their yard in Japan, so you will have to pay for the parts to be sent to their yard if the original seller doesn't offer free shipping.
- Once the parts have arrived at their yard there is a wait for the next available container to arrive and be shipped. Once the container is on its way, it's around 6-8 weeks before it arrives in the UK.
- When the parts have arrived in the UK, they must be picked up from their UK yard located in Uxbridge. Or can arrange mainland delivery at extra cost.
- Please ONLY contact them IF you have already found the part on a Japanese site and want to enquire about the delivery cost to the UK.
For more information, see their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eurojapanimports/
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d5/7c/jQVtFDNP_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/05/0emNVXWd_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/88/93/MkgRwpGO_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/83/0a/sYp75ONK_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b0/e8/woyU0dYV_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f8/40/ZS2gQvg6_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/45/f8/XVHEZEpQ_o.jpeg)
-
December 17th 2025
Takero's lip is fitted.
As well as a custom designed decal I made in the style of "Mind The Gap", seeing as I'm probably going to be scraping it on kerbs and speed bumps.
I also blacked out the fog lights to give it a more aggressive look, seeing as I never actually use them. I might remove them, as well as the decal in the summer for a less aggressive look when I put my summer wheels back on. But this is the winter look for the Jazz Si
I also added a little easter egg underneath the bumper for the MOT tester.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6b/67/FMsn6blE_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/16/31/9YOyLF2c_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7d/72/m0v15DhN_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/de/49/hyW5bgIZ_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a0/08/DFgxEANP_o.jpeg)
-
January 10th 2025
Fitted my Takero's RS spoiler extension after picking it up from the bodyshop.
I removed the spoiler and fitted the extension inside due to the cold. It was easy enough to fit, just had to use the provided double sided foam tape and position it correctly. There is a little bit of a gap, but I don't think theres anything I can do to fix that other than permanently bonding it to the spoiler, which I don't want to do.
I was going to fit my Mugen exhaust as well, but it's still too cold to be working on the car, so will do another day.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d8/ed/6opd7M2f_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/52/29/qPiujxHq_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/bb/9e/s9CWByzX_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/1b/bd/GtBNcU6U_o.jpeg)
-
January 13th 2025
Finally got the GE8 RB1 manifold fitted after buying it nearly 2 years ago!
I was planning on fitting it myself, but kept putting it off. Then my service was due and I wanted to get the valve clearance checked, and seeing as the intake manifold had to be removed to check, I thought it was the perfect time to get my mechanic to change it for me.
I'm glad I got him to do it, it looked quite involved and would've probably taken me the entire day! 😅
Valve clearances were actually spot on, no adjustment needed, which was good to know at least!
First impressions, no difference between 0-3500RPM, above that in the mid range I did notice an increase in performance, but it wasn't anything to write home about. Definitely not worth the cost of the RB1 manifold. But I guess there isn't really anything for this engine that gives good power gains really.
Plus mine is 106kg heavier than a stock Jazz anyway with the extra sound deadening and FN2 seats I've added, so maybe without them it would be more of a gain.
The ECU also has to recalibrate for the new intake, so it might get better over time.
I'm liking the black aluminium manifold compared to the bare silver, so that's a bonus.
I'll take some better pictures of the engine bay when the weather is nicer and I've put a new decal on the intake.
I also fitted the Mugen exhaust, but I'll do a separate post for that another day.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4d/2b/4mgVSLo3_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/80/6a/UgtdTx6F_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/72/78/k8UnkJwh_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a0/e2/FIsiyzfj_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e6/f7/KrQc8hzp_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/5b/dc/8ThqsDun_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c2/67/0QW26dEQ_o.jpeg)
-
January 12th 2025
Mugen Exhaust Fitted
I replaced the gasket, bolts and rubber bushings while I was at it just so everything was fresh.
Exhaust was a bit of a pain to fit, but I got there in the end.
The exhaust is a little louder than stock, but not much louder, which is good. It has a nice sound, but I've noticed absolutely zero difference in power, so probably not a good purchase for someone hoping for power gains.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/a9/3b/XXLsLOY2_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8c/44/7oWlbfc5_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/08/d5/Sw8svuh0_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/9a/00/Hlr31icm_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/32/c6/E3PKuHKa_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/72/20/RXPnpGJg_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ea/fe/ul7ji2AM_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/e3/07/Nfg1jh0I_o.jpeg)
-
February 2nd 2025
Fitted side skirt extensions to my Jazz.
I had to cut and trim them to fit, as they were universal extensions, but they were only £26, so you can't really go wrong at that price.
I wanted a set of Maxton side skirt extensions, but they only make them for the GD.
I like how they look, but I'm worried about their longevity with the poor quality plastic, but they will do for the time being..
I bought them from here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/397418383769
(https://images2.imgbox.com/20/1d/oQmggFql_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/68/6a/GdaNQgVX_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/8b/f2/eF6AKitg_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d2/40/clMyCvbE_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/6e/53/SpYr4faD_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/43/15/0NYXnl6Z_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d5/70/ODJhP5Gr_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/db/09/wKbufsSr_o.jpeg)
Also, I thought I'd post some better pictures of my engine bay with the painted GE8 RB1 manifold now it's had a good clean
(https://images2.imgbox.com/bc/3d/OhZIl8GT_o.jpeg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/b9/bc/v9URVxHN_o.jpeg)