<![CDATA[Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing.]]>when i posted pics of my engine i was told to get polishing, so this weekend i bought some meguirars(sp) metal polish and some sand paper and turned this:

into this:

i know its not as good as some ive seen on here but it only took a couple of hours, i'll get a better pic tomorow in the sunshine.

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/topic/87/jamesmx3-cheapest-ever-mod-rocker-cover-polishingRSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 02:56:45 GMTSun, 01 Apr 2007 16:43:15 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:43:15 GMT]]>when i posted pics of my engine i was told to get polishing, so this weekend i bought some meguirars(sp) metal polish and some sand paper and turned this:

into this:

i know its not as good as some ive seen on here but it only took a couple of hours, i'll get a better pic tomorow in the sunshine.

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/87https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/87Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:43:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:01:16 GMT]]>wow, wot a diffrence, tell me exactly wot you done plz mate coz im doing it, its looks well better than it did before…. and better than painted ones

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3616https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3616Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:01:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:06:58 GMT]]>i started with 240 grit paper then 400s then used the polish, then rubbed it again but with 1000s then polished it again, the polish cost me 7.99 but its on ebay for 6.99 with free postage.

its not hard to do it just takes a while, its not perfect cos i did it with it still on the car, im thinking of getting a polishing kit off ebay for £15 to do the inlet manifold and tidy the rocker cover up a bit, im also going to do the heat shield.

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3618https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3618Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:06:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:09:21 GMT]]>hmmm might do this myself then, in saying that i dont wanna remove the head incase i fook the seals and cant get it back on, can anyone tell me if its easy to get off and on again, or do i have to do anything….. this is the reason i never painted mine either

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3619https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3619Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:09:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:13:04 GMT]]>looks amazing!i did mine but without the polish and it looks crap compared to urs…might have to go ebaying:)

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3622https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3622Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:13:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:13:44 GMT]]>its a rubber gasket for the rocker cover so you should be alright, saying that you might be beter getting a new one just in case!

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3624https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3624Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:13:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:15:49 GMT]]>lol i have never even attemped anything like that.. so i dont have a clue how or wot to exspect

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3626https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3626Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:15:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:57:23 GMT]]>Well, i did say and im glad you did because it goes to show that the coolest things cost the least. Keep Going and you will always be glad to pop the bonnet.

Thing of your bonnet as a pair of French Knickers. A polished bay is like a full wax or Brazillian for your car, now ditch the standard cold air feed, get some hydraullic bonnet lifters off ebay (removes need for bonnet rod) polish Inlet, and when money allows, buy a T304 four branch Manifold and you are then one of the coolest people in your town, Women will flock, lol

Nice work buddy, Tom

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3630https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3630Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:57:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:53:33 GMT]]>Looking good mate,

All you need now is to do the IM :)

Jono

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3647https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3647Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:53:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:29:48 GMT]]>cheers guys!!

tbh id never even though about bonnet raisers, thats a good idea. have you any idea on the cost of the manifold, i was just going to polish up the heat shield, i saw one on a 323f which looked pretty good.

IM after my holiday, when im broke and cant go out!

got another pic today in the sun

come on the ladies!!!

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3653https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3653Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:29:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:51:08 GMT]]>looking shinyyyyyyy! lol

i love doing thing to my car that costs nothing!!! lol

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3684https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3684Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:51:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:23:57 GMT]]>i started on the IM today after work, 2hours got me to this:

might have to invest in a set of needle files for this one, its tricky!

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3690https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3690Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:23:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:45:16 GMT]]>Nice work buddy, i need to get bonnet lifters too. Im just focussing on the engine and weight atm.

Nice work…...A bit of effort goes a long way :)

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3695https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3695Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:45:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:40:39 GMT]]>have you found any yet for the mx3? all ive seen is mx5

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3706https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3706Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:40:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 07:36:01 GMT]]>Hey buddy, any old ones will do, you just drill a hole in the wing and in the bonnet support. Im just going to find some shiny ones off a car in a scrapyard, easy peasy 8)

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3721https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3721Thu, 05 Apr 2007 07:36:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:25:43 GMT]]>Well I jumped the bandwagon and dressed up the old rocker! Respect to you guys who cbf polishing it! I had a can of high temp paint so whacked it on after a quick wash and sand. Was putting in new gasket anyways…

Arty shot of my dirty engine:

Several hours later…

The spray cap was a dark red but came out orange :lol:

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3896https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3896Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:25:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:57:35 GMT]]>Looks great guys, looks like i have started a trend getting everyone doing "easy peasy mods" lol

How bad are your backs feeling now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then Lower your MX 80mm and try it then, lol

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3897https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/3897Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:57:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:12:48 GMT]]>dam both engine bays look sweet!
i mite start on mine :lol:

that polishing job looks awesome considering u didnt take it off, how hard is it to remove it to paint?

goodwork guys

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7424https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7424Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:12:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:28:17 GMT]]>update- i bought some sandpaper! lol ill hopefully start sanding soon, this dam uni report is killing me :cry:

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7439https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7439Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:28:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:08:16 GMT]]>started working on my engine bay, spent about 2hrs on it this evening, and dam the tips of my fingers are killing me from using the sandpaper haha ( comeon i do IT lol )
neways i sanded today with a course 240grit, 2morw ill hit it with the 400, and 1200 grit so it shud come up smooth, also ill prolly use a dremil which shud speed it up.

ps wish i could just paint it red! but i dont really hvae the ability or knowledge to remove teh gasket :cry: neways ill post some updates once its finished :lol:

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7440https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7440Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:08:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:28:18 GMT]]>it may be possible for you to paint it red and mask everything off in the engine bay. put news paper around the bottom of the cover. along witht he tape aroung the edge. roll news paper up also to block the plug holes up. (mate manage to do this) but be really carefull.

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7441https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7441Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:28:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:48:03 GMT]]>more trouble than it's worth! Just buy another gasket and take it off. It's seriously not hard at all.

-Take the HT leads off the plugs (write on top their # if you want, but the length usually makes it obvious where they go)
-Loosen the 2 timing belt cover bolts at the top
-Take off the bolts holding cover on
-Unplug the 2 vacuum hoses
-Take off and clean/spray/shine ( put bonnet down whilst you're doing that )
-Put new gasket on

  • Torque bolts back on (think its around 20ftlbs, check the manual - its really not very tight at all)
    -Put timing belt bolts on and vacuum hoses & leads
    -Think wow that was easy, I think I'll do a klze swap now :D
]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7442https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7442Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:48:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:50:45 GMT]]>with the toqure. there may be a sticker on your bonnet. to tell you order to tighten and the torque. mine has.

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7443https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7443Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:50:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jamesmx3 cheapest ever mod - Rocker cover polishing. on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:23:15 GMT]]>@a2a46ddd86=Valley:

with the toqure. there may be a sticker on your bonnet. to tell you order to tighten and the torque. mine has.

yea?! Neither of mine do, I want a sticker :x

]]>https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7444https://www.uk-mx3.com/post/7444Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:23:15 GMT