https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-08-01 https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/blog/rx-8-nvram-kam-reset-guide monthly 0.5 2025-08-01 https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/blog/rx8-valenti-taillight-install monthly 0.5 2025-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/c0d2629d-fd25-4475-83fb-50bdb675d128/rx8-taillight-dirt.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Valenti Revo Jewel Taillight Install (RX-8) - Tutorial - Make it stand out Dirt amasses quickly in the housing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/840d0f56-7770-4f92-b00f-ec1704f7907b/rx8-taillight-installed-workshop.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Valenti Revo Jewel Taillight Install (RX-8) - Tutorial - Make it stand out Finished taillight install. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/76ce86d1-7cdd-4d0e-96df-2b16eb863923/rx8-taillight-valenti-unboxed.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Valenti Revo Jewel Taillight Install (RX-8) - Tutorial - Make it stand out Valenti Revo Jewel Taillight Kit for RX-8 S2 https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/blog/replacing-the-radio monthly 0.5 2022-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1657965000963-3FHU4GJG1BCV951VNTHU/AsphaltXCobalt-75.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1657965017962-GOO9E45KPMWAY7JPXCD5/AsphaltXCobalt-87.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1657965091504-DFU0NRTGULXE8J8F5RAP/AsphaltXCobalt-88.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1654890621386-SQ673RJ8M4I449V9LR1A/AsphaltXCobalt-74.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1654890628158-MTGU2VA2JAJT7IIUVK3W/AsphaltXCobalt-76.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1657965424850-5Y383439TJIPY0HZY4MB/AsphaltXCobalt-91.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/3c3469fb-04a7-43f6-81c1-ecc0514e5c00/AsphaltXCobalt-70.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade - I took the opportunity to finish wrapping my interior with some hexagon carbon wrap. Looks better and hides all the hideous scratches and the annoying and ever-present dust on the stock piano black plastic… You should definitely invest in the Metra Kit I linked above, because I tried a cheap imitation of it, and it sure does not fit right. Another lesson for the “you get what you pay for” list ! The cheap imitation did not fit very well, and lacked the upper clips to securely hold the radio in the console. The radio was actually to heavy for the frame and kept falling out, looking horrendous… The Metra Kit, on the opposite, has all the clips, fits perfectly and saves you a lot of fumbling around to make your radio sit tight and clean! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/06723bc4-aafd-40ce-8d82-0e58bbb8cbfd/AsphaltXCobalt-71.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Radio upgrade - Now the messy part: Getting the actual radio in. First you need to take out the old radio. My favorite video on how to do it is right here. The “hidden bolt” really is a bitch to get out. Make sure to be careful and to use either plastic tools or put some masking tape on your screwdriver. Otherwise you will end up scratching your car like I did… After that, you are left with this mess on your right. I suggest taking the opportunity to clean up! And definitely keep all the screws and the old radio brackets and clips, because you will need them later. I found out the hard way that the best fitting brackets and clips are the original Mazda ones and, sadly, not the ones provided with the Kenwood radio unit… It will take some trial and error to fit the old brackets on but take your time to place them right because you don’t want your new radio to wiggle in the frame every time you hit a bump on the street. Afterwards I actually did sort of a trial run and did a test fitting after some quick wiring using T-Taps and wire connectors to make sure all the components worked. Glad I did because they did not work at all. You have to do proper wiring using either soldering or the connecting methods shown in the video I linked. https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/blog/rattlingsuspension monthly 0.5 2022-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1654864702556-MBVXFYCJRXZ6ZPIV5BDZ/AsphaltXCobalt-52.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8 - Mysterious suspension rattling - Before https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1654864714944-1XETJWARA0EKXLEU2GK5/AsphaltXCobalt-51.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8 - Mysterious suspension rattling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/1654864692301-OPIVUYYGG60VMBDJ4D2F/AsphaltXCobalt-50.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8 - Mysterious suspension rattling https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/blog/rx8-sparkplugchange monthly 0.5 2022-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/d602328a-7fb3-4a3c-909d-91d9fdb53ead/19A0FD86-536E-4559-B831-A69D1EAC97E1.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Changing the spark plugs - Changing the spark plugs on the Rx8 is an important part of your regular maintenance (around every 30.000km/18.000miles). If you drive in a more adventurous way, like me, or daily your Rx8, well, you want to change them yearly even. Why? Let me explain. Spark plugs put out an electrical spark and ignite the fuel/air mixture in your combustion chamber, where pressure then builds up and forces your rotor to move. Basically, it is what helps fire up your engine. Bad or old spark plugs will lead to a lot of inconvenient problems for your car: loss of acceleration power bad fuel economy rough idling and misfiring a hard to start engine… So yes, better change them on time before you regret it later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/857b9f8c-dc34-4a2c-8274-8fcb0c5fd822/C41ED711-7E50-4D05-B197-DAA1B09C3417.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Changing the spark plugs NGK Laser Iridium Racing Spark Plugs After using the OEM Mazda spark plugs for years I decided to try out the NGK Laser Iridium Racing Spark Plugs. People in the Rx8 community have been recommending them a lot and so does Charles from Black Halo Racing, my main reference for upgrades to my girl. I ordered them from the internet and of course I was excited to see if they made a big difference! Read on to learn which ones I prefer: NGK or OEM? Changing the spark plugs on the Rx8 is rather easy. First you put the car up (I always recommend working on a lift) and turn the steering wheel all the way to the right to free up your front left wheel hub. The plugs themselves are located at the drivers’ side, right behind a little plastic flap you simply unhinge. You will recognize them by the wiring that sticks out of them. Gently take off the wiring by unplugging the caps and start screwing them off! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/2b425959-70eb-47db-b373-b1f4cfc5dd0f/7D01AD0B-0574-4E31-9248-EEBC54F24D6B.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: Changing the spark plugs - Advice 1: Please make sure to change one plug at a time, so you don‘t mix trail and lead plugs up. The plugs themselves are marked T for trail or L for lead and have different lengths/forms, so identifying them is quite simple. Advice 2: It is also strongly recommended to use a specialized spark plug wrench to not damage the plugs during the install. If you are brave like me and have tiny delicate asian hands, you can kinda do without. I unscrewed the old ones with a classic wrench (hulk must have screwed them in because they were stuckkk) and used the torque wrench to screw the new ones back in. Afterwards put the wiring back and tada; you are done! https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/blog/suspensionchange monthly 0.5 2022-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/a39044bd-2a23-4ee7-be6f-e85dc0bd4b95/AsphaltXCobalt-8.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: a new suspension - Step 2: Front suspension assembly and install The Bilstein B12 came with both springs and struts, but we had to reuse the upper spring seat (the black triangular thingy on top of the suspension where the bolts are located) from the old suspension because, for the life of me, I could not find a new one by itself. For taking apart the springs from the strut, please use a proper spring compressor and do not endanger yourself with any other method! Best are the ones where you can firmly clamp the springs in and use a wrench on top to loosen or tighten. So clamp your suspension in tight, make very - very sure it is secured safely and only then loosen the top bolt. At the same time have someone hold on to the suspension because it can just fall after you loosen the upper bolt. Clean up the upper part with some Isopropyl (99% cleaning alcohol) and put them safely away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/a8f7838c-e03f-46d7-a7db-73bf85daf81f/DSC_2284+logo.jpg Projects and Tutorials - Rx8: a new suspension - I admit, sometimes I am lazy and I forget about things. In my case I forgot about a tiny leak in my front left strut, promising myself and my car I will take care of it soon. That was in summer. A few months later (December…) my dear Rx8 gave me a very abrupt reminder: My left suspension gave in, and my car started leaning left… Because I am not a complete idiot, though, I already had done my research and chosen a new suspension: The Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit. The Bilstein B12 markets itself as a both comfortable and sporty suspension upgrade. It is easy to install, shocks and springs are already perfectly fitted to each other and it even comes with TÜV-certification! The kit also promises to lower your ride by up to 50mm while keeping your original suspension geometry and to give a firmer and more precise handling on the streets. It sounded perfect to me! Before I walk you through my install, let me be very clear about this type of modification: DO NOT attempt to do this at home or alone. That would be very stupid and can be dangerous. Please ask someone to help you and go to a proper car shop to do your work! Without help or the proper tools, you risk damaging your car, the suspension and even seriously hurt yourself! https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/home daily 1.0 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/8d97c1ef-1a47-47ca-9569-bfa83680c50d/Facebook-Profile%402x.png https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-07-22 https://www.asphaltxcobalt.com/the-rx8 daily 0.75 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b7c9a661b28f5847f44f46/7f09bcdb-28dc-413f-836a-eb4ef44844a7/BLCKXBLUE-87+logo.jpg The Rx8, my love - The Mazda Rx8 Facelift. 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