3 EASY Ways to BRING YOUR DASH BACK TO LIFE! Mazda Mx5 Miata

[@LarryHopper]

Well done. There are not many old cars that people want to go to so much trouble and expense for, but the Miata is a very special car. I have had my 1997 for 18 years and never want to give it up.

[@DriveItRyan]

Thank you! I completely agree. The Miata is as simple and pure as it gets. My last Miata was also 1997. I loved it, but it was starting to have the typical rust issues. If yours is in good shape, keep it forever!

[@LarryHopper]

@@DriveItRyan, where I live rust is not a problem, but I must protect my car from the pitiless sun, the great destroyer of paint and plastics.

[@beauthestdane]

On my 1993 I did the head unit a long time ago, updated the headrest speakers, and the door speakers. My climate control panel is still looking good, so nothing to do there. Absolutely love the Metra products for connecting head units to various vehicles, I always get that. I used that same cubby for my Miata, it is great having that little bit of extra storage. I will do the velcro for my vents, they are terrible right now.

[@beauthestdane]

I should add, I've owned mine since new, lived in So Cal when I bought it.

[@beauthestdane]

I went with a pair of Kicker speakers a few years back, absolutely love them, but I am looking at the headreset speakers from 3M Audio, have not seen good replacements available for those for many years now.

[@DriveItRyan]

Nice! Yeah my droopy loose vents were driving me nuts. It’s a pretty quick fix with the Velcro. Some like to replace them with eclipse vents, but I think the Miata vents look better.

[@DriveItRyan]

@@beauthestdane I bet their headrest speakers are good. I’m very impressed with the the door speakers. They sound better than the Clearwater speakers I had in my previous Miata.

[@beauthestdane]

@@DriveItRyan Nice, I was pretty happy with the Clearwaters I used back in the early 90s in my Suzuki Spring GTi. I really like these Kickers I am using now, put a set in my Subaru as well.

[@mattwiser7982]

That looks super clean! Nice to see the man scapers made an appearance lol

[@DriveItRyan]

Dual duty bathroom / garage clippers 🤣

[@fusionflash88]

New hvac panel is now added to the to do list once I dig mine out of storage cleans up interior alot. Great videos we got the same cars.

[@DriveItRyan]

It definitely cleans it up a lot! Mine was in really bad shape. And man you have good taste in cars! I’ll be doing some stuff to the M3 soon, but everything costs about 10x as much for that car 😂 Do you have an IG?

[@tedpotoniec8250]

Nice clean install! Looks a lot better! Great tutorial!

[@DriveItRyan]

Thank you!! It was long overdue!

[@fuegofab4398]

Hey I bought these speakers, and they’re really great until top down level volume with high bass songs. I have a cheap pioneer head unit though, how’s yours with high bass songs at high volume ?

[@jasonmarten6959]

that stereo unit actually looks quite nice. Was waiting for the clarion m508 to go for sale, as imo its the best looking in the miata, but might go with the kenwood option. thanks for posting!

[@DriveItRyan]

It looks like Crutchfield has the Clarion m508 in stock and it does have a nice factory look to it. I still couldn’t be happier with the Kenwood. Can’t go wrong either way!

[@Unknown808s]

How did you ground the black wire?

[@Mx5_Miata]

Love this Video! Thanks! 🫶🏻

[@neilobusk]

Sorry for not keeping up.... back on it... I got a standard Bose system in my 3.. with some tweeter mods..... from a kia...yes really...if you know them... I love the tuneeeeeeees in the car.... my old renault has an aftermarket kenwood system...... my vauxhall/opel daily has an aftermarket alpine,,, wooooow cds.. how about cass tapes... :) who is in charge of the tuneeees..you or Miss Ali..? Great tech vid Ryan N x

[@DriveItRyan]

My favorite is when the stock system sounds good, like the speakers in the Bmw 😜 I’m usually in charge of the tunes, until Miss Ali gets annoyed.. then she runs it 😂 It’s great to have you back! Stay safe and healthy my friend 🙏

[@thomasrudnicki1333]

Never thought of replacing the hvac panel, all of them are gross. I’m disappointed you didn’t put LEDs behind the Hvac, although don’t recall if you did dash lights yet to LEDs.

[@DriveItRyan]

Ya know I had it apart and I stopped and thought the same thing, but then I would have to convert everything or it would bother me. Ultimate led conversion could be a whole other video!

[@thomasrudnicki1333]

@@DriveItRyan oh I get that. I did by gauge cluster with leds but not HVAC and it bothered me

[@davidmccaughan2710]

More magnificent Miata modernizations! I thought you were going to use the Velcro under the cubby instead of that 27 y.o. foam!

[@DriveItRyan]

Haha yeah I thought about it but I used it all up on the vents! I would have used that or new foam if I had some handy 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@JeremyHeinks]

Good stuff dude

[@DriveItRyan]

Thanks Jeremy!

[@miatamike93]

For removing the eyeball vents just use a gift card. Slip the card in and run it along the edge and it pops right out.

[@DriveItRyan]

Hey whatever works! I never heard of that method, but it sounds like it gets it done 👍

[@bobbyrios2k223]

New panels, radio and vents look nice man! Lol.. you can buy your own lotion 🤣

[@beauthestdane]

I drove my Miata year round in Michigan, that is just a dusting there...

[@DriveItRyan]

Yeah it wasn’t much, but this car has never seen salted roads, and it’s never going to if I can help it.

[@beauthestdane]

@@DriveItRyan Way too late for mine, and I don't blame you based on the condition of the lower bodywork in mine.

[@413RC]

Watching while I soak 🤤

[@DriveItRyan]

I’m due for another soak 🛁