[fiordland]

Look carefully at the pictures, the differences are clearly there, what your saying is like stating both 2 and 2.3 engines are the same. The front air dam / bumper are different. Or better still ring Mazda and they'll confirm what I've just written.

 

[Guest]

I said nothing about engine sizes. Everyone knows the 2.3l is bigger than the 2.0 l, doesn't take einstein to figure that one out...

To the ppl that can't see the differences soo clearly, maybe you'd like to point them out?

 

[fiordland]

The SP spoiler has completely different dimensions;

Its longer in the nose.
The Neo/Max spolier has an angled cutting that extends from the inside of the headlights all the way down to the vertical section of the spoiler. This stops well before the vertical section on the SP.
The front dam on the SP is larger.
The foglight and foglight section of the SP spoiler are differently shaped.
When lifting the bonnet on ths SP the last "V" section of the grille remains on the spoiler rather than with the bonnet. That last "V" is not present on the Neo/Maxx models.
There is a ridge on the sides of the SP front spoiler, not there on the Neo/Maxx.

There are probably other differences that I'm not aware of.

 

[Guest]

Thanks,

Thats alot more informative...

Is is the case with both the sedan and hatch SP models???

 

[Vormund]

I'll point them out as well using numbers yay.

1) The Maxx grill is all one piece, the SP23's grill has a cut line that lines up with the bonnet, the very lowest section stays in place.

2) The SP23 has round fog lamps and the Maxx oval. The SP23's bumper flows around the lamp and is rounded around the light, the Maxx's is sharp on the outer edges, and doesn't fit around the lamp, but has black filler plastic.

3) The SP23 has a larger lower air dam (taller) and also is more rounded, softer in appearance.

4) A feature line continuing from the headlamp is shorter on the SP23, softer and less pronounced, and doesn't reach the edge of the bumper. The Maxx's line reaches the edge of the bumper and gives a sharper appearance.

There you go.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Vormund...

Fiorland : I believe a "sports grill" is obtainable to put on the neo, maxx and maxx sport though.

 

[Steve-o]

Oh no!!! Now I have to wash my car. There are numbers all over it.

 

[Steve-o]

Is the sports grill just the colour coded bit at the top?

 

[Guest]

Yeah...

I just checked the mazda site.

And that seems to be what that is.

 

[Guest]

Although for the mazda6.

The SP type grill is available.

I guess with the mz3, they wanted to differentiate the 2.3l with the 2.0l.

 

[fiordland]

The differences aren't as obvious and as I've no real interest in the SP sedan I'm not sure.

I've checked the lengths of the Neo/Maxx sedans compared to the SP sedan and they're 55 cm's shorter which I know is going to be the front or rear spoilers or both.

Looking at pictures the front dam looks bigger on the SP, and the fog lights have a horizontal bar through them, apart from that they look very similar in shape so perhaps it would be possible to drop the SP sedan grille into the non SP sedans, although the brochure says the grille is exclusive to the SP.

 

[BeeF]

I found out that getting that plastic stip painted is $480!!

I find that hard to believe.....where did you get the quote?

If it was from a Mazda dealer get a quote at a local body shop. I would be very surprised if it cost more than $100

 

[Activematic]

My friend told me, since he went to buy a 3 the other day. Unless it was for a SP23 grille which I dont think they would put onto a neo/maxx models.

 

[fiordland]

That is the price I believe, and no its not for the SP23 grille. If you look in the accessories section of the Mazda Oz website its identified as "colour keyed grill" for the Maxx/Neo.

There are some accessories that are horribly over priced I think....

 

[olorin]

thanks guys for pointing out the differences so clearly with the numbered diagrams. i was never any good at those "spot the differences" games.

 

[Supernova3]

I ordered my MZ3 Maxx Sport WITH a Sports Grille

As my topic says, I added the Sports Grille to the Maxx. Order is signed, sealed and yet to be delivered. Dealer will be liable if that grill should ever fall off!

It was interesting actually ordering my car, as another dealer told me it was physically impossible to add a Sports Grille to the Maxx. He said they tested it right there on the spot and it just wouldn't fit.

But then the dealer I bought my car from said they did managed that on 3 Maxx's already.

The fact that it's on paper with their signature means it's part of the warranty, so should it fall off, I've got security.

 

[Vormund]

I'm not sure, so don't quote me on this, but the Sport grille on the hatches do not appear to be interchangeable.

However i've been looking at the sedans and they do appear like they would swap over easily.

hmm.

 

[fiordland]

Even if you do manage to insert it the lowest piece of the hatchback grille on the SP23 is a moulded part of the SP23's front bumper, when you drop the bonnet they join nicely together.

The Neo/Maxx bumpers don't have the lower section of the SP23 grill, not sure how goofy it would look with the bottom section missing, but fairly goofy would be my hunch.

Go to Mazda 3 accessories on their website and you'll see what I mean.

 

[olorin]

I see the differences for the hatchback front grill, and agree that would be quite challenging to kit out... but surely its possible for the sedan?

Which bodytype do you have supernova3?

 

[Supernova3]

To put a debate to this matter I'll try get some pics of the grille once I get the car (in less than 7 days). Just waiting for my dealer to confirm delivery. Like I said, if it doesn't fit well, I'm returning it and probably get something else in replacement - cruise control? Nah. Clear tails, perhaps. 17" alloys!? anyways will let you know.