Which mx-5 am I after?
Discussion
Ex NA and NC owner here.
The rear arch will take a lot more than a dremel and some paint unfortunately.
These rust from the inside out where the double skin meets under the arch. I would not be surprised if that needs a complete new arch cut in.
The rust along the lower sill could also be an issue. Again, these rust from the inside out due to the sill drain holes being blocked and water sits inside and rots away.
If you have a boroscope kit, have a look inside the forward face of the rear inner arch. There is an inspection hole with a large grommet that will show the extent of any corrosion.
The chassis rails in the engine bay can also be an issue on the NB's.
Hopefully it wont't be too costly to sort out as they are all fantastic wee cars.
The rear arch will take a lot more than a dremel and some paint unfortunately.
These rust from the inside out where the double skin meets under the arch. I would not be surprised if that needs a complete new arch cut in.
The rust along the lower sill could also be an issue. Again, these rust from the inside out due to the sill drain holes being blocked and water sits inside and rots away.
If you have a boroscope kit, have a look inside the forward face of the rear inner arch. There is an inspection hole with a large grommet that will show the extent of any corrosion.
The chassis rails in the engine bay can also be an issue on the NB's.
Hopefully it wont't be too costly to sort out as they are all fantastic wee cars.
Ok so it sounds like after a fair bit of research I’ve still bought a lemon, go me 
Think I need to get it to a specialist to take a look over it and wee what I’m in it for. If I have change from £1000 I guess I’ll still consider it a good buy!
Fingers crossed!
Thanks for all the comments, it may not of been what I wanted to hear, but hopefully it will help me catch it before unsalvageable.
Think I need to get it to a specialist to take a look over it and wee what I’m in it for. If I have change from £1000 I guess I’ll still consider it a good buy!
Fingers crossed!
Thanks for all the comments, it may not of been what I wanted to hear, but hopefully it will help me catch it before unsalvageable.
id be inclined to do the visible one and then just enjoy it otherwise if you open it up you may have a big shock.
My father in law has an NA that looks great on the top but is rotting from the inside out, i filled it full of dinitrol a few years ago and just told him to see how it goes.
If you can use it in the dry weather only it will help a lot.
My father in law has an NA that looks great on the top but is rotting from the inside out, i filled it full of dinitrol a few years ago and just told him to see how it goes.
If you can use it in the dry weather only it will help a lot.
To be fair I don’t think you’ve bought a lemon. Anyone buying an MX5 these days should expect to have some work to do as you are so I think you’ve gone in with your eyes open.
If it makes you feel any better I ended up with almost exactly the same scenario. I could see work had been done and there was some stuff that needed doing but by the time we started cutting into it you could see there was a lot of work.
I decided not to bother with mine but it lives on as a track car with composite sills, 50/50 metal/expanding foam.
If it makes you feel any better I ended up with almost exactly the same scenario. I could see work had been done and there was some stuff that needed doing but by the time we started cutting into it you could see there was a lot of work.
I decided not to bother with mine but it lives on as a track car with composite sills, 50/50 metal/expanding foam.
I need to check to be sure.
He said he had fixed both sides front and rear. I think it was the chassis rails? And there was something in the middle that needed sorting that he couldn’t fix so it went to mx5 restorer.
Still need to pick it up as not sold my other car yet as waiting for v5 and the seller went on holiday comes back sunday. Will check the paperwork when I pick it up.
He said he had fixed both sides front and rear. I think it was the chassis rails? And there was something in the middle that needed sorting that he couldn’t fix so it went to mx5 restorer.
Still need to pick it up as not sold my other car yet as waiting for v5 and the seller went on holiday comes back sunday. Will check the paperwork when I pick it up.
I need to check to be sure.
He said he had fixed both sides front and rear. I think it was the chassis rails? And there was something in the middle that needed sorting that he couldn’t fix so it went to mx5 restorer.
Still need to pick it up as not sold my other car yet as waiting for v5 and the seller went on holiday comes back sunday. Will check the paperwork when I pick it up.
He said he had fixed both sides front and rear. I think it was the chassis rails? And there was something in the middle that needed sorting that he couldn’t fix so it went to mx5 restorer.
Still need to pick it up as not sold my other car yet as waiting for v5 and the seller went on holiday comes back sunday. Will check the paperwork when I pick it up.
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