Mazda mx5 mk3 -General Chat

[LBT]

Afternoon all

After much research I have recently purchased a Mazda mx5 mk3 2.0 sport. 7 years old with 12,000 miles. Just wanted to know if there is anything I should be watching out for with regards to servicing and MOT. Also what mpg are people getting, mine seems to be getting about 27 atm, but I am in the honeymoon process of short trips to show it off and revving the nuts off it when the opportunity arises.

Any information would be great.

Cheers.

[Petrol Only]

New tyres if they are the ones from the factory.

[LukeR94]

LBT said:

Afternoon all

After much research I have recently purchased a Mazda mx5 mk3 2.0 sport. 7 years old with 12,000 miles. Just wanted to know if there is anything I should be watching out for with regards to servicing and MOT. Also what mpg are people getting, mine seems to be getting about 27 atm, but I am in the honeymoon process of short trips to show it off and revving the nuts off it when the opportunity arises.

Any information would be great.

Cheers.

You'll fit right in here.

Welcome.

[Munter]

We've had our 2.0 sport about 2 years now. It's on 40something miles.

The one failure was droplinks on the front anti roll bar. Failed on track I think.

other than that it's had tyres and brake pads. And a geo setup by rodders.

[SmilerFTM]

I don't get much more than 27mpg when I try and drive 'sensibly'. I managed 31mpg once, no idea if having the roof up makes a difference as mine never is unless it's raining

[Emley]

Make sure your drain holes are clear in the roof well.
Stick a bit of Dinitrol wax in the sections and sub frames.
Servicing?
Although the plugs are supposed to be good for 60k miles, change them, they are seven years old.
Put nice fresh oil in inc. gearbox & diff
Geo, decent tyres, decent pads.

Get it on a track and enjoy

Edited by Emley on Tuesday 16th September 15:51

[MX-5 Lazza]

Nice track picture but what's that weird black cover thing over your head?

[SmilerFTM]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Nice track picture but what's that weird black cover thing over your head?

[MX-5 Lazza]

What's wrong with burning witches?

[g40steve]

Keep the oil on the max level, you only get one chance with these motors.

[Sko77y]

As has been said keep on the oil topped up to max at all times.

If the gearbox is notchy from cold change the gearbox oil - plenty info online for this.

If it's never been undersealed, get this done asap! also watch for rust starting on the arches.

From the sound of it I need to change my spark plugs!

[blprice1]

Sko77y said:

If the gearbox is notchy from cold change the gearbox oil - plenty info online for this.

If it's never been undersealed, get this done asap! also watch for rust starting on the arches.

Sorry for the minor detour but which gearbox oil do you use and which underseal have you used?

As a very amateur DIYer, I want to underseal mine but I don't know where to seal or which one to use (Waxoyl or Dinitrol) or even if it's possible for me to do.

Cheers

[LBT]

Thanks for the information chaps, seems I am amongst like minded people here. The MX5 currently has bridgestone potenzas. It is due an MOT and Service and TAX (eeeek) next month so while it is in the Mazda garage I will ask them to do the tracking and check for rust. I am assuming a service will also top up all the necessary oils etc. The box is notchy going into first from cold but I have heard this is a problem with all 2.0 sports. I have found it is quite easy to get the TC light flashing, and it hasn't even been we yet !! Has anyone ever timed the 0-60 of their car, or done a top speed run, ive not gone past 90 yet, too scared of plod !!!

[Munter]

LBT said:

Thanks for the information chaps, seems I am amongst like minded people here. The MX5 currently has bridgestone potenzas. It is due an MOT and Service and TAX (eeeek) next month so while it is in the Mazda garage I will ask them to do the tracking and check for rust. I am assuming a service will also top up all the necessary oils etc. The box is notchy going into first from cold but I have heard this is a problem with all 2.0 sports. I have found it is quite easy to get the TC light flashing, and it hasn't even been we yet !! Has anyone ever timed the 0-60 of their car, or done a top speed run, ive not gone past 90 yet, too scared of plod !!!

TC does kick in easily and a bit early for spirited driving. But it's there to keep you safe. Fortunately there is a button to turn it off for the track

[SmilerFTM]

LBT said:

Thanks for the information chaps, seems I am amongst like minded people here. The MX5 currently has bridgestone potenzas. It is due an MOT and Service and TAX (eeeek) next month so while it is in the Mazda garage I will ask them to do the tracking and check for rust. I am assuming a service will also top up all the necessary oils etc. The box is notchy going into first from cold but I have heard this is a problem with all 2.0 sports. I have found it is quite easy to get the TC light flashing, and it hasn't even been we yet !! Has anyone ever timed the 0-60 of their car, or done a top speed run, ive not gone past 90 yet, too scared of plod !!!

I've done 135 on the German autobahn on my way to the Nurburgring from Stuttgart. Not sure exactly how accurate the speedo is at that speed though. I was made to feel like I was hardly moving by a Ferrari 599 mind.
The Bridgestones I'm fairly sure are the run flats that get sold with the car new and as such need replacing. Run flats are rubbish, you'll find loads of opinions on which tyres to get. I've had Toyo T1-R's, Continental Conti Contactsport 3's and Kumho KU31's. I preferred the Toyo's of the three buy they wear down very quickly. The Kumho's were really good but rubbish before being warmed up properly while the Continental are somewhere in the middle and have lasted me ages. I'm gonna try the Uniroyal Rainsport 3's next as I've heard very good things about them

Edited by SmilerFTM on Friday 19th September 10:42

[Sko77y]

From what I've read the TC will kick in quite a lot until you get your geo sorted out, then it doesn't come on quite as easily.

[clarki]

Sounds like I need to do the gearbox oil - very notchy when cold, fine when warmed up. Is it hard? What's the best oil to use & how much does it take?

I'm averaging 38.4mpg but it is my daily driver at present so i tend to poodle around. Great driving to/from work with the roof down everyday at the moment though.

Does the geo really need doing if i intend to stick to a & b roads and the M25. Probably not going to see any track action this car - that's what BaTCats are for!!

[Munter]

clarki said:

Does the geo really need doing

That depends. When I had mine checked the headline was I had positive camber on one front wheel, but they were all miles out which explained some of the....interesting handling.

[Emley]

clarki said:

Sounds like I need to do the gearbox oil - very notchy when cold, fine when warmed up. Is it hard? What's the best oil to use & how much does it take?

Does the geo really need doing if i intend to stick to a & b roads and the M25. Probably not going to see any track action this car - that's what BaTCats are for!!

No, of course you don't have to do anything at all...

But why not? cost would pale into insignificance compared to the £1,300 for your BaTCat for the day at Brands.

[embo182]

Congratulations on your new toy. Top speed of my bog standard 2010 nc, thoroughly tested on the German Autobahn was 144 mph top up, 124 mph top down. Again, can't be sure how accurate the clocks are.