The £500 MX5

[eltax91]

talksthetalk said:

bks.
You've taken a pic of the undamaged other side and reversed the image haven't you.
You won't get any of that photoshop nonsense past me.

[omgus]

Top job.

I have often said that my next fun car will be as mechanically sound as possible but any chips/scratches/dents will be bodged by myself as cheaply as possible to increase the shed appeal.

[eltax91]

Update folks. Today the car passed the VIC test.

This was the final hurdle for me before I spent any more time and effort on it. So, plans as follows:

4 tyres
Hunter alignment
Wheel refurb (probably DIY)

And of course, another crack at that bodywork.

[HaylingJag]

eltax91 said:

Update folks. Today the car passed the VIC test.

This was the final hurdle for me before I spent any more time and effort on it. So, plans as follows:

4 tyres
Hunter alignment
Wheel refurb (probably DIY)

And of course, another crack at that bodywork.

Well done Eltax,
my one needed a VIC despite being over here for 15 years, i think its just another way of sqeezing money from us!
Tyres and alignment------yes
Body repair..............NO! this is now etched in PH folklore.....must not be altered

D

[eltax91]

Ha. I was wondering on the way back, should I even bother fixing it. Since I was sat on the inside and couldn't see it.

Then, I caught its reflection in another car and remembered all the laughs on here. I went straight to halfords and bought more filler!

I feel I owe it to the old girl to give it one shot. And anyway it's practise for me. Whatever condition it ends up in next time, it stays that way!!

[chongwong]

eltax91 said:

Ha. I was wondering on the way back, should I even bother fixing it. Since I was sat on the inside and couldn't see it.

Then, I caught its reflection in another car and remembered all the laughs on here. I went straight to halfords and bought more filler!

I feel I owe it to the old girl to give it one shot. And anyway it's practise for me. Whatever condition it ends up in next time, it stays that way!!

Pics please, I need a giggle, I have 3 exams in the next 2 weeks. Revision is not going well.

[Vince70]

You may need to pull the dent out a little bit first too much filler and you may get a bit of shrinkage after you've repainted the rear wing.
Great news you have got it through the vic test you must of bought a goodun without to much rot underneath.

[vrooom]

halford dent repair. you use melted wax on bodywork, you pull it hard.. like this

[vrooom]

[psychoR1]

Remmeber commenting on this when the first owner had it written off.

Well done for saving it.

VIC test is a bit of a misnomer - it is a Vehicle Identity Check - the car should allways pass unless its a ringer!

Now get that dent sorted and you've doubled your money in that car!

[eltax91]

Right, as promised, some photo's of the latest attempt.

I must stress, I decided I owed the old girl ONE more attempt, whatever condition I found it in after today and that was that.

So, I set to work with the new sanding setup of my grinder, sanded back the old stuff and started a fresh. I went mad with he filler this time (I ran out in the end) and attempted to shape it to the flow of the wing. This is NOT easy for the un-initiated. However, the results are much BETTER. Take note I said BETTER, not GOOD!! Seriously, don't click the spoiler if you are one of the previous people who took offense to my first attempt!








You'll notice that it's time to get the alloys shod with the new rubber and crack on with using the car. It's been way too long to be honest, this weekends weather has had me yearning to get out and use the car.

Come on then, time for the laughs again.

[Codswallop]

Much better than the first attempt Give it another go (or three), and I reckon you could have a perfect panel if you keep improving at that rate

[eltax91]

Codswallop said:

Much better than the first attempt Give it another go (or three), and I reckon you could have a perfect panel if you keep improving at that rate

Nope. Tyres are going on the wheels and its getting thrashed for a bit!!

[eltax91]

Bit of a thread update. Here the old girl is (shot from her best side ) after a bit of an early morning b road blast.




This is now the fully road-going version, I've had the wheels refurbed, 4 x new Uniroyal Rainsports fitted and a hunter alignment done.

This work has entirely transformed the car! Such a tight, smooth drive when throwing it round the twisties and that gear change . The tyres almost grip a little too much, so hooliganism is not really happening. I'm also just learning the car, so not provoking the back end too much.

ETA: I also have to say a massive thanks to David, the PH'er who sold me the car! So happy to be running an MX5 again

Edited by eltax91 on Saturday 1st June 11:11

[Jazzer]

[wilbo83]

eltax91 said:

ETA: I also have to say a massive thanks to David, the PH'er who sold me the car! So happy to be running an MX5 again

Edited by eltax91 on Saturday 1st June 11:11

Only just seen this update mate. Glad to see you got it all sorted and are enjoying the car, I missed it so much, I bought myself another one! This time I went for an earlier mk1 version

[eltax91]

wilbo83 said:

eltax91 said:

ETA: I also have to say a massive thanks to David, the PH'er who sold me the car! So happy to be running an MX5 again

Edited by eltax91 on Saturday 1st June 11:11

Only just seen this update mate. Glad to see you got it all sorted and are enjoying the car, I missed it so much, I bought myself another one! This time I went for an earlier mk1 version

I knew you would!! That's looks gorgeous!! Has it taken you a while to find it? Looks in good nick. Not much of an update for anyone from my side, save to say I've been loving motoring in the '5. Any non motorway journey and the e61 gets left at home.

The little Mazda has come in handy as a spare car too and I even chopped up a fence panel and shoehorned it into the boot with the pax seat stuffed to the roofline with cardboard for a tip run.

[wilbo83]

eltax91 said:

I knew you would!! That's looks gorgeous!! Has it taken you a while to find it? Looks in good nick. Not much of an update for anyone from my side, save to say I've been loving motoring in the '5. Any non motorway journey and the e61 gets left at home.

The little Mazda has come in handy as a spare car too and I even chopped up a fence panel and shoehorned it into the boot with the pax seat stuffed to the roofline with cardboard for a tip run.

Saw a few rust buckets before this one. It is in mint condition, fully undersealed too.

[dreaddan]

Did you go to Manchester today? I think I spotted you on the a556
The repair doest look 1/2 as bad when moving

[eltax91]

dreaddan said:

Did you go to Manchester today? I think I spotted you on the a556
The repair doest look 1/2 as bad when moving

why yes I did! I'm working at an event at media city today. THe '5 has been pressed into service as my other 5 (series) is out of action.

A world of difference on the motorway. Not exactly a comfy ride. Going to have to find some twisties on the way back!