MX5 Rusty sill / general restoration near Ipswich

[BadgerByte]

Hi all,

I've just been informed by the garage that my MX5 will fail it's MOT on rusty sills, both sides!

It's a 2003 MX-5 1.8 Sport / 90000 miles, and given that it also needs a new master brake cylinder I'm border line on whether It's worth carrying on with it. Gutted!

Does anyone know of a good MX-5 restorer near Ipswich / Suffolk?

If I'm going to pay out the cash I'd like to make sure it's going to last.

Any general advise also greatly appreciated!

Regards,

Andy

[NRS]

It's the normal problem of buying another one and saving money but potentially having the same problem soon after, or investing in your own car to get it sorted out and know the work has been done (and presumably to a good quality rather than bodge job). Probably depends on how long you plan to keep the car. Long term worth doing it, short term maybe not. However lacking the MOT and needing the work then it will be more difficult to sell so might be worth doing it and keeping the car.

I have a similar problem with changing the engine. By the time I take it to the UK would be better buying another car here and selling this one, but after the cost of the repair to be able to sell it then it's probably worth keeping this one. I could fix the values which are the issue, but from another thread it looks like the valve problem could be due to previous owner cooking the engine so not worth just doing that as there will be other issues.

[Gilhooligan]

Maybe worth checking the condition of the chassis legs too and basing your decision to go ahead on what you find. Be prepared though when you google chassis leg rust on the mk2 mx5's. makes for scary viewing!

[Gilhooligan]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

A 2003 car failing on sills?
Ouch.

You'd be surprised. Even the mk3 mx5's seem to not be fairing well against the tin worm. Ive seen an '06 plate one with rust coming through on the rear arches.