Off to look at an MX5 (NA) and have some questions...
Discussion
Evening guys,
I'm off to look at an MX5 on the weekend and would like your input on a couple of issues.
Firstly the basics: The car in question is a 1995 R-Limited in Satellite Blue with just over 120k on the clock. The difference is that the mileage is on the chassis and not the engine as it has a refurbished replacement last year from a reputable performance specialist and is apparently running very well as you'd expect. The last engine suffered from oil burning then blew it's big end so it may well have been driven hard. The standard equipment is as you'd expect with the addition of a Torsen LSD, Mazdaspeed exhaust and manifold, and a replacement steering wheel rather than the stock Nardi one. In short, it looks great however this leads me to a few issues where I need your help..
Problem 1.
The AC doesn't work. So far, this is all I know so I don't know if its the compressor, the AC clutch, duff belts, pipe leaks etc. I am assuming the worst and budgeting (ie, asking for discount from the window price) for £400. If this is the worst and it is a replacement unit plus belts and labour, is £400 about right? I've recently replaced on on my GTI which was around that figure.
Problem 2.
The fuel gauge is "unreliable." Now my 07 STI didn't know how much fuel was in it some days but because I'm new to MX5s could you tell me what this might indicate and how much it may be to fix? I'm assuming it'll be a tank exploration to see if the potentiometer (if it uses one) is sticking or needs a replacement etc.
My only concerns after these two are around the miles the car has had on it because it will have been driven hard at some point as that is the point of this model. So, how hardy is the Bilstein suspension, LSD and general non-engine components at this mileage? I'll look for the usual knocking from the struts, arbs when on a test drive and any clunking or whining from the rear diff when on full lock but am I being overly cautious or just being sensible?
Any other advice you might have, please let me know.
David
I'm off to look at an MX5 on the weekend and would like your input on a couple of issues.
Firstly the basics: The car in question is a 1995 R-Limited in Satellite Blue with just over 120k on the clock. The difference is that the mileage is on the chassis and not the engine as it has a refurbished replacement last year from a reputable performance specialist and is apparently running very well as you'd expect. The last engine suffered from oil burning then blew it's big end so it may well have been driven hard. The standard equipment is as you'd expect with the addition of a Torsen LSD, Mazdaspeed exhaust and manifold, and a replacement steering wheel rather than the stock Nardi one. In short, it looks great however this leads me to a few issues where I need your help..
Problem 1.
The AC doesn't work. So far, this is all I know so I don't know if its the compressor, the AC clutch, duff belts, pipe leaks etc. I am assuming the worst and budgeting (ie, asking for discount from the window price) for £400. If this is the worst and it is a replacement unit plus belts and labour, is £400 about right? I've recently replaced on on my GTI which was around that figure.
Problem 2.
The fuel gauge is "unreliable." Now my 07 STI didn't know how much fuel was in it some days but because I'm new to MX5s could you tell me what this might indicate and how much it may be to fix? I'm assuming it'll be a tank exploration to see if the potentiometer (if it uses one) is sticking or needs a replacement etc.
My only concerns after these two are around the miles the car has had on it because it will have been driven hard at some point as that is the point of this model. So, how hardy is the Bilstein suspension, LSD and general non-engine components at this mileage? I'll look for the usual knocking from the struts, arbs when on a test drive and any clunking or whining from the rear diff when on full lock but am I being overly cautious or just being sensible?
Any other advice you might have, please let me know.
David
I changed my Bilsteins at 89k miles and they were still in good order then. Not sure if they would still be up to the job 30k miles later. Can you tell if they are leaking?
Mileage isn't a problem - I've got a car 4 years younger that than with more mileage (155k) and I'm still on the original components, and yes, I've done a few track days too! There are plenty of high mileage cars out there.
Checking for rust (sills and arches) and good service history are the main things.
Mileage isn't a problem - I've got a car 4 years younger that than with more mileage (155k) and I'm still on the original components, and yes, I've done a few track days too! There are plenty of high mileage cars out there.
Checking for rust (sills and arches) and good service history are the main things.
Thanks for the post, Claire. I'm going to see it on Saturday but in case it is raining is there an easy way to check for leaks on the struts? I've seen new ones are pretty cheap but would rather have faith in the ones already on it 
For checking sils, are the drain holes open to the floor along the sides of the car or do I need to remove anything to poke a wire up there? The car has (apparently) full service history from Japan and the UK. The seller appears to be very good but it'd rather be sceptical and be pleasantly surprised
On a side note, are these things really as fun as they appear?
)
For checking sils, are the drain holes open to the floor along the sides of the car or do I need to remove anything to poke a wire up there? The car has (apparently) full service history from Japan and the UK. The seller appears to be very good but it'd rather be sceptical and be pleasantly surprised
On a side note, are these things really as fun as they appear?
)I'm no mechanical expert but I guess you'd have to jack the car up to look at the Bilsteins. The easiest way may be in the test drive, but they give a pretty harsh ride anyway.
I think it's the same for mk1s, that there's a couple of drain holes behind the seatbelt pillars. These then run straight down under the car - an old aerial is a good poker to unblog gunk! Is this car being sold privately? If so then the seller should be able to show you where they are.
Of course they are tremendous fun - why else do you think they get mentioned in most 'what car?' threads on PH?
I think it's the same for mk1s, that there's a couple of drain holes behind the seatbelt pillars. These then run straight down under the car - an old aerial is a good poker to unblog gunk! Is this car being sold privately? If so then the seller should be able to show you where they are.
Of course they are tremendous fun - why else do you think they get mentioned in most 'what car?' threads on PH?
Thought they would be. This is really for my partner to replace her GTI but I took out an MR2 GT Turbo on the weekend and still love them (had 3 myself!) but the MX5 seems to fit her better. However I have to be sure that the MX5 would be great fun, happily go sideways as well as dead ahead and finally be reliable. It seems to be the perfect mix so if we both like it we'll have one very soon.
As for the hard ride, one of my MR2s had Bilsteins and I thought they were just fine, but I've had rock hard suspension before so it means very little to me. So long as they grip well and handle direction changes I'm more than happy with a little hop and jump
As for the hard ride, one of my MR2s had Bilsteins and I thought they were just fine, but I've had rock hard suspension before so it means very little to me. So long as they grip well and handle direction changes I'm more than happy with a little hop and jump
The old engine burning oil and finally blowing a bearing doesn't mean it's been thrashed, more likely that it wasn't well maintained. As long as they are serviced regularly and properly they can be thrashed far more than any car I've ever known without a problem. This is probably due to the engine being based on the old 323 GT Turbo engine so is very over-engineered for what ends up a fairly low-power engine in a fairly light car.
The Mk1 Bilsteins are pretty stiff as they are made to be sporty for Jap roads which are generally in much better condition than UK roads. They aren't too bad though.
AC - do you really need it? If not then stripping it out can save a lot of money and a big chunk of weight! I like AC myself but whether I'd pay £400 to get it fixed on a '95 Mk1 is a different matter.
Fuel gauge - I guess it'll either be the sender in the tank, the gauge itself or the wiring between...
Torsen LSD - would be standard on any JDM 1.8
The Mk1 Bilsteins are pretty stiff as they are made to be sporty for Jap roads which are generally in much better condition than UK roads. They aren't too bad though.
AC - do you really need it? If not then stripping it out can save a lot of money and a big chunk of weight! I like AC myself but whether I'd pay £400 to get it fixed on a '95 Mk1 is a different matter.
Fuel gauge - I guess it'll either be the sender in the tank, the gauge itself or the wiring between...
Torsen LSD - would be standard on any JDM 1.8
AC is important and since it's advertised as being on the car, I want it. It's more useful to have it than not and I've only had a couple of cars without it and it's a royal pain. As for the LSD I thought it was a VLSD as standard with most models and the Torsen was an option. Not fussed so long as I have it as I've little faith in VLSDs.
If its a 1.8 with a LSD it will be a torsen.
As said in other threads, the most expensive issues with these cars are rusty sills/rear wheelarches and soft-tops..
As for the other points:
Air con: a 95 model *should* use R134a gas.. in which case it could just need regassing which can be done at your local halfords for £25
However.. this does not mean it will work after (as ive found myself on a 94) - the air con clutch is prone to failure and also i think mine has a leak and dispersed the gas within a couple o weeks..
Way to tell: if you press the AC button with the engine running and nothing happens, its either below 6c or there is no gas.. if you press the button and the revs rise to about 1500 and stay for a while and the aux rad fan runs, it means the aircon clutch is fooked.
Unfortunately ive found a dodgy clutch will usually require a recon/replacement compressor.. so i never bothered with it.
Fuel gauge... cant really help with this.. although the sender can be accessed via removal of the parcel shelf behind the seats.
And as far as mileage is concerned... well it shouldnt be a concern but it does depend on how it was looked after before.. my s-spec was on 150k-km(92k miles ish) when i bought it.. it was in reasonable nick, but it was clear the owners just did stuff when it was required... ive since done a full service and it feels 200% better. providing the diff and gearbox havent leaked their oil away they should be bullet-proof. and my billy suspension is still fine.
As said in other threads, the most expensive issues with these cars are rusty sills/rear wheelarches and soft-tops..
As for the other points:
Air con: a 95 model *should* use R134a gas.. in which case it could just need regassing which can be done at your local halfords for £25
However.. this does not mean it will work after (as ive found myself on a 94) - the air con clutch is prone to failure and also i think mine has a leak and dispersed the gas within a couple o weeks..
Way to tell: if you press the AC button with the engine running and nothing happens, its either below 6c or there is no gas.. if you press the button and the revs rise to about 1500 and stay for a while and the aux rad fan runs, it means the aircon clutch is fooked.
Unfortunately ive found a dodgy clutch will usually require a recon/replacement compressor.. so i never bothered with it.
Fuel gauge... cant really help with this.. although the sender can be accessed via removal of the parcel shelf behind the seats.
And as far as mileage is concerned... well it shouldnt be a concern but it does depend on how it was looked after before.. my s-spec was on 150k-km(92k miles ish) when i bought it.. it was in reasonable nick, but it was clear the owners just did stuff when it was required... ive since done a full service and it feels 200% better. providing the diff and gearbox havent leaked their oil away they should be bullet-proof. and my billy suspension is still fine.
I looked at the photos of that one a couple of days ago, you might ask what has happened to the Nardi woodrim wheel and gear knob it should also have matching wooden trim on the handbrake. I've owned my R Ltd for 2 1/2 years and it has 136K on the clock covering about 50k in that time and apart from a broken rear shock absorber (KYB Adjsuatble) it has only required normal service items.
I popped down to see it today and it is in very good condition. I noticed the lack of OE too but to be honest the replacement wheel is much better. The issues with the car are more than just the AC (which is totally dead, by the way). There's a crack on the passenger dash going from top to bottom. No idea what would cause this but it's certainly not wear and tear. The other issue was the booming exhaust (mazdaspeed) which was shockingly loud at motorway speeds.
Aside from that it goes very well and has zero rattles. If it was priced at £2200 then i'd probably be tempted but at £2800 it's over priced so I'll keep on looking.
I've another one to see on Saturday which seems very promising but from my first impressions, the MX5 is utterly cool and the one for me... I mean the one for my missus
Aside from that it goes very well and has zero rattles. If it was priced at £2200 then i'd probably be tempted but at £2800 it's over priced so I'll keep on looking.
I've another one to see on Saturday which seems very promising but from my first impressions, the MX5 is utterly cool and the one for me... I mean the one for my missus
Edited by Ved on Wednesday 31st March 21:54
Firefox1 said:
you might ask what has happened to the Nardi woodrim wheel and gear knob it should also have matching wooden trim on the handbrake.
Could just have been binned - nothing sinister? My R-Ltd had a Momo wheel and polished gear lever and handbrake sleeve. It looked much more up-to-date than the wooden stuff (imo)Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff