MK3 MR2 issues?

[CPC]

Hello

I am looking to buy a MK3 MR2 and have £2000ish budget. I have noticed lots of these have had replacement engines fitted and low mileages and i am concerned about buying a lemon. What can you check?

What other problems to these have?

I have already had a mk2 MX5 and thought it was ok, but slighlty dissapointed with the drive or maybe mine was a lemon. The MR2 appears to be better of fuel and without the rust issues and maybe a sharper drive?

What to you think?
Chris

[Dave Hedgehog]

we put 120k miles on our last one the only issues it had where the rusting exhaust heat shield and the rear calipers rusted and would not come off so it was cheaper to PX it than fix it

[Krikkit]

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=2674...

/thread

[james_gt3rs]

The basic problem is:

The pre 2003 cars (Pre facelift) are prone to oval bores when they have been neglected on oil changes. When this happens they start burning lots of oil. A side effect of this is that oil can get into the 'precat' in the exhaust which breaks it up. If these pieces get sucked into the engine it will be destroyed.

So you can buy a facelift car and hope it uses no oil (which I've done), buy a prefacelift and take out the precats and just live with oil consumption if it happens. Or you can be super safe and get a facelift and take the precat out.

If you want the least hassle, get a facelift, if you want the best deal, get a pre facelift and be prepared for possible bills.

[Matt UK]

I read on here somewhere that the early Mk3 engines have a dire reliability record - I'd research and then proceed with caution.

[paul1087]

buy one with a blown engine for a few hundred quid, buy a corolla or celica t-sport for a grand or so. - put the 190hp motor and 6 speed box into the MR2.

then you have a proper little roadster!

[Vladimir]

Avoid the semi auto; it's cack.
Other than that, buy and enjoy!

[CPC]

james_gt3rs said:

The basic problem is:

The pre 2003 cars (Pre facelift) are prone to oval bores when they have been neglected on oil changes. When this happens they start burning lots of oil. A side effect of this is that oil can get into the 'precat' in the exhaust which breaks it up. If these pieces get sucked into the engine it will be destroyed.

So you can buy a facelift car and hope it uses no oil (which I've done), buy a prefacelift and take out the precats and just live with oil consumption if it happens. Or you can be super safe and get a facelift and take the precat out.

If you want the least hassle, get a facelift, if you want the best deal, get a pre facelift and be prepared for possible bills.

Thanks. So a pre facelift with a replacement engine/precat removed should be ok?

[james_gt3rs]

CPC said:

Thanks. So a pre facelift with a replacement engine/precat removed should be ok?

Yes but no guarantees. When they start using oil they use it fast so if you don't check regularly you could run out of oil! And eventually it will get to the point where you'd need a new engine.

[CPC]

Whats the MR2 like for rust issues.

Thats another issue putting me off another MX5

[budfox]

Just to add that I had one for a few years. A post facelift that was quite simply brilliant.

I've just bought a Z4 but I seriously considered another MR2.