MX5 NA - Is Miata really the Answer?
Discussion
I'd been looking for an MR2 or an MX-5 for a while, but hadn't found the right one. As luck would have it, both cars were offered at a very good price in the same week, so after some man math with the idea to sell the car that i like less and maybe recover some costs for one of the cars .... well you know.
The advert for the MX5 was nice "a car with character" it said, the pictures were nice, it was red as it should be and it was cheap, really cheap. So i went to see it and test drive it as it was registered which is a rare thing for MX5 at this price in Germany.
The first problems were immediately apparent during the test drive. The car was full of water as the car leaked badly, and when I say badly, I mean my shoes were full of water after the first time I braked. It sounded a bit like the seaside with the sound of rushing water. You couldn't drive faster than 80 km/h because the wheels vibrated so much. Interior parts of the center console had obviously been repainted multiple times, a radio and seats from an NB had been slapped in, the door panels were torn, and the paint job was done in a garage (not a very good one, I might add).
Since I was already there, I made what I thought at the time was an outrageous offer. To my surprise, it was accepted.
A week later, I picked it up with a trailer because driving it seemed too risky.
Once home, I immediately removed the entire interior and the convertible top, and hung all the carpets up to vacuum and dry. It quickly became clear how the water had gotten into the MX-5. There was no drain for the convertible top.
Now, nothing more has happened until early 2026. I was still busy with the MR2.
To be continued
The advert for the MX5 was nice "a car with character" it said, the pictures were nice, it was red as it should be and it was cheap, really cheap. So i went to see it and test drive it as it was registered which is a rare thing for MX5 at this price in Germany.
The first problems were immediately apparent during the test drive. The car was full of water as the car leaked badly, and when I say badly, I mean my shoes were full of water after the first time I braked. It sounded a bit like the seaside with the sound of rushing water. You couldn't drive faster than 80 km/h because the wheels vibrated so much. Interior parts of the center console had obviously been repainted multiple times, a radio and seats from an NB had been slapped in, the door panels were torn, and the paint job was done in a garage (not a very good one, I might add).
Since I was already there, I made what I thought at the time was an outrageous offer. To my surprise, it was accepted.
A week later, I picked it up with a trailer because driving it seemed too risky.
Once home, I immediately removed the entire interior and the convertible top, and hung all the carpets up to vacuum and dry. It quickly became clear how the water had gotten into the MX-5. There was no drain for the convertible top.
Now, nothing more has happened until early 2026. I was still busy with the MR2.
To be continued
Edited by just4u on Tuesday 5th May 13:17
Edited by just4u on Tuesday 5th May 13:20
Part 2
After removing the carpets, the convertible top and all interior parts, i cleaned everything with a wet vacuum cleaner and carpet cleaner and hung it up to dry in the boiler room.
I noticed that the gearshift boot was no longer in the best condition, so it was replaced and the gearshift oil was changed.
Then the drains were installed. These where completly missing.
Carpet back in
Softtop mounted including all water channels
Rear carpet and side trim
Unfortunatly i have two parts left and i cant find out where these 2 go
If someone knows ... please let me know
Thats it for part 2
After removing the carpets, the convertible top and all interior parts, i cleaned everything with a wet vacuum cleaner and carpet cleaner and hung it up to dry in the boiler room.
I noticed that the gearshift boot was no longer in the best condition, so it was replaced and the gearshift oil was changed.
Then the drains were installed. These where completly missing.
Carpet back in
Softtop mounted including all water channels
Rear carpet and side trim
Unfortunatly i have two parts left and i cant find out where these 2 go
If someone knows ... please let me know
Thats it for part 2
Edited by just4u on Tuesday 5th May 22:14
just4u said:
Part 2
Unfortunatly i have two parts left and i cant find out where these 2 go
If someone knows ... please let me know
Thats it for part 2
Those screw into the parcel shelf there is a circular cutout on the shelf carpet behind the drain holes, these are stops/rests for the softtop when it's folded awayUnfortunatly i have two parts left and i cant find out where these 2 go
If someone knows ... please let me know
Thats it for part 2
Edited by just4u on Tuesday 5th May 22:14
MightyBadger said:
Great little car, well done for having the balls to buy it, especially with the all the water sloshing about. Looking forward to seeing how you get on with it. Enjoy.
I'm not sure if it's having big balls or just plain stupidity. So far, things are going pretty well—but that was probably mostly luck.GiantEnemyCrab said:
How are the inside of the sills?
The sills have allready been done, probably not very good, but they have been done. I recently bought a endoscope camera, but im not sure if i want to know to be honest 
TV8 said:
Great project and lovely cars. Hopefully, not too much tin worm?
So far i only found a little hole in the rear arch. I drilled it out with dremel, painted it and waxed it and put a plug to it. Not the nicest solution but atleast it stopped the worm for now 
Richyvrlimited said:
Those screw into the parcel shelf there is a circular cutout on the shelf carpet behind the drain holes, these are stops/rests for the softtop when it's folded away
Thank you, ill take a look. I knew it must be somewhere on the parcel shelf but i didnt see any holes. Reviewing my pictures i see that there indeed are 2 circular stamps with a thread so this is propably the correct position. Helps a lot, much appreciated 
CABC said:
stupid.
But a lot of fun. and it'll pay back anyway.
I think you're enjoying it already?
I hope it will pay back. I have already repaired far more than I have posted in this thread (posts will follow), but I am still a long way from being able to enjoy the car. It's registered and im driving it but there is still a lot to fix or im expecting too much from a 35 year old car.But a lot of fun. and it'll pay back anyway.
I think you're enjoying it already?
You probably know this already but just in case: there are two tiny drain holes built into the bottom of the sill and they always get clogged, so even sorting the drains at the ingress points might not fix the sloshing water issue completely.
It's an issue I used to have fairly often and jamming a paper clip up into each hole would clear it and the water would drain out.
It's an issue I used to have fairly often and jamming a paper clip up into each hole would clear it and the water would drain out.
durbster said:
You probably know this already but just in case: there are two tiny drain holes built into the bottom of the sill and they always get clogged, so even sorting the drains at the ingress points might not fix the sloshing water issue completely.
It's an issue I used to have fairly often and jamming a paper clip up into each hole would clear it and the water would drain out.
Yes i know. For everyone who does not know: You can see the "inlet" for the water in my pictures, a pipe is connected to it that comes out at the bottom/sills (this are the drain holes you are referring to), around that pipe is also a sill, make sure this is also there because otherwise water can get inside the sills. On my car all 3 parts where missing on both sides It's an issue I used to have fairly often and jamming a paper clip up into each hole would clear it and the water would drain out.
Part 3 - More Interior work
I sanded down and painted the center console, armrest, airvents and other small parts. The center console was red behind the black and the arm rest was blue, someone clearly liked a colorfull interior. All painted with 2k satin black, came out pretty good.
everything mounted with a new shifter boot, looking pretty fresh
i sourced some seats in ok condition, and cleaned them. Left is before cleaning and right is after. I had no idea these are a dark blue.
Some may not like my next improvement but i cant live without carplay in a car anymore. So after a few weeks waiting the finest china stereo system showed up. Unfortunatly it did not really fit the hole in the MX5. Also i did not come with any mounting brackets. I guess you cant expect much for 39 but besides the horrible display it works really great so i can recommend it. Even wireless carplay works really nice.
So the 3D printer came to the rescue. Since none of the available STL files where suitable for my radio, i designed my own
and fitted
since the climate control was allready yellowed and faded i replaced it with a new one and 3 matching slidder buttons. Now i had to solder a new wiring loom for the radio as one of the preowners changed the wiring loom to NB plugs and since someone allready messed it up i thought why not change it to a ISO standard
and everything complete for the first time in my ownership
thats it for part 3
I sanded down and painted the center console, armrest, airvents and other small parts. The center console was red behind the black and the arm rest was blue, someone clearly liked a colorfull interior. All painted with 2k satin black, came out pretty good.
everything mounted with a new shifter boot, looking pretty fresh
i sourced some seats in ok condition, and cleaned them. Left is before cleaning and right is after. I had no idea these are a dark blue.
Some may not like my next improvement but i cant live without carplay in a car anymore. So after a few weeks waiting the finest china stereo system showed up. Unfortunatly it did not really fit the hole in the MX5. Also i did not come with any mounting brackets. I guess you cant expect much for 39 but besides the horrible display it works really great so i can recommend it. Even wireless carplay works really nice.
So the 3D printer came to the rescue. Since none of the available STL files where suitable for my radio, i designed my own
and fitted
since the climate control was allready yellowed and faded i replaced it with a new one and 3 matching slidder buttons. Now i had to solder a new wiring loom for the radio as one of the preowners changed the wiring loom to NB plugs and since someone allready messed it up i thought why not change it to a ISO standard
and everything complete for the first time in my ownership
thats it for part 3
Edited by just4u on Thursday 7th May 22:00
Well done on 'rescuing' an original MX5.
IMO they are the only ones to have...
I used to own an original Lotus Elan...and apparently Mazda used the Elan as the blueprint for the MX5:
So if you compare the interior they are so similar... even the dial layout, centre console, pop up headlights, the Twin Cam rocker cover, the rear lights ...etc etc...!
Even the 1600 engine, as the Elan was 1558cc with latterly twin Webers/Dellortos.
It has been said that the MX5 was the modern Elan, and I agree.
But the MX5 was much sronger than the Elan, which, after all, was a 'kit car' in effect.
The only metal was the folded steel chassis which had no side bars at all....which is why the Elan was so light...!!!
Anyway, well done on renovating your car. It is so satisfying doing the work yourself ....especially the interior plastics as it makes such a difference to the car. A Nardi wooden dished steering wheel would also enhance it ....but that's just my choice....!!!
Below is a picture of mine on Cater Bar on the England-Scotland border...
IMO they are the only ones to have...
I used to own an original Lotus Elan...and apparently Mazda used the Elan as the blueprint for the MX5:
So if you compare the interior they are so similar... even the dial layout, centre console, pop up headlights, the Twin Cam rocker cover, the rear lights ...etc etc...!
Even the 1600 engine, as the Elan was 1558cc with latterly twin Webers/Dellortos.
It has been said that the MX5 was the modern Elan, and I agree.
But the MX5 was much sronger than the Elan, which, after all, was a 'kit car' in effect.
The only metal was the folded steel chassis which had no side bars at all....which is why the Elan was so light...!!!
Anyway, well done on renovating your car. It is so satisfying doing the work yourself ....especially the interior plastics as it makes such a difference to the car. A Nardi wooden dished steering wheel would also enhance it ....but that's just my choice....!!!
Below is a picture of mine on Cater Bar on the England-Scotland border...
Another ex-Elan / Mx5 owner here. Although similar in looks, the way they drive is so different. As it should be, with 30 years development and 300 kg more weight in the Mazda. Elans really are fantastic, but definitely fragile!
Anyway, back to Mx5’s. And another vote for a Nardi steering wheel upgrade.
Anyway, back to Mx5’s. And another vote for a Nardi steering wheel upgrade.
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