MK 2 MX5 New engine
Discussion
I have decided to go ahead and see if she can be repaired.After a weekend of dithering, going to see a beautiful used car (but the wrong red!) I finally decided I can't let her go without trying. It will cost me £400 just to check but at least I'll know I've tried my best before seeking out something else in the middle of summer (probably the worst time for buying a sports car!)
Hopefully it's saveable - basically, it comes down to whether there's enough metal left on everything to machine away the wear, then they rebuild with fractionally oversize components as necessary to account for what's been machined away.
The machining work itself isn't all that expensive, it's the work involved in stripping everything down first and putting it back together afterwards that mounts up.
It could well end up costing more than a good used engine, but if done properly will be much better, as you're effectively starting from "new" again on the worn out bits.
See what they say once they've stripped it down and had a proper look. If you're really lucky, it may only need new piston rings and the bores honing smooth again, but I'd say to expect more damage than that.
The machining work itself isn't all that expensive, it's the work involved in stripping everything down first and putting it back together afterwards that mounts up.
It could well end up costing more than a good used engine, but if done properly will be much better, as you're effectively starting from "new" again on the worn out bits.
See what they say once they've stripped it down and had a proper look. If you're really lucky, it may only need new piston rings and the bores honing smooth again, but I'd say to expect more damage than that.
All hope is lost for my little Scarlett. I've had the engine stripped and It's going to cost well over £2000 and she'd need new tyres on top of that. Just too much to pay for a car that's 13 years old. Breaks my heart to scrap her. Thankyou for all your helpful comments on here. I now need to replace her with another so just need to decide brand new or an older car. If I buy new, when is the best time to buy pricewise?
InitialDave said:
I would sell the car on to someone who would fix/replace the engine themselves, that is likely to net you more money than scrapping.
Find out what the offer is for scrap, put the car on Ebay etc with that as the starting price and an honest description, and see what you get.
As I said before worth ringing roddisons.... even in case they only want to buy it for scrap money.Find out what the offer is for scrap, put the car on Ebay etc with that as the starting price and an honest description, and see what you get.
Sorry your car is dead though
Helsbels1960 said:
All hope is lost for my little Scarlett. I've had the engine stripped and It's going to cost well over £2000 and she'd need new tyres on top of that. Just too much to pay for a car that's 13 years old. Breaks my heart to scrap her. Thankyou for all your helpful comments on here. I now need to replace her with another so just need to decide brand new or an older car. If I buy new, when is the best time to buy pricewise?
Tyres are a consumable, so don't factor those in, as anything you buy will need them at some point!Around £2k to keep car sounds reasonable - you're not going to get a lot of car for £2k plus the scrap value of yours - so it's worth spending the money.
(I'm just about to throw at least a couple of grand at a 17 year old Boxster, btw, so I may not be the best person to give impartial advice!)
I couldn't justify spending that amount of money. I know next to nothing about cars (my new car search is : model:MX5 ,colour: red). The garage offered us a price which was more than the scrap value. I like to think they'll do her up and sell her for profit which is better than being squashed into a cube! I still have the hard top to sell which should give me a few ££. Anyway, in my grief I have splashed out on another, MK4 2.0L with low mileage. Picking her up later this week. Once again, thanks to all who have responded to my comments on here and advised me. 
I was thinking it would be a case of someone buying yours as it has, I assume a good bodyshell, and then spending £400/500 on one with a decent engine (of the same spec/year) but that has failed the MOT, get them side by side and spend a day or so swapping the engines.
Then, grab what spares you can, maybe wheels and tyres, then scrap the rest and get maybe £80 which would cover an oil and filter, coolant and other sundries. Not an approach for everyone granted !
The engine being dead is not what kills MX5s quite as readily as galloping rust in the arches/sills/chassis.
Then, grab what spares you can, maybe wheels and tyres, then scrap the rest and get maybe £80 which would cover an oil and filter, coolant and other sundries. Not an approach for everyone granted !
The engine being dead is not what kills MX5s quite as readily as galloping rust in the arches/sills/chassis.
I think that is what the garage are doing. If I was mechanically minded I'd have fixed her as the body work was immaculate. But on an old car, other things are going to need replacing. Labour + VAT adds lots of ££££. I'm finally coming to terms with losing my Scarlett. I have bought a new one but really didn't feel joy and it's taken me a week to get over my decision. I must be the only person who would swap a 3 y old MX5 2.0 sport for a 13 year old! I feel guilty whenever I get behind the wheel. Never thought I'd feel so emotional over a car! But she was the first that's ever been in my name! I'm sure another few weeks and I'll be happier and enjoying the new one!
J4CKO said:
I was thinking it would be a case of someone buying yours as it has, I assume a good bodyshell, and then spending £400/500 on one with a decent engine (of the same spec/year) but that has failed the MOT, get them side by side and spend a day or so swapping the engines.
Then, grab what spares you can, maybe wheels and tyres, then scrap the rest and get maybe £80 which would cover an oil and filter, coolant and other sundries. Not an approach for everyone granted !
The engine being dead is not what kills MX5s quite as readily as galloping rust in the arches/sills/chassis.
Not many Mk3's being scrapped because of rust yet although a few are starting that way. The problem is the engine is super sensitive to oil level & people fail to check them. Some use oil as well so more with dead engines than Mk1 & 2s Engines are pretty expensive typically 4 figures. Then, grab what spares you can, maybe wheels and tyres, then scrap the rest and get maybe £80 which would cover an oil and filter, coolant and other sundries. Not an approach for everyone granted !
The engine being dead is not what kills MX5s quite as readily as galloping rust in the arches/sills/chassis.
According to my MX5 guy it is a fairly involved swap as well with a lot to swap.
tr7v8 said:
J4CKO said:
I was thinking it would be a case of someone buying yours as it has, I assume a good bodyshell, and then spending £400/500 on one with a decent engine (of the same spec/year) but that has failed the MOT, get them side by side and spend a day or so swapping the engines.
Then, grab what spares you can, maybe wheels and tyres, then scrap the rest and get maybe £80 which would cover an oil and filter, coolant and other sundries. Not an approach for everyone granted !
The engine being dead is not what kills MX5s quite as readily as galloping rust in the arches/sills/chassis.
Not many Mk3's being scrapped because of rust yet although a few are starting that way. The problem is the engine is super sensitive to oil level & people fail to check them. Some use oil as well so more with dead engines than Mk1 & 2s Engines are pretty expensive typically 4 figures. Then, grab what spares you can, maybe wheels and tyres, then scrap the rest and get maybe £80 which would cover an oil and filter, coolant and other sundries. Not an approach for everyone granted !
The engine being dead is not what kills MX5s quite as readily as galloping rust in the arches/sills/chassis.
According to my MX5 guy it is a fairly involved swap as well with a lot to swap.
drgoatboy said:
Google roddisons mx5. They replace loads of engines and sell the occasional car too. They are in Sheffield but well worth the travel.
Give them a ring and they will probably give you ideas on price. They may be interested in buying your car with a dead engine too.
Yep, I think they could drop a sneaky 2.5 in there, too.Give them a ring and they will probably give you ideas on price. They may be interested in buying your car with a dead engine too.
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