MK1 Mazda 3 MPS - Family Connection
Discussion
Tony Starks said:
My old Commodore used to clunk at lower speeds, turned out to be a loose bolt on the ARB. How are the PS4s? I'm tossing up between them and Bridgestone Re003s.
The MX5 looks great too.
The PS4's are brilliant. I run Mich's on pretty much every car as soon as it comes time to change the tyres. Wholly recommend them.The MX5 looks great too.
Creaks an clunks that sound like?
Do they almost sound like a CV boot rubbing on itself when pulling away with steering turned either left or right?
And if so, has it had a gear box oil change at some point? If it has, what oil was used? The correct Mazda stuff has friction modifiers in it.. Not using the correct oil causes the LSD to make some very odd noise when pulling away.. The part number for the correct oil is K020 W00 42R.. it is only supplied in 20 litre barrels but a friendly dealer should sell you the quantity that you need
Do they almost sound like a CV boot rubbing on itself when pulling away with steering turned either left or right?
And if so, has it had a gear box oil change at some point? If it has, what oil was used? The correct Mazda stuff has friction modifiers in it.. Not using the correct oil causes the LSD to make some very odd noise when pulling away.. The part number for the correct oil is K020 W00 42R.. it is only supplied in 20 litre barrels but a friendly dealer should sell you the quantity that you need
I had the exact same car (down to the colour) and my diff used to make a weird noise pulling away with the wheels turned, sounded like Chewbaccas mating...
I asked Mazda to look at it under warranty, they replaced the top mounts(!) at the front first which made no difference, obviously. I took it somewhere else and they changed the gearbox fluid for some Ford stuff from what I can remember, this was a few years ago. I used to use the mpsowners forum back then, who recommended it. Anyway that fixed it.
Great cars when they're running nicely! I moved mine on due to a misfire that I couldn't rectify, I think the next owner tracked it down to slipped timing in the end.
I asked Mazda to look at it under warranty, they replaced the top mounts(!) at the front first which made no difference, obviously. I took it somewhere else and they changed the gearbox fluid for some Ford stuff from what I can remember, this was a few years ago. I used to use the mpsowners forum back then, who recommended it. Anyway that fixed it.
Great cars when they're running nicely! I moved mine on due to a misfire that I couldn't rectify, I think the next owner tracked it down to slipped timing in the end.
What a great thread. So sorry to hear about your dad, was sad to read that.
It's great to see the car will live on with genuine love and sentiment thrown at it. I hope it serves you well for many years to come. I bet your dad would love it.
P.S those wheels look incredible in that colour.
It's great to see the car will live on with genuine love and sentiment thrown at it. I hope it serves you well for many years to come. I bet your dad would love it.
P.S those wheels look incredible in that colour.
Superhoop said:
Creaks an clunks that sound like?
Do they almost sound like a CV boot rubbing on itself when pulling away with steering turned either left or right?
And if so, has it had a gear box oil change at some point? If it has, what oil was used? The correct Mazda stuff has friction modifiers in it.. Not using the correct oil causes the LSD to make some very odd noise when pulling away.. The part number for the correct oil is K020 W00 42R.. it is only supplied in 20 litre barrels but a friendly dealer should sell you the quantity that you need
I have had the gbox oil done, not with the Ford stuff but with Millers CRX LS 75W90 Nanodrive NT which is the other fluid that comes recommended.Do they almost sound like a CV boot rubbing on itself when pulling away with steering turned either left or right?
And if so, has it had a gear box oil change at some point? If it has, what oil was used? The correct Mazda stuff has friction modifiers in it.. Not using the correct oil causes the LSD to make some very odd noise when pulling away.. The part number for the correct oil is K020 W00 42R.. it is only supplied in 20 litre barrels but a friendly dealer should sell you the quantity that you need
It is a really hard sound to describe but it does happen in a straight line. Slow speed over bumps it feels as if something isn't quite bolted down right as I can hear a bit more of a knock/clunk. But will creak reversing, going forward and turning. Part of me reckons the front ARB bushes need a bit more grease.
But sods law says there will be a few things contributing to the noises.
ajguk said:
I had the exact same car (down to the colour) and my diff used to make a weird noise pulling away with the wheels turned, sounded like Chewbaccas mating...
I asked Mazda to look at it under warranty, they replaced the top mounts(!) at the front first which made no difference, obviously. I took it somewhere else and they changed the gearbox fluid for some Ford stuff from what I can remember, this was a few years ago. I used to use the mpsowners forum back then, who recommended it. Anyway that fixed it.
Great cars when they're running nicely! I moved mine on due to a misfire that I couldn't rectify, I think the next owner tracked it down to slipped timing in the end.
I don't think (hope) it is the diff. Front top mounts are known to be a bit rubbish, same with the engine mounts by all accounts. I am a member of MPSowners and on the Facebook group. Which is a gold mine of information.I asked Mazda to look at it under warranty, they replaced the top mounts(!) at the front first which made no difference, obviously. I took it somewhere else and they changed the gearbox fluid for some Ford stuff from what I can remember, this was a few years ago. I used to use the mpsowners forum back then, who recommended it. Anyway that fixed it.
Great cars when they're running nicely! I moved mine on due to a misfire that I couldn't rectify, I think the next owner tracked it down to slipped timing in the end.
Xenoous said:
What a great thread. So sorry to hear about your dad, was sad to read that.
It's great to see the car will live on with genuine love and sentiment thrown at it. I hope it serves you well for many years to come. I bet your dad would love it.
P.S those wheels look incredible in that colour.
Thank you, I appreciate the thoughts and I will keep loving and improving the car as I go!It's great to see the car will live on with genuine love and sentiment thrown at it. I hope it serves you well for many years to come. I bet your dad would love it.
P.S those wheels look incredible in that colour.
Haha I am glad you like them, I still think they look brilliant!
Little update.
The MPS just been picked up from the garage. The noises were traced to front ARB bushes (which I had replaced earlier in the year) had lost all their grease and weren't seating right in the ARB. Which was odd as they were Powerflex and usually solid. But in a spot of quick detective work it seems as though it can be quite common. But also an undiscovered noise from the drivers side which had the guys stumped.
The solution, because I like to do things properly, was to replace the front ARB with an adjustable Whiteline unit. Whilst ordering I slipped and ordered the matching (obviously) rear ARB as well and asked the garage to fit. As the weather is now cold and horrible, I don't fancy working on the car and freezing my manliness off.
But this didn't solve the other noise from the drivers side. So they took the entire drivers side suspension apart, made easier by the fact its all new parts and reassembled. Hey presto noise gone.
So first impressions.......holy moly does she feel planted. Grips and goes, the front Whiteline was set to the softest setting and the rear the hardest and I must admit the balance feels lovely. Speedbumps and low speed maneuverability was tested and no noises or clunks. It is only a shame the temperatures aren't higher to let the PS4's really grip so I could push. Very impressed, but I will wait a few weeks and see if all remains well.
I have brought my MPS expense spreadsheet up to date and I am within touching distance of spending £5k on her since taking possession in March. Minus insurance/tax/fuel. As long as she stays suspension creak free, worth every penny.
The MPS just been picked up from the garage. The noises were traced to front ARB bushes (which I had replaced earlier in the year) had lost all their grease and weren't seating right in the ARB. Which was odd as they were Powerflex and usually solid. But in a spot of quick detective work it seems as though it can be quite common. But also an undiscovered noise from the drivers side which had the guys stumped.
The solution, because I like to do things properly, was to replace the front ARB with an adjustable Whiteline unit. Whilst ordering I slipped and ordered the matching (obviously) rear ARB as well and asked the garage to fit. As the weather is now cold and horrible, I don't fancy working on the car and freezing my manliness off.
But this didn't solve the other noise from the drivers side. So they took the entire drivers side suspension apart, made easier by the fact its all new parts and reassembled. Hey presto noise gone.
So first impressions.......holy moly does she feel planted. Grips and goes, the front Whiteline was set to the softest setting and the rear the hardest and I must admit the balance feels lovely. Speedbumps and low speed maneuverability was tested and no noises or clunks. It is only a shame the temperatures aren't higher to let the PS4's really grip so I could push. Very impressed, but I will wait a few weeks and see if all remains well.
I have brought my MPS expense spreadsheet up to date and I am within touching distance of spending £5k on her since taking possession in March. Minus insurance/tax/fuel. As long as she stays suspension creak free, worth every penny.
egor110 said:
Just been catching up with your thread .
Sorry to hear about your dad , i lost my step dad to mnd and have a friend down Cornwall who's husband has also got ( he's only early 30's)
What a great legacy though that you can keep his car in daily use and what a great way to remember him .
Thank you for reading and the thoughts. MND really is a brutal disease and I am sorry to hear of it affecting your life as well.Sorry to hear about your dad , i lost my step dad to mnd and have a friend down Cornwall who's husband has also got ( he's only early 30's)
What a great legacy though that you can keep his car in daily use and what a great way to remember him .
Well Merry Christmas everyone, thank you for reading this over the past year and here's a little update as we are in touching distance of the new year.
Suspension has remained squeek and clonk free and along with the PS4's the MPS displays remarkable traction in the extremely soggy winter we are having.
In the spirit of the ongoing project I have 3 updates:
1. Purchased an EONON headunit. To replace the stock unit and give me a few more creature comforts and an effort to further modernise the MPS. The EONON Android Auto dongle has also been purchased as the MX5 has converted me to AA and I do like it. So between Christmas and New Year I will be endevouring to fit it and route all the little accessories provided. The headunit came with a reversing camera and OBD dongle bundled in which could both come in handy!
2. Reverse parking sensors. I am having flush colour coded sensors fitted in January. I have discovered that the aero wing mirrors fitted really don't give a useful indication of where you are, when reversing. It is like they are squinting! So when reversing towards low walls and general other obstructions it should be of use. (Or I just cannot park very well)
3. I have ordered a personalised plate. My first. Usually I am not a huge fan of plates, but it is in keeping with the project and also looks like a standard UK number plate. So only my family and anyone that reads this thread will understand what it means. I just need to get my rear into gear and get the plates made up as I received the certificate a few days ago.
Currently on the hunt for a facelift 3 MPS interior, Mazda RX8 R3 seats, or going all out and getting some Recaro Sportster CS seats and custom subframes and sliders. With the car running really well at the moment I want to try and give the interior some love. So retrimmed steering wheel, new mats, maybe retrim the arm rest to match the seats or a smattering of alcantara. Not fully decided but I have some ideas floating around.
Mechanically, I will start collecting parts for more refresh work. Single or double catch cans, uprated Mishimoto radiator hose set, probably replace the expansion tank. All the little things that eventually fail due to age I do want to get replaced. Uprated top mount intercooler, probably the corksport item as it fits under the stock intercooler shroud.
Sooooooo I managed to escape the wife for a few hours as she ran around the house in a tidying and cleaning whirlwind, to fit the EONON unit.
This is how we started. Yes the car is absolutely filthy as a true daily should be
This was swiftly removed, as I seem to be getting the hang of taking it all out. But I also removed the top heater vents/hazard switch dash plastic.
I then got started in placing the GPS/WIFI antennas hence the reason for removing the top dash trim. The WIFI antenna was placed next to the GPS antenna but I only got a photo post GPS positioning.
Microphone poking out. Works well here and nicely out of sight.
Connected all the other cabling to the headunit and routed the external USB's around the trim into the glovebox as I really didn't want to have to drill. But the fitment of the glovebox just killed me....as you can see below...... Dat panel gap.
The drill had to come out, as I couldn't live with seeing it everytime I jump in the car. Not the prettiest but at least it is out of sight. Will probably tidy up the hole at a later date as I was starting to loose the light.
Put everything back again.....after losing the 2 white clips that help clip the headunit into the plastic interior (these clips were robbed off the stock headunit and I have ordered some replacements from China for £1.90!)
Huzzah everything works, I connected it up to the house WIFI to download Android Auto and can happy say it works a treat. Although now I have decided to trim the interior of the glovebox with some self adhesive felt to stop my phone bashing around while being connected to the adaptor. This has also been ordered!
Just need to see how it performs on a day to day basis again. But steering wheel controls work and so does the OEM instrument cluster above the unit. Even hooked up the free OBD dongle to the headunit and checked my fault codes via the Torque app. So far so good.
This is how we started. Yes the car is absolutely filthy as a true daily should be
This was swiftly removed, as I seem to be getting the hang of taking it all out. But I also removed the top heater vents/hazard switch dash plastic.
I then got started in placing the GPS/WIFI antennas hence the reason for removing the top dash trim. The WIFI antenna was placed next to the GPS antenna but I only got a photo post GPS positioning.
Microphone poking out. Works well here and nicely out of sight.
Connected all the other cabling to the headunit and routed the external USB's around the trim into the glovebox as I really didn't want to have to drill. But the fitment of the glovebox just killed me....as you can see below...... Dat panel gap.
The drill had to come out, as I couldn't live with seeing it everytime I jump in the car. Not the prettiest but at least it is out of sight. Will probably tidy up the hole at a later date as I was starting to loose the light.
Put everything back again.....after losing the 2 white clips that help clip the headunit into the plastic interior (these clips were robbed off the stock headunit and I have ordered some replacements from China for £1.90!)
Huzzah everything works, I connected it up to the house WIFI to download Android Auto and can happy say it works a treat. Although now I have decided to trim the interior of the glovebox with some self adhesive felt to stop my phone bashing around while being connected to the adaptor. This has also been ordered!
Just need to see how it performs on a day to day basis again. But steering wheel controls work and so does the OEM instrument cluster above the unit. Even hooked up the free OBD dongle to the headunit and checked my fault codes via the Torque app. So far so good.
Having just received probate and therefore sorting out my fathers estate I may have a few months of slower progress. But there are some exciting additions over the last few weeks.
1. Reverse parking sensors fitted. Colour coded and really quite discrete, you cannot even see them when the car is filthy....
2. Interior lights changed to LED's. Discovered I actually had a glovebox light, the old man never replaced the bulb so I just casually assumed the car didn't
have one fitted. Error on my part for not paying attention earlier!
3. My personalised plate has arrived along with the paperwork and the DVLA finally posted me the new V5 in my name!
For those that are interested:
DF - My initials
58 - Fathers birth year
CEF - Fathers initials
So I just need to allocate the plate and get it swapped over.
4. The most exciting part of the update. I woke up after an afternoon nap before a night shift and checked Facebook, had a notification from one of the Mazda RX8 pages of an RX8 R3 being broken.The add was only a few minutes old and after some furious messaging, some cashy money and a week or 2 later. These arrived....
Everyone loves some Recaro's. Albeit in need of a good clean. The wife's steam cleaner will have some use!
They were pretty much as described but the only annoying omission was one the "harness eyelets" clips had broken.
So I need to pop to Mazda to see if they can still be sourced.
After that, I have been messaging a company called Wedge Brackets in the states who should be able to supply brackets/sliders after I drop them a few measurements. So when I have time I need to seperate the OEM RX8 brackets/sliders off. Being a Mazda seat the hope is the seat airbag/plugs are the same between the cars so just require plugging and playing.
Finally, thought I would park next to a small car.
Thanks for reading whoever still is!
1. Reverse parking sensors fitted. Colour coded and really quite discrete, you cannot even see them when the car is filthy....
2. Interior lights changed to LED's. Discovered I actually had a glovebox light, the old man never replaced the bulb so I just casually assumed the car didn't
have one fitted. Error on my part for not paying attention earlier!
3. My personalised plate has arrived along with the paperwork and the DVLA finally posted me the new V5 in my name!
For those that are interested:
DF - My initials
58 - Fathers birth year
CEF - Fathers initials
So I just need to allocate the plate and get it swapped over.
4. The most exciting part of the update. I woke up after an afternoon nap before a night shift and checked Facebook, had a notification from one of the Mazda RX8 pages of an RX8 R3 being broken.The add was only a few minutes old and after some furious messaging, some cashy money and a week or 2 later. These arrived....
Everyone loves some Recaro's. Albeit in need of a good clean. The wife's steam cleaner will have some use!
They were pretty much as described but the only annoying omission was one the "harness eyelets" clips had broken.
So I need to pop to Mazda to see if they can still be sourced.
After that, I have been messaging a company called Wedge Brackets in the states who should be able to supply brackets/sliders after I drop them a few measurements. So when I have time I need to seperate the OEM RX8 brackets/sliders off. Being a Mazda seat the hope is the seat airbag/plugs are the same between the cars so just require plugging and playing.
Finally, thought I would park next to a small car.
Thanks for reading whoever still is!
Great car OP, really nice touches. And very strange timing to see this pop up, as I have just bought a gen2 MPS! I have never had anything to do with them but this came up for sale with various issues so I bought it. Much the same as ours, I have fitted lower arms, ARBs and drop links to cure the noise from the front and a new fuel tank to resolve a metal scraping from the rear (loose tank baffle - common fault believe it or not!). Really good fun cars, and they seem quite a rarity?
5harp3y said:
Those seats are lovely
Thank you! I don't think it is going to be a straightforward fit. There may be some custom fabrication needed to get the wedgebracket to fit the RX8 sliders. Unfortunately wedge don't do a bracket wide enough for OEM sliders (by about 2 cm) so I'll probably order the bracket then get it customised to fit. Shouldn't be too bad for competant metalworkers!Fastdruid said:
While no idea how they compare to the 3 MPS, from memory the RX-8 R3 seats were quite a bit lighter than the stock RX-8 seats. Something like 5Kg each.
The R3 recaros are still quite hefty. But I do think they will be lighter than stock MPS seats. Also so much more supportive, shouldn't slide around in them!Scortedvan said:
Great car OP, really nice touches. And very strange timing to see this pop up, as I have just bought a gen2 MPS! I have never had anything to do with them but this came up for sale with various issues so I bought it. Much the same as ours, I have fitted lower arms, ARBs and drop links to cure the noise from the front and a new fuel tank to resolve a metal scraping from the rear (loose tank baffle - common fault believe it or not!). Really good fun cars, and they seem quite a rarity?
Welcome to the MPS fold, I hope you are enjoying it. Yes they are quite rare, I still have not seen another one around my neck of the woods. Cosmic Blue aeros are one of the rarest I think. swampy442 said:
I really fancy a 6 MPS, they're currently dirt cheap and I reckon with a bit of fettling could be a bit of a hoot.
Having had a 6 MPS for 8 years (actually selling it) I wouldn't go with a cheap one. They're getting on a bit now and being a Mazda suffer badly from rust (in the same way the MX-5 does) as well as not being the most bullet proof engine and *very* expensive MPS specific bits ("MPS tax"). 
I've seen newer ones with bubbling rust on the arches, I spent some time treating and undersealing it all the other year and we had to replace the rear lower arms recently as got the garage to replace the rear ARB linkages and they couldn't as there was nothing to attach them to!
Edited by Fastdruid on Monday 27th January 15:29
swampy442 said:
First sorry about the loss of your dad. Secondly great thread, I daily a 6 Sport diesel which is a surprisingly good steer, and I really fancy a 6 MPS, they're currently dirt cheap and I reckon with a bit of fettling could be a bit of a hoot.
Thanks you.Both the 3 and 6 MPS's are quite cheap. They have their quirks but if you like the car and willing to give it some TLC they are really impressive machines.
I am sure the AWD in the 6 is extremely useful in certain parts of the country too. I too daily'd a a TS2 1.6 petrol a few years ago and was rock solidly reliable and very comfortable.
Mini update.
Wedge brackets ordered from the states to try and get the Recaros in. The brackets probably will need customising to fit the seat but I have a plan for that. I still remain optimistic the plugs for the seats should be straight plug and play.
But post night shift I did a thing and got the plates on the car.
First lets strip the old ones off! Only 2 rusted screws on the rear.
Velcro/Sticky pad the new ones on.
Payday soon, might have to consider some more purchases for the old girl.
Wedge brackets ordered from the states to try and get the Recaros in. The brackets probably will need customising to fit the seat but I have a plan for that. I still remain optimistic the plugs for the seats should be straight plug and play.
But post night shift I did a thing and got the plates on the car.
First lets strip the old ones off! Only 2 rusted screws on the rear.
Velcro/Sticky pad the new ones on.
Payday soon, might have to consider some more purchases for the old girl.
Things are moving along and this is where I am at with the seat install.
Please don't mind the dog hair, doing a lot of dog transporting at the moment and they are terrible shedders
Today I trial fitted the passenger side bracket as they have arrived from the US of A. (With accompanying £100 import duty...ouchies)
Fits like a dream...
What is also quite exciting as it does appear that my current seats and the Recaros share an airbag connector so this will hopefully be plug and play.
After putting the car back together I glue'd the plastic eyelets back together on one of the seats. My efforts to get them 3D printed came back as not cost effective. Plus Mazda wanted £110 + VAT for just one set of the eyelets.So I reused the original ones!
Also arranged to drop the seats and brackets off at my garage to get them mated up. Fingers crossed by the end of next week I could be slotting them into the car.
I have purchased another present for the car in the form of a retrimmed wheel from "Reggies Wheels". That is meant to be arriving at the end of the month!
The process of clearing out my fathers house has begun and I have discovered some treasures. One of the most touching for me was the discovery that when I was 3 back in 1989 he decided to try and get into Motorsport as it was a lifelong passion. As a draughtsman he applied to the following 3 teams/companies and kept their replies.
He never told me he did, even when I worked in F1 in 2016 as an employee of FOM, so having a short stint in the sport must have made him extremely proud.
Please don't mind the dog hair, doing a lot of dog transporting at the moment and they are terrible shedders
Today I trial fitted the passenger side bracket as they have arrived from the US of A. (With accompanying £100 import duty...ouchies)
Fits like a dream...
What is also quite exciting as it does appear that my current seats and the Recaros share an airbag connector so this will hopefully be plug and play.
After putting the car back together I glue'd the plastic eyelets back together on one of the seats. My efforts to get them 3D printed came back as not cost effective. Plus Mazda wanted £110 + VAT for just one set of the eyelets.So I reused the original ones!
Also arranged to drop the seats and brackets off at my garage to get them mated up. Fingers crossed by the end of next week I could be slotting them into the car.
I have purchased another present for the car in the form of a retrimmed wheel from "Reggies Wheels". That is meant to be arriving at the end of the month!
The process of clearing out my fathers house has begun and I have discovered some treasures. One of the most touching for me was the discovery that when I was 3 back in 1989 he decided to try and get into Motorsport as it was a lifelong passion. As a draughtsman he applied to the following 3 teams/companies and kept their replies.
He never told me he did, even when I worked in F1 in 2016 as an employee of FOM, so having a short stint in the sport must have made him extremely proud.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff