Bought an MX5 - advice please.
Discussion
Yesterday I bought a uk 1991 mx5 mk1 1.6 (the directorship and goatee arrives next week). I actually bought it without viewing as it is 250 miles away, but paid with a credit card, so am at least covered if it's a dog. I asked if the cambelt had been changed, and the dealer said not to bother, as because of the type of engine it is, even if it did snap it can't do any damage, and would just need a new belt. Is he pulling the wool over my eyes?
I'll be collecting it in 2 weeks when we move from Manchester to Farnham. It's an unmolested UK car, which is exactly what I was after. Mileage is 104,000.
Thanks for any help.
I'll be collecting it in 2 weeks when we move from Manchester to Farnham. It's an unmolested UK car, which is exactly what I was after. Mileage is 104,000.
Thanks for any help.
Bonefish Blues said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Very important - did you talk about rust? Get pictures of both sills at the back and the rear wheelarches.
So much more this than the belt, OPBetter getting a non runner that looks fresh out of the showroom and get it going yourself with a Haynes manual and a hammer
. Eighteeteewhy said:
Cambelt advise is correct, but get it changed anyway. As said rust is a huge issue.
Also, around the year of your car they brought out a low power model(90bhp) I'm not sure what's involved to get them back up to proper power.
The usual procedure is to sell it and buy one that is the proper power Also, around the year of your car they brought out a low power model(90bhp) I'm not sure what's involved to get them back up to proper power.
As a rule if it's 93- 1.6 then it's the low power 90bhp version.
PS - if in the southeast then take it to Freelance Mazda who will do a cambelt service for under £200 all in.
NiceCupOfTea said:
The usual procedure is to sell it and buy one that is the proper power
As a rule if it's 93- 1.6 then it's the low power 90bhp version.
PS - if in the southeast then take it to Freelance Mazda who will do a cambelt service for under £200 all in.
Also, handbrakes can be a PITA! As a rule if it's 93- 1.6 then it's the low power 90bhp version.
PS - if in the southeast then take it to Freelance Mazda who will do a cambelt service for under £200 all in.
Car was under sealed many years ago, and has been in the same family for the last 10 years as a summer toy. No rust on it, says the dealer. As I said, I paid on a credit card, and have an email from the dealer stating the condition. If it's not as described the credit card company can recover the cash.
tomsugden said:
Car was under sealed many years ago, and has been in the same family for the last 10 years as a summer toy. No rust on it, says the dealer. As I said, I paid on a credit card, and have an email from the dealer stating the condition. If it's not as described the credit card company can recover the cash.
Underseal's great, but these cars rust from the inside out, remember. If the drains are ever blocked you end up with sills full of water and a perfect environment for rot.Eighteeteewhy said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
The usual procedure is to sell it and buy one that is the proper power
As a rule if it's 93- 1.6 then it's the low power 90bhp version.
PS - if in the southeast then take it to Freelance Mazda who will do a cambelt service for under £200 all in.
Also, handbrakes can be a PITA! As a rule if it's 93- 1.6 then it's the low power 90bhp version.
PS - if in the southeast then take it to Freelance Mazda who will do a cambelt service for under £200 all in.
When you see it in the flesh, have a really good poke around the rear of the sills just in front of the rear wheels - as said, underseal can seal in the moisture and basically give you a nice solid crust over nothing much. Check the drain holes (about 3 or 4 inches in from the side about 6 inches in front of the rear wheels. Mine have never been blocked in my ownership yet I still have a rotten sill.
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