Mazda CX-3 Help needed

[dean350z]

Morning all,

My friend is looking at buying this particular CX-3....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304286...

This car has 2 owners, main dealer history and will come with a fresh MOT and service, butshe loves a worry and a bit of an overthink and is arguably suffering from analysis paralysis which is blocking her from pulling the cord and going for it. She is concened about the electrics on them having read they can suffer from problems.

Is anyone able to offer any feedback or insight? anyone konw of any 'watch outs' with the CX-3?

Thanks in advance.

[georgeyboy12345]

What kind of mileage does she do? I’d be more concerned about DPF and EGR failure with it being a diesel

[dean350z]

georgeyboy12345 said:

What kind of mileage does she do? I’d be more concerned about DPF and EGR failure with it being a diesel

She doesn't do vast amounts of miles, 8 to maybe10k per year, around town stuff and a reasonable amount on motorway work so it would get a good run out

[dean350z]

Also forgot to add, when she viewed it last night there was a wiring from the passenger side wing mirror which the dealer said was the motor and it was due to be replaced, she also thought the passenger side window got twitchy

[RAB2000]

I've got a 2.0 petrol CX-5 (2012) that has been great to be fair. Owned for the last 6.5 years and the only faults I know of are:

i) Passenger door mirror opening failure (seems a common fault and wouldn't be surprised if the same on the CX-3 here. I 'fixed' it myself by taking it off and removing the motor as it was continuously running. The reason being the plastic gear on the motor had stripped itself. The mirror can still be folded manually.

ii) This year the boot failed to open and that turned out to be the boot switch button the tailgate - rusted out connection. Replaced and all fine.

I know the diesels in the CX-5 don't have the best reputation so for low-ish miles petrol seems the better option. Don't know if the 1.5 diesel is similarly affected. I would be looking for the 2.0 petrol in the CX-3. I think it's the same engine as the CX-5 but in a lower state of tune.

[georgeyboy12345]

dean350z said:

Also forgot to add, when she viewed it last night there was a wiring from the passenger side wing mirror which the dealer said was the motor and it was due to be replaced, she also thought the passenger side window got twitchy

That’d be enough to put me off unless it was massively discounted by thousands compared to similar age/mileage/spec of thr same car

[mac96]

dean350z said:

Also forgot to add, when she viewed it last night there was a wiring from the passenger side wing mirror which the dealer said was the motor and it was due to be replaced, she also thought the passenger side window got twitchy

A whirring noise? It's a common fault, my CX5 had it. Just needs to be fixed.

I'd be more worried about looking for evidence of corrosion. Paint was bubbling on tailgate of our CX5 at same age as that CX3, and Mazda don't have the best reputation for corrosion.

[dean350z]

mac96 said:

A whirring noise? It's a common fault, my CX5 had it. Just needs to be fixed.

I'd be more worried about looking for evidence of corrosion. Paint was bubbling on tailgate of our CX5 at same age as that CX3, and Mazda don't have the best reputation for corrosion.

Thanks, we viewed yesterday in the rain so it was hard to properly see the bodywork, it looked ok but we are going back again today so will have a good look.

[GreatGranny]

georgeyboy12345 said:

That’d be enough to put me off unless it was massively discounted by thousands compared to similar age/mileage/spec of thr same car

1000s? Bit over the top. If the dealer sorts the issue before sale then it's no problem.

[filthypig]

The wife has had 5 (or maybe 6) Mazda 2's over the last 14 years and the last few we had shared the same platform that the CX-3 is based on and they were. All great little cars and I can't think of anything that went wrong with any of them other than normal servicing and consumables.

We're now in a CX-5 (petrol) as our mileage is circa 8-10k a year and didn't fancy the possible diesel issues known on the 2.2 engine. Again, can't fault it. Any issues seen by yourself on inspection I'd be expecting the dealer to sort before pickup but on the whole the 2's we had were great little things.