possible new owner needs upgrade advice please

[Andy70]

Hi all, I've just popped over from the BMW forum as Im looking to change cars. I'm currently driving a highly modified 335i well in excess of 400bhp but need something cheaper as I'm moving house and the BM is starting to cost loads to run... I've owned a mk1 Eunos years ago and I loved it as they are cheap, fun cars, however I always felt them to be a bit down on power and wondered what performance upgrades there are available for Mx5's these days? I know it will never be a rocket ship, but I love nippy fun cars. I was thinking stuff like high lift cams maybe? 200 cell sports cats? light flywheel etc etc... Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

[Andy70]

oh, I forgot to say it would be I suppose a 2006 model, is that a mk2, 3? a few grands worth probably, preferably the 2.0l

[Andy70]

Munter said:

2.0 2006 will be MK3.

Look up BBR would be my suggestion for power.

If I remember rightly, do they do turbo kits for these cars? I probably wouldn't go to that extreme as It will be out of the frying pan into the fire lol

[Andy70]

Munter said:

They do non turbo upgrades for the NC/MK3 also. Jumps it up to around 200bhp.

Nippy enough in a small light car, cool

[Andy70]

ShinyPsyduck said:

You should test drive one again to see if its for you. I thought about doing the same and going back to an MX5 but I tried a stock MK3 2.0 sport and it wasnt great. I know you can get the BBR kits but for the money you could buy something faster that's stock.

I ended up with a 350z and happy.

fair point, I will test drive one, but if I end up with something like a 350z, I may as well stick with what I got, the whole point of the exercise is something more economical and relatively cheap and yet still a bit of fun

[Andy70]

ShinyPsyduck said:

Andy70 said:

fair point, I will test drive one, but if I end up with something like a 350z, I may as well stick with what I got, the whole point of the exercise is something more economical and relatively cheap and yet still a bit of fun

I wouldn't knock the 350z from your list. You can get a clean one for around 7K, the engine is reliable and the MPG isnt the worst for 300BHP. It would be interesting to see what MPG you get with a BBR kit fitted to a MK3 MX5.

My 335i is 420bhp- and as usual for most BM's they are really efficient, so like i said I'd better off keeping mine, 'better the devil you know' and the point again is i want a cheaper car to run and buy, I don't want to spend 7k on a car. I'm pretty convinced the bills from an Mx5 would be more modest. I also recon a 1000kg car with a 2l engine will return more mpgs than a 1600kg 30l....from what i just read, they are 1600kg and 276bhp hmmmm, I'll keep the 335 thanks

[Andy70]

Well the upgrades would be just a possible option in the future may be hence my enquiry. I just need something cheaper and yet fun and I have had an mx5 before. I'm not buying to perform as we both agree I'd be better off keeping the 335

[Andy70]

griffdude said:

Upgrades are available for all the models. I would go FI as it’s better bang-for-buck. Especially for MK1 or 2.
Budget 4K for a turbo conversion & it’ll have less power than your BMW but still a good power to weight ratio. Also, it’ll be lighter on brakes & a great handling car.

yeah well the 335 weighs 1600kgs so much heavier. I've always like light nimble cars and yes over all parts will be cheaper, I'm expecting some hefty bills as the injectors are prone to go on those and they are 200 quid each x6, plus fitting, high pressure fuel pump is 500 quid etc etc. I just spent £500 on an alternator and £800 for a clutch a couple of months ago so I'm done spending money on it really so to me something like an mx5 pepped up a bit is just as much fun for a fraction of the cost. I owned a mk1 years ago and loved it