How many miles can an mx5 engine manage?

[Mellow Matt]

What kind of mileage can a mk1 1.8 mx5 engine do before something gives up? And what is generally the first thing that goes?

I'm assuming normally something else gives up before the engine (bodywork/gearbox/diff etc), but will the engine keep going >200k miles?

Ta

[Steffan]

Engine life with modern oils and quality controls has extended massively in recent year. IF regularly serviced.

I have seen several examples of MX5's which have exceeded 200,000 miles. But clearly they MUST have been serviced.

I have seen MX5's which have blown up with cambelt etc at under 10,0000 miles.

The imports are very tricky to assess because the history is inevitable thin.

I have a number of pals in kit car building who are using the MX5 as a base.

Certainly a lot of mechanically sound tired body and interior cars about.

One Audi A4 Diesel I has covered 550,000 miles in my company and is still going. Well.

Regularly serviced modern engines last very well.

[Dan_1981]

Cambelt is none interference so isn't terminal if it goes.

Engines in mx5s are pretty reliable.

Mines on a relatively low 105k or so.

Far more likely to kill one is the body work rotting away before your eyes. My sills needed doing last summer.

Water pump / thermostat are also prone to going - had that done in the last 5k.

[snotrag]

Old Mk1 was 150kish I think and smooth as silk, no oil use and plenty eager.

Engine and gearbox will be the last bit left of MX-5s in years to come once the rest of it has rotted away.

[v8will]

I sold my MK1 on 119K and it saw the redline every day. Used no oil and the only untoward noise were slightly noisy HLAs, usually quietend with an oil change. I think you would have to be very cruel to a MX-5 to kill the engine in one.

As Steffan mentioned, modern engines, properly serviced are very durable. I have no doubt the Mazda has 200K + potential, even if tuned (sensibly)

[Tyrewrecker]

v8will said:

I sold my MK1 on 119K and it saw the redline every day. Used no oil and the only untoward noise were slightly noisy HLAs, usually quietend with an oil change. I think you would have to be very cruel to a MX-5 to kill the engine in one.

As Steffan mentioned, modern engines, properly serviced are very durable. I have no doubt the Mazda has 200K + potential, even if tuned (sensibly)

Using no oil? You're not driving it hard enough.

[garrykiller]

my mk1 is currently sat on 155k and its still going well.

[Mellow Matt]

That's reassuring, thanks guys

[JamesHayward]

My old one was at 260,000kms when I bought it. It died shortly after but that was me being an idiot. The rest of the car was mint so I would have thought it would last longer.

[Munter]

Think there was one in the US into the 300,000s. A head gasket was mentioned. And a snapped clutch pedal.

[Evangelion]

Mine's a relative youngster at 197,900 kms.

Someone the other day told me of a garage with a hugh number of MX-5 gearboxes in stock. He's bought loads but never sold one - as nobody ever seems to wear one out.

Edited by Evangelion on Monday 19th March 19:29

[jtopps]

Interesting thread to read and very reassuring considering my 1994 1.8 has only done 122,000 kilometres so 76,000 miles (approx) must've only been used as a weekend car by previous owners.

[Craikeybaby]

Its more than likely to rust before for the engine goes (providing it is looked after properly etc) mine was at almost 140,000 miles when I sold the car due to it having rusted through. AS far as I know the engine is still going strong.

[thecremeegg]

Mine's at 162,000 miles at the moment (260,000km) and is still going strong (fingers crossed!!!!)

[GC8]

168,461.

[Dave_ITR]

They are very good engines & as said above, will last providing they are looked after.

My car is on 80,000 miles so plenty left in the old girl yet.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Mine's on 120000 km or so - as said, the body will rot long before the engine is worn out, especially as so many get used as weekend cars. In fact, I would say higher mileages are better. Bought mine on 77000 km at 14 years old! It had barely moved for 4 years (1000 miles?) and as a result only had one documented service A few things went wrong over the first year or so but it loosened up again nicely and now mechanically it's great, even if it needs a sill doing now...

[MX-5 Lazza]

Mines relatively youthful at 68k but to be fair it's been supercharged since around 15k and has seen a fair bit of track work

[LukeBird]

My '03 car clicked over 90k two days ago.

[Vin]

I think they are great cars. My 1.6 was up to 260,000 km and would have kept going but i had to take it off the road as someone hit the car. I bought the car with just over a 100,000km and owned it for over ten years. Never let me down only in the begining a radiator which failed slowly causing over heating. Once that was sorted it was ultra reliable.

They are so good I have bought another one and hope to get ten years plus out of it like my last one.
Vinny