MK2 Owners Don't Despair.
Discussion
God, trying to post on here via mobile is impossible!!! Anyway, just a sbout out to all MK2 owners that all is not lost. Mine is a 1.8IS which went for its annual service and MOT yesterday. It's 17 yrs old and passed with NO advisories. We hear so many horror stories re rust on MK2'S so i just thought i'd try to reassure a few owners that they're not all rotten!!!!! And mine is in no way a show car just a daily driver.
Same here, 16 year old car and not particularly pampered.
Passed the MOT last week with no advisories.
I have tried poking my mobile phone, in video filming mode with the light on, through the wheel arches and around the chassis rail area and I can't see any rust problems.
Not all MK2's suffer from the problem, in my (limited) experience.
Passed the MOT last week with no advisories.
I have tried poking my mobile phone, in video filming mode with the light on, through the wheel arches and around the chassis rail area and I can't see any rust problems.
Not all MK2's suffer from the problem, in my (limited) experience.
appletonn said:
...with the early Mk2s nowhere near as bad?
Don't believe it. My '99 Mk2 had a bad case of rust a couple of years ago and I spent the best part of £1k getting it fixed (two sills and 3 wheel arches). It had failed its MOT because the rust was on the passenger seat belt anchorage point. I guess it just depends on how often you use the car and in what conditions. One that has lived in a garage and only comes out in the dry is going to rust differently to one that's driven as a daily in all weather conditions (as mine has).
Planet Claire said:
Don't believe it. My '99 Mk2 had a bad case of rust a couple of years ago and I spent the best part of £1k getting it fixed (two sills and 3 wheel arches). It had failed its MOT because the rust was on the passenger seat belt anchorage point. I guess it just depends on how often you use the car and in what conditions. One that has lived in a garage and only comes out in the dry is going to rust differently to one that's driven as a daily in all weather conditions (as mine has).
I think the 'debate' was whether it was mainly MK2's or MK2.5's that had the specific design fault which causes the chassis rails to rot.I'm guessing your car, although a victim of rust, didn't need work in that area, which would kind of add weight to the argument that early MK2's were less affected...(I hope!!!).
Jafinkeesaurus said:
I think the 'debate' was whether it was mainly MK2's or MK2.5's that had the specific design fault which causes the chassis rails to rot.
I'm guessing your car, although a victim of rust, didn't need work in that area, which would kind of add weight to the argument that early MK2's were less affected...(I hope!!!).
Yes I was really referring to the front chassis rail issue as you've eloquently pointed out!I'm guessing your car, although a victim of rust, didn't need work in that area, which would kind of add weight to the argument that early MK2's were less affected...(I hope!!!).
roddo said:
Unless it was tested by an mx5 specialist they probably didn't know where to look.......
^ This. I wouldnt take an MOT testers word for it at all (and thats nothing against MOT testers, but they cannot know the ins and outs of every model).
An MOT test is 'non-invasive' and does not delve deep enough to get to the problem areas.
Peering up into the wheelarch with the steering on full lock does not give you the rigth view either - it needs to be on ramps with the wheels and engine undertray off.
Also - it definitiely does affect early Mk2 cars.
Just to sort this out with working on mx5 over the years and working in a mot garage is this.
Nothing gets taken of for an mot that's for sure defiantly not under covers. There is a special notice for mk2.5 for serious corrosion around the front chassis rails.
I work mostly with mk1 and the most common rust areas are rear arches/rear sills and front wings.
Mk2s can suffer the same but less likely to do so the front chassis rails don't tend to suffer much with rust although I have seen one with rust there.
mk2.5 are the ones to really watch out for front chassis rails due to the crash structure modification where the rails where made from multi layers of steel and was poorly rust proofed from factory like all mx5.
I haven't got much knowledge of mk3 but I do hear owners complaining of rust starting to show up.
Nothing gets taken of for an mot that's for sure defiantly not under covers. There is a special notice for mk2.5 for serious corrosion around the front chassis rails.
I work mostly with mk1 and the most common rust areas are rear arches/rear sills and front wings.
Mk2s can suffer the same but less likely to do so the front chassis rails don't tend to suffer much with rust although I have seen one with rust there.
mk2.5 are the ones to really watch out for front chassis rails due to the crash structure modification where the rails where made from multi layers of steel and was poorly rust proofed from factory like all mx5.
I haven't got much knowledge of mk3 but I do hear owners complaining of rust starting to show up.
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