Checking front chassis rail (or not)
Discussion
Hoping to go and see at least one Mk 2.5 this weekend. 1 is with an apparently reputable dealer who is offering to put a new 12 month MOT on the car. Given they're prepared to do that, do I need to be THAT fastidious about the front chassis rail? Perhaps just turning the wheels to lock and peering in the wheel arches is enough? Surely if its bad, it will fail?
Obviously I'll be checking out the usual "used car things" and the rear sills, which I guess are an easier exercise. Thoughts?
Obviously I'll be checking out the usual "used car things" and the rear sills, which I guess are an easier exercise. Thoughts?
Bit of a faff, isn't it? Getting the car up and removing the undertray? Not that I've ever even seen an undertray yet. I know my stuff only from reading here and elsewhere - and I know rust when I see it. But if you pointed at a car and said "check the front chassis rail all by yourself" I wouldn't have a clue!
Yeah without taking the under tray off, it's impossible to see the worst hot spots (which is where the suspension bolts up to the chassis legs). However with bonnet up you can still get a reasonable indication - just take a torch and a small mirror and you should be able to get an idea of the overall condition...
t, if I'd thought of that I could have blagged it. Doh!!
When I was searching for my MX I took a pair of ramps with me , I ran the car up and had a good look under neath with a good torch and long screwdriver to poke at the rails. The nearside allways seams to be worst.
No seller objected at this. My money is hard earned, not to give it away. Some cars looked Ok but the rails were shot.
Good hunting.
No seller objected at this. My money is hard earned, not to give it away. Some cars looked Ok but the rails were shot.
Good hunting.
When I was searching for my MX I took a pair of ramps with me , I ran the car up and had a good look under neath with a good torch and long screwdriver to poke at the rails. The nearside allways seams to be worst.
No seller objected at this. My money is hard earned, not to give it away. Some cars looked Ok but the rails were shot.
Good hunting.
No seller objected at this. My money is hard earned, not to give it away. Some cars looked Ok but the rails were shot.
Good hunting.
pewe said:
Nearside will pick up more water, dirt, grit and salt as it drains down the road camber as well as being washed towards the gutter by traffic - simples.
Cheers, Pewe.
Ah fair enough. Of course!Cheers, Pewe.
Well, immaterial in this particular case as it goes - drove 65 miles to see what was a lovely dark green 2002 1.8 Sport. Only to find someone had put a deposit on it while I was on my way there. In gorgeous condition - sills were fine, no sign of bubbling or anything. Interior was almost showroom condition. Shame really. Still, my 100% ideal would have been green with tan interior - and this was black interior. So, not totally disheartened.
On to the next!
MoT testers don't remove the undertray, so I wouldn't be reassured by the car having a new MoT. You can't check properly without removing the undertray, so don't buy one unless you (or someone you trust) has actually had a good look from underneath the car. Repairs can be very expensive - just getting one side done cost my daughter £600.
S7Paul said:
MoT testers don't remove the undertray, so I wouldn't be reassured by the car having a new MoT. You can't check properly without removing the undertray, so don't buy one unless you (or someone you trust) has actually had a good look from underneath the car. Repairs can be very expensive - just getting one side done cost my daughter £600.
Thats the kind of info I was after, thanks. Even with a (say) 2k "bargain", two rusty rear sills and front chassis rails and you're looking at not far off double, unless you diy...Bringing this back to life...
Is there a guide on how to check this yourself? Or any specialists who will do a PPI (Or is that overkill on a car of this value?). I'm thinking of a Mk.2 around the £3k mark, probably Jan/Feb time.
That said I'm not totally averse to a Mk.1 and there's a peach (or it appears so) appeared in the classifieds recently - are these much better? Sorry for all the questions, but that journo getting banned in a 911 has turned me back on to the idea of a slower fun-car and MX5s look too good to ignore.
Is there a guide on how to check this yourself? Or any specialists who will do a PPI (Or is that overkill on a car of this value?). I'm thinking of a Mk.2 around the £3k mark, probably Jan/Feb time.
That said I'm not totally averse to a Mk.1 and there's a peach (or it appears so) appeared in the classifieds recently - are these much better? Sorry for all the questions, but that journo getting banned in a 911 has turned me back on to the idea of a slower fun-car and MX5s look too good to ignore.
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