Japanese import cam belt

[georgegmg]

Hi guys. I'm looking at buying a mx5. The one i am looking at is a Japanese import. The guy isn't sure whether the cam belt has been done because all the paper work is in Japanese but he said the sticker in the picture below usually means it has been done. Can anyone confirm this? The mx5 is mk2 1998 and has done 58k miles. Any other advise about buying a imported mx5 would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[steveo3002]

sellers will say anything to make a sale , only way to rest easy is to have it done yourself

[kuro]

That's a pretty scruffy looking engine for 58k. Have you checked for oil leaks on the cam cover and the cam angle sensor?

[Planet Claire]

The mk2's cam belt is changed every 54k miles so if it has been done it was probably done fairly recently, but best just to get it done. However, it's a non-interference engine so no harm in chancing it.

[drgoatboy]

It's not hugely expensive to get changed, if it's not been done then haggle and get it done when you buy it. How long ago was it imported? What other service history is missing?

[anonymous-user]

When buying a mk1 or 2 MX5 the cambelt is quite irrelevant really , its cheap and very easy to replace and the engine wont be damaged if it breaks, so just get it done soon. There are more important things to check - if you're looking at a mk2 then the thing you need to check is the condition of the chassis rails:

http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst46836_MK2-5...

[kuro]

[quote=JimSuperSix]When buying a mk1 or 2 MX5 the cambelt is quite irrelevant really , its cheap and very easy to replace and the engine wont be damaged if it breaks, so just get it done soon. There are more important things to check - if you're looking at a mk2 then the thing you need to check is the condition of the chassis rails:

http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst46836_MK2-5...

That thread is quite an unsettling read. I wonder how many people have casually picked up a seemingly shiny and sound looking mk2 for the summer on a whim and end up driving around in a potential deathtrap. There's a trader in my town who has a couple for sale advertised with the usual "summer fun" tagline. A quick look at the mot history of the cheaper one suggests it's a prime candidate for this issue. I personally wouldn't touch one without an extensive inspection.

[georgegmg]

JimSuperSix said:

When buying a mk1 or 2 MX5 the cambelt is quite irrelevant really , its cheap and very easy to replace and the engine wont be damaged if it breaks, so just get it done soon. There are more important things to check - if you're looking at a mk2 then the thing you need to check is the condition of the chassis rails:

http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst46836_MK2-5...

that looks bad.

Having real terrible finding a decent one at the moment. The Japanese import looks the best but the history being in Japanese is putting me off because i have no idea what has been done on the car.

[tr7v8]

As a owner of a Mk1 Eunos for 6 years & a Mk3.5 for 2 I'd say go on body condition, most of the mechanicals are peanuts to repair in comparison to body repairs.
Generally we've found spares plentiful & cheap. Odd bits that weren't are easiy obtained secondhand.

[anonymous-user]

georgegmg said:

JimSuperSix said:

When buying a mk1 or 2 MX5 the cambelt is quite irrelevant really , its cheap and very easy to replace and the engine wont be damaged if it breaks, so just get it done soon. There are more important things to check - if you're looking at a mk2 then the thing you need to check is the condition of the chassis rails:

http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst46836_MK2-5...

that looks bad.

Having real terrible finding a decent one at the moment. The Japanese import looks the best but the history being in Japanese is putting me off because i have no idea what has been done on the car.

Yes its put me off even considering a mk2. I drove one and it was nice enough , but having such a potentially terminal / expensive / unsafe issue just doesn't seem to make the car worth the risk , especially as it's so difficult to check for. At least with a mk1 the main problem is just the sill ends , which are easy to see , won't make the car unsafe , and are cheap to fix. I'd spend a bit more on an early mk3 rather than risk a mk2 I think , but preferably still get a mk1