Service MOT...grumble mumble bugger
Discussion
Well it's in the garage.
"Hi Mr Munter it's Frank from the Garage"
"oh hi"
"Theres a few things. Did you know it'd been crashed...."
"Yes, good isn't it."
"err....right. Anyway it's making a lot of noise from the waterpump. And theres no anti-freeze in the coolant. And theres a slight leak on the "main"* oil seal, and a number of bulbs have gone again" (*I presume thats around the crank)
The upshot is it's in on Friday for a cambelt and waterpump. 105,000 miles seems a fair life for a water pump. Just could it at least have waited until after the new year!
grumble...cars...grumble...expense....never get to drive it....grumble
"Hi Mr Munter it's Frank from the Garage"
"oh hi"
"Theres a few things. Did you know it'd been crashed...."
"Yes, good isn't it."
"err....right. Anyway it's making a lot of noise from the waterpump. And theres no anti-freeze in the coolant. And theres a slight leak on the "main"* oil seal, and a number of bulbs have gone again" (*I presume thats around the crank)
The upshot is it's in on Friday for a cambelt and waterpump. 105,000 miles seems a fair life for a water pump. Just could it at least have waited until after the new year!
grumble...cars...grumble...expense....never get to drive it....grumble
My mk1 is in the garage now for it's MOT (1st one since I bought it). I put it in there 5 weeks ago, thought it would fly through. It's still not finished and it's going to cost about 700 quid (Ball joints, wishbones, shocks, rust)! I thought I was buying a minter.
Anyway, I agree. I hate cars.
Anyway, I agree. I hate cars.
Raffles said:
My mk1 is in the garage now for it's MOT (1st one since I bought it). I put it in there 5 weeks ago, thought it would fly through. It's still not finished and it's going to cost about 700 quid (Ball joints, wishbones, shocks, rust)! I thought I was buying a minter.
Anyway, I agree. I hate cars.
Bloody hell. I have obviously been lucky. In the time I've had mine she has never needed anything for her MOT and the chaps always comment what good nick she is in for an old girl.Anyway, I agree. I hate cars.
(touches wood)
princeperch said:
Raffles said:
My mk1 is in the garage now for it's MOT (1st one since I bought it). I put it in there 5 weeks ago, thought it would fly through. It's still not finished and it's going to cost about 700 quid (Ball joints, wishbones, shocks, rust)! I thought I was buying a minter.
Anyway, I agree. I hate cars.
Bloody hell. I have obviously been lucky. In the time I've had mine she has never needed anything for her MOT and the chaps always comment what good nick she is in for an old girl.Anyway, I agree. I hate cars.
(touches wood)
I'm always a bit dubious about garages and mots. I sometimes can't help but feel they rub there greasy little hands and open a can of worms to create 'a nice little earner' for themselves. Thats why I would only ever take mine to a garage/mechanic I know and trust........ (I'm not saying all garages are like this, but when I hear about huge reapir bills, does make the old alarm bell go off a bit.....)
Just picked it up. And the guy has put his labour rate up from earlier in the year. £45 an hour now! 
I still think thats cheap. And I got a "free" bulb to pass the MOT.
I'm happy with my garage.
ETA: He's busier than I've ever seen him. While I was there 2 customers walked in off the street with problems on reasonably new Fords. Theres a Ford dealer just down the street and I suspect they are tightening their belts and using my guys service rather than the main dealer.
I still think thats cheap. And I got a "free" bulb to pass the MOT.I'm happy with my garage.
ETA: He's busier than I've ever seen him. While I was there 2 customers walked in off the street with problems on reasonably new Fords. Theres a Ford dealer just down the street and I suspect they are tightening their belts and using my guys service rather than the main dealer.
Edited by Munter on Tuesday 16th December 12:26
FELIX_5 said:
I'm always a bit dubious about garages and mots. I sometimes can't help but feel they rub there greasy little hands and open a can of worms to create 'a nice little earner' for themselves. Thats why I would only ever take mine to a garage/mechanic I know and trust........ (I'm not saying all garages are like this, but when I hear about huge reapir bills, does make the old alarm bell go off a bit.....)
I trust my guy implicitly. He's charging me 10 quid per hour (special rates, my dad has used him for years). But I have had to source calipers, wishbones, ball joints, a hub (200 quid itself), four shocks (but I got gas adjustable) and I needed new springs so have got a lowered spring kit. All in about 700 quid but I'm yet to find out. He says the underneath of the car is so rusty he's having to use the heat gun to get any bolts out. I did the pre-MOT with him so can see what he is talking about.
I love the car so much, so it's just an excuse to keep it for longer if I have spent so much money on it!
Raffles said:
FELIX_5 said:
I'm always a bit dubious about garages and mots. I sometimes can't help but feel they rub there greasy little hands and open a can of worms to create 'a nice little earner' for themselves. Thats why I would only ever take mine to a garage/mechanic I know and trust........ (I'm not saying all garages are like this, but when I hear about huge reapir bills, does make the old alarm bell go off a bit.....)
I trust my guy implicitly. He's charging me 10 quid per hour (special rates, my dad has used him for years). But I have had to source calipers, wishbones, ball joints, a hub (200 quid itself), four shocks (but I got gas adjustable) and I needed new springs so have got a lowered spring kit. All in about 700 quid but I'm yet to find out. He says the underneath of the car is so rusty he's having to use the heat gun to get any bolts out. I did the pre-MOT with him so can see what he is talking about.
I love the car so much, so it's just an excuse to keep it for longer if I have spent so much money on it!
Any excuse to keep the car longer can only be a good thing! Hope you get it all sorted!....mumble....almost £300....grumble....cambelt tensioner not working....mumble
So yeah, £206 to supply and fit everything to do with the cambelt, and £75 for supply and fit of the waterpump, £12 Antifreeze.
Doesn't seem too bad. I have to say the car is much quieter now. The noise the cambelt and waterpump was making obviously built up over time and we didn't realise.... Cars now much smoother and the idle doesn't wobble around....
The thing is now. It still needs new shocks, the main oil seal is leaking (so no track use until thats fixed), might as well do the clutch while the 'box is off, the elec aerial doesn't work, it needs a new hood, door, wing, the washer bottle is cracked and it's in the front bumper type (e.g. a PITA to change). Anybody want to work out if I'm better fixing it up, or buying another/something else
.
If I buy another MK1, I could still have to do a lot of these items. If I buy a MK2 it'd be newer but it wouldn't take my ARBs and i'm not sure if the Hard Dog Deuce will fit on. If I buy an old M3 I'll be happy with more power but wish I had the MX5 handling/running costs.
WWJD?
So yeah, £206 to supply and fit everything to do with the cambelt, and £75 for supply and fit of the waterpump, £12 Antifreeze.
Doesn't seem too bad. I have to say the car is much quieter now. The noise the cambelt and waterpump was making obviously built up over time and we didn't realise.... Cars now much smoother and the idle doesn't wobble around....
The thing is now. It still needs new shocks, the main oil seal is leaking (so no track use until thats fixed), might as well do the clutch while the 'box is off, the elec aerial doesn't work, it needs a new hood, door, wing, the washer bottle is cracked and it's in the front bumper type (e.g. a PITA to change). Anybody want to work out if I'm better fixing it up, or buying another/something else
.If I buy another MK1, I could still have to do a lot of these items. If I buy a MK2 it'd be newer but it wouldn't take my ARBs and i'm not sure if the Hard Dog Deuce will fit on. If I buy an old M3 I'll be happy with more power but wish I had the MX5 handling/running costs.
WWJD?
Invest the time and money in yours. Even if it's anoterh car there'll be otehr things to fix, Mk2's are also aging.
Best solution is many of those problems you could be sorting yourself, save yourself some £'s and know the jobs done right. The MX5 is, as cars go, a doddle to work on.
Grass almost always looks greener eleswhere (i.e. anotehr car)
My 2p worth ! Hope it's helpful
Best solution is many of those problems you could be sorting yourself, save yourself some £'s and know the jobs done right. The MX5 is, as cars go, a doddle to work on.
Grass almost always looks greener eleswhere (i.e. anotehr car)
My 2p worth ! Hope it's helpful
I've just run up a few numbers in a spreadsheet. I've looked up parts costs on mx5parts and autolink, "estimated" labour on each of the jobs. Some jobs like the main oil seal leak and clutch I've shared my "estimated" labour. It's a fair wedge. But are my figures accurate?...or 
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Paint/fit Body | £1,000 |
| Hood | £200 |
| Oil Leak | £400 |
| Aerial | £200 |
| Wing | £110 |
| Door | £70 |
| Washer Bottle | £30 |
| Suspention | £330 |
| Shock boots | £46 |
| Clutch | £200 |
| Total | £2,586 |
Munter said:
... If I buy an old M3 I'll be happy with more power but wish I had the MX5 handling/running costs.
WWJD?
Just to point out - what happens in a years time, when your M3 has a similar list of jobs that need doing... WWJD?
I am relatively confident in saying that if the Mazda repairs are proving expensive for you, then a load of BMW parts with added M-tax are gonna put you right out of pocket!
If the car is a good one other than the listed repairs, then my advice would be to get handy with the spanners and get it sorted.
princeperch said:
400 notes for an oil leak?! I thought there was only 3 main places for it to leak; - the rocker cover, the sump, or the CAS O ring, and all would be a cheap-ish fix...
Thats a total guess on my part. I figure dropping the 'box out and buggering around takes a while. The cam cover and CAS O ring have been done earlier this year. And this appears to be the main seal between the engine/crank/gearbox. So it's either the engine out or 'box off to get to it. And while they are in there, might as well fit a new clutch.snotrag said:
Munter said:
... If I buy an old M3 I'll be happy with more power but wish I had the MX5 handling/running costs.
WWJD?
Just to point out - what happens in a years time, when your M3 has a similar list of jobs that need doing... WWJD?
I am relatively confident in saying that if the Mazda repairs are proving expensive for you, then a load of BMW parts with added M-tax are gonna put you right out of pocket!
If the car is a good one other than the listed repairs, then my advice would be to get handy with the spanners and get it sorted.
For instance to replace the washer bottle, I think I'm going to have to remove the bumper. Due to the accident damage it's not fixed on in the usual ways and has had to be cut about to make it fit to adjusted bodywork behind it. It's one of the reasons I've not bolted a new wing on. I'm not confident it'll all go back again.
On the plus side though the engine gearbox and diff are ok (in terms of wear).
But I start thinking rather than fix up the MX5 I could spend the money and a bit more on:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/819657.htm
or
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/812672.htm
And flog the current MX5 to someone who has the skill to fix it up themselves.
It's not so much spending the money, but getting best value for the money spent...
Very difficult decision there. I always try to apply financial logic to these things:
- How much is your car worth in current condition?
- Will spending £2k + add value?
- What will go next?
Spending the cash will not add value to the car so, head ruling the heart, you're better off selling. Heart ruling the head is a different matter altogether.
This car is very good value and should be depreciation proof at this price
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/823286.htm
- How much is your car worth in current condition?
- Will spending £2k + add value?
- What will go next?
Spending the cash will not add value to the car so, head ruling the heart, you're better off selling. Heart ruling the head is a different matter altogether.
This car is very good value and should be depreciation proof at this price
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/823286.htm
Sorry to hear of all the expense, been lucky with my MX5 so far, not so on my much newer Celica, on engine 3 already!
anyway, for MOT's i NEVER take my cars to a garage, i used to get stung for hundreds every time, now i take it to an MOT centre that doesn't do repairs, funnily enough i now pass every time.
Not saying all garages are corrupt, but how many times have you heard
"ah, well this part needs to be replaced as its 60% worn" - so its 40% un-worn then? and if its taken 5 years to get 60% worn i have another 2 years before i need to worry about it. Alot of garages will pressure you into repairing something they can charge you for, but an MOT centre recommends stuff that will need doing within the next year, and i then do them in my own time before the next MOT.
anyway, for MOT's i NEVER take my cars to a garage, i used to get stung for hundreds every time, now i take it to an MOT centre that doesn't do repairs, funnily enough i now pass every time.
Not saying all garages are corrupt, but how many times have you heard
"ah, well this part needs to be replaced as its 60% worn" - so its 40% un-worn then? and if its taken 5 years to get 60% worn i have another 2 years before i need to worry about it. Alot of garages will pressure you into repairing something they can charge you for, but an MOT centre recommends stuff that will need doing within the next year, and i then do them in my own time before the next MOT.
You just said it Raffles . . . I love the car so much! . . .
I've spent the last two years restoring an early Mk1 because I feel the same. They will become rarer, its been worth every penny. There's still work to do but I'll take my time and spread the cost. Now only a summer car though, work always done in the winter. See pics on New Member, earlier posting.
Phil
I've spent the last two years restoring an early Mk1 because I feel the same. They will become rarer, its been worth every penny. There's still work to do but I'll take my time and spread the cost. Now only a summer car though, work always done in the winter. See pics on New Member, earlier posting.
Phil
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