Finally got an mx5!!!.......now what to do first..??
Discussion
After much searching finally managed to get myself a cracking mx5 turbo.
My question is what should I do first? (apart from just drive it..!) It has a bit of history but not much and it does have new oil. What basic checks should I do before using it properly, diff. oil etc?
Also I think it needs aligning which I would get done at WiM, but what do I need to do before that? It could do with new tyres and the shocks may need over hauling (they are bridgestone NPG) if possible. Also there are no strut braces as extra. So do I need to do all these things before taking it to WiM or just take it to them and let them advise me what I should be looking to do?
Here it is...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/987259.htm
Oh and if anyone local knows what they should be set up like and wants to help me give it a once over let me know! :-)
Cheers
Ben
My question is what should I do first? (apart from just drive it..!) It has a bit of history but not much and it does have new oil. What basic checks should I do before using it properly, diff. oil etc?
Also I think it needs aligning which I would get done at WiM, but what do I need to do before that? It could do with new tyres and the shocks may need over hauling (they are bridgestone NPG) if possible. Also there are no strut braces as extra. So do I need to do all these things before taking it to WiM or just take it to them and let them advise me what I should be looking to do?
Here it is...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/987259.htm
Oh and if anyone local knows what they should be set up like and wants to help me give it a once over let me know! :-)
Cheers
Ben
Hi Ben, I've had my NC Wimmed, I'm sure if you talk to Tony he'll give you good advice.
ETA i'd recommend them.
Also look on http://www.mx-5.com/ for more advice.
ETA i'd recommend them.
Also look on http://www.mx-5.com/ for more advice.
Edited by Shaw Tarse on Monday 13th April 10:46
I would certainly suggest getting the braces fitted BEFORE you go to WIM. The main braces you should concentrate on are the lower braces, go for a front and rear lower brace, (available from MX5 PARTS for around £30 - £40) This will really help stiffen thinhs up. I would also consider a front upper strut brace, some say it doesn't do much, but I recently took a front upper brace off an mx-5 and it didn't feel quite as 'tight' afterwards. WIM do a fantastic job, it might be worth spraying the underside with some WD40 before you go just to make the adjusting a little bit easier...... 
Looks like you got a v. nice car there for not very much money, well-spotted! 
First things first; looks like a plastic rear window(?) = make sure you unzip it when lowering the hood, to avoid it cracking. Procedure = undo front clips, unzip/lay flat, drop hood (and reverse procedure to put back up). The brakes on these cars aren't great but check pads/discs and the colour of the fluid (should be colour of honey, not darker).
Have fun!
First things first; looks like a plastic rear window(?) = make sure you unzip it when lowering the hood, to avoid it cracking. Procedure = undo front clips, unzip/lay flat, drop hood (and reverse procedure to put back up). The brakes on these cars aren't great but check pads/discs and the colour of the fluid (should be colour of honey, not darker).
Have fun!
Thanks guys, yeah its is a nice car. Would never believe it was 18 years old! It had only been up for 2 hours when i spotted it....made a quick move and the rest is history!
Just been for a little drive with the top down and the sunshine - what a great feeling, already love it! and boy does it shift....only running at 6psi but still quick. Really would like to get the handling sorted though, I am new to performance cars so to me it feels quick and handles really well but I have no point of reference so would like to be sure i am getting the best out of my new toy!
Yes worked out the un-zipping first, actually quite quick to put up and down - probably faster than one of those electric fancy ones ;-)
Anyone else been out for a blast today..? Think I am sunburnt already....lol!
Just been for a little drive with the top down and the sunshine - what a great feeling, already love it! and boy does it shift....only running at 6psi but still quick. Really would like to get the handling sorted though, I am new to performance cars so to me it feels quick and handles really well but I have no point of reference so would like to be sure i am getting the best out of my new toy!
Yes worked out the un-zipping first, actually quite quick to put up and down - probably faster than one of those electric fancy ones ;-)
Anyone else been out for a blast today..? Think I am sunburnt already....lol!
I am guessing these are the braces mentioned before?
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...
It has a full roll cage, so I guess the rear upper is fairly stiff already? just sort the rear lower, front lower and maybe front upper if I can fit one in there, would have to re-jig some of the turbo install components but is do-able if its worth it.
Also, brakes, yes well they are spongy and may as well not even be there...lol! On the top of my list is either a 1.8 brake conversion or maybe twin/4 pot calipers. Not sure the latter is really necessary as I have heard good things about the 1.8 upgrade and should be possible for about £300 (??). The car will be used for mainly weekend B roads and track days, but still want the car to perform as well as it can without breaking the bank.
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...
It has a full roll cage, so I guess the rear upper is fairly stiff already? just sort the rear lower, front lower and maybe front upper if I can fit one in there, would have to re-jig some of the turbo install components but is do-able if its worth it.
Also, brakes, yes well they are spongy and may as well not even be there...lol! On the top of my list is either a 1.8 brake conversion or maybe twin/4 pot calipers. Not sure the latter is really necessary as I have heard good things about the 1.8 upgrade and should be possible for about £300 (??). The car will be used for mainly weekend B roads and track days, but still want the car to perform as well as it can without breaking the bank.
ben@fareham said:
I am guessing these are the braces mentioned before?
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...
It has a full roll cage, so I guess the rear upper is fairly stiff already? just sort the rear lower, front lower and maybe front upper if I can fit one in there, would have to re-jig some of the turbo install components but is do-able if its worth it.
Also, brakes, yes well they are spongy and may as well not even be there...lol! On the top of my list is either a 1.8 brake conversion or maybe twin/4 pot calipers. Not sure the latter is really necessary as I have heard good things about the 1.8 upgrade and should be possible for about £300 (??). The car will be used for mainly weekend B roads and track days, but still want the car to perform as well as it can without breaking the bank.
That is indeed the brace I referred to, made quite a big difference which I was surprised about given the cheapness of the part, that link is for the rear one, they also do a front one. Well worth getting!! I have also heard the 1.8 conversion is good. I currently have drilled and grooved discs on the front and find the braking excellent, haven't subjected the brakes to a track day yet though......!!http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...
It has a full roll cage, so I guess the rear upper is fairly stiff already? just sort the rear lower, front lower and maybe front upper if I can fit one in there, would have to re-jig some of the turbo install components but is do-able if its worth it.
Also, brakes, yes well they are spongy and may as well not even be there...lol! On the top of my list is either a 1.8 brake conversion or maybe twin/4 pot calipers. Not sure the latter is really necessary as I have heard good things about the 1.8 upgrade and should be possible for about £300 (??). The car will be used for mainly weekend B roads and track days, but still want the car to perform as well as it can without breaking the bank.
ok will keep an eye on the braces then, there is a new set on Ebay ;-)
Yes plenty of bits to tinker with, I think I have a great base car to just tweek here and there.
only picked it up yesterday so still very new to mx5's and the turbo set up is all very technical but with a bit of help from you guy's I will get there, plus being an engineer the temptation to fiddle is over-whelming! So far I have got the following details on the car as it is now (thought it was important to note the start point and maybe identify bits to tweek!);
'91 1.6 Eunos V-spec
TD04H turbo with heat shield
Large intercoiler
HKS sequential BOV
HKS PFC F-CON fuel controller
HKS electronic valve controller (no idea how to use it..)
HKS turbo timer
Long nose crank
Forged pistons (no evidence of this, wouldnt know how to tell anyway!)
Bridgestone NPG adjust. shocks lowered to 310mm front and 330mm rear (anyone know about these shocks?)
Close ratio gearbox (5th gear @ 55mph is about 3000RPM)
Uprated clutch (not sure if its triple plate or not, but is definately either on or off!)
Powerflow twin exit 3" exhaust (new)
15" alloys (not sure what make) with falken ZE512 195/50R15's (3mm tread so need some new ones!)
1.5 way LSD (unknown make, but cost 80000 yen back in 2004!)
Full roll cage that bolts into the floor with strut across top of windscreen
Seems to run fine, and on boost it is rapid! I have a dyno rpint out that say 210bhp @ 7240rpm but not sure what psi/bar this is at, currently running at 0.5 bar which is plenty for now! Gearbox and cutch take a bit of getting used to but getting there, feels real race like and loves being pushed!
Down side is the brakes, fairly crap to be fair. I am looking into this at the mo, and see what I come up with. 1.8's are looking like the way forward, anyone breaking one..?? ;-p
Thoughts and comments welcome, and if anyone local wants to come and help me figure out all these new toys, you are welcome! Would be good to talk to someone who knows what a well set up '5 feels like.
Cheers,
Ben
Yes plenty of bits to tinker with, I think I have a great base car to just tweek here and there.
only picked it up yesterday so still very new to mx5's and the turbo set up is all very technical but with a bit of help from you guy's I will get there, plus being an engineer the temptation to fiddle is over-whelming! So far I have got the following details on the car as it is now (thought it was important to note the start point and maybe identify bits to tweek!);
'91 1.6 Eunos V-spec
TD04H turbo with heat shield
Large intercoiler
HKS sequential BOV
HKS PFC F-CON fuel controller
HKS electronic valve controller (no idea how to use it..)
HKS turbo timer
Long nose crank
Forged pistons (no evidence of this, wouldnt know how to tell anyway!)
Bridgestone NPG adjust. shocks lowered to 310mm front and 330mm rear (anyone know about these shocks?)
Close ratio gearbox (5th gear @ 55mph is about 3000RPM)
Uprated clutch (not sure if its triple plate or not, but is definately either on or off!)
Powerflow twin exit 3" exhaust (new)
15" alloys (not sure what make) with falken ZE512 195/50R15's (3mm tread so need some new ones!)
1.5 way LSD (unknown make, but cost 80000 yen back in 2004!)
Full roll cage that bolts into the floor with strut across top of windscreen
Seems to run fine, and on boost it is rapid! I have a dyno rpint out that say 210bhp @ 7240rpm but not sure what psi/bar this is at, currently running at 0.5 bar which is plenty for now! Gearbox and cutch take a bit of getting used to but getting there, feels real race like and loves being pushed!
Down side is the brakes, fairly crap to be fair. I am looking into this at the mo, and see what I come up with. 1.8's are looking like the way forward, anyone breaking one..?? ;-p
Thoughts and comments welcome, and if anyone local wants to come and help me figure out all these new toys, you are welcome! Would be good to talk to someone who knows what a well set up '5 feels like.
Cheers,
Ben
Get ye to an airfield trackday for starters? (less to hit than a track with armco! ) MSE run quite a few in North Wilts area that's not too far from you (no, I am not affiliated with MSE at all) I'd be more than happy to meet at one of these, just as soon as my fives <ahem> panel damage has been sorted 
There is a thread under Motorsports that keeps a list of who's going to what...
) MSE run quite a few in North Wilts area that's not too far from you (no, I am not affiliated with MSE at all) I'd be more than happy to meet at one of these, just as soon as my fives <ahem> panel damage has been sorted There is a thread under Motorsports that keeps a list of who's going to what...bluetone said:
Get ye to an airfield trackday for starters? (less to hit than a track with armco! ) MSE run quite a few in North Wilts area that's not too far from you (no, I am not affiliated with MSE at all) I'd be more than happy to meet at one of these, just as soon as my fives <ahem> panel damage has been sorted There is a thread under Motorsports that keeps a list of who's going to what...
Here be said PH linky: ) MSE run quite a few in North Wilts area that's not too far from you (no, I am not affiliated with MSE at all) I'd be more than happy to meet at one of these, just as soon as my fives <ahem> panel damage has been sorted There is a thread under Motorsports that keeps a list of who's going to what...http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Best site for enthisiasts is www.mx5nutz.com, very helpful group of people
Looks like a good purchase you have there!
I'd suggest getting the alignment done first. Adding braces later won't affect the alignment and that way you will be able to feel the effect of each brace as it's added. This helps to really understand the effects on the cars handling.
As for the brakes, make sure you're current brakes arein good nick - check that the pads are biting the full width of the disc. They tend to suffer from rust causing the bite are to be reduced.
To upgrade them most are more than happy with a 1.8 conversion. If you think you might need a bit more braking power, go for mk2.5 (2001+) Sport brakes which are a bit bigger than standard 1.8 brakes. That would be more expensive though as you'd need the callipers as well as the pads, discs & mounting brackets (which is all you need for standard 1.8 brakes).
For tyres I'd recommend Goodyear F1 GSD3 or Toyo T1R.
I'd suggest getting the alignment done first. Adding braces later won't affect the alignment and that way you will be able to feel the effect of each brace as it's added. This helps to really understand the effects on the cars handling.
As for the brakes, make sure you're current brakes arein good nick - check that the pads are biting the full width of the disc. They tend to suffer from rust causing the bite are to be reduced.
To upgrade them most are more than happy with a 1.8 conversion. If you think you might need a bit more braking power, go for mk2.5 (2001+) Sport brakes which are a bit bigger than standard 1.8 brakes. That would be more expensive though as you'd need the callipers as well as the pads, discs & mounting brackets (which is all you need for standard 1.8 brakes).
For tyres I'd recommend Goodyear F1 GSD3 or Toyo T1R.
Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Monday 13th April 19:11
Get some toyo tyres. I have got them mine are 15" and got them last july for my rota wheels. I want your engine, much nicer than mine. Get down to Paul Sheard Autos in cheshire and get a £46 waxoyl underneath to protect your car if its near you.
Mine is 1.6, I think your paint work is in better nick than mine!
Get some white dials too, really sets the car off if the interior feels a bit dull.
Mine is 1.6, I think your paint work is in better nick than mine!
Get some white dials too, really sets the car off if the interior feels a bit dull.
MX-5 Lazza said:
Looks like a good purchase you have there!
I'd suggest getting the alignment done first. Adding braces later won't affect the alignment and that way you will be able to feel the effect of each brace as it's added. This helps to really understand the effects on the cars handling.
As for the brakes, make sure you're current brakes arein good nick - check that the pads are biting the full width of the disc. They tend to suffer from rust causing the bite are to be reduced.
To upgrade them most are more than happy with a 1.8 conversion. If you think you might need a bit more braking power, go for mk2.5 (2001+) Sport brakes which are a bit bigger than standard 1.8 brakes. That would be more expensive though as you'd need the callipers as well as the pads, discs & mounting brackets (which is all you need for standard 1.8 brakes).
For tyres I'd recommend Goodyear F1 GSD3 or Toyo T1R.
Have to disagree here, would certainly get the bracing sorted out before any alignment!! Surely fitting bracing afterwards will affect the wheel alignment considering what how sensitive the MX-5 suspension is. In my opinion ask Tony at WIM see what he would recommend. Lazza, whilst I respect your superior knowledge, I have to beg to differ on this one......I'd suggest getting the alignment done first. Adding braces later won't affect the alignment and that way you will be able to feel the effect of each brace as it's added. This helps to really understand the effects on the cars handling.
As for the brakes, make sure you're current brakes arein good nick - check that the pads are biting the full width of the disc. They tend to suffer from rust causing the bite are to be reduced.
To upgrade them most are more than happy with a 1.8 conversion. If you think you might need a bit more braking power, go for mk2.5 (2001+) Sport brakes which are a bit bigger than standard 1.8 brakes. That would be more expensive though as you'd need the callipers as well as the pads, discs & mounting brackets (which is all you need for standard 1.8 brakes).
For tyres I'd recommend Goodyear F1 GSD3 or Toyo T1R.
Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Monday 13th April 19:11
Sorry to butt in here, but I've had an idea. I'm not an MX-5 owner quite yet but I'm looking, and I've lurked on this forum for quite a while!
Would it be worth having a thread called "Useful tips for owners" or something? I've noticed that it's often people ask very similar questions when people first by a 5 - maybe if there was a thread where people only posted useful hints and tips new owners could find everything they know there, and the people who have had there's for a while might learn something new!
Maybe the first post could be, for someone with the knowledge, a post about the years of production for different models, and perhaps the dates of the differently powered 1.6 engines?
I'll understand if you tell me to fark off
Would it be worth having a thread called "Useful tips for owners" or something? I've noticed that it's often people ask very similar questions when people first by a 5 - maybe if there was a thread where people only posted useful hints and tips new owners could find everything they know there, and the people who have had there's for a while might learn something new!
Maybe the first post could be, for someone with the knowledge, a post about the years of production for different models, and perhaps the dates of the differently powered 1.6 engines?
I'll understand if you tell me to fark off
The chassis braces are just bolt-on parts. The bolts used are nothing to do with the alignment bolts. All the braces do is stop the car flexing on bumps/cornering quite as much. Adding the braces won't affect the alignment in the slightest.
When buying a car with no alignment history I'd suggest that it's more important to get the alignment sorted first before spending any money on braces. Having correct alignment is going to make a much bigger difference than any amount of additional bracing. Adding bracing after that should just help to sharpen the turn-in and improve the ride & handling on bumpier roads.
When buying a car with no alignment history I'd suggest that it's more important to get the alignment sorted first before spending any money on braces. Having correct alignment is going to make a much bigger difference than any amount of additional bracing. Adding bracing after that should just help to sharpen the turn-in and improve the ride & handling on bumpier roads.
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