possible new owner needs upgrade advice please
Discussion
Hi all, I've just popped over from the BMW forum as Im looking to change cars. I'm currently driving a highly modified 335i well in excess of 400bhp but need something cheaper as I'm moving house and the BM is starting to cost loads to run... I've owned a mk1 Eunos years ago and I loved it as they are cheap, fun cars, however I always felt them to be a bit down on power and wondered what performance upgrades there are available for Mx5's these days? I know it will never be a rocket ship, but I love nippy fun cars. I was thinking stuff like high lift cams maybe? 200 cell sports cats? light flywheel etc etc... Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
Andy70 said:
Munter said:
2.0 2006 will be MK3.
Look up BBR would be my suggestion for power.
If I remember rightly, do they do turbo kits for these cars? I probably wouldn't go to that extreme as It will be out of the frying pan into the fire lolLook up BBR would be my suggestion for power.
You should test drive one again to see if its for you. I thought about doing the same and going back to an MX5 but I tried a stock MK3 2.0 sport and it wasnt great. I know you can get the BBR kits but for the money you could buy something faster that's stock.
I ended up with a 350z and happy.
I ended up with a 350z and happy.
ShinyPsyduck said:
You should test drive one again to see if its for you. I thought about doing the same and going back to an MX5 but I tried a stock MK3 2.0 sport and it wasnt great. I know you can get the BBR kits but for the money you could buy something faster that's stock.
I ended up with a 350z and happy.
fair point, I will test drive one, but if I end up with something like a 350z, I may as well stick with what I got, the whole point of the exercise is something more economical and relatively cheap and yet still a bit of funI ended up with a 350z and happy.
Andy70 said:
fair point, I will test drive one, but if I end up with something like a 350z, I may as well stick with what I got, the whole point of the exercise is something more economical and relatively cheap and yet still a bit of fun
I wouldn't knock the 350z from your list. You can get a clean one for around 7K, the engine is reliable and the MPG isnt the worst for 300BHP. It would be interesting to see what MPG you get with a BBR kit fitted to a MK3 MX5. ShinyPsyduck said:
Andy70 said:
fair point, I will test drive one, but if I end up with something like a 350z, I may as well stick with what I got, the whole point of the exercise is something more economical and relatively cheap and yet still a bit of fun
I wouldn't knock the 350z from your list. You can get a clean one for around 7K, the engine is reliable and the MPG isnt the worst for 300BHP. It would be interesting to see what MPG you get with a BBR kit fitted to a MK3 MX5. Andy70 said:
My 335i is 420bhp- and as usual for most BM's they are really efficient, so like i said I'd better off keeping mine, 'better the devil you know' and the point again is i want a cheaper car to run and buy, I don't want to spend 7k on a car. I'm pretty convinced the bills from an Mx5 would be more modest. I also recon a 1000kg car with a 2l engine will return more mpgs than a 1600kg 30l....from what i just read, they are 1600kg and 276bhp hmmmm, I'll keep the 335 thanks
Yeah my 350z is 420BHP aswell. The 350z had 3 different engines over the years and a couple of different HP variants like most cars. Hmmm, you are best sticking with your BMW then as a BBR kits alone is going to be out of your budget and used cars with the kit are also.griffdude said:
Upgrades are available for all the models. I would go FI as it’s better bang-for-buck. Especially for MK1 or 2.
Budget 4K for a turbo conversion & it’ll have less power than your BMW but still a good power to weight ratio. Also, it’ll be lighter on brakes & a great handling car.
yeah well the 335 weighs 1600kgs so much heavier. I've always like light nimble cars and yes over all parts will be cheaper, I'm expecting some hefty bills as the injectors are prone to go on those and they are 200 quid each x6, plus fitting, high pressure fuel pump is 500 quid etc etc. I just spent £500 on an alternator and £800 for a clutch a couple of months ago so I'm done spending money on it really so to me something like an mx5 pepped up a bit is just as much fun for a fraction of the cost. I owned a mk1 years ago and loved itBudget 4K for a turbo conversion & it’ll have less power than your BMW but still a good power to weight ratio. Also, it’ll be lighter on brakes & a great handling car.
Simple really.
Go onto Faceache MX5 Mk1 Owners and find yourself either a 1.6 supercharged or turbo one already done.
In 900kg you don't need anything over 200bhp.
Whether you like the instantaneous response and noise of a supercharger or the possibility of silly bhp from a turbo, a few suspension upgrades and you'll have something which will frighten Porkers and Ferraris cross-country.
I've owned my s/c one for eight years and it just ticks so many boxes - the biggest tick being fun.
That said its cheap to run (especially compared to my 550i), great for touring (annual trip to Italy the scenic way), Autosolos, track-days and fast road - nuff said!
Go onto Faceache MX5 Mk1 Owners and find yourself either a 1.6 supercharged or turbo one already done.
In 900kg you don't need anything over 200bhp.
Whether you like the instantaneous response and noise of a supercharger or the possibility of silly bhp from a turbo, a few suspension upgrades and you'll have something which will frighten Porkers and Ferraris cross-country.
I've owned my s/c one for eight years and it just ticks so many boxes - the biggest tick being fun.
That said its cheap to run (especially compared to my 550i), great for touring (annual trip to Italy the scenic way), Autosolos, track-days and fast road - nuff said!
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff