Thursday 27th March

Mazda MX-5 BBR Turbo | PH Auction Block

Need a good reason to smile? Brackley still points the way...

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It won’t surprise you to hear that the concept of a ‘perfect’ auction car is often kicked about the PH corridors, usually after a long lunch in the Dog and Handgun. Not in purely selfish financial terms, of course (that would result in a one-dimensional and ditchwater dull parade of lightly soiled Bugatti Veyrons) but rather what sort of car best encapsulates PistonHeads in all its multi-faceted and aggressively opinionated splendour. 

The current long list offers several prime contenders. High-mile, manual Aston Vantage? Check. Well-kept 306 GTI-6? Check. Stunningly pretty Nissan GT-R? Check. Appealing affordable Cayman? Check. All could be said to occupy a space close to the average PHer heart and speak to the values of a website that’s been chugging happily along for virtually the whole time there have been websites to visit. 

But the one that stands out for us this week (or indeed next week, because that’s when bidding kicks off) is this 2018 Mazda MX-5. Any example of Japan’s greatest-ever export (sorry, PlayStation) is obviously held in high regard, but it is the proud addition of a BBR badge that elevates the car to the kind of hallowed status that causes the PH brain trust to blow out its cheeks and silently ponder a bid. 

Why is that? Well, there are the usual MX-5 assets: it’s a modern, compact, lightweight, rear-drive, petrol-powered sports car that majors on fun - and these are about as numerous in 2025 as the Higgs boson is in your bedroom. But on top of that, you get the kind of expertise and model-specific savvy that only seems to originate from the industrial units of Great Britain. In short, BBR does what all exemplary tuners do; it takes a very good car and makes it better and faster and more desirable without sacrificing the things that made it very good in the first place. 

Moreover, BBR is notable for not limiting your tuning options to the one it considers best. It will merrily supercharge or turbocharge your MX-5, or simply fettle what is there. This example takes the exhaust gas approach to forced induction, and that means you get 250hp from the 2.0-litre unit, which, as intended, takes the ND’s performance from ‘adequate’ to pleasingly ample. 

But while speed certainly matters, it’s the additional tinkering in the chassis department that serves to unlock the MX-5’s virtuoso, flyweight talent. In our experience, BBR springs and adjustable dampers - not to mention the uprated anti-roll bars - harmonise with the higher output like chips complement fish. The result is one of the best ways to have fun on any road and at virtually any speed. What could be more PH than that? 

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See the full listing

[Master Bean]

I hear such great things about BBR aftercare.

[The Pistonsdead]

That's a bloody good car and probably cracking fun to drive/play in equal measures.

[sharkattack]

Master Bean said:

I hear such great things about BBR aftercare.

Same. I'm a keen potential customer but they don't have the best reputation for aftersales service.

[epom]

Stopped reading after stunningly pretty GTR.

[mattvanders]

After doing an airfield day in my/wife daily vr6 tt I’m really looking into options of a more focused fast toad car, it always keeps coming back to a modified mx5 nd/nc or go Porsche boxster/cayman route.

[paddy1970]

I test drove my friend's ND turbo with a similar specification and it was incredibly fun to drive. However, when my friend later tried to sell his, it took nearly 6 months to find a buyer (throughout spring and summer). He ended up taking a bath on the sale price. While he never disclosed the exact selling price, I suspect it was no more than £12,000. That said, purchasing one that's already been modified represents great value. The only issue like all mx5 is rust....

[Honeywell]

Went to look at Alpine A110s today. Very nice, but I have a 2.0 MX5 ND already and it did occur a cheaper way to get a 250bhp 1100kg rear wheel drive sports car was to call BBR and spend £8,000 rather than sell the Mazda and add £20,000 to by an Alpine. Plus have a manual box and a fabric roof.

I'm currently stroking my chin.

[evil.edna]

I'd be extremely nervous about an aftermarket turbo conversion for the 184PS version of the ND. That engine was originally designed to be a naturally aspirated high compression engine with a focus on real world part load fuel economy at the expense of wide open throttle performance. Although the compression ratio is high at part load, the VVT is used to dynamically lower it at higher loads to avoid detonation.

Pressure charging such an engine is risky - I imagine the knock control system is having to earn it's keep at high loads. Even a fairly experienced powertrain calibration engineer would probably have a tough time balancing everything to ensure durability isn't too detrimentally affected.

That's before we even move onto the chocolate gearbox.....there is a reason Fiat used the NC gearbox for the 124.

[1690cc]

My son has a ND2 with the 184hp engine. It seems about perfect as is. You can rev it out in a satisfying way without finding yourself in 3 figures all the time. Much more fun than my wife's 911 which although a lovely thing is too fast to be as enjoyable. I think my preference would be to hunt out a nice spec standard car such as a Recaro edition instead.

[Justin-ow582]

evil.edna said:

I'd be extremely nervous about an aftermarket turbo conversion for the 184PS version of the ND. That engine was originally designed to be a naturally aspirated high compression engine with a focus on real world part load fuel economy at the expense of wide open throttle performance. Although the compression ratio is high at part load, the VVT is used to dynamically lower it at higher loads to avoid detonation.

Pressure charging such an engine is risky - I imagine the knock control system is having to earn it's keep at high loads. Even a fairly experienced powertrain calibration engineer would probably have a tough time balancing everything to ensure durability isn't too detrimentally affected.

That's before we even move onto the chocolate gearbox.....there is a reason Fiat used the NC gearbox for the 124.

BBR didn't turbocharge the 184PS (ND2) engine, so this example must be a late ND1 with the lower revving 2.0 i4

Also, being a late ND1 I expect this will have the revised gearbox. I played it safe and got a 2019 ND2 just to be sure, along with BBR's "Super 220" upgrade which hikes up the bhp whilst keeping it naturally aspirated.

Edited by Justin-ow582 on Thursday 27th March 20:28

[identti]

I’ve driven one and was very disappointed. The engine is absolutely gutless. I had to look under the bonnet to check it actually had a turbo. It felt wheezy and unwilling to rev and it felt slower and less torquey than my old Clio 182!

[evil.edna]

Justin-ow582 said:

evil.edna said:

I'd be extremely nervous about an aftermarket turbo conversion for the 184PS version of the ND. That engine was originally designed to be a naturally aspirated high compression engine with a focus on real world part load fuel economy at the expense of wide open throttle performance. Although the compression ratio is high at part load, the VVT is used to dynamically lower it at higher loads to avoid detonation.

Pressure charging such an engine is risky - I imagine the knock control system is having to earn it's keep at high loads. Even a fairly experienced powertrain calibration engineer would probably have a tough time balancing everything to ensure durability isn't too detrimentally affected.

That's before we even move onto the chocolate gearbox.....there is a reason Fiat used the NC gearbox for the 124.

BBR didn't turbocharge the 184PS (ND2) engine, so this example must be a late ND1 with the lower revving 2.0 i4

The advert says........ "What certainly isn’t ‘factory’ is the performance, because there’s a handy 64bhp power uplift over the original 2.0 Skyactiv. It’s now good for 248bhp and 0-60mph in 5.0 seconds, with a top speed (we’re told) of 155mph. That kind of performance from an MX-5? Don’t mind if we do…". This is why I assumed it was the 184PS ND2 engine.

I wouldn't be as concerned if it is the ND1 engine. Even a risk averse individual like me might have their interest piqued. The gearbox issue still remains, though.

[Justin-ow582]

Nit-picking but the advert states "BBR has a history with Mazda MX-5s. Based in Brackley, Northants, just across the road from the Williams F1 team"

When I was there last year it was the Mercedes AMG HQ over the road from BBR, not Williams.

[evil.edna]

Justin-ow582 said:

BBR didn't turbocharge the 184PS (ND2) engine, so this example must be a late ND1 with the lower revving 2.0 i4

Also, being a late ND1 I expect this will have the revised gearbox. I played it safe and got a 2019 ND2 just to be sure, along with BBR's "Super 220" upgrade which hikes up the bhp whilst keeping it naturally aspirated.

Edited by Justin-ow582 on Thursday 27th March 20:28

You are quite correct. The interior photos show red line ta lower engine speed than ND2, also log book shows early 2018.....ND2s didn't appear until late 2018.

[akashzimzimma]

evil.edna said:

I'd be extremely nervous about an aftermarket turbo conversion for the 184PS version of the ND. That engine was originally designed to be a naturally aspirated high compression engine with a focus on real world part load fuel economy at the expense of wide open throttle performance. Although the compression ratio is high at part load, the VVT is used to dynamically lower it at higher loads to avoid detonation.

Pressure charging such an engine is risky - I imagine the knock control system is having to earn it's keep at high loads. Even a fairly experienced powertrain calibration engineer would probably have a tough time balancing everything to ensure durability isn't too detrimentally affected.

That's before we even move onto the chocolate gearbox.....there is a reason Fiat used the NC gearbox for the 124.

Except this is an ND1 with the lower revving 2.0 Unit

[GTRene]

mattvanders said:

After doing an airfield day in my/wife daily vr6 tt I’m really looking into options of a more focused fast toad car, it always keeps coming back to a modified mx5 nd/nc or go Porsche boxster/cayman route.

personally I've never driven a MX5, but when you tune it well its not cheap compared to the cost of second hand MX5

But what about a Opel Speedster ala VXXR and so on, I think (driven a few) those drive better more direct and nimble then a MX5?

just guessing, or a good Elise, also to buy for not to much.

[John Henry]

Had an ND2 with BBR exhaust, manifold and cams. Was supposed to be 220bhp. Never felt close to that. The lowering springs are an improvement but I wouldn’t want another modified MX5. It was good on fuel and the gear change is nice. Other than that it was meh and I was glad to see the back of it. If you want 250bhp in a roadster buy a Boxster. Hard sell used as well.

[iguana]

Lolz got your Brackley & Grove mixed up

[E63eeeeee...]

Aren't there loads of Higgs bosons in everyone's bedrooms? Isn't it basically everywhere?

[Ben Lowden]

If this were Soul Red, I'd be extremely tempted. Not that you usually buy an MX-5 for outright power - the light weight, handling and gearchange are all exceptional. Even the 1.5 is good fun in my book. I'm not sure I could stomach the cost to boost one myself as I don't keep my cars long enough, but if the right one came up on used market, I'd be all over it

I recently sold my modified NC on PistonHeads and had three people wanting to buy it the first weekend of March when the sun came out and for strong money too, so there's definitely a market for them.