Thought I’d start a build thread to keep track of the progress on my MX5.
It’s a 1.8 Icon NB with a 6 speed gearbox, torsen LSD, fancy wood interior stuff and leather.
I know what you’re all thinking… so yes the chassis rails have been repaired and are in perfect shape
By NB standards the chassis rails were in very good condition but had started to show signs of going so the seller repaired them properly before I bought the car The car’s in very good condition and I’m hoping it’ll stay that way seen as it’s garaged and is a second summer car, doesn’t mean I won’t be having some fun in it though.
A photo of the car when I bought it
As I said, it was very clean and had clearly been look after, to the average person’s standards. However, after 18 years it was crying out for a machine polish, so my first job was to spend a few days claying, polishing and non-sealing it.
Here’s a photo to give you an idea of what the paint was like. It wasn’t the worst but years of £3 car washes/turtle wax and sponges had taken its toll.
After polishing it looked like this. I’d say about 95% of the marks came out. Mazda paint’s lovely and soft so easy to machine polish, unlike the German cars I’ve owned previously.
I’ve always loved Watanabe’s on MX5s so set about looking for some. I found some 15x6.5? Watanabe RS8’s come up for sale locally so couldn’t resist buying them. They have Toyo T1R tyres one which are SOOOO bad!! Honestly, they make the car frightening to drive.
Now this is where it started to get a bit out of hand… I started reading other build threads, looking at parts online and seeing what needed replacing on my car. In short I’ve spend far more on parts than what the car, insurance and tax cost
Firstly the brakes were screwed. So after spending 100s of hours reading countless debates on forums and articles I settled on getting OEM style discs and Mintext 1144 compound pads, seen as it’ll be a mainly road going car with one or two track days.
I did the rear discs+pads first.
They were easy to do. The only issue I had was the driver’s side disc decided it didn’t want to come off but a rubber mallet and some force sorted it out.
I also did the fuel filter at the same time. Big tip to anyone doing the fuel filter, GET A TRAY TO CATCH THE FUEL. I forgot to and ended up covering myself and the road in petrol
The next thing I did was some shopping. I decided to buy some MeisterR coilovers and some Enkei RPF1 15x7 ET35 wheels.
Coilovers were easy to choose from all the rave reviews. However, the wheels took me about 3 months to decide on. I wanted something 15x7, light, good looking and cheap. I found out this is hard combo to find so the cheap criteria went out the window
Here are the coilovers and wheels. Name a more iconic duo… I’ll wait.
A few weeks later and the weather was nice enough to fit the coilovers.
Again, this wasn’t a hard job. I did the ‘long bolt method’ on the front. For the rear I found it easier to disconnect the ARB and the outer bolt on the upper wishbone, if you have an impact gun I highly recommend this because it made the whole job so much easier. I also disconnected the fuel filler neck, I don’t see why you wouldn’t as it’s so easy.
Pics of the coilovers installed. I got MeisterR’s anti-rust coating but will also be purchasing coilover sleeves, for all the hard summer miles it’ll be doing.
Front
Rear
I got some fancy dampening adjuster extenders for the rear.
Before coilovers
After, I think I did the front a bit too low. It looks okay now but I think once it’s settled it’ll be a bit too stancey for me.
If you’re considering buying MeisterR’s but are unsure due to the cost then all I can say is DO IT!!! They ride better than OEM!! I’ve only every experience cheap coilovers before and I was super scared they’d ruin the car.
I test fitted a wheel as well, I couldn’t resist. I have some Michelin Pilot Sport 3’s to go on them when I have time. On the photo it looks like the car’s resting on the wheel, I can assure you it’s not and there is a jack stand under there
Now for the interesting/scary part. I hadn’t done the front brakes yet so decided while I was there I’d do them. Well this is what I found
Yep! The inside pad was basically down to the metal!!
So I fitted the new pads/discs. Now some of the eagle eyed among you will notice that the Mintex pads haven’t been fitted. I noticed the front calipers were sticking slightly a while ago so got some cheap pads until I replace them as I didn’t want to run the risk of ruining expensive pads. I have the calipers to go on but will do them at a later date.
Some small jobs I’ve done that I haven’t got pictures of:
*Shift boots as they were cracked (made such a difference!)
*Gear/handbrake gaiter replace with nice new leather ones
*Sun visor blanks (made opening the roof so much easier)
*New radio
*Probably more but I’ve forgotten, hence the build thread to keep track of it
Parts I have to fit:
*Enkeis + tyres
*Cambelt, water pump
*Auxiliary belts
*Front calipers
*Gear box and diff oil
*Rocker cover gasket
*Full service (only done 2,000 miles ago but will do it with the cambelt)
And that’s up-to-date
Sorry it’s such a long post but this has all been done over the last 6 months.
