Advice needed re crack in rear light-MX5 Mk3

General Discussion Forums MX-5 Chat
2

 Hi all,

I’ve just joined the forum today and this is my first post. I have an MX5 2.0 sport Mk3 2008 model . I found a large crack in the plastic cover on the driver’s side rear light when I went out to my car this morning. I’m not sure whether it has been vandalised or caused by a stone thrown up off the road when driving home last night and I just hadn’t noticed it. Anyway I wondered what the best option for replacement/repair is? I’ve had a look on the internet today and it seems that the cheapest price for a replacement unit is £165 excluding fitting.This is from mazdaparts.co.uk; I haven’t even been near the main dealer yet! Does anyone know whether you can simply replace the cracked plastic cover (lens) that protects the lights rather than the whole unit, as the lights inside seem fine and still work. I want to find out before I approach the main dealer so that I am not fobbed off that the only option is a complete replacement unit at silly££.Cry 

The car is still under warranty until November and I also don’t really want to go down the line of getting non- Mazda parts or getting it fitted by someone other than a main dealer and then invalidating the warranty if other problems were caused by the fitting. (I’ve got a pending warranty claim with Mazda at the moment regarding rusting quarterlight pillar on driver’s side.)

Do I have to bite the bullet and buy a complete new unit or is it possible to just buy a replacement plastic cover? If so, could I order this from the internet and get dealer to fit it?

Is it worth buying the part off the internet and then getting someone else to fit it? Am I worrying unnecessarily about the warranty invalidation?

 

Any views would be much appreciated.

3

Hi & welcome to the Forum,

usually its a replacement unit job, although I happy to be found incorrect by someone more learned, however here’s one on eBay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX-5-2009-Rear-Offside-Light-Cluster-/250855481440?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a6826e060

Better be quick as it ends in a few hours, a few bidders already but has a reserve (which has to be a minimum of £50) but either its gotta be cheaper than the £165 you’ve been quoted already.

4

Hi,

Thanks very much for the info and link. I am now the proud owner of a rear light cluster for my MX5 after winning the bid on e-bay! Paid a little bit more than I wanted to-just under £100. Still a lot cheaper than the other ones I’d seen advertised on the internet. Even better is that seller lives in the town that I work in so save on postage as well. Just got to get someone to fit it now. Anyway thanks for your help-much appreciated.

5

No worries and glad you saved some hard earned.