I’m looking at MX5’s for sale locally to get a feel for price/condition etc. & came across a Mk3 coupe - 2010, 58k miles, full Mazda service history £6200. On the face of it seems like a decent price but looking at the past MOT’s its had several advisories on corroded coil springs (all of them) and other niggling suspension issues resulting in fails (worn bushes, wheel binding, worn arms etc) - would the spring issue be indicative of possible more corrosion elsewhere & are the suspension problems common or has the car possibly been driven on unsuitable roads?
Thanks in advance
Keith
They are indicative of the car needing examined by someone with knowledge of the cars as the advisories on MOT’s are sometimes advised by one tester and the next year another tester will consider these issues as not needing advised to the owner.
Either get under the car and inspect it or have the car inspected by someone with knowledge of the cars.
The car is 10 years or so old and if it has not been rust protected by a former owner there will be rust on any MX5 of that age. The factory rustproffing has been poor since 1989.
My 2007 38000 miles, Mk3 broke 2 front springs last year top coils, they are a common fault, good excuse to lower it by 30mm which I did by fitting eibachs. It was actually designed to be 30mm lower originally by Mazda! So you’ll be making it ‘standard’ (true)
Unfortunately the MK3 can suffer badly from rust, particulary underneath around the suspension components and end of sills.
2010 car is still around nine years old and whilst an average MK3 of that age would likely be okay your comments on this one indicate bad corrosion.
You have done your homework and on inspection would no doubt find what is telegraphed. Go and look if nearby to confirm but on the face of it, keep your money in your pocket.