I’ve owned this 05 Arctic MX5 for 9 months now. It had a little bit of rust on the arches but this winter has been brutal. I know I should have kept it under cover but its just not convenient etc when using it everyday. My fault I know. I’m a rookie when it comes to car repairs/maintenance. Can anybody help me and tell me is these are past saving now or if there is anything I can do to stop this getting worse? Thanks for any help (I have more images but cannot add them as I am a new member)
The only way to stop the rot is to have it cut out. Mk2’s can go around the arches, unfortunately very common, check the rear part of the sills too they are most likely the same or soon will be.
Check also the front chassis rails, harder to check with the engine under tray in place but doable if you know where to look.
Sorry for the blunt answer, it’s no good saying oh just rub it down and paint it, it’s too far gone for that.
Thanks. Will this fail on an MOT with this rusting? I’m a virgin when it comes to car knowledge really. Any idea of the average cost to fix this issue?
MOT.
Not unless rot has reached the seatbelt anchor point structures…or it’s gone a bit postal elsewhere as well structurally.
Repairs?
Depending on the extents, budget between £350 to £500.00 per side if a pukka re-metalling is done. It’s double skinned…complex.
However before you chuck a penny at it, take Mick’s advice and have your engine bay chassis rails professionally assessed…by getting it ramped and the plastic engine tray dropped.
They can present a deal breaker frankly. You may be a lucky one though.
Nope. Sorry…damp & condensation will continue.
Only dehumidfied dry store would slow it…a bit.
It’s just too far gone really.
Sorry but you need to know the truth.
It’s possible to get it through the MOT if that’s all you can see in the pics, at best it’ll be in the advisories. It’s what you can’t see, in the sills, under the car and of course those strength/structural areas the tester will be looking at.
Many many owners have asked similar questions re rust in Mk2’s it’s also sadly asked of Mk3’s now, some of those are getting on for 15 years old now and the rust has set with similar results around the rear arch/sill areas.
No thanks.
Mk1 done 2 years back.
Mk2.5 around 5 years.
Last time for both of them. Probably sell Mk2.5 sometime 2021…not made up mind.
Way things are going with Covid…cannot justify 2 another 6 months or a year.
At some point I imagine all Mk2 and Mk2.5 MX5s will need chassis rails, sills and arches done.
It’s cost effective if you plan to keep it long term. I bought mine cheap knowing it wouldn’t pass the next MOT, having already decided I would spend time and money on it. So no need to run it into the ground, if you don’t want to fix it up someone else might.
