Hi all. New member here from south London/north Kent about to purchase a 2.0 NC. I’m coming from a history of Z3s and Z4s incl M cars and want to scratch my MX5 itch!
Done the usual due diligence when looking at examples but I have two questions I wonder if anyone on here can help me with.
When revving the engine from cold is it normal for the oil pressure gauge to also move from low to mid (I’m guessing yes, but it would be great to know for sure).
Second question is around timing chains. Car I’m looking at seems to have been looked after, 100k miles but scant service history. Runs okay, no knows or rattles but I also know these cars benefit from a 60k mile major service. How robust are the timing chains?
Thanks in advance and hopefully look forward to being on the forum a lot more.
Make sure that you keep it up to the max mark on the stick. Now not knowing the previous history its a gamble to buy an NC without SH, you go with your gut feeling re previous owners story and how the car looks, feels. No funny knocking noises from the engine, does it smell like its burning oil, look like its burning oil? Earlier NC’s engines prone to going pop if they’ve been neglected on the oil side of things.
Timing chains should be ok, been known to wear on some, again regular oil changes should keep it running sweet.
Whilst on the oil side of things, that gauge is acting normally, it goes up and down with engine speed.
So oil then?
Understood. My gut says its a good one and had no reason to think there were issues. If I get it I think I’ll book a full service regardless (it had one in April IIRC).
Any recommendations on the oil?
2-3mm above is about right. Check every week (I even do when I’ve been nowhere in it:grin:) despite conflicting opinions how to check the oil, including the manual I always check on a cold engine, left overnight ideally before first start. The dipstick is a little difficult to read, a newer version is available to fit the older NC’s.
The best advice I had when purchasing my first NC was, keep the oil level on the max mark. That was coming from a man who’s rebuilt these engines or transplanted many when they go bang through lack of oil.
On a decent running engine they don’t use much oil, about a teacup full I put in during around 4-5k miles oil change intervals.On my latest NC3.75 its not used a drop after around 3k miles since the oil change.
Pulled out of a purchase because of that gauge thinking it should sit in the middle like all gauges even though the seller informed me about its behaviour…so drove 20 miles home asked on here to be told its the norm to drive back again tail between legs an hour later.
You will fall in love with the MX5 NC Especially the NC1.75 But in my opinion -With the ‘Soft Top’ - A roadster just ‘looks like a roadster should look ‘with the soft top variant’ … Just my personal opinion…. All MX5s are Lovely in their own way. I prefer the MX5 ND soft top rather than the hard top RF…. But it’s all a matter of preferences …
The timing chain issue that you mentioned. Well I have never personally seen any reports of a timing chain concern…. With all things mechanical There can be an issue with most things… Human misuse during a particular part being manufactured at the factory ( a timing chain can be faulty etc )
Then there is Human abuse during ownership etc. so whether the chain becomes faulty is in the lap of the gods. But at 100,000 miles ( if there is no undue rattles ) It should be fine, And usually The timing chain give off lots of evidence when something isn’t right with it !
Enjoy your MX5 I hope to see you around at meetings. Best regards from Ray Hill Epping Essex North Thames branch Member ( 2007 Rag top NC1 )
Deal done and the drive home was lovely. Need to get my head around the oil pressure dial moving, and there a little clunk from the front nearside suspension when going over speed bumps, but she drives lovely and I’m already smitten!
Stormy Blue on 107k miles and after registering for the Mazda app, with service history. Checked the oil and seems to be on max, so the oil service it had in April seems to have been done properly, but I’m going to get her a full health check at some point soon and maybe a major service for peace of mind.
Thanks for all the advice on here so far. Any dealer or specialist recommendations in the south London/Kent area?
Brewers fayre at paddock wood 30 cars.we have a meal at 12.00pm and a chat last Sunday of the month.Kent mx5 club that means this Sunday 24/7/22 see you there.
The dipstick is a little difficult to read, a newer version is available to fit the older NC’s.
