It never is. The bits that rusted through, rusted from the inside.
These cars have engines with a reputation for eating oil and then grenading. I expect the warranty is of the form “bring it back to me and I’ll have my man sort it”.
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Only if not regularly and properly serviced and the level (oil) not kept to the max mark. You’re making a statement that’s not altogether correct, yes if not looked after they can go bad.
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Hiya Mick…
Saw your old post regarding tidying up a red NC. Does the first couple of pictures shed any light on the condition in your opinion 
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This is the MOT history of my previous (now sadly scrapped) mk2 MX5 - I persevered repairing it as it had been in the family for almost 20 years and 100,000 miles.
(I didn’t bother presenting it for a further MOT as it had deteriated to the point I felt it wasnlt worth while spending any more money on it).
My main point is it’s very difficult to rectify chassis rust and my suspicion is the car you’re interested in will keep rusting and failing MOT and after MOT, even if it passes this time.
The world’s full of MX5s so I’d probably try and find one in better condition.
MOT history, Check mileage recorded at test, expiry date, and test outcome
Date tested
20 September 2021
PASS
Mileage
121,139 miles
Test location
MOT test number
8751 3820 7975
Expiry date
24 September 2022
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
- General corrosion on underside of vehicle
What are advisories?
Date tested
14 September 2021
FAIL
Mileage
121,137 miles
Test location
MOT test number
8653 1694 7021
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
- Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Repair immediately (major defects):
- Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
- Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Body component corroded and likely to cause injury Wheel arch (6.2.1 (a) (i))
- Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
- General corrosion on underside of vehicle
What are defects and advisories?
Date tested
25 September 2020
PASS
Mileage
119,202 miles
Test location
MOT test number
6391 0182 6699
Expiry date
24 September 2021
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
- All underside suspension parts corroded
What are advisories?
Date tested
17 September 2020
FAIL
Mileage
119,202 miles
Test location
MOT test number
3155 9069 0981
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
- Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded to the extent that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected Chassis x2 areas (5.3.6 (a) (ii))
- Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded to the extent that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected chassis (5.3.6 (a) (ii))
Repair immediately (major defects):
- Central Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Offside floor to sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
- All underside suspension parts corroded
What are defects and advisories?
Date tested
23 April 2019
PASS
Mileage
111,756 miles
Test location
MOT test number
3076 6987 5359
Expiry date
17 September 2020
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
- Suspension components corroded
What are advisories?
Date tested
18 April 2019
FAIL
Mileage
111,756 miles
Test location
MOT test number
7739 6100 9150
Repair immediately (major defects):
- Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced undersill (7.1.1 (a) (i))
- Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced undersill (7.1.1 (a) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
- Suspension components corroded
What are defects and advisories?
Date tested
31 May 2018
PASS
Mileage
108,592 miles
Test location
MOT test number
5671 8641 9632
Expiry date
14 June 2019
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
- Slight corrosion on all brake discs
- underside of vehicle corroded
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Pictures 1 & 2 look like a patch repair has been done and both are rusting again. It doesn’t look right in pic 2, perhaps the metal hasn’t been formed correctly to copy the original shape to the wheel arch bottom. No fixing holding the plastic sill end, has that dissolved with rust and they just didn’t replace the metal there. Hard to tell from the picture angle.
To the OP I think the plastic sills need to be removed for a proper look see, not easy if you are looking to buy, what seller will want to do that?
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Thanks Mick for some valuable insight. The second picture does raise the biggest question. Tried looking at my friends NC but it’s been lowered and couldn’t see much.
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Yeah don’t do that you’ll probably get your head trapped.
It’s not easy inspecting a cars bottom, especially lowered cars.
Last time I bought an MX-5 from a dealer he put it on a lift for me to inspect, the luxury of buying from Mr Roddison.
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Keeping the oil to the full mark being important. In most other cars, there is tolerance between the high and low marks. Generally all engines use a bit of oil. So a Mk3/NC engine needs almost religious like attention. A car with cheap rust patches on and minimal servicing probably hasn’t had the oil level checked that often.
Low oil is behind not unheard of cases of cars throwing a conrod through the block. Doesn’t really happen with B6/BP motors.
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How do you know it’s had minimal servicing?
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Back street garage receipts. Budget tyres only fitted when there was a MOT advisory. Welding on the cheap. Smacks of a reactive owner keeping the bills down, not a proactive owner keeping an eye on tyre wear etc. I would not be surprised to learn the previous owner never once checked the dipstick.
A 50k fastidiously maintained Launch Edition would have a full main dealer history. They do exist.
We are all sometimes guilty of misinterpretation, however having gathered some of the facts. You maybe surprised to hear that this is car has a full service history and the trader has over 35 cars in stock.
For the stake of the OP I feel this thread has possibly come to its conclusion.
1 Like
Hi SuziD
How did the MOT go ?
I ask as experienced MX-5 Owner of Model just before yours [2005] who had corrosion work carried out by an authorized MX-5 Expert and Club Member when my girl got the ‘Repair Immediately (major defects) [5.3.6 (a) (i)…Offside AND Nearside’ a year ago [Owned her since 2007/Second Owner/Currently approx 46,500 miles]
Well she’s been Welded and Undersealed since then and it wasn’t cheap [even with the 10% Discount]
Currently has a pass until September with still some advisories plus could really do with a part or full Respray
SO DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN WITH THE SELLER 
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The garage wasn’t backstreet, he was a very honest chap and I would actually recommend him even if I didn’t go through with the purchase.
The MOT went well, thanks for asking but I decided to play it safer with a car that has no problems with corrosion.
I wasn’t aware that the garage (Ian Mc Naught limited, located in a yard) who did the welding was the seller. He doesn’t have any car sales on his website, but I stand corrected
Can’t disagree with your decision making at all
Hope you will eventually find the right MX-5 for you 
Keeeeeeeeeep Searching 
Kindest from me & Bullit 
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I’d wonder about garages, looking after a car which was hardly used, missing out on worn tyres until a MOT inspector flagging them. The two service dockets shared showed cheap welding, an oil change and that’s about it as far as a service. The MOT history shows a pass in 2019, where the owner was warned about the tyres being barely legal, but who didn’t bother to replace before the following MOT. Earlier, a fail for a tyre being fitted wrongly; the usual reason is a directional tyre not well fitted. Then earlier the car being tested with a loose rollbar. Full servicing would have flagged an issue like this. A quick oil change wouldn’t. And turning up to a MOT with worn out brakes. Lots of carelessness with the tyres throughout its history.
Mazda service history on cars of this era was purely electronic. I would not be surprised that the car has a clutch of paper receipts, all with repetitive oil changes, I suspect not a full service history though.
While the OP hasn’t brought this car, someone else will buy AK55 XVE. I hope it sells for a fair price, and some trader hasn’t got an inflated idea of the value in their head because of the odometer reading.
Hi again SuziD
Glad you liked my post because it affords me opportunity to reply with Respect for Not Only Joining the Club without an MX-5 BUT your Due Diligence and determination to find a Decent One
Can fellow members & visitors help me applaud SuziD and keep her motivated in her search please 
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Who would take a car to Mazda at that age? I’ve been unusual in taking mine there for 10 years. It’ll go to an MX-5 specialist from now on, as Mazda dealers see so few NCs these days that you might as well rock up in a Ford Focus. My Mazda dealer only has one employee left from a mere 5 years ago, and he’s in sales.
It’s not the cost that’s the issue, it’s familiarity.
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