Hi, I’m wondering if anyone can help. I’ve owned my MK2.5 for almost a year and it’s MOT is due next month. I’ve had a look under my car quite often over winter and I didn’t seem to spot much areas of rust, however this morning when taking off the car cover I noticed this, should it be a cause for concern?
Any help is apprenticed!
Thanks,
Brad
The surface rust on the suspension arm and sundries?
It shouldn’t cause any real concern but may get an advisory depending on how much of a stickler your MOT person is.
The suspension components on my NB look significantly more crusty than those on yours and it’s never failed purely on those.
Hth,
Cheers,
Guy
Yes that’s correct, well just in general really. As long as it passes it’s MOT this year. Do you know how much something like this would cost?
Cheers,
Brad
I agree with Guy, mines the same, as long as structuraly sound it shouldn’t fail, mines going for mot next week and will probably tart up with some underseal spray or hammerite it at least looks like your aware of it then
Pete
All the components are available new but if you change the whole lot it can get expensive and you would need to set up wheel alignment again which is awkward if you don’t have the right kit
Thank you, I tried poking it and it seems solid. But I can’t get underneath properly. My MOT is due in the next three weeks. Thanks dude! how much would we be talking?
Hundreds mate. Check out “MX-5 Parts” website for an idea.
It would be cheaper to refurbish what you’ve got tbh.
Getting yours blasted and powder coated would be cheaper but still expensive.
You could do it yourself but it’s alot of work.
Thanks chap, I’ll have a little look on MX-5 Parts now. Just hoping it doesn’t cost too much! I love my car but I’ve also had some random/multiple cylinder misfires! However it seems to not happen every time.
Bite the Mk2/Mk.2.5 bullet and get your guy to drop out the engine tray while it’s in the air.
The bolts will likely not be helpful…
Look for areas of swelling in the front chassis rails especially in the anti roll bar mountings…etc.
Get him to lightly tap the whole length of the rails with his “MOT tap hammer” and listen for dead sounds…which would indicate potentially double-skin internal rot.
As for the rest of these cars’ bits like rear arch & sills, so called “surface bubbling” usually indicates cavity rot on it’s way to erupting some time later.
Check the metal PAS pipes too, clean them off and rust treat then Hammerite.
As for your general cruddy suspension bits, I’ve seen far worse…so long as the wishbones are not weakened excessively I’d say you will be OK but do NOT plaster the crud with anything until cleaned off properly.
This is all only relevant if the car is a keeper.
If you need bits and bobs look at Prestige Mk2/Mk2.5 spares specialists online/FaceAche page.
Thank you I appreciate the message, as far as I can tell the suspensions bit feel quite solid but until it’s up in the air I wont be able to properly tell. I’ll ask during it’s MOT for a good look underneath and hopefully it’s not too bad!
Should you only want to tidy-up the surface rust on the suspension components, this is what I did …
Relatvely easy without needing to dismantle anything, but a bit dirty.
Hi & Welcome 
My 2.5 2005 [Purchased 2007 as 2nd Owner] Icon has suffered from ‘Corrosion’ since about 2016 ish
BUT IT’S ALWAYS COME UP ON THE MOT AS ‘ADVISORY’
Even When There Were Gaping Holes in Her Wheel Arches [Had Some Work Done on These Now] she’s never failed on ‘Corrosion’
And She Lived in Whitby a few thousand yards from the North Sea for 3 yrs and was parked on grassy wasteland in Market Drayton for about 18 Months
She’s due next month for her MOT…So I Worry ! 
Been Using the same MOT guys for the last few years and I take her in for a pre-MOT check based on the Certificate Advisory from previous year
BUT ONLY DO ABOUT 500 miles p.a. B4 Pandemic
Hopes My Experience May Help ?
Fingers Crossed for Both of Us 
It’s your car cover causing condensation and the surface rust, Leave it uncovered. If you park in a coastal area it doesn’t help either.
