- My model of MX-5 is: NC 2.0 Sport Roadster
Tyre fitter spotted this. I’ll get it sorted but am new to the MX5 rust issues. Is it likely to be expensive?
Depends what you feel is “expensive”?
Looks kinda of odd to me with the swelling…previous botching prior to your custody?
But the answer is “Yes” in my book of welded sporrans if done properly ( re-metalled /panelled etc) and not bodged.
The number will be in (as yet unquoted) hundreds.
Figure for £500 to £800.
Per side…
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It looks like the rear end of the sill to the lower wheel arch, looking from the underside of course.
So looking at the image below, nearside lower wheel arch the main points to watch for rust/rot is around that locating bolt/screw that holds the wheel arch liner in place. Of course under that part of the sill too.
About correct quote above who knows, constructive surgery needed to weld sill to inner arch back in.
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Thanks guys. I’m presuming this would be an MOT fail?
Whereabouts are you in the country?
There are lots of folk here who could help and so guide you to local proper MX5 repair folks who know what they are doing
These might help - or worry - you!
I’m in Southend, Essex.
If it’s near the seatbelt anchorage point then yes. The sill is an important part of the structure and strength of the cars chassis so I guess a fail, I’m no expert.
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That looks really nasty and seems to be extending well into the sill and maybe the floor and structure below the door pillar. The Mazda Menders video car was deemed to be unrepairable, hope this one is not as bad and that the rust is confined to this area. If not it could be bad news.
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There’s none visible anywhere else.
That is definitely an MOT failure. I’m surprised it wasn’t picked up on previous MOT’s!
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If that is the only rust then I wonder if it’s been caused by a blocked drain pipe spilling water into the sill / floor area resulting in this localised rust?
How long have you had the car and have you had any problems with the roof drains?
I’ve had it 3 months. No problems with drains in my experience. I didn’t think drains were usually an issue with PRHT models though?
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I think the PRHT still has roof drains but they don’t usually cause any problem although there are posts on miata.net of overflowing drains on these models. This level of rust damage has not happened over night or even the last 3 months so the previous owner may well have been aware of the problem. Did you check the car over when you purchased it, Dealer or Private seller……?
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Your going to have to get someone to look down the sill structure to see how far it’s got. If it ends a few inches after the hole it’s reparable. If bad water has run down the sill and it’s rotten down the sill it’s possibly dead- it depends on how much you want to spend on it.
Full sill repairs are hideously expensive and regular garages don’t often do them, it’s a resto company these days or a marque specialist and even then it’s very difficult for them to give the owner an accurate quote and the car is on their ramp for a very long time stopping other smaller but more certain and profitable repairs.
Some like mx5 restorer does and they are very niche on mx5 restoration.
Ey-Up. Checked mine this afternoon. Looks like our 2007 PRHT will need surgery exceedingly soon, if not immediately! Hope the waiting lists aren’t as long as the NHS ones.
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Most of these cars look so pretty on top that buyers dont look at the most important part …the underside. Mazda dont seem to do proper undetsealing plus most of these cars now are ten years plus so its very important to do rust prevention yearly and if possible only use in the summer.
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There are well respected BUT not very local to you
There was EverythingMX5 at 213 North St, Romford RM1 4QA BUT they seem to have no website now. 01708 754882
Let us know how you get on?
Maybe start a new post in the North Thames area of this site asking for mX5 specialists in Southend area???
No, not really although mine is having surgery done in Benfleet, He knows MX5’s inside and out and has taken 4 months to do one side, part 2 starts in August FFS. The only reason I went there is because it’s 200 yds from my house.
If you go down to Pevensey and let them check it out, you’ll get an honest report and a ball park repair quote.
It takes a long time and a lot of skill to do good monocoque welding properly. I paid a very large sum to have both sides cut out of mine and remade.
Ive ordered a plastic kit car as my next project so I don’t have to ever weld the beggar (find let alone pay someone to do it) or roll round in heaps of rust and other people’s neglect.