Hi, can’t recommend any one as I do all my own servicing but if gear and diff oil, plugs have not been changed before I would recommend changing them, On my 2006 I replaced my gear and diff oils at 18000 miles and the oil in both was quite dirty, I used ford 75w-90 BO in my 5 speed transmission and EP90 in the diff, check your owners manual for correct spec for your car, also I would check/replace the diff breather as mine was found to be faulty and partially blocked and cheap enough to replace. Also consider checking the the turret oil level in transmission, this is where the gearstick goes into the box and can sometimes be overlooked.
As for spark plugs I would change them even if it just to make sure they are not seized into cylinder head along with changing brake fluid.
I would be happy to quote you for this job when the time comes. I live in North Down and do the servicing for the Club at the Annual Service day which we hold around April/May time. I also look after a few other club members and non club members cars from home in my spare time doing servicing and MOT work.
The Annual Service Day was generally intended to be for a quick oil & filter change and plugs change, although in the last few years I have ended up doing bigger jobs like brakes, discs, springs, shocks and caliper changes. Last spring I think too much was taken on with too many cars lining up for work to be done. If we go ahead again this year with a Service Day, it will have to be restricted to the basics.
For what you are looking for (which is more than the basic service) I would be happy to do this from home in an evening or at a weekend if you are interested.
I also have a replacement hood fitting service if anyone else is interested. I usually carry a few of the standard hoods in stock and can get any of the various coloured hoods by order.
Heli5 that’s what I like about this club all muck in together I have always had my Indiana serviced at a 5 specialist but I am now at the stage where I wonder if it will make any difference in the long run. I have no intention of selling her in fact I bought a Eunos Roadster mk 1 to run around in to keep the mileage on my mk 2.5 reasonable to about 5k a year. Thinking this time round may carry out the service myself, a few of my 5 mates and I have been " dabbling " with jobs this last few weeks, Fitted another engine in a friends California to save it from scrap heap, also done routine service on three of our 5’s and rear discs and pads on my 2.5 ! I don’t think servicing and looking after my Indiana myself will make much difference come sale time ( long long way off when I’m gone probably ! ) so in light of that may just do the mk 2.5 myself, know what’s been done then too, quite a lot of owners do their own no detriment to selling or running or anything eh
Yes couldn’t agree more. I could not bare to have anyone else working on my “5”, or indeed any of my cars. I don’t know what I will do when I get too old to do it myself - hopefully that will be a long way off yet and maybe there will be another MX-5 specialist around by then to do it for me. Hopefully I might be able to get the Grandson trained up by then :).
I realise that not everyone can, or wants to do their own servicing/work etc. and if this is the case you can hopefully find someone out there who will take a personal interest in the these cars, without their owners having to resort to a franchised dealer, especially as the cars get older and a full Mazda service history is no longer as important.
Personally I would be happier buying a used car that has been well maintained by a enthusiastic well informed owner, or specialist garage, rather than a franchised Dealer.
Have a go yourself it was one of the first things I did with mine and I have never used a spanner before in my life. You will get great satisfaction from it but even if you don’t you have an offer here which is great to see… Good luck
I’ve just changed the engine oil, filer and upgraded the air filter, all was pretty straight forward but make sure you use a claw type oil filter remover or you will be laid under the car for hours like I was!!!
I’m not sure which model of MX-5 you have but on a MK1 and MK2 the filter is accessible from above and the MK3 from below. The problem is that oil filters tend to get over tightened when being replaced. It should only ever be lightly hand tightened when replacing it and not tightened as tight as you can get it by hand. I would normally tighten it up as far as I can and then back it off about a quarter of a turn. Don’t forget to put a smear of oil on the rubber before you replace it. As the rubber seal swells a little bit during use, it will get even tighter with time and will be much tighter to take it off than it was to put it on. With a bit of practice you will get to know just how much to do this and hopefully you will be able to remove it by hand next time you change it (a pair of mechanics gloves will get you a bit extra grip). On the MX-5 there is little room to get any sort of tool in to remove the filter so it makes sense to get this right.