What to do with my rusty NB?

[ET.02]

Hi all,

I’m brand new to the forum and I’ve joined to ask for some help. I have a 2002 NB 1.8L Montana edition. It failed its 2024 MOT due to rusty sills, and has been sat on my driveway since. Due to my career, I had to leave the country soon after the MOT fail. I’ve since come back to the UK, and the car does not start, despite getting a new battery. I believe the mechanical issues shouldn’t be too expensive to fix, and I just need to get a mobile mechanic out, but thats just my guess. The bigger issue is the rust. I’m in Bournemouth, so any recommendations on where to get it fixed would be appreciated.

moderator deleted as breaks forum rules

Please understand I am extremely new to the community, but I’m willing to learn and engage!

[clarkymx5-nc]

Try the MX-5 restorer, i believe they are down in your rough area and would probably be best suited to help

[ast]

Dr MX-5 is Southampton, and a lot closer.

DoctorMX5 - Keeping Your 5 Alive - Home

There is also Arrow5, also SOuthampton, who is closely associated with Autolinkuk

Arrow 5 | Southampton

Close to you in Poole is:

Trickett Welding (Poole) Ltd

There is this thread, but its not been updated in a while:

MX-5 Welders

I have been monitoring a few threads where owners were looking for places to get welding done. But haven’t found any that provide good feedback or a collation of options, that is what I have tried to do here: That map shows all the places I have found mentioned in various posts or through my own online searches. Exclusions: Borders MX5 are no longer doing work, they are finishing the ‘S’ Special we started last year and retiring based on their website quoted below CBS Autos (aka MX5 Spe…

You should also check the front chassis legs for rust at the same time, and take a decision. Its all very much fixable, but depends on your budget.

Repairing the sills to get a fresh MOT pass isn’t hard or expensive, and doesn’t need a specialist. Repairing it so its looks good cosmetically is another matter, and the costs can mount up.

[MX5_Al1]

The main thing to take into consideration is how attached to the car you are.
The rusty stuff can be repaired easily, although it will cost many thousands to do properly, by which time you could have purchased one that has had all the work done.

[ast]

Depending if that work was “done”.

[MX5_Al1]

Which is where photographic evidence comes into the mix - as i have done with mine - lots of photos showing what has been repaired/replaced during my ownership, plus an excel spreadsheet to back up the massive pile of invoices.

[ast]

And up goes the price. Or the ads that say “rust free” “loads of money spent on restoration”, you drive a couple of hundred miles to find out the seller’s idea of “loads of money” was £500, and a sill covered in schutz, and no visible seam.

Most of the cars out there aren’t like yours.

From a recent ad. “Bit of Bubbling”. £3k NB.

£4300 MX-5. “Absolutely fabulous example”

£2800. “Full rust restoration of rear arches and sills”

[Jacob_Rees]

Here’s what I’d do. https://mevkitcars.co.uk/kit-cars/mev-exocet

[ET.02]

Thanks so much for the advice. I will be sure to give these guys a call. With the car not starting, is it financially better to get a mobile mechanic out to fix the issue, or to pay for someone to trailer it to the shop?

[ET.02]

I loved driving the car (when it worked) so I’m also considering just getting rid of this one cheaply, and buying a working replacement.

Moderator edit

[ET.02]

Looks like an absolute blast!

[ast]

@ET.02

Thanks so much for the advice. I will be sure to give these guys a call. With the car not starting, is it financially better to get a mobile mechanic out to fix the issue, or to pay for someone to trailer it to the shop?

Get a quote for the recovery.

[Goodj]

If it’s a car you;re going to keep indefinitely and have somewhere to garage it, then get £X,000 ready and go for it.

Otherwise, you’re going to burn a large pile of cash and see very little return from it