Mm Mk1 MX5, Mm import, Mm black red and gold....
Only for sale due to a change in circumstances meaning I REALLY need to stop spending all my money on cars. I'm now a full time (mature) student. Eek.
A bit about the car:
The S Limited was one of the more desirable models released in the early 90s. This edition of the Roadster was based on the high specification S Special model and went on sale in Japan at the end of 1992. The main selling point was its unique black/red/gold colour combination.
The S Limited used the 115bhp 1.6 litre engine with 5-speed gearbox with 4.3 final gear and an LSD at the rear.
Specification included unique 14" 6J BBS multi-spoke alloy wheels with gold coloured centres, upgraded suspension featuring yellow Bilstein springs and dampers, matching yellow suspension strut brace. Thicker anti roll bars and 10mm lower as factory.
Premium sound system with headrest speakers, red leather seats, red carpets and interior trim, stainless door speaker surrounds, and Roadster branded stainless sill plates. The car was only available painted in Brilliant Black and production was limited to 1000.
I don't have any import paperwork or J history as this was lost by the PO. First registration was 01/03/1993 and first UK registration was 01/07/2004.
I purchased it several months ago with the intention of a full restoration. I've been busy, spent a fortune but this car shouldn't be my priority even though it has been. Still, if it doesn't sell, I'll be happy.
MOT due 08/09/18 however will be sold with a full 12 months ticket for full asking price. Current mileage is 218,700km however will rise as used daily.
Recent work:
Clutch slave cylinder
Clutch master cylinder
New headlamps and outer rings both sides
New indicator light units, both sides.
Radiator and coolant flush
Front pads and discs, refurbed front calipers
x4 new Goodyear tyres
Brand new door mirrors
RH and LH outer door to glass weather strips
Cambelt, water pump, aux belt. (PO couldn't find invoice for the parts). Please feel free to inspect the condition of the belts etc.
Recent Bosch Battery
Service inc plugs fuel filter etc just before my buying it. I've serviced her twice since with 10/40 semi and new filter each change. Oil and filter done again yesterday (31/08/2018)
New clutch at 213,000km. Exedy with new spigot and release bearing. The flywheel was weighed and became apparent it wasn't the lightweight one as assumed. This was changed to a lightweight standard factory item. I have photos of the work, no invoices. New gearbox oil and diff oil
New stainless system including 4-2-1 stainless manifold, decat and centre pipe to rear silencer. Sounds lovely but not to chavvy.
I've kept the old cat.
Brand new manifold sourced and fitted yesterday at a cost of £300!
Upgraded ignition leads to Magnecor ones.
Upgraded head unit including some awesome Audison door speakers. Pioneer tweets and standard headrest speakers.
Unblocked all drain holes and the usual MX5 bits.
More bits of tinkering and fixes have occurred but I cant remember what, never thought it'd be up for sale.
Interior:
As above, red leather, carpets, door cards and dash panels. Stainless teardrop speaker surrounds. Nardi wheel is in good, used condition. No damage. Drivers seat has the usual torn base but that's it. The rest is ok and the passenger seat is undamaged.
Some cracking to the front panel on the dash although I have sourced a replacement. Again will be included in the sale for full asking price.
All interior electrics work. Both footwell lights, both windows, all switches. One key fits the center console and the glove box. Carpets are in good condition.
AC works on the button, is all there and the clutch engages fine. Just the usual re-gas issue but cant be the old stuff anymore so haven't bothered. My experience is the newer gas leaks on old systems. Left everything in place in keeping with originality.
Exterior:
Mostly rust free. The rear arches are unbelievable and original. Just a few bubbles at the rear quarter on the drivers side which was booked in for repair before deciding to sell. Underneath is original, unwelded and not slapped in underseal. It's very good for a 5. If you know your 5's, you know the chassis rails end up mashed, these aren't! - Pics to follow. Some surface where the paint has worn at the bottom of each front wing. No rot, just surface and a flat, treat and paint will do. Everywhere else is superb, like shockingly good for one of these.
The paint is original but has dinks and scuffs all round really. Still cleans up ok. A machine polish and some small touch ups following a PDR guy on the thing for a day would have her looking pretty mint. It didn't bother me as I bought it for how solid she is and planned to tart the paint in stages.
Headlights operate on the dash switch for flipping, switch on the stalk and when you 'flash' someone.
The vinyl roof is in good condition and super watertight. The rear window is a bit cloudy but I have it unzipped all the time anyway when the roof isn't down. The original red leather tonneau cover is there and free from damage.
Comes with the hardtop. Could do with a repaint if you're bothered.
BBS alloys are damage free but could do with the lips flatting and polishing. All 4 centre caps - yes really!
The drive:
Engine never fails to start, hot or cold. Typical MX5 reliability I haven't even bothered with breakdown cover on it. No HLA noise.
Drives well and pulls cleanly. Feels nice and tight and nothing like the mileage it has. Selects and engages gears fine. Sounds nice with the stainless although the decat is silenced I'm not a fan of the rasp. Original cat included in the sale.
Always kept under 3k rpm until warm and never nailed.
The suspension and bushes are largely original but still no knocks or bangs. Handles well, hasn't been recently aligned.
Bad points:
Clutch release bearing chirps quietly at low speeds and idle sometimes. A very light touch on the pedal stops it.
Occasional ( 1 in 15 trips) high idle when warm. Usually the green temp sensor on these. It's that intermittent I haven't bothered. Not done it for a few weeks. Only does it if you stop before reaching full engine temp then restart.
I think the exhaust may be fouling somewhere after the manifold changed yesterday, I'll have a look at this when I have two people available. There's a rattle on the over run that I thought was a heat-shield, its still there.
Paint wants a tart up. Rust at the very end of the rear sill on drivers side, original metal and its not bad.
Pics below but more to follow.
The price is £2,250 which is think for the originality and rarity is fair. Anything its wanted I've done, its not a £5k one and it's had a life with some miles under its belt. Its solid and has had no rust bodges.
Restore and keep as an investment. I know I'll be looking back and kicking myself in 10-15 years for selling.
May take a lower value MOT'd retro in PX.
Only for sale due to a change in circumstances meaning I REALLY need to stop spending all my money on cars. I'm now a full time (mature) student. Eek.
A bit about the car:
The S Limited was one of the more desirable models released in the early 90s. This edition of the Roadster was based on the high specification S Special model and went on sale in Japan at the end of 1992. The main selling point was its unique black/red/gold colour combination.
The S Limited used the 115bhp 1.6 litre engine with 5-speed gearbox with 4.3 final gear and an LSD at the rear.
Specification included unique 14" 6J BBS multi-spoke alloy wheels with gold coloured centres, upgraded suspension featuring yellow Bilstein springs and dampers, matching yellow suspension strut brace. Thicker anti roll bars and 10mm lower as factory.
Premium sound system with headrest speakers, red leather seats, red carpets and interior trim, stainless door speaker surrounds, and Roadster branded stainless sill plates. The car was only available painted in Brilliant Black and production was limited to 1000.
I don't have any import paperwork or J history as this was lost by the PO. First registration was 01/03/1993 and first UK registration was 01/07/2004.
I purchased it several months ago with the intention of a full restoration. I've been busy, spent a fortune but this car shouldn't be my priority even though it has been. Still, if it doesn't sell, I'll be happy.
MOT due 08/09/18 however will be sold with a full 12 months ticket for full asking price. Current mileage is 218,700km however will rise as used daily.
Recent work:
Clutch slave cylinder
Clutch master cylinder
New headlamps and outer rings both sides
New indicator light units, both sides.
Radiator and coolant flush
Front pads and discs, refurbed front calipers
x4 new Goodyear tyres
Brand new door mirrors
RH and LH outer door to glass weather strips
Cambelt, water pump, aux belt. (PO couldn't find invoice for the parts). Please feel free to inspect the condition of the belts etc.
Recent Bosch Battery
Service inc plugs fuel filter etc just before my buying it. I've serviced her twice since with 10/40 semi and new filter each change. Oil and filter done again yesterday (31/08/2018)
New clutch at 213,000km. Exedy with new spigot and release bearing. The flywheel was weighed and became apparent it wasn't the lightweight one as assumed. This was changed to a lightweight standard factory item. I have photos of the work, no invoices. New gearbox oil and diff oil
New stainless system including 4-2-1 stainless manifold, decat and centre pipe to rear silencer. Sounds lovely but not to chavvy.
I've kept the old cat.
Brand new manifold sourced and fitted yesterday at a cost of £300!
Upgraded ignition leads to Magnecor ones.
Upgraded head unit including some awesome Audison door speakers. Pioneer tweets and standard headrest speakers.
Unblocked all drain holes and the usual MX5 bits.
More bits of tinkering and fixes have occurred but I cant remember what, never thought it'd be up for sale.
Interior:
As above, red leather, carpets, door cards and dash panels. Stainless teardrop speaker surrounds. Nardi wheel is in good, used condition. No damage. Drivers seat has the usual torn base but that's it. The rest is ok and the passenger seat is undamaged.
Some cracking to the front panel on the dash although I have sourced a replacement. Again will be included in the sale for full asking price.
All interior electrics work. Both footwell lights, both windows, all switches. One key fits the center console and the glove box. Carpets are in good condition.
AC works on the button, is all there and the clutch engages fine. Just the usual re-gas issue but cant be the old stuff anymore so haven't bothered. My experience is the newer gas leaks on old systems. Left everything in place in keeping with originality.
Exterior:
Mostly rust free. The rear arches are unbelievable and original. Just a few bubbles at the rear quarter on the drivers side which was booked in for repair before deciding to sell. Underneath is original, unwelded and not slapped in underseal. It's very good for a 5. If you know your 5's, you know the chassis rails end up mashed, these aren't! - Pics to follow. Some surface where the paint has worn at the bottom of each front wing. No rot, just surface and a flat, treat and paint will do. Everywhere else is superb, like shockingly good for one of these.
The paint is original but has dinks and scuffs all round really. Still cleans up ok. A machine polish and some small touch ups following a PDR guy on the thing for a day would have her looking pretty mint. It didn't bother me as I bought it for how solid she is and planned to tart the paint in stages.
Headlights operate on the dash switch for flipping, switch on the stalk and when you 'flash' someone.
The vinyl roof is in good condition and super watertight. The rear window is a bit cloudy but I have it unzipped all the time anyway when the roof isn't down. The original red leather tonneau cover is there and free from damage.
Comes with the hardtop. Could do with a repaint if you're bothered.
BBS alloys are damage free but could do with the lips flatting and polishing. All 4 centre caps - yes really!
The drive:
Engine never fails to start, hot or cold. Typical MX5 reliability I haven't even bothered with breakdown cover on it. No HLA noise.
Drives well and pulls cleanly. Feels nice and tight and nothing like the mileage it has. Selects and engages gears fine. Sounds nice with the stainless although the decat is silenced I'm not a fan of the rasp. Original cat included in the sale.
Always kept under 3k rpm until warm and never nailed.
The suspension and bushes are largely original but still no knocks or bangs. Handles well, hasn't been recently aligned.
Bad points:
Clutch release bearing chirps quietly at low speeds and idle sometimes. A very light touch on the pedal stops it.
Occasional ( 1 in 15 trips) high idle when warm. Usually the green temp sensor on these. It's that intermittent I haven't bothered. Not done it for a few weeks. Only does it if you stop before reaching full engine temp then restart.
I think the exhaust may be fouling somewhere after the manifold changed yesterday, I'll have a look at this when I have two people available. There's a rattle on the over run that I thought was a heat-shield, its still there.
Paint wants a tart up. Rust at the very end of the rear sill on drivers side, original metal and its not bad.
Pics below but more to follow.
The price is £2,250 which is think for the originality and rarity is fair. Anything its wanted I've done, its not a £5k one and it's had a life with some miles under its belt. Its solid and has had no rust bodges.
Restore and keep as an investment. I know I'll be looking back and kicking myself in 10-15 years for selling.
May take a lower value MOT'd retro in PX.
Got a 5 speed box here gathering dust if you ever need it. Send my best to the wife. Hope you're both ace.