Recent Posts

I've got a NOCO GB20 that I bough in Halfords, but I've not had to use it yet though.

But thanks for reminding me that I probably should check it's charged

I've also got one of the small units, probably bought from Aldi/Lidl or eBay used that a few times but wouldn't trust it on a big car. (probably should check it;s charged as well).

Yes special edition if it really is a California,

www.roadster.blog/2016/02/mazda-mx-5-california.html

Is it a 1.6 or 1.8?

When I was demonstrating the art of reversing a trailer to my wife I made up a simple chassis and trailer using Lego.

I did have, and still have, the A60 driving school Corgi car as well.

Have you got a link for the connectors?

I think there's an issue with Robert's hosting site security certificate, you can't directly view the images from the links you get a security a warning.

A/C in an MX5, surely just take the top down :-) (on my list of MX5 jobs is A/C delete).

Although I used to go to California and was always surprised that most of the convertibles had their top up as it was cooler with the A/C on.

Talking of BMW 1ser, I had a coolant leak, £7.50 part £300 in labour, diagnostics etc.

My battery, a replacement Halfords one that is really too big, is held in place with tie wraps. Did get a mention as an advisory the first MOT but no comment for the last 2.

Well actually only 1 decision…

I haven’t done much with the MX5 since the summer of ’19, after the welding and brake works I did a couple of track days and then it’s pretty much been ignored and sat on the drive making the place look untidy! I have used it for the occasional run and it always starts and still makes me smile when I drive it.

So it’s a case of use it or lose it (from SWMBO), i.e. get it sorted out and looking better or sell it.

So today I did a little road trip to Bristol to get a quote for bodywork restoration. The run itself was uneventful, down the M4 with the hood down, stable water temp and oil pressure. Back via the country roads all good fun except for the amount of traffic.

There is a bodyshop who advertise in the MX5 club magazine and seem to turn out good work. I spent the best part of 2 hours talking things through and general car chat. They had 3 other red NA MX5’s in being worked on and the quality of work is very high but then so was the quote >£4K gulp!

So the decision(s), do I go for it and get the body up to near show standard, get rid (and lose lot’s of money) or maybe just paint it with graffiti paint?

The benefit of paying for a top draw paint job are, I’ll know it’s been done properly, work done by a MX5 specialist, very though work (doors off, hood off, door shuts done, seals removed etc).

If I get it done I’ll need to keep it for a few more years and use it more, club runs etc, not sure I’d risk track days after spending that much.

I can reduce the cost by doing some prep myself, but I really don’t have the skill/tools/space to do a spray job myself.

I've probably already talked myself into getting it painted with some work done by myself prior...

The bird boxes are great, need to set up some cameras so you can see them being used.