Mazda 3 MPS owners here?

[SixTwoSix]

Phoned around a few dealers yesterday, enquiring about cars and asking if there was evidence of chains being done, figure may as well get that point out of the way prior to viewings. Not one of the 4 of them were willing to concede the chain might need doing and drop some of asking price and that basis. They were all 60k-90k examples.

This is going to get frustrating.

 

[rodenal]

Your average dealer is never going to offer up a £500+ discount on a car with a chain as they will simply point to it being a lifetime item.

It will however be their problem if it fails in the first few months, regardless of what they try to sell you in way of warranty. The hassle of resolving the inevitable argument would put me off immensely though

 

[Diagro]

Phoned around a few dealers yesterday, enquiring about cars and asking if there was evidence of chains being done, figure may as well get that point out of the way prior to viewings. Not one of the 4 of them were willing to concede the chain might need doing and drop some of asking price and that basis. They were all 60k-90k examples.

This is going to get frustrating.

Does it have to be from a dealer mate?

Lots of MPs for sale on the Facebook group. Most if not all will have the chain done too

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Personally unless it was a cracking price/condition I'd prefer to buy this type of car from an owner that's looked after it.
When I sold my 6's they always had FSH, a shedload of receipts and proof that the chains had been changed (other than my first one where I think they just added a chain lol).
Without proof of the VVT being done then I'd expect any potential buyer to offer ~500 less than my asking unless it was priced appropriately.

When approaching dealers tho I'd be using highs treet replacement costs, 1K in parts from mazda +Labour lol

 

[SixTwoSix]

Does it have to be from a dealer mate?

Lots of MPs for sale on the Facebook group. Most if not all will have the chain done too

I've been on the groups, still have access to the private one as well but nothing has taken my fancy or if it has its an absolute trek to get it.

Almost everything in my price range within 150 miles is from a dealer.

Personally unless it was a cracking price/condition I'd prefer to buy this type of car from an owner that's looked after it.
When I sold my 6's they always had FSH, a shedload of receipts and proof that the chains had been changed (other than my first one where I think they just added a chain lol).
Without proof of the VVT being done then I'd expect any potential buyer to offer ~500 less than my asking unless it was priced appropriately.

I agree completely, maybe I'm just unlucky with location that there's not a lot of choice in the vicinity. Then again, not a huge amount for sale overall.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

I Flew from Newcastle to Exeter and drove back to get my last one
When I sold my 2nd one the chap flew from Ireland and drove back
My first was sold to a lad who flew up from Essex and drove back

If you find the right car it's worth travelling for Any owner will be more than happy to give any pics/videos you could ask for.

The only time I refused to do anything for a chap looking at my last one was when he advised he was a vehicle assesor for insurance companies and requested a walk around video and photos or any swirls/holograms/scratches/dents/chips in the paint work. Clearly not the right person to be selling a 13 year old car to lol

 

[SixTwoSix]

I Flew from Newcastle to Exeter and drove back to get my last one
When I sold my 2nd one the chap flew from Ireland and drove back
My first was sold to a lad who flew up from Essex and drove back

If you find the right car it's worth travelling for Any owner will be more than happy to give any pics/videos you could ask for.

Wow, i've never actually considered travelling that far, basically because i'd feel totally obliged to buy the vehicle even if there was something apparently wrong when I got there.

Perhaps I need to change my thoughts in regards to distance.

 

[rodenal]

You need to book return travel and be fully prepared to use it.

Obviously this is no good when the travel is £150 and the car £500 - but for an £8k car well worth it

 

[Scrutinize]

Depends how far you're going and whether it's easier to fly but enterprise is pretty competitive on one way car hire and upgrades etc if booking in branch (circa£20 supplement for one way)

You also don't have to drop it at the destination branch and can return to the home hire point if the car your viewing is no good.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Phoned around a few dealers yesterday, enquiring about cars and asking if there was evidence of chains being done, figure may as well get that point out of the way prior to viewings. Not one of the 4 of them were willing to concede the chain might need doing and drop some of asking price and that basis. They were all 60k-90k examples.

This is going to get frustrating.

Surely irrespective of any weak points that might exist a chain is not a belt and doesn't have a manufacturer defined service life. It doesn't seem reasonable to expect a random second hand car place to know whether a non service item has been repaired or concede that it 'needs doing' just because the internet has decided so.

 

[Diagro]

Surely irrespective of any weak points that might exist a chain is not a belt and doesn't have a manufacturer defined service life. It doesn't seem reasonable to expect a random second hand car place to know whether a non service item has been repaired or concede that it 'needs doing' just because the internet has decided so.

Just because the internet has decided so? Really?

More based off many engines either blowing up due to snapped chains or timing skipping. All seems to happen around 60-70k.

Go back to your BMW world.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Just because the internet has decided so? Really?

Yes, really. It's not an official servicing item according to Mazda. I don't dispute that there is an issue but I wouldn't expect regular car sales places to know or care.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Surely irrespective of any weak points that might exist a chain is not a belt and doesn't have a manufacturer defined service life. It doesn't seem reasonable to expect a random second hand car place to know whether a non service item has been repaired or concede that it 'needs doing' just because the internet has decided so.

As above "the internet has decided"?
No mate this is based on experiences on the actual owners forum and the engines and issues there

Is it a service item? No
Is it a known weak point of the engines? yes
Can it render the car useless? Well yes unless there's an easy way to repair holes in blocks.

Easiest way is a replacement engine, and they typically go for ~2K

If you know of an easy way to repair Blocks with shonking great holes in them then please get over to the MPS owners club forum
I'm sure they'd be very grateful of the knowledge

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Wow, i've never actually considered travelling that far, basically because i'd feel totally obliged to buy the vehicle even if there was something apparently wrong when I got there.

Perhaps I need to change my thoughts in regards to distance.

I had one chap fly up from London and decide he didn't want the firs tone i was selling, only because we was put off by the chain not being done.
So I had it done and it sold to the next person to view

 

[[TW]Fox]

As above "the internet has decided"?
No mate this is based on experiences on the actual owners forum and the engines and issues there

Is it a service item? No
Is it a known weak point of the engines? yes
Can it render the car useless? Well yes unless there's an easy way to repair holes in blocks.

Easiest way is a replacement engine, and they typically go for ~2K

If you know of an easy way to repair Blocks with shonking great holes in them then please get over to the MPS owners club forum
I'm sure they'd be very grateful of the knowledge

You miss my point, I don't dispute any of this and I am sure it's all true.

But it isn't something you should expect second hand car dealers to know about.

Frankly the model itself sounds like a total liability, why would you buy a car with such a critical design flaw?

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Why would a manufacturer release a car with such a flaw lol
The newer revisions do reduce the risk AFAIK but still an expensive risk to take.

I'd not expect them to know about it but If you can provide decent info and documentation then I'd expect any dealer to take it on board.
The mechanic at my local Mazda knew all about it and was more than happy to give advice and assistance.

I must say that throughout my Ownership of three 6 MPS's mazda have been fantastic throughout even tho its a lesser known older vehicle they still tried their best to help with any queries I had. My Dad went there knowing how much they had helped me and replaced mums car who now owns a Mazda CX3.
I do think he's now thinkign of getting rid of the PHEV and getting another Mazda lol
Justin and Stephen and Mazda Gateshead are fantastic

I have frinds that have bought brand new cars direct from dealers who have been far less helpfull haha

 

[rodenal]

The only way your average dealer (not a specialist) cares in any way shape or form about changing chains / tensioners is if they are unlucky enough to have sold one that has failed during the following 6 months.

They will quite happily take the risk on the engine failing as the real world risk to them is quite low that a) it even happens and b) the customer even knows the dealer will need to take responsibility/ be prepared to follow it through.

This is assuming they even believe it to be an issue - they are not model specific experts. In all honesty if the cars are as prone as suggested a smaller dealer likely wouldn't even take one on if they realised.

I told Skoda the chain was failing on my Octavia. They didn't care and were happy to take the risk - it went and they replaced the engine, causing utter chaos with everything else they disturbed whilst doing so

 

[SixTwoSix]

Frankly the model itself sounds like a total liability, why would you buy a car with such a critical design flaw?

Been trying to come up with an intelligent witty reply to this but you're exactly right.

However rational thought out the window as I can't help but want one, love the handling, power delivery, the looks, the toys and if i can find the right one, i'd probably be willing to have the chain done as a preventative measure.

 

[SixTwoSix]

Heart over head, picked up a 2009 plate mk2 at the weekend, 36k miles on it, fairly well looked after, FMSH and all the gubbins.

Elephant in the room...chain sounds normal, no excessive rattle but considering getting it done as a precaution regardless.

Interior is a world apart from the Megane R26, actually feels like everything is put together correctly and not held together by sticky tape Nice extra is the bose sub in the boot fitted as standard on all MPS models, does mean i've had to sacrifice a spare wheel though. Sat nav, heated seats, heated screen, parking sensors, all as standard as well.

Handling wise after a few days, much heavier in corners as the R26 was quite nimble but a lot more torque and power delivery out so makes up for it. It's only 26 more HP but feels noticably faster than the R26 both on acceleration and top end motorway cruising.

Looks wise, more understated than the megane, I had so many people wanting to play traffic light grand prix when driving the megane as it stands out, hasn't happened in the MPS yet.

Needs a couple of new back tyres, how important is it to match the brand/tread with the fronts? The fronts are Pirelli Zero Nero GT, don't know much about them.

Obligatory just got it home pic...needs a really good clean.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4Gr94j11wWKev7ni8