How dumb is this plan?

[adolf hamster]

So i currently have 2 motors, grand vitara and a 325

Ive had the 325 for a couple of years, lovely motor but just too expensive to run, it's an 05 with a mere 60k on the clock.

Enter the grand vitara, got from a family member, it might be really slow but its about as practical as cars can get, and at least replacement parts dont require lube to obtain.

However i just couldnt get rid of the bm, its worth about 2.5k but like every owner the percieved value seems so much more than that.

So, today i pass a local dealer and what do they have parked out front but a mk1 mx5, took a look on my way home and from a cursory glance this thing is immaculate, '99 (so classic insurance?) With a mere 50k on the clock. Evidently been someone's garage queen weekender. Has a hard top too (aftermarket, but this is ni and hard top is a good thing)

I've always wanted a "proper" sports car, the bm was a compromise in terms of being kinda sporty but having 5 doors and a boot you can haul a bunch of airsoft kit in when needed.

Of course with the grand vitara my general hauling of stuff needs are pretty well fulfilled, so perhaps now is the time to go for a classic?

Or alternatively given i bought the grand vitara originally to save money, am i being an idiot in trying to keep 2 motors on the road, let alone a sports car and a gas guzzling 4x4 (turns out fuel economy and slowness is not a linear relationship)

So ocuk, am i being stupid?

 

[VincentHanna]

Weird, I thought the MK1 stopped being produced in 1998?

 

[jigger]

Id sell/decide what to do with the 325 first?

 

[adolf hamster]

Weird, I thought the MK1 stopped being produced in 1998?

Mk2 then, i'm no expert on mx5 versions (or even an amateur ), it's before they started doing the bulged arches.

Either way, its old but seemingly in good shape (well, needs closer investigation, under the hood and a closer look at the arches) and low miles.

Id sell/decide what to do with the 325 first?

Yeah, i'd kinda been hanging back on doing that for the time being as i'm pretty busy atm, but i did know if i was going to swap it for another car then that car would be an mx5.

Today was purely an opportunistic nosey turned into an idea.

 

[MissChief]

Check MOT history, make sure you get the chassis checked extensively. These cars rot like crazy, especially at that age.

 

[adolf hamster]

Check MOT history, make sure you get the chassis checked extensively. These cars rot like crazy, especially at that age.

Yeah, for sure i'll be giving it a thorough going over before seriously considering iirc it's rear arches tend to be the hotspot for rust on mx5's?

Like i say from a cursory glance over it's screaming garage queen, i've seen ones of that era on the road that definately looked like they needed a date with a tig welder.

 

[MissChief]

Yeah, for sure i'll be giving it a thorough going over before seriously considering iirc it's rear arches tend to be the hotspot for rust on mx5's?

Like i say from a cursory glance over it's screaming garage queen, i've seen ones of that era on the road that definately looked like they needed a date with a tig welder.

Appearances can be deceiving and it's relatively easy to make them look solid on the outside.

 

[MichaelAwkward]

Pretty dumb. It's prime crap-MX5 flogging season.

 

[adolf hamster]

Appearances can be deceiving and it's relatively easy to make them look solid on the outside.

for sure, i haven't given it a proper look over yet, i only popped in to see if it was actually for sale or just some random customers car in for a service.

it's just that most mx5's round here of that age bracket are noticeably composed of 50% rust by volume.

i'll maybe have a gander on monday, look at it properly, see if there's any hidden warning signs.

 

[Frozennova]

Mk2 then, i'm no expert on mx5 versions (or even an amateur ), it's before they started doing the bulged arches.

Either way, its old but seemingly in good shape (well, needs closer investigation, under the hood and a closer look at the arches) and low miles.



Yeah, i'd kinda been hanging back on doing that for the time being as i'm pretty busy atm, but i did know if i was going to swap it for another car then that car would be an mx5.

Today was purely an opportunistic nosey turned into an idea.

Make sure you remove the under tray and check the front chassis legs too

 

[Scania]

If you want a bit of power / speed to enjoy but need practicality then why not sell both and find a sporty estate of some sort and combine the two roles in one car with only the expense / faff of running one vehicle?

 

[adolf hamster]

If you want a bit of power / speed to enjoy but need practicality then why not sell both and find a sporty estate of some sort and combine the two roles in one car with only the expense / faff of running one vehicle?

that was my original plan when i got the bm, nice engine note and it'll shift when needed, but still had 5 doors, aircon and a boot you can put things in.

but bmw parts tax is a bit rich for my blood

 

[Gaygle]

but bmw parts tax is a bit rich for my blood

This requires a lesson in how to shop around. BMW prices from main dealers are expensive, as they are with *every* manufacturer. What you have to learn is how to get these same parts but for half the price.

Is there anything in particular you need? What do you find so expensive about running a 325?

 

[adolf hamster]

This requires a lesson in how to shop around. BMW prices from main dealers are expensive, as they are with *every* manufacturer. What you have to learn is how to get these same parts but for half the price.

Is there anything in particular you need? What do you find so expensive about running a 325?

Well the last bout she decided she wanted new vanos solenoids, a coil pack and new plugs.

Now the plugs/coil pack wasnt so bad (and reasonable wear and tear) so i dont begrudge that, but the solenoids didnt half sting. Kinda disenchanted me from it tbh.

Its the bm specific parts are grating, tbh she could well be fine now for a long time and that was just a blip, but i've been disenchanted with her for a while now.

 

[Invertigo]

Well the last bout she decided she wanted new vanos solenoids, a coil pack and new plugs.

Now the plugs/coil pack wasnt so bad (and reasonable wear and tear) so i dont begrudge that, but the solenoids didnt half sting. Kinda disenchanted me from it tbh.

Its the bm specific parts are grating, tbh she could well be fine now for a long time and that was just a blip, but i've been disenchanted with her for a while now.

I do hope you aren't buying things like spark plugs and coil packs from the dealers!

 

[adolf hamster]

I do hope you aren't buying things like spark plugs and coil packs from the dealers!

god no, i'm not that stupid

generally i tend to pillage scrapyards unless it's something you need new or manufacturer specific.

 

[Invertigo]

I'm running a 14 year old Z4 as my daily car and I don't find BMW prices to be anything unusual, most parts you can replace with alternative cheaper brands at equal quality.

For instance, I renewed my suspension as it was well worn at 100k miles, Bilstein shocks were cheaper than the OEM Sachs parts and at least equal quality, same with springs which I purchased from Suplex.

In the N52 engine I assume you have, the Vanos solenoids and electric water pump are two things that do sting a bit, but once replaced should easily do another 10 years.

Aftermarket support isn't the best in this country mind, I recently renewed my whole system and had to buy hoses from the dealer at £45 each, as nowhere else stocks good quality ones. In the US, you can get OE hoses without the BMW stamp for $20 each.

Fun fun!

 

[adolf hamster]

I'm running a 14 year old Z4 as my daily car and I don't find BMW prices to be anything unusual, most parts you can replace with alternative cheaper brands at equal quality.

For instance, I renewed my suspension as it was well worn at 100k miles, Bilstein shocks were cheaper than the OEM Sachs parts and at least equal quality, same with springs which I purchased from Suplex.

In the N52 engine I assume you have, the Vanos solenoids and electric water pump are two things that do sting a bit, but once replaced should easily do another 10 years.

Aftermarket support isn't the best in this country mind, I recently renewed my whole system and had to buy hoses from the dealer at £45 each, as nowhere else stocks good quality ones. In the US, you can get OE hoses without the BMW stamp for $20 each.

Fun fun!

haven't had the water pump yet, although the starter motor has died twice in 2 years.

 

[Invertigo]

New/remanufactured replacement? Or second hand? I know some rebuilds are a bit crap, I had an alternator die that the previous owner had fitted, it was branded RTX or some other junk, got a new Bosch part from Germany for cheaper than a decent remanufactured one here so swings and roundabouts.

 

[adolf hamster]

New/remanufactured replacement? Or second hand? I know some rebuilds are a bit crap, I had an alternator die that the previous owner had fitted, it was branded RTX or some other junk, got a new Bosch part from Germany for cheaper than a decent remanufactured one here so swings and roundabouts.

first time it was done under warrenty, so presumably re-furbished on the cheap, second time it was refurbished as well, although if it happened again i'd likely be after a replacement.