Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) MX5 dilemma

In addition to my Morgan and Morris Traveller I also have a 2006 MX5 which I sort of use as a fair weather hack.

They rust - badly

There’s a well trodden path of having them professionally rust treated and proofed with Dynatrol products that’s very labour intensive and costs around £500. It a horrible dirty job as you’d expect.

Went to visit a local MX5 specialist yesterday for a pre treatment inspection and within seconds he’d found the dreaded tin worm in both rear sills

That adds £250 to the job!

So I’m sitting here wondering if it’s worth splashing out £750 plus on a £3500 car that won’t add a penny to its value.

I could patch up the rust and splash on some wax oil for £50 myself.

Hmmmm m……

I'd definitely go for the Wax Oil option!

For me it would depend on how long I plan on keeping it. Assuming you do not intend to sell it, I'd vote for having it done properly. A mate just bought the same vintage MX-5 and he stayed cleared of ones that hadn't had this known area sorted.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

There’s really not much point selling it. I can’t think of anything at that end of the market that I could replace it with and another MX5 is likely to have similar issues. costs about £600 per year to keep on the road (MOT, service, tax and insurance) and usually get around 40mpg. Plus - I enjoy driving it.

Is the rest of it likely to go nasty on you (driveline, suspension, electrics) in which case sell it whilst the market is in a somewhat inflated state for what it's worth. If it is generally sound otherwise and you know it for what it is then hang on to one you trust and give it a bath?

No it’s mostly in very fine condition. The point of the rust proofing was to keep it that way for the foreseeable future.

If you're happy patching and splashing then I'd do so. However, in the grand scheme of things, I'd weigh up the cost against the cost of a replacement vehicle, and against the knowledge of everything else you've done to the car.

I spent £500 last year getting a car worth £500 through the MOT. However, I know the car, recently done brakes, tyres and exhaust and expect to get at least another 12 months out her. I could get a replacement for £500 but then have all the unknowns and could be faced with another bill in a months time....

Yep that’s a good point. It looks good and needs nothing, even recently passed its MOT. Rot is at the back of both sills covered by wheel arch liners so invisible to MOT tester. By the time they spot it the car will need two new sills and inner wheel arches at £750 per side then rustproofing on top.

Don’t mind spending on it as other than a thermostat it’s needed nothing other than routine servicing in two years

I’m just a tight wad!

Well I would get the welding done properly, then do the waxoyl myself if I was after value for money. It's what I did with my 1971 vw camper. However it was a bloody awful job and well with shelling out 500 quid to get someone else to do it.

I agree it’s a horrible job. For £500 he removes all the wheel arch liners, plastic under trays, crossmembers and exhaust. Cleans off the surface rust with wire brushes the treats the lot with rust converter. Then two types dinatrol on the surfaces and into the cavities. It’s a filthy job and it stinks

As an aside I’ve been looking at similar cars to mine and I may have undersold it. Similar models with compatible mileage and history seem to have risen to £5 - £6k. So no chance of chopping it in for a replacement. I like and know mine in any case

Think I’m talking myself into buying the bullet.