mx5cartalk.com

Hi,

I am looking to buy my first MX5 and have a potential 1999/2000 NB, but the instrument cluster doesnt seem right. Is anybody able to identify if this is the original or not, i ask because i am concerned the K's have been messed with, im not sure if thats even possible with a digital odometer.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

I've never seen an OEM cluster like that.
It would be somewhat safe to assume the dial backgrounds have been changed and that the ODO may be valid.

Thanks for the reply Beavis.

What are the chances the K's have been modified? It seems unlikely in my mind but i guess its possible if you know the right person?

Definitely after-market modz there.

Note the white needles and white gauge faces - would not have come from the factory with that combination, it's too hard tro read (white needles on a black gauge face or red needles on a black/white/silver face were the factory combination for NBs).

When you buy a 2nd hand instrument cluster, they can come with or without the odometer - legally you MUST install your original odometer in it if it's going into your vehicle.

If the owner simply swapped-in another cluster, it may contain the odometer of its original vehicle.

ie. You have NO way of knowing other than the word of the owner UNLESS they have service records for the vehicle.

SRoss555 wrote:What are the chances the K's have been modified?

It's impossible to say, while it's difficult to change the odometer it's easy to replace with another from a different vehicle.....

The instrument cluster has to be removed to change the dial faces, who's to say it is the same cluster as the one that was removed from the car you're looking at that has the changed faces?
The odo will have the Km recorded by what ever vehicle the cluster came from.

A carfacts check on the car (assuming Aussie delivered) will give you a history including mileage over time so it should be fairly obvious if the cluster has been swapped for one with a different total (higher or lower).

Have you asked the seller?

Nevyn72 wrote:

SRoss555 wrote:What are the chances the K's have been modified?

Have you asked the seller?

Yes i did ask the seller, he seems to think it is original, he is the second owner, he doesnt seem like an enthusiast as the car isnt well maintained but has low K's.

Superficially its a bit rough, but the K's and the price are low enough to look past that.

Tread carefully i guess, and possibly not worth the risk if as you say the K's belong to the cluster not the car.

Odo readings aren't the be-all and end-all of vehicle condition. They may be a guide as to usage but should always be compared to what you can see, or find out. How worn are the pedal rubbers? Condition of the seats? Does the exhaust smoke? What does the oil/coolant look like? Is there a service book, has the major service been done? For further assurance, get a compression/leakdown test done, this will tell you a lot about the state of the engine. Drive it, does it feel sluggish (bearing in mind these are not powerful cars), is the steering sharp, does the suspension bang and thump?

There are lots of these cars out there, so if in doubt, don't. Buying cheaply can work well (especially if you are looking for a 'project'), but there is a good chance you are only getting what you paid for, and money and effort will be required that could have been spent on buying better. And don't be afraid to travel to get what you want. Good luck!

SRoss555 wrote:Yes i did ask the seller, he seems to think it is original, he is the second owner

Does the seller have the first owner's details? If so, might be worth contacting.

Thanks for all the input, appreciate it.

The seller is pretty light on details, hence the reason i dont think he is not an enthusiast and says he purchased it basically to get to the train station and back, and it looks that way, looks like it hasnt had a polish in 10 years.

He says he doesnt have service history and has only said when the last service was done 1000 K's ago the mechanic said the front brakes need doing soon.

I will go and check it out, its 4 k's my house so would be mad not to.

Im not really mechanically minded, but i think i know what to look for at a basic level.

Will report back once i know more.

Thanks again

Who would buy an MX-5 just to go to the train station and back? The chance of the roof being slashed parked there all day is way too high IMO so to me that doesn't add up. Given you say it doesn't appear to be well maintained and have a question over the km, it might be worth looking elsewhere or at the very least make sure you do all the checks, including having a NRMA or similar mobile mechanical check done.

apsilon wrote:Who would buy an MX-5 just to go to the train station and back? The chance of the roof being slashed parked there all day is way too high IMO so to me that doesn't add up. Given you say it doesn't appear to be well maintained and have a question over the km, it might be worth looking elsewhere or at the very least make sure you do all the checks, including having a NRMA or similar mobile mechanical check done.

Funny you say that because the roof has been slashed at the train station, but i figure if i can get it for less $5000 and everything checks out it may be worth it.

apsilon wrote:Who would buy an MX-5 just to go to the train station and back? The chance of the roof being slashed parked there all day is way too high IMO so to me that doesn't add up.

Lots of people do.
Remember, the MX5 is just a "cool looking car" to a fair proportion of the population.


As far as a convertible at a station, when I lived closer to town the local railway station often had convertibles parked there all day, usually stuff like a 3 series BMW, Ford Capri, the odd Merc, and yes, some days an NA.

As far as roof slashing, even if it's a hardtop car it's not like the metal roof prevents thieves at all, 2 seconds to bust a window or punch out a lock.

Buy on condition and pay appropriately.

hks_kansei wrote:Lots of people do.
Remember, the MX5 is just a "cool looking car" to a fair proportion of the population.


As far as a convertible at a station, when I lived closer to town the local railway station often had convertibles parked there all day, usually stuff like a 3 series BMW, Ford Capri, the odd Merc, and yes, some days an NA.

As far as roof slashing, even if it's a hardtop car it's not like the metal roof prevents thieves at all, 2 seconds to bust a window or punch out a lock.

I wasn't think theft at all, I was thinking pure vandalism. I'm probably jaded given I had my top slashed when the car wasn't even locked nor was there anything in it to take. Personally I'd be driving a $500 POS to and from a train station.

SRoss555 wrote:Superficially its a bit rough, but the K's and the price are low enough to look past that.

Wrong priority, my friend

Why would you overlook the condition of the car, just to have a low number on the odometer? How will that benefit you?

The odometer reading, whether real or not, means nothing on a car of this age. Buy it if you like the car, and pay the appropriate amount for the condition it is in.

bruce wrote:Buy on condition and pay appropriately.

This man has got the right idea.