Topic

By: Martin
Posts: 261
Joined: 12/12/09

A few questions on my LE

Posted: Jan 03 2010 Tags: cg-lock, fuel, oil, shell vpower Views: 245

Firstly, a happy new year to you all!

I bought a 3rd Gen LE from Mitchell Mazda just before Christmas, and it has been great fun!

A couple of questions, though, if I may.

I notice someone mentioned poorly retracting seat belts.

Mine also seem slow to retract. However, the belt clip is fitted with a CG-LOCK device. Was this original equipment fit? Has anyone else got these fitted?

Now to the chassis:

The service history says a lowering kit was fitted and in the boot there are some original springs (I think). The box has a label with an order date at Mitchell Mazda of Sept 2006. Inside is a TUV approval sheet in German. I assume then my car has been fitted with the Mazda fit Eibach springs on my LE?
Are the original springs worth hanging onto or should I bin them or Ebay them? They appear to have a red dot on one pair and a blue and white do on the other pair. There's little surface rust if any, so I assume these have less than 10k miles on them as the car only has 34k now.

As my car was on a private plate I did some Googling and found this testimonial on the cg Tuning website by the first owner of my car.

" I 'phoned Chris after reading about him and his work on the MX5 Community website forum and appeared at his workshop a couple of days later. I drove an MX5 down to Atherstone but drove something quite extraordinary back. He transformed the car's handling and I didn't believe what my car could do when Chris roadtested it, amazing! Watching him at work was like watching the master scourcerer work his magic spells as the telemetry came up on the laptop. Thanks again Chris and I'll see you later in the year for the uprated anti roll bars. Cheers Pete"

P C

Chester

June 24, 2007

cg Tuning

So, is it likely that the alignement has been properly set-up now as I see posts regarding the need to get this sorted asap. (BTW, Mazda's geometry settings seem to be a bit hit-and-miss, most Mazda5 owners are struggling to get more than 12k miles out of their front tyres!).

Also, what would I look for to see if the up-rated anti-roll bars have been fitted?

What is the conscensus on fuel? I have put Shell Vpower in the tank twice now and sugar-pill effect aside, I feel it is a little more responsive than before, and this ties in with my past experience that it takes a couple of tankfuls for any effect to be felt.

I am also wondering about using Mobil1 or one of the other high performance lubricants but before I do, I was wondering if there were any problems that anyone had experienced by doing so? I assume the NC needs a good quality API SL or SM oil anyway as per Mazda specs? By the way I am invlved in hydrocarbons so I am aware of the potential problems and the benefits to be gained from using quality oils and fuels.

Apologies for the lengthy post, but I'm looking forward to learning more about the car and getting that little bit more from it.

Replies

RE: A few questions on my LE

In ref to your springs, I've seen a few people trying to sell their standard springs on ebay, usually to no avail. I've just thrown mine in the garage roofspace so that they're out of the way. The new Eibachs have made an impressive difference (I haven't had the geo sorted out yet as I don't use my LE all year) and the steering is now no longer 'skitish'.

I've averaged 36 MPG over several tankfulls since buying the car last August. As we are taking the car on our summer holidays this year, I guess I should expect slightly more on longer runs. I don't know if running the car on the more expensive fuel will bring any better consumption figures, and to be honest, the fun outways the running costs.

My drivers side seatbelt is slow to non retracting most of the times. Although I have a years warrenty from the dealer, I don't know as yet if they will do anything about this problem.

Good luck exploring the infinite abyss

Content is edited
Posted: Jan 03 2010 By: Davy F Posts: 130
RE: A few questions on my LE

Thanks, Davy. I believe you also have an LE?

I shall no doubt stick the springs on the shelf, then. I hate throwing things away.

When I test drove a standard 2.0 a few months ago I found it very disappointing and a bit skittish, and so I was quite surprised at the difference in the LE on lowered springs when I took it for a test drive, I do believe the lowering and the other bits make it a far more involving drive worthy of the Jinba-Ittai philosophy.

Mine will be used as my main car including trips to Aberdeen from Chester, so economy is somewhat important, although it was important enough to rule out buying the RX-8! However, I do believe that using Shell Vpower will maintain the engine in tip-top condition, plus provide a little extra responsiveness. Whether there is any financial gain in using it, probably not. The same applies with the oils, but, again, it's possibly of little merit except that I'm able to squeeze the last few BHP out of the engine and know that the oil is good for the 12k/12mth service intervals.

The next thing with mine is to determine what else has been done as I would like to change the exhaust (the one major disappointment is the Euro-legislated exhaust note). If mine has had the uprated anti-roll bars fitted then I don't need to worry about that cost, although so far it feels really good on the handling and improving the exhaust note takes priority.

:-)

Mazda5 Sport & MX5 LE

1969 MGB GT & 1968 MG 1300

Posted: Jan 04 2010 By: Martin Posts: 261
RE: A few questions on my LE

This week I wrote to the previous owner as listed on the DVLA docs.

Here's what I found out from the previous owner:

"It is 987 of 3500 worldwide.

It was lowered by Mitchells using the Eibach lowering kit and I had the suspension tuned by Center Gravity (google it on the internet) nr Tamworth. It is well worth considering having redone as it is set up for the main driver by an absolute wizard:-) They also replaced the original anti roll bars with Cusco uprated roll bars. The front it set at maximum which is 100% tighter and the rear at 50% tighter. They also fitted the CG locks."

Very happy with that!

Mazda5 & MX5 LE

1969 MGB GT & 1968 MG1300

Posted: Feb 03 2010 By: Martin Posts: 261
RE: A few questions on my LE

All sounds good - I know a number of members who have used Centre of Gravity and been happy.

Sluggish retracting seat belts seem to be universal. I've had mine replaced under warranty but the replacements are just as bad as the original ones. I've learned to live with them.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation will suffice

Posted: Feb 04 2010 By: dragonsoup Posts: 3840
RE: A few questions on my LE

07/02/2010 08:41:12, grin148 said:
"
07/02/2010 06:27:31, Martin said:

"

Weird, I tried quoting the reply and all I got was what's above! Why I am I still so surprised at the foibles of this forum?

Sorry, I missed your irony, I always call the Mazda5 the bus as it has a diesel engine. I don't believe in pampering cars by storing them in garages, they get to used to the cosy environment and then they never want to start, in my experience!

Also, I am relatively new to the forum so trying to learn who's who in the grand scheme of things, but I shall make a note to remember you do irony!

Mazda5 & MX5 LE

1969 MGB GT & 1968 MG1300

Posted: Feb 07 2010 By: Martin Posts: 261
RE: A few questions on my LE

Right Guys & gals.....

In an effort to get back on track you will notice this thread has had a clean up!

Anymore 'off-topic' posts WILL be deleted...... (that goes for any other threads too).

Garffey.

An Mx-5s for life...Not just for summer!!

True red 07 2.0 Mk3 Sport RC....Miltek, K&N, I.L cubby, compulsory 'Oakers' sticker & a few chrome bits.

Posted: Feb 10 2010 By: Garffey Posts: 3117