The Ex-forum of several shiters 95 Mazda 323 coupé - for sale again!

[RobT]

I love a nice period keyring.  I've got this one for the 11's keys.  It's even correct to the point of being 'Sealink British Ferries', which is what their trading name became in 1984.

[egg]

Nice Rob!

Leads arrived...

And fittted. Think the routing is ok. One lead won't quite push all the way down on the plug, but it seems ok. Blue leads for JDM Yo! Runs fine, but time will tell if changing arm, cap, plugs and leads has sorted everything

[nigel bickle]

Better? Hope so!

 

[egg]

3 hours ago, nigel bickle said:

Better? Hope so!

A quick run up to temperature around town seems alright, but need a longer run to prove it! Cheers.

[egg]

Done another 100 miles, and it is running sweetly, famous last words.

A look at the ATF shows it probably needs a change as suspected.

[Yoss]

M287DGO. Dark blue, 1.5. Sorry don't know the spec. Followed it off a roundabout but it pulled off again before I could get a photo. I think I did well just to remember the reg all the way to my destination! 

MOT'd to April 2020 and only 30,000 miles. 

One for your list.

[egg]

Great! Thanks, we have gained one, but we have also lost one having just checked the list...

- N979 FLP - Blue 1.5 GLX Auto (mine)
- M37 ACV - Green 1.5 GLX
- M767 PAG - Green 1.5 GLX
- N707 FBV - White 1.5 GLX Auto - lost in March 2019 to a big MOT failure
- M335 BLP - White 1.5 GLX
- N698 PFJ - Blue 1.3
- M287 DGO - Blue 1.5 GLX

(J50634 in Jersey - white)

[egg]

Hello, now she's running 50 mile round trips...

Last 274.5 miles it has done 43.3mpg.

As opposed to the sub 30 it was getting bimbling around town.

All about that torque converter lock-up...

[egg]

I bought four small sheets of 2mm silent coat. This has been split so far between under bonnet and some small pieces in the boot area. Idea is to reduce panel resonance rather than insulation or sound proofing as such. Anyway, small £6 experiment!

[egg]

Last tank - 244.8 miles on 6.58 gallons - so 37mpg - proving the last result wasn't a complete fluke...

[egg]

After non starting shenanigans, as documented in the news, mechanic advised better quality dizzy cap. Ordered a Nipparts from Euro's, but they sent an Italian made Facet. Seems ok, and now fitted. Will do a cost update another day, as new 'bargain' or false economy radiator (£35) is on the way.

[egg]

Since I've had it, 15 months now, the radiator has been shaped like a banana from a tap up the front from before my time. Leaked very slowly, but didn't want to chance my luck any longer. I managed to find an auto specific replacement for £35 delivered, so the car was handed over to my tame mechanic...

That's better. While he was there, I asked him to do an oil and filter change. Obviously also the first coolant change in years I reckon.

In addition, it has now had the standard 90s Mazda PAS cooler delete (it was leaking like snagglepuss's MX5 and Wobbler's 323). Pipes just twisted round and metal removed adding lightness... it's gone...

[egg]

Haven't got the bill yet for the rad. Anyway, winter prep phase 1 complete, a half hearted go over with the bilt hamber double speed wax. Right day for it.

[egg]

Let's do a self-torturing cost update. Anyway, did click over to 77,000 now, bought at 72,450. Labour is a third of what I have spent on the car - and I have done some DIY'ing. Shows how effective it can be to learn to do work yourself where possible. Anyway, still really like the car.  I think run it until next MOT in May and if it passes again- then go in on the cambelt and autobox fluid change. Although, the rust on the rear wing also needs sorting....

Original purchase price + first MOT 2018 + all associated fixing up = £415
MOT 2019 = £75 (MOT £45, £30 to re-secure the loose CV boot and another minor issue)
Other Labour costs = £517
parts spend = £377.53
tyres spend = £120

total costs = £1504.53

Estimated value of car = £450  

High Priority

Entire new exhaust Done, Complete new exhaust apart from catalyst, which has a small crack...Middle and rear section £76, front down pipe £30, used replacement Lambda sensor also replaced £25, Gaskets £7, new exhaust clamp needed to secure rattling catalyst (£10 10/5/18). New cat needed long term
Oil and Filter change Done, Unipart oil £8, Oil Filter £2 (Sept 18). Done again Aug 19 (Tesco oil £8, Filter £3.50)
Deal with 2 worst rust areas Partially done - sticking plaster solution, Vactan applied to 2 worst areas, Bilt Hamber wax used on end of sills and rusty wheelarch. Jan 19, Vactan applied to most underbody areas on a ramp £20
New CV boot Done 24/10 (and fixed again for 2019 MOT)
Ignition switch replaced by main dealer following recall Done Dec 18 cost £0
CV boot re-mounted and new ball-joints both sides Jan 19 £132
Driver's seat welded up again £20 (June 2019)

Medium priority
Air filter change - done 17/5/18 (cost £5)
Pollen filter change - kinda done 16/5/18 (cost £11)
Fuel Filter change - done 2/6 /18 (cost £6)
Get a spare key - done 15/9 /18 (cost £35)
2 New Front Tyres and tracking - done 24/9/18 (Cost £120), 2 x Nexens at £45 + £30 for the tracking
Cambelt and aux belt (non-interference roulette) - not done
New Rad/Coolant change - New radiator from ebay (£35) fitted for £100 including new coolant (but also labour for oil change and PAS delete...) (August 2019)
replace screws on exhaust manifold heat shield - Partially done £8.
Ignition parts May/June 2019 - rotor arm £4.33, Dizzy Cap £8.50, spark plugs £11.28 = £24.11 (Could do leads still). In August 19 had to buy a 2nd Dizzy cap (£17.87) and July 19 bought NGK leads (£28)

Low priority
A general go over with the G3 scratch remover - one side done to limited effect 31/5 /18(cost £0)
new wiper blades - done rear wiper blade changed 31/10, fronts changed 11/11 /18 (Cost £18)
paint wiper arms - rear wiper done 8/6 (cost zero - obviously some materials, but not worth costing!) fronts still to do
Bulbs for door courtesy lights - done 26/5/18 (cost £2.75)
Square front number plate - not done
Refurbish/replace wheel trims - not done
Replace GLX side badges - done 15/6 (cost £8.75)
Change gearbox oil (would be nice to do filter) - not done
Clean/replace PCV valve - done 26/5/18 (cost £3.25)
new captive nut for side light - done 21/6/18 (cost £2)
Paint battery clamp - not done
PAS fluid  - done 9/6 (cost £6.99). Also PAS cooling loop deleted August 2019 as part of radiator swap (pipe curved round on itself)
Smelly (front) washer fluid - done 2/11/18 - flushed front fluid system and new screenwash (cost £0)
Soundproofing -  spend £6 on some silentcoat for under the bonnet and boot area

[egg]

You don't look to become a giffer, it comes looking for you, which is why I find myself lining my storage compartments with 1.5mm rubber on a Saturday morning... reduces* vibration don't you know

 

[egg]

To add to the theme, I have also brush painted this...

With this....

To produce this... waiting for it to dry

[HMC]

Liked for the TLC but also the extra rear window under the spoiler, brillliant.

[egg]

On 9/22/2019 at 5:02 AM, HMC said:

Liked for the TLC but also the extra rear window under the spoiler, brillliant.

Yes, makes a huge difference with rear visibility - without that it would feel a bit tricky to reverse in some situations.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Next thing, it won't be coins in the glovebox.  It'll be Werthers.

[dozeydustman]

14 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Next thing, it won't be coins in the glovebox.  It'll be Werthers.

Or a tin of icing sugar dusted 'travel sweets'

[Yoss]

I'm in Nice. It's nice. Found this. 

[egg]

That's in good nick Yoss!

I had a rumbling noise from the rear. Not that. Anyway, I got a local mechanic to have a look, and while my diagnosis was wheel bearing, his was probably feathering to old tyres. OK, so I booked into for new new Yoko Blu-earths for the rear and they were fitted today. Looking through the MOT history, the existing budget rear tyres had probably done 30,000 anyway. They needed doing.

So, good news - new tyres are quieter and improve the handling*. These bluearths are rated 68db, and they are quiet. Bad news, I still have my 'rumbling' noise. Dammit. Oh well, seems to be going alright. Slight rear brake drum drag? I dunno. 

Anyway £103.94 lighter. 

While I was out, I thought I'd better confirm the existence of the Invacar. Oh yep, it hasn't self-healed...

[jumpingjehovahs]

Egg,

Have just seen this Taiwanese Ford Aztec on Twitter (via addict_car), an interesting adaptation on ths 323! Tweet here. Love these alloys!

 

[egg]

Thanks for that - yes, also sold as the Ford Laser-Lynx in other markets. I'm hoping Dollywobbler finds one down under...

I think I prefer Mazda's styling, the bug eye front reminds me of the Corolla of the period.

Couple of more pics here

[Yoss]

I've got those Blu-earths all round on the Felicia, they do hang on well considering it's just a Felly and has no sporting pretentions. I'm on my second set on the front, they always seem to be a good price in my size, 195 50 14.

[stuboy]

On 9/21/2019 at 11:06 AM, egg said:

To add to the theme, I have also brush painted this...

With this....

To produce this... waiting for it to dry

any update on the brush applied stuff egg?

[egg]

21 hours ago, stuboy said:

any update on the brush applied stuff egg?

I'll do a proper post about that Stu, probably at the weekend.

[egg]

Another cost update - two rear tyres were £104, and £3.62 for another rear wiper blade. Very glad I had the tyres done as the weather has often been very wet or icy over last couple of weeks or so. Will tick over to 81,000 miles tomorrow. Continuing to do 300-350 miles a week in this one is going to kill it really. It will do it, just not the best choice for that kind of mileage. Having a think over Christmas whether to twist or stick. Still not seen another one actually for sale since I bought this in May 2018.

Original purchase price + first MOT 2018 + all associated fixing up = £415
MOT 2019 = £75 (MOT £45, £30 to re-secure the loose CV boot and another minor issue)
Other Labour costs = £517
parts spend = £381.15
tyres spend = £224

total costs = £1612.15

High Priority

Entire new exhaust Done, Complete new exhaust apart from catalyst, which has a small crack...Middle and rear section £76, front down pipe £30, used replacement Lambda sensor also replaced £25, Gaskets £7, new exhaust clamp needed to secure rattling catalyst (£10 10/5/18). New cat needed long term
Oil and Filter change Done, Unipart oil £8, Oil Filter £2 (Sept 18). Done again Aug 19 (Tesco oil £8, Filter £3.50)
Deal with 2 worst rust areas Partially done - sticking plaster solution, Vactan applied to 2 worst areas, Bilt Hamber wax used on end of sills and rusty wheelarch. Jan 19, Vactan applied to most underbody areas on a ramp £20
New CV boot Done 24/10 (and fixed again for 2019 MOT)
Ignition switch replaced by main dealer following recall Done Dec 18 cost £0
CV boot re-mounted and new ball-joints both sides Jan 19 £132
Driver's seat welded up again £20 (June 2019)

Medium priority
Air filter change - done 17/5/18 (cost £5)
Pollen filter change - kinda done 16/5/18 (cost £11)
Fuel Filter change - done 2/6 /18 (cost £6)
Get a spare key - done 15/9 /18 (cost £35)
2 New Front Tyres and tracking - done 24/9/18 (Cost £120), 2 x Nexens at £45 + £30 for the tracking - 2 rear tyres (Yoko Bluearths) £104 23/11/19
Cambelt and aux belt (non-interference roulette) - not done
New Rad/Coolant change - New radiator from ebay (£35) fitted for £100 including new coolant (but also labour for oil change and PAS delete...) (August 2019)
replace screws on exhaust manifold heat shield - Partially done £8.
Ignition parts May/June 2019 - rotor arm £4.33, Dizzy Cap £8.50, spark plugs £11.28 = £24.11 (Could do leads still). In August 19 had to buy a 2nd Dizzy cap (£17.87) and July 19 bought NGK leads (£28)

Low priority
A general go over with the G3 scratch remover - one side done to limited effect 31/5 /18(cost £0)
new wiper blades - done rear wiper blade changed 31/10/18, fronts changed 11/11 /18 (Cost £18), another rear wiper blade Nov 19 (£3.62
paint wiper arms - rear wiper done 8/6 (cost zero - obviously some materials, but not worth costing!) fronts still to do
Bulbs for door courtesy lights - done 26/5/18 (cost £2.75)
Square front number plate - not done
Refurbish/replace wheel trims - not done
Replace GLX side badges - done 15/6 (cost £8.75)
Change gearbox oil (would be nice to do filter) - not done
Clean/replace PCV valve - done 26/5/18 (cost £3.25)
new captive nut for side light - done 21/6/18 (cost £2)
Paint battery clamp - not done
PAS fluid  - done 9/6 (cost £6.99). Also PAS cooling loop deleted August 2019 as part of radiator swap (pipe curved round on itself)
Smelly (front) washer fluid - done 2/11/18 - flushed front fluid system and new screenwash (cost £0)
Soundproofing -  spend £6 on some silentcoat for under the bonnet and boot area

[egg]

On 11/27/2019 at 10:27 PM, stuboy said:

any update on the brush applied stuff egg?

Here's how it looks now @stuboy on a wet December afternoon. Still some on there for sure. Polytrol is really a product for outside plastics - and it's done very good things on my (plastic) double glazing window sills. I think it is a reasonable product for car usage as well, a little goes a very long way too.

[egg]

Number plate is standard UK size at present. As this is a JDM Hiroshima YO! vehicle, the actual number plate indent is 350mm wide. Two options for a new front plate...(no dealer info worries)

Same shape, pre-2001 font (same as that bought for the Mondeo) but 3/4 size - 390x84mm, maybe mounted a bit higher as well (13cm shorter than a std plate)

Or, Import plate size , either 330x165 or even smaller 305x152

Thoughts folks?