MX-5 OC Forum

Hello,

I am currently looking to buy a mk3 mx5 and have found an 2008 car with very low mileage at a very reasonable price. The dealer tells me that one of the services can be taken at 25,000 miles OR after a 24 month period (whichever comes first) and in this case the car has had a 24 month gap between two of its services. Can anybody confirm whether this is true? I would have thought that the service has to take place every 12 months and don't want to consider a car that should have been serviced every year.

Thanks for your help,

Beka

It should have been serviced every 12,500miles or 12 months, whichever sooner.

Thank you for your prompt response to my query. I thought what they were telling me was strange. That has saved me a 170 miles round trip and i can continue my search for a car with FSH.

 oh dear FSH is utterly worthless. condition counts!!

 Without FSH the condition has taken a tumble the engine oil has started to breakdown if not all ready breaking up these engines are old technolgy compared to other manufactures that have 20,000 service intervals so service is most important not to mention a brake check at the same time as the service (may have needed pads but could now need pads and disc's) dont forget a service is preventative maintenance why would you not need service history ?

Alan

alan yates:

 Without FSH the condition has taken a tumble the engine oil has started to breakdown if not all ready breaking up these engines are old technolgy compared to other manufactures that have 20,000 service intervals so service is most important not to mention a brake check at the same time as the service (may have needed pads but could now need pads and disc's) dont forget a service is preventative maintenance why would you not need service history ?

Alan

Of course servicing is all important, no-one is denying that.  But a FSH "History", ie. a bunch of papers I believe is worthless.

I could show all sorts of receipts for servicing on cars I've owned in the past but I would say some of them were never serviced properly by garages, franchised dealers or otherwise.  I suppose it's how much confidence you have in the Servicing industry as to whether you think a FSH is worthless or not.  I know for a fact that garages I have used have signed off things like Spark Plug changes and have not changed them.  Brake drums that were supposed to be removed for inspection but were not  ....and this was so called reputable service centre.  One Main Dealer (I won't mention the name but you would be amazed) actually lost my car while they had it in for service !!  Turned out the engineer had used it to go home in when the receptionist had assumed it ready for collection.

I happen to think they are worthless.  While I am fit enough to do it myself I will never take my car to be serviced, I'll do it myself and I know it's done properly.  Consequently my car has not got what you would call a FSH.

I totally agree that condition (and mileage) is more relevant and if when I come to sell my car and it puts off a prospective buyer because I don't have servicing receipts "a FSH" then so be it - it will be their loss.

 I think that there is some confusion here,  I have to disagree with you Phil S when you say that your car does not have a full service history.  It has, because you have done the work yourself and no doubt have receipts for the parts etc.  What  you do not have is a Mazda dealer service history which is where I think the confusion arises.  I service my own car because like you I know that it is done properly, I stamp the book too!  It is quite simple for anyone with experience to tell if a car has been correctly serviced and maintained throughout its life.  In addition the diligent owner will do far more than just the required service items, I know I do.

   Regards  Geoff Peace.

As I have no recognised MX5 garage in my area I do all my own servicing and general maintenance as this is the only way to ensure it's done well. Saves me money, car looks and sounds good and it's fun. If I ever sell it then it will come with a simple list of what has been done and when.

Rod

Yes Geoff. Your right.  I fill in the service book myself including what I have done, particular oil used etc.

Agreed Rod.

I just think that a lot of would be buyers do see a FSH as all the dealer stamps in the book though.  It is that which I consider worthless.

I've found this to be a very interesting read. However,  i'd like to clarify my reason for not going to see the car in question. My main reason for dismissing this low mileage and extremely competitively priced car was more due to my mistrust in the dealer to which i'd spoken. My suspiscion came from the way he was able to produce evidence for part of the missing service history in 30 minutes, when he'd only recently told me he had been chasing the owner for the information and had still not received it. In addition to this, was the way he insisted that the owner has the option of servicing the car at 25,000 miles or 24 months...hence me beginning this thread. I saw this simply to be a way of convincing me to travel the 44 miles to visit the car and supposedly "fall in love with it", which i wasn't prepared to do with a this doubt in my mind about the genuine low mileage on such a cheap car. I can understand that many owners will take great care of their cars, demonstrated by the condition of the vehicle, as i have done with my 2002 MR2 for 6 years (which is in fact missing a years SH from a previous owner). However, i'm sure there are also owners who don't take as much pride in their cars and fail to take good care of them... i have come across so many littered in dents and scratches and untidy interiors  Condition is also important factor for me, when searching for my perfect MX5. The car in question has in fact now sold and i'm sure and i'm sure will be very pleased with it and probably has purchased a real bargain of a low mileage car. Call me fussy, but i'm patient enough to wait for the right 5 with FSH... so on with my search!! 

When I was looking for my mx5 one of the cars I looked at was sitting at 36'000 but the dealer fobbed me off saying they were not sure about the history, I took the reg and checked with Mazda and it only had 1 service at 18'000 and as such the warranty would have been voided.

If someone is that slack with maintenance then there is no chance I would spend money when there is loads more to choose from.

Good luck finding a good one :)

redtailed78:

If someone is that slack with maintenance then there is no chance I would spend money when there is loads more to choose from.

This is my thinking :)

I have a 1998 MX5 whch has covered 68,000 miles and has so far been serviced once a year. I will only be doing about 2000 miles a year. Is it really necessary to have the service done every year?

Frampers:

I will only be doing about 2000 miles a year. Is it really necessary to have the service done every year?

Yes indeed. Time passed is just as important as miles covered. Oil, coolant and brake fluid all deteriorate over time whether you use the car or not. In many cases (brake fluid for example) the lack of use will make it age quicker, not slower.