1992 Mazda MX3 V6 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Well,

HT leads (£120 for Magnecor leads instead of Mazda leads).

Exhaust backbox rusted.

RHS CV joint (£400).

Distributor (£400).

CV boots (£50 a time).

Wow. It's a great car, the V6 engine sounds absolutely gorgeous with a decent backbox and a proper air filter.

MPG is terrible. Don't believe any figures in the magazines -- you'll get around 20-25mpg on average!!

It's a car that loves to be driven though. Insurance is group 15, which is horrendous compared to other sports coupes in its class.

The seats are comfortable, but not for any long distances and the room in the back is obviously poor.

When looking for an MX-3 make sure you get a FSH, as parts are *very* expensive. Third party support for these cars is minimal.. don't expect to find a lot of add-on goodies to make your car stand out from the rest.. thankfully these cars seem pretty rare on the road compared to the Calibra/Puma/Megane coupes, so dare to be different!!!

The cars are cheap enough to buy in the UK, so it's probably best steering clear of imports and paying a premium on your insurance as well as having a hard time reselling....

Hmmm, I've owned my 1994 MX3 GS (1.8L V6) (US) since it's birthday, and have never fallen below 25MPG, even when in rough city driving... I average around 26MPG on a weekly basis, and if I drive any distance at all on the highway, that average jumps to near 30-ish. On cross-country (1000 miles all highway) trips, it averages between 32MPG and 33MPG. It sounds to me like something may be out of whack with the poster's model. Also, the engines on this car in particular do NOT like having their intake or exhaust systems altered... nearly any modification (as simple as a high-flow air breather/filter) will DROP horsepower. So modified intake parts and exhaust parts as this poster listed, very well could be the source of the low MPG... there is a very specifically tuned flow-volume that the engine is designed for (a split low and high end powerband range that are optimized with the systems)... altering that flow significantly throws things out of whack, especially the timing and computer systems. It might sound better, but it won't work better. The best solution for more power is a new engine (the 2.5L Japan spec V6 (KZ-ZE or something like that, don't have it in front of me), which gives it a monstrous gain, with only VERY slight modification required to fit in the bay (why they never sold it with that engine is beyond me, that'd be a monster value pocket rocket). Anyhow enough rambling from me.

Chris.

Great car and the parts in the UK are expensive, but worth it.

The way to get round all the performance hang ups is to get the intake, and exhaust sys. Then just get it chipped!

This teaches the engine to work with the new components and you get even better motorway MPG. Believe me mines awesome.

I have to agree with all of you. I have had my 92 gs since it was new and I love it. it is very fast and it has 208,000 miles on it.. still runs like new. I haven't had any major repairs on it.

Still love it...

I don't know what you`re talking about. I have a 92 gs, never been beat on, in very good condition, and I would never even consider that car quick let alone fast. Its just a little 1.8L, 6cyl, put-put. yea I could see it being quick with a 2.5, but still... it isn't keeping up with most newer v6 cars. It just can't hack with cars pushing a hundred more horsepower in the same package. You want your mx3 to be fast? Forget about gas mileage and turbo/super charge it... or you could just get a v8.

I have just purchased a mx3 v6 1.8 and I have a fault with it. The problem is that it is miss firing, I have changed the spark plugs and the leads and have given it a full service and the problem is still there. So I took it to the dealers and asked them what the problem is and they said that they have not got the manual for this model for its readings that accured on the diagnostic check. the error reading which accured were 17 and 28. I took the car to another mazda specialists and when he had a look he said that error readings which the dealers said wernt comming up, but other readings were such as the air flow meter the distrubuter and the tension. he said all these faults could cause the problem, but he wasnt sure that they were the problem which would solve the fault so I took the car back from him. I really don't no what to do now if some one has an idea what it could be it would great help.

I recently bought an MX-3 V6, it was misfiring when I got it (still is) check for a leak in the intake boot, mine had a small crack where it was sucking in extra air.

Hi there, I just brought a 92 mx3 v6 with 68200 miles on the clock, it is awsome!!!

However, I have an intermittent fault with my head lights, is this a common problem???

I have also had a problem with the alarm and have now had to get it taken out.

If anyone fancied meeting up somewhere with there mx3's let me know.

There are many parts for the mx-3 to make it stand out.. just not as much as the crappy new hondas or anything. Check out www.mx-3.com.

You peeps with the misfires - try looking at the CAMSHAFT sensor which was fitted to these engines pre 1994 and which will result in a misfire (particularly just above idle) when running.

Only cure is a new distributor body I'm afraid, as the sensor is integral with the distributor. An alternative is to go and find a scrap 24V Probe and swap in the 2.5 litre engine and gearbox and your 3 will turn from a sweet little girl into a utter monster.

For major power gains, the 2.5 engine swap is definitely the best option, I did it and then fitted a turbocharger I found on mx-3.com, it's also chipped with a new induction kit and exhaust system and the dyno showed that I'm running 298 bhp and 20 mpg.

I wondered if anyone else had a similar problem with their V6. I have a very nice low mileage black V6 that I inherited from my father in law. It's a great car with a fantastic smooth engine, but it has developed an annoying creaking/clicking/clunk noise from the front suspension when turning right and pulling away. It's audible outside the car too. Took it into local dealers who at first couldn't find the fault and then replaced suspension rods which has only part solved it. Any ideas?

Cv joint or at worst whole drive shaft... but more than likely just the cv joint. should cost you about £20/40 for the actual part and about an hours labour that's all.

I own an 1995 mx 3 1.8 v6.

Mine does about 30-35 mpg!!

Yeah I understand that the parts can be expensive, but with any car there is bound to be an expensive part!

I have an mx3 v6 I love it, but I keep having problems with it over revving any ideas.

I have one of the very first MX-3's it has 150k on the clock, runs like a dream and went straight through an mot without doing anything to it. I've looked at a lot before I bought this one and noticed common faults with them all

Corrosion inside the wheel arches - 80% I've seen have it starting

Corrosion on the number plate light support bar (mild steel - 80 pound replacement cost without labour)

Shim wear (makes the engine sound a bit rattly)

Brake pipe corrosion due to where they are situated underneath.

BUT spares are easy to find especially in america for performance parts - you will find a lot of engine parts are interchangeable with ford probe 24v.