Just Bought a P5!

[Rucai]

Hey all, I recently purchased a 2003 Mazda Protege5 this Friday, It has 103,000kms (64,0000 miles), Laser Blue, 5spd manual for $5500 CAD. It has a few scratches here and there but overall it is pretty clean, one of the foglights is is cracked and doesn't work. In the future I am planning on getting some 17's and lowering around 1.5 inches, keeeping it clean and relatively stock. I suppose I am wondering what important maintenance on these cars are at my mileage, as I am not sure when the last time things such as if the timing belt has been replaced or what good mileage to do that would be. I am looking forward to being a active member and I am thoroughly enjoying my new Mazda so far and thanks for any further input you guys have!

 

[zoom zoom sp20]

Do timing belt, air filter, oil change, spark plugs.As far as lowering Tokico HP blue strut & spring combo is good. Also Eibach springs & Tokico HP blue struts.
Welcome to forum

 

[itsjbeck]

post up pics!
and welcome!!

i second zoom zoom sp20 on the lowering. click my sig and you can see the tokico blues and the eibach pro kit on my car(its my current setup)

 

[Rucai]

Do you know if you can inspect the timing belt without taking off the valve cover? My last car just had a upper timing cover that you could pop off, doesn't look like it on the p5 though. Oil looks brand new, still need to go over other basic stuff. Can you get away with just lowering springs? I want to be able to load up my car for camping and not have any issues with rubbing while getting wheels that are fairly flush with the fenders. I would take pics but the weather hasn"t been to great over here as of late , but thank you for the welcoming and suggestions!

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

As far as inspecting the timing belt... Unless you can ask the previous owner or dealer for records.. Assume that it was not changed.

You would need to remove the valve cover to see it...

Welcome to the forum and if you are interested check out the link in my signature block for ideas on what is possible with your new car.

 

[Neps_02Pro5]

cool man congrats on the purchase

 

[Rucai]

Good to know I suppose the timing belt should be inspected/replaced relatively soon then. I washed it today took some pics on my phone not the greatest quality but better then nothing lol .

 

[itsjbeck]

clean ride.(rockon)

 

[Jaleik]

Please dont put a fartcan on it. Looks really nice.

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

Looks like either rust has been fixed or isn't there yet... Either way a good score!

 

[Rucai]

Please dont put a fartcan on it. Looks really nice.

I was thinking a catback that drowns out the sound of the 4cyl engine "whine" but nothing loud, with a 2.5 inch tip on the end.

 

[Rucai]

Looks like either rust has been fixed or isn't there yet... Either way a good score!

There is a tiny bit of rust on one of the front fenders and right under the protege5 badge underbody looks fairly clean though. Is rusting an inevitable issue on these cars?

 

[Bastian]

Yeah, I would get those couple of spots fixed before it spreads... Every time I wash my car I find another spot of rust, it's the most depressing thing. I just got a quote for the entire car to have the rust fixed at $1200 US, and it would probably only add a year to the car's life. According to the body shop guy, I have about a year and a half of being able to pass inspection (gah)

 

[us3r]

clean ride.
but remove the dealership sticker at the back and the front hood cover.

 

[Rucai]

Rust spreads that quickly? Even for a couple small rust bubbles I'm looking at $1000+?.. Not good news as I am planning on keeping the car for at least 5 years . Yah I want to remove both of those, the paint won't be a different shade though will it?

 

[Bastian]

well my small rust bubbles are everywhere... rear quarter panels, one front fender, bottoms of all but one door, bottom of hatch, inside the engine bay, front of the hood, around Protege5 badge, and not to mention the stupid steel wheels the previous owner left me with....

 

[Rucai]

Okay well mine isnt too bad I have only seen it in those 2 places... On the way home from work today I noticed that my defrost wasn'y really working after awhile it came on but didnt seem very powerful even on the highest setting and then it would stop working again. Anyone know what this could be, I'm reading blower resistor when I look it up.. Just think its odd because when I bought the car the ac and everything worked normally .

 

[Rucai]

Okay so in the next month or so I am planning on lowering my car and getting some 17's for it as well. For lowering I was thinking Tein S-Tech springs and Stagg SHS struts and
as for wheels go I was thinking the Konig Illusion in blue which comes in a +40 offset i believe. As for tires I am thinking of going Kuhmo Ecsta SPT in a 205/40/17 for good
summer traction and decent wear, I heard these tires were noisy but that doesnt really bother me. My question is does anyone know if this combo will rub? I am willing to roll the fenders but once the fenders are rolled I want to be able to have a decent amount of weight in the back of the car with no issues. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rucai]

No input anyone? I would be interested in what some of you guys are running in terms of moderately agressive fitments!

 

[Silverfox]

Have you put any thought into OEM + for your rims? I have seen a few in these here with RX8 rims and MS3 rims and they just look amazing and being they are an OEM rim they really look like they belong. These are the two I am looking at for mine and th tire size will be a 215/35r18. Your car looks great btw.

Here are some shots: