Looking at buying used 2007 MS3 What To Look For

[jrodhotrod]

Hi All,

I was formerly a very active member here when I had a Mazdaspeed Protege.

Considering a return back to the Mazda Family with a second car.

I am looking at a clean, high mileage 2007 mazdaspeed 3. Has almost 200K miles on it, but has not been modified and most of those are freeway miles.

This will be a second car for me / freeway commuter to save miles on my new car, a supercharged 2013 Mustang GT.

After a test drive all seems well, but just wondering if there are any specifics I should look at or be aware of?

I believe the pricing will be pretty good, and this would be a lot more fun to drive than many of the other choices in the "cheap" cars category and decent highway mileage I am looking at Under about $7,500 or so.

Thanks!

 

[WillD]

How many owners has it had? Is there any documentation as far as what maintenance has been done?

I wouldn't be afraid of a high mileage Mazda, particularly for the right price. I sold my Speed3 a few days ago with 104k miles and it was in perfect mechanical condition. I'd just make sure it has been in no wrecks and all that and you should be good to go.

 

[chimmike]

With that many miles, I'll say you should have them yank the intake manifold off and look at the intake valves. they NEED to be cleaned. Direct injection cars now get gunky nasty valves. All of them. BMW's, porsches, etc. because no gas to wash over the valves and keep 'em clean.

Apparently bmw dealers just yank the intake mani and blast the valves with crushed walnut, while in the car.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Its a 1 owner car, clean carfax no wrecks.

 

[Russm]

I would take the oil filler cap off and check the timeing chain and see how much play is in it, if a lot I would hold a long scew driver to the valve cover next to the oil fill and listen for chain slap as someone revs the engine lightly, if it is loose your looking at a $1000 repair by a shop pretty soon unless you can do it yourself!

 

[jrodhotrod]

I would take the oil filler cap off and check the timeing chain and see how much play is in it, if a lot I would hold a long scew driver to the valve cover next to the oil fill and listen for chain slap as someone revs the engine lightly, if it is loose your looking at a $1000 repair by a shop pretty soon unless you can do it yourself!

Yes, after seeing the other posts here, I took a very close look at that. No slop in the timing chain (checked by hand) and also listened carefully under cold start and revving. Seems healthy.

 

[chimmike]

heh. I had a 2001 sentra GXE for a while. Good ol' QG18DE. Well, not good, haha.