Things to look for when buying a Speed3?

[kzoom83]

Hi everyone,
looking at selling my msp and getting a speed3. Just hoping you could give me pointers as far as things to look for that may be issues with the ms3. My msp has had all the usual things wrong--clunk, rear valence falling off, radio broken ect... Just looking for a little insight before buying my new ride. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Russm]

Check to see if it has been modified in any way and put back to stock, look real good at differant nuts and bolts for any wear, if possible you really are looking for the car the little old lady owned! Look for any oil leaks around oil pan, check your half shaft end play, look for any fluids on the struts/shocks, smell the oil( don't want burnt smell or gasoline smell, check the service sceduale just like you were determining a warranty replacement for the car. If there are gaps in records most of the time there are gaps in service. Check to make suree clutch is opperating as smooth as a MS3 clutch works. Check to see if there is even wear on tires and brakes and make sure car drives slow and fast smoothly.

 

[oaklandopen]

See if you can get it up on a lift for you. But honestly you should just have it inspected by a pro

 

[not yellow]

personally, i haven't heard of any real issues with the factory MS3. with any used car you want something that has had one owner, regular maintenance/oil changes, and no crazy mods. and if you can find one with some of the factory warranty remaining then all the better!

 

[redspeed]

hmm lets see, smoking turbo and crappy tranny mount are things that can happen even if stock. If previous owner cranked up the boost you could put the #3 piston( if I remember correctly) through the block.

 

[not yellow]

hmm lets see, smoking turbo and crappy tranny mount are things that can happen even if stock. If previous owner cranked up the boost you could put the #3 piston( if I remember correctly) through the block.

smoking turbo is almost always associated with an aftermarket downpipe. if the exhaust has not been modded the odds of seeing this problem is very low. never heard anything about a bad tranny mount only a weak rear motor mount in the '07 models which was corrected by mazda. and cranking up the boost also falls under the "crazy mod" category. i'd stay away from any car that has had a downpipe and boost controller...

 

[redspeed]

smoking turbo is almost always associated with an aftermarket downpipe. if the exhaust has not been modded the odds of seeing this problem is very low. never heard anything about a bad tranny mount only a weak rear motor mount in the '07 models which was corrected by mazda. and cranking up the boost also falls under the "crazy mod" category. i'd stay away from any car that has had a downpipe and boost controller...

whaaa? you don't remember people dropping their trannys while driving? Mazda had a TSB for that. I know because I had it done on my ms3. Sticky link HERE and HERE, HERE and one of the good ones HERE
and a good pic:

 

[not yellow]

yeah, obviously i remember since i just mentioned it. i may have gotten the mount wrong, mazda refers to the #4 engine mount in the '07 models. and clearly they have addressed it.

 

[kzoom83]

So it was an 07 problem only? Anybody have it happen to an 08 or 09?

 

[redspeed]

So it was an 07 problem only? Anybody have it happen to an 08 or 09?

Hmm, Im not sure. If the tranny mount is the same design then there is the possibility that it could happen. I think it happened to somebody that had an 08 but im not too sure. You may want to search some old threads.

 

[WillD]

In addition to what has already been mentioned they switched from Silver trim/Cloth inserts to Piano Black trim/alcantara in 2008.5 models. IIRC, the smoking turbo problem has been fixed in the 2008.5 models correct?