European MX-3 Differences (Airbags, etc)

[catalyst]

I've been looking at used MX-3s in Europe but I've noticed that all of the ones I've found do not come with airbags, was that an option in Europe, or did they just not come with airbags at all.

Are any of the headlight patterns from those countries close to the U.S. standard, or would I need to replace the headlight assemblies with U.S. spec ones to pass saftey?

Also, has anyone here imported a 96-98 GS into the U.S. from Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, etc.?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

<small>[ June 10, 2004, 09:31 AM: Message edited by: catalyst ]</small>

[Black Magic]

Only the newer models came with airbags. About the headlights, the lenses are made out of glass, not Plastic as in the US.

Bastian

[catalyst]

Bastian,

What year did they start offering Airbags (driver side and passenger) in the Netherlands?

[Balhirath]

They put in airbags the same year as the interior facelift, which was in 1994. It's quite easy to see, since the dashboard is a lot more rounded than the pre-facelift models. (There's some picts of both dashboards on the main site under Stock info -> Interoior Styles)

Also the front is a little bit different though I cant remember exactly what the differences are. There's a pict of my car here
which have a standart Euro front.

[catalyst]

Balhirath,

Such a gorgeous colour for the MX-3. Thank you for the information... I hope to one day bring home '98 with very low mileage. If you happen to know any dealers that carry them occasionally I would like to know.

-catalyst

[curtklze]

Am I just stupid, or do you want to import a left hand (not RIGHT HAND) drive MX-3 from europe to america?

whats the point? they are the same car.

If you really want one you can just get one from Canada.

The 1996 GS is basicly the same as the euro spec, you can get air bags, ABS, A/C.

The only difference is the front bumper cover and front and rear fog lights. which can be swaped in (like I am doing).

[catalyst]

I was under the impression that most (many?) countries in Europe drive on the right hand side of the road... I could be wrong, seeing as I've never been there, but looking, for example, at audi.de and audi.nl I see the steering wheel on the left hand side of the car...

Could be wrong though, any confirmations?

The point of importing a '98 from Europe would be to get an MX-3 with the lowest miles I possibly could.

-catalyst

<small>[ June 19, 2004, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: catalyst ]</small>

[Jin-Roh]

The differences between the European and US spec cars are as far as I know -> the headlamps have glass lenses instead of plastic lenses
-> the Euro front bumper has foglights incorporated
-> there is a foglamp on the passenger side tail light
-> the speedo is in km/h instead of mp/h (exept U.K.)
-> and the early interior has a different setup for some switches

BTW, apart of the U.K. all European countries have left hand driven cars !

[curtklze]

Originally posted by catalyst:


The point of importing a '98 from Europe would be to get an MX-3 with the lowest miles I possibly could.

-catalyst

most of the cars are left hand drive just like ours.

I just met a guy at one of our meets with a black 1995 MX-3 GS with A/C, cruse control , power windows, power door locks, sunroof, and ONLY 50,000 KILOMETERS!!!!

It looked brand new, it was stored winters, and only driven on sunny days in the summer.

point is there are low KM cars in North america, you just have to look.

[catalyst]

I'll have to keep looking then... but owning a '98 would be killer, I haven't met anyone who has imported one from Europe.

[Desloch]

Originally posted by catalyst:
I was under the impression that most (many?) countries in Europe drive on the right hand side of the road... I could be wrong, seeing as I've never been there, but looking, for example, at audi.de and audi.nl I see the steering wheel on the left hand side of the car...

Could be wrong though, any confirmations?

Like Jin-Roh said, Every country in Europe (except Great Britain) drive on the right side of the road. That means that the steering wheel is placed on the left

<small>[ June 20, 2004, 08:00 AM: Message edited by: Desloch ]</small>

[MX3-Freak]

I would really love to get ahold of that european front bumper... so nice looking.

[Mackerelman]

Hi - I have a 97 European MX-3 with a driver side airbag. The (glass) lights are the same as Balhiraths pic but my mx-3 is silver with standard Mazda rims - it's right hand drive for left hand roads as is the case for Britain.

Germans drive on the other side of the road and will, as you say, have left hand drives like the US - every TT (bike race) we get Immer links Farhen Bitte signs on our roads to help the Germans stay on the correct side of the road (it says "Keep Left")

I hope this is of some use?

[Desloch]

Originally posted by MX3-Freak:
I would really love to get ahold of that european front bumper... so nice looking.

What's the difference? Pics?

[Mackerelman]

Originally posted by catalyst:
I'll have to keep looking then... but owning a '98 would be killer, I haven't met anyone who has imported one from Europe.

I may be wrong but mine is a '97, and the end of the line, at least in Europe - maybe this explains why you haven't seen one?

Desloch, check out balhariths post earlier, that's a European front.