MX-3.com

Ok, I was given a 92 MX3 RS today for free. I was gonna use it for parts since all the windows are busted out and the fender and hood need replacing. The guy told me before I left it didnt run, but the engine was freshly rebuilt about a month before it was parked two years ago.

Well....... we towed it home. I took the battery from my MX3, and would you know the car cranked on the first try. Granted it smokes some, which I figured after two years of sitting, and it makes a tapping noise which sounds like the lifters. I was told that could be because after all that sitting, everything is dry and needs time to lube up. The interior is nice considering it sat in the rain for two years. Headliner spotless, and the dash and door panels and seats are nice. Carpet in the floor is wet right now and I've got another good day of vacuuming to get the glass out.

Here's the questions.

Would you guys strip it down for parts, or replace the fender, hood, and all the glass and drive it? I have the title free and clear, and as I said, I think once I dry it out and steam clean everything a few times, it will be nice. I dont know anything about the 1.6 that came in those cars, so do you think the tapping will go away once the engine is lubricated again?

Here are the things I know I need up front.

Windshield
driverside glass
rear hatch glass
rear carpet
power steering pump
new tires
driver side fender
hood

Would any of you fix it? It has 116,000 miles on the odometer with a rebuilt engine. Tranny is tight from what I can tell. It breaks my heart to think about stripping it, but if its gonna cost a lot, I'll have to.

personally id part it out because you wouldnt make any of the money back and well the glass isnt cheap. you could always take the money and use it on your car.

Think of all the people who part out their cars... they would have all of this stuff they are willing to just give away...

Id say lets keep one more for the road!! Think of the gas mileage..

i'd keep it, and slowely build it back up using 2nd hand parts that over time people will be selling from theirs.

Even if it was a few different colours, im sure someone would want to buy it as a project!

I'd determine first what you have for parts options. Is there any scrap yards around you that have mx3s in stock that you will be able to grab parts from?? Also what kind of a rush are you in to get it fixed? People are always selling parts and the right ones will always come up with a little patience. If it were me...I would definantly keep it and invest alittle money into it. but thats just me
BTW good deal on it

I say fix it up thats easy to fix. PLUS IT WAS A FREE CAR FOR A DAYLY DRIVER!! Plus if it runs thats realy cool I would fix it up. Hell if you live close i could get you some glass really cheap because my manager is a brother of a glass company and i got my windshield for 90 bucks =)

Well unfortunately I live in Alabama. But I think I can get the glass. Aside from the fact the places here want $300 for the windshield because they said it has a factory molding that has to be replaced.

Either way, I dont intend to junk it now. The A/C is ice cold in it and it came out pretty clean to have been rained in for two years.

There is one junkyard around here that has 1 MX3 in it. He wants $50 for the fender, $50 for the d/s window, and $200 for the entire back hatch.

Other than that, they are really hard to come by. But that's ok. I can order the parts online. So that's no biggie. There is an issue with the motor though. It ticks the entire time it's running. I was going over the paperwork, and it was rebuilt two years ago and hasnt been driven more than 1,000 miles since then. It has a new timing belt, new steering pump (even though it doesnt work for some reason. The hose is crimped badly though, so Ill try that.) It has a new battery now, and new belts, etc.

I am gonna change plugs and wires and change the oil and see if that helps.

But I will definately try to keep it and drive it. All the shocks and struts are new too. If I can find someone to host some pics, I'll take some of both my cars. I plan to use this one as my dd and turn my V6 into a monster.

if your willing to come to atlanta ill sell you

Windshield
driverside glass (already have removed out of the car
rear hatch glass (actually you can take the rear hatch) extra 25 for the gs wing
driver side fender
hood few dings nothing a shop could fix for cheap

for 300

Ill even help ya remove the stuff

Hmm........ That isnt a bad deal. I dont think I have $300 yet or a truck to get there with, but let me see what I can do. That's not bad. Got any pics?

Um nothing decent I'll try to take some today when i get off work

Thanks man. I've got a kid on the way, so money's kind of tight. But I'll see what I can do. I really need to get this car on the road so I can sideline my V6.

thats a deal!! for only 300 glass alown is more then that even with my discount. lol

The question is tho is the glass ok no cracks chips?

no cracks no chips glass is in great condition, wasnt able to take any pics of it tonight didnt get off till dark,

here are teh most recent pics i have, there somewhat old but its still the same in good condition.






car has just sat since i blew my motor DAMN HURRICANE IVAN!

But i have a SE now so im gonna junk this one, knowing the price of our glass im not gonna let it get destroyed at a junkyard.

you can see the driver side fender is in good condition (just oxidized) and if you look close you can see the dents in the hood.

What happen was i live in atlanta and occasionally had to park my car on the street when my place's parking spaces were full, well some jerk side swipped the passenger side of my car causing me to have to swap passenger side door, fender and my original hood. A friend of mine had just recently rolled his RS when he was run off the road, so i grabbed his door, fender, and hood.

with what was left from the insurance money i ordered a body kit and a few other parts, but before they could get here hurricane ivan killed my car. So i sold the kit and had to let teh car sit till i could get another motor. Finally got up the cash for the motor bought it and soon as i got enough money for the swap my motor in my Honda went. So in a desperate attempt to find another car i found a SE for 700 and decided it was a better platform

Ok. Thanks for the pics. Everything looks fine. Just out of curiosity, would you have the passenger fender instead of the ds? I dunno how I got them mixed up.

Also, would you be willing to hold them for two weeks until I get paid again? I just had a bunch of bills due. My wife and I do want to get them though. Now if I can just figure out that darn ticking noise.