A sad tale about the perfect MX-3

TekPmp · Post by **TekPmp** » March 8th, 2005, 11:53 am

Sad story. . . .

I visited the auto recycling yard yesterday to find replacement window glass for my MX-3. The owner takes me through the yard and points me to a beautiful black 95 GS with a sunroof, rear wiper, rear spoiler and just all over great condition in and out. Needless to say it was love at first site. I ask him how much he would take for the whole car, he said $1000 (US) I was ready to buy it and then he added that it had a salvage title and ultimately I would never put it on the road and insure it. I wound up just buying the window glass off of it. I think its just terrable that this awesome rare car is sitting there and theres nothing that can be done for it except rape it of its parts. I sat there thinking of every possable way to get the car on the road but its hopeless so im told by the wrecker. I guess ill just have to keep on searching for her. . .

-Joe

Gro Harlem · Post by **Gro Harlem** » March 8th, 2005, 12:47 pm

sounds like a crock. you can insure & register cars with salvage titles in NY. unless it has frame damage (won't pass inspection) it is fine.

that yard owner is full of crap

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » March 8th, 2005, 11:33 pm

over here u can use salvage cars as long as it gets inspected and you show you hjave rebuilt it to perfect working condition.they give u a pink title here in texas...and then u can drive it... and 1000 is to miuch for a salvage car needless to say... i bought my working gs for 1000 with crappy paoint but hey it works.. so far iyts been around 500 - 600 dlls later that ive invested and more to come

TekPmp · Post by **TekPmp** » March 9th, 2005, 12:56 am

Thanks guys, i started to do some research and came up with some interesting facts about salvage titles in NY.

This MX-3 was labeled with a "parts only" salvage title and I was told by the wrecker that the salvage title was issued to this MX-3 in NY by NY. With that said let me quote the DMV website of NY:

"The DMV will not examine or issue a title certificate or a vehicle registration to a rebuilt vehicle that has an out-of-state title certificate that is labeled "parts only", "non-rebuildable", or "non-repairable". The DMV will not examine or issue a title certificate or a vehicle registration to a rebuilt salvage vehicle that does not have a title certificate or form MV-907A that proves ownership"

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/salvexam.htm#info

Im assuming the frame is in OK condition. The rear PS quarter-panel looks like it has a large 19"/14" bondo (grey) job done on it and the PS door has about the same size bondo repair. By the looks of it I would say another car scraped down the side causeing this damage. I dont see how this could affect the frame but please correct me if I am wrong!

Just a few more questions come to mind:
-If the frame is damaged, is that something that can be repaired?
-Can the rear quarter-panel be removed and replaced?

Thank you all for the support and timely responses, this is my dream car!

nos92mx3 · Post by **nos92mx3** » March 9th, 2005, 8:21 am

The mx3 is a unibodied car so "frame" damage is very hard to acomplish, not trying to be an a-- but the car would have to be hit very hard and at that point would be pointless to get a salvage title.
Yes you can section a quarter panel form another mx3 and have it welded on.

Joey's mx · Post by **Joey's mx** » March 9th, 2005, 9:52 am

Here is a trick.....take the trim with the vin number(top of dash at wind shield) off your mx-3 and trade it for the one from the salvage yard, that way you just have to change the colour on your ownership!! But yeah same here you can buy and insure cars from the wreckers...they even sell them for that reason here!!!

TekPmp · Post by **TekPmp** » March 9th, 2005, 10:21 am

Hey Joey, yes thats my worst case scenario option, I currently drive a 94 RS in black so it would be possable to switch vins. I read that mazda does not include the engine displacement in the VIN number so that would work out ok. The only problem there is how to get the vin sticker off of the driver side door frame. Im curious if it could pass inspection without that VIN on the door frame. The VIN on the dash looks pretty easy just to swap with my other MX-3. I am aware that this is illegal but it looks like the easiest way right now.

93SOHC · Post by **93SOHC** » March 9th, 2005, 12:54 pm

not that I support illegal activity, but if you were very careful with a brand new razorblade, scrape it off, apply some 3m spray adheasive, stick it on there... Or as long as you switch the badge on the dash, you could play it off as you got a new drivers door from a salvage yard thats why the vins dont match...

ScooterBovine · Post by **ScooterBovine** » March 10th, 2005, 3:34 am

When I got my car inspected, the only VIN plate it had was on the door. What I'm saying is that here in Ohio, it seems that they don't really care what/where the VIN is, as long as there is one somewhere.

.:]{UBIS:. · Post by **.:]{UBIS:.** » March 10th, 2005, 11:09 am

Hi.. Just want to say that changing Cars on base swaping vin numbers is quite ofen in my country and some people import cars same as you described into our country.. for to sell them,for this reason.. swapping the vins.. so don´t loose your idea..

93SOHC · Post by **93SOHC** » March 10th, 2005, 1:11 pm

ScooterBovine wrote:When I got my car inspected, the only VIN plate it had was on the door. What I'm saying is that here in Ohio, it seems that they don't really care what/where the VIN is, as long as there is one somewhere.

Yeah, when I go for emissions testing all they do is look at my door sticker. If for some reason they actually compared it to the one on your registration, you could just say it was a different door. The only thing that might get ya is insurance, that is if you have collision. I only have liability, and when I swapped the driver door on escort they said it didn't matter cause the car was old and if I was hit it would just be totalled out anyway. If you have collision and you get into an accident with the GS on the RS title and insurance, they might give you crap about fixing certain things, just an idea, but I still say get that car right now! If I ever have the oppertunity to get a GS, I won't hesitate, but i'm really waitin for the SE

TekPmp · Post by **TekPmp** » March 10th, 2005, 3:03 pm

Thanks guys the replies have been extremely helpful! Hoping to get this car on the road soon. The wrecker said it wasnt running because the alternator belt went. Hopefully thats the case!

I dont know if you guys with the 92-93 dash style have it the same but on the 94 dash style the vin plate is connected the windshield defogger vent. That plastic feels pretty flimsy in my car, hopefully the whole vent pops out as a whole.

Thanks again for all the help, ill keep you guys updated

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » March 10th, 2005, 5:43 pm

The DMV will not examine or issue a title certificate or a vehicle registration to a rebuilt vehicle that has an out-of-state title certificate that is labeled "parts only

Is this car from out of state then? Just curious.. That statement would make me think that if the state of NY issued the Parts only salvage title that they then might still be willing to inspect the car if the car was originally sold in NY. And this would certainly be a better option to persue than swapping vins.. just a thought..

Tunes67

mitmaks · Post by **mitmaks** » March 10th, 2005, 8:07 pm

check out my mx3, it was once wrecked (some previous chick owner) and now Ive rebuilt it and driving it, totally insurable and legal