2010 MS3 repaired title - what do you think?
 

Hi there, I'm new to the forums and the Mazda community. I'm looking to sell my 2001 Prelude for a 2010+ Mz3 hatch 2.5L.

While browsing Kijiji I noticed a 2010 MS3 with 44,000km for only $15,900.

Here is the link to the ad 2010 MAZDASPEED3 **ONLY 44415 klms ** - Nova Scotia Cars For Sale - Kijiji Nova Scotia Canada.

I called and asked some questions about the car to find out it had a repaired title. He was open about this and made a point about how they are always upfront about the vehicles they sell. After the phone call I decided to send an email for more information. This is what I received:

http://i.imgur.com/rn5muNA.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sFkN8SJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/7f9UPXr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SozW3HX.jpg

I believe it is also worth mentioning that he has been personally using the car for the past two years (good and bad possibly, lower km when written off but he didn't get rid of it immediately)

So what do you guys think? Should I steer clear regardless? Get it checked for frame damage?

Thanks!

If fixed properly and there is a warranty of some sort Id buy it. Check around to see if the shop is reputable. If somebody trusts the car enough to be a DD there probably is not something glaringly wrong with it imo.

Also go through the checklist raider has posted, should be in your welcome email

Walk, plenty of non-accident ones out there.

^^^ I agree. I had a salvaged title car before, not worth it IMO. It will probably have trouble in the future.

If it drives straight and it gets checked out ok by someone, I don't see the issue with buying a salvaged car. Obviously they are difficult to sell, so only buy it if you plan on keeping it for a while. I hear you guys pay out the ass for an ms3 up there, so probably not a bad price.

Matt

Now that you've started down this road, though, you gotta get a MS3. Not that the MZ3 is a bad car, but you took the red pill. Can't go back now.

For that price spend a little more and get one that isn't wrecked!

Guys keep in mind that up north ms3 is mucho dinero

Thanks for all the replies! As MazdaBoy said, they are expensive up here. This would go for $20,000 if it had a normal title. I would imagine I could also beat him down $1000-$1500. This puts it in the same range as a 2010 GS or GT hatch.

I wouldnt fuck with any car that took a front hit. Shit will never be right.

Don't know if he just forgot to mention it, but make sure that the seat belts WERE changed as well.

My last vehicle was a Honda Civic Si that was front end totaled at 33k miles. I drove it for 5 years and 60k miles trouble free, and sold it to the first person that called to look at it. (had 6 calls in the first 24 hrs with a Craigslist ad only).

It never chewed tires, tracked straight and true, no wobbles or weird shit.

I may have won the lottery on a rebuilt car - but it was the same circumstance - this shop did nothing but purchase and repair salvaged Hondas, and they were well regarded for their work.

Food for thought.

Thanks, I will definitely ask that.

You might be right. Coming from my prelude the 2.5 is a little underwhelming.. My friend has one and it keeps up on the highway but it's almost too refined, I want some drama! I'm seriously going to miss the h22 vtec crossover and that sound :684:

I made up my mind as soon as I saw new air bags. Fuck that. There are plenty of quick cars that are fun to drive for that price. I'd be patient and see what else comes along, but if you decide to pull the trigger, get it checked WELL.

So I checked out the car today.

Looks great, it seems the guy does good work. He used all oem parts etc. He showed me the other cars that he has finished/is working on. Probably 45+ years old with wife and kids so he seemed pretty legit.

So the story is he had the car for a couple years and only got around to finishing it a few months ago. In that time he has put on 1000km. So unfortunately it was not used as a long-term dd after the work was done.

The bad: There was a K&N intake and a turbosmart BOV installed. This wasn't a real concern for me. However he mentioned something about the bov being seized. So sure enough when I let of the throttle there was some nice turbo chatter and no whistle. I'm sure this was something to do with sitting for 2 years and a little tlc would get it moving again. After I told him what the bov was for and that driving that way could hurt the turbo he said he would be getting the oem intake and bov.

So my first question is would driving 1000km without a functioning bov be terrible for the car?

Second bad item: CLUTCH VIBRATION :paranoid: it was really light but it was noticeable since my car has no vibration in neutral. Happened when taking up the slack in the clutch and would go away if pressed in past 2 or 3 inches I would say. I didn't test giving it gas while feeling the vibration since I had no idea what it was at the time. Definitely not a foot massage. However I am going to do a compression test and piston height test if you guys think it's worth investigating.

The car is in amazing shape underneath and inside, almost perfect except for the navigation not working (known issue?).

I didn't want to drive it without a bov so I can't comment on how it drives.

it also doesnt have mazdaspeed wheels. those are regular 3 wheels and probably not 18 inchers, probably 17 inchers.

Yup and no xenon headlights :(

Run the fuck away! My car is fully mounted with zero clutch vibration.


Sent from my iBro 5 using tapatalk, Bro!

I think you're right! I'll probably just keep saving for the (comparatively) outrageously priced Canadian ms3 with a clean title :P

But what if I do the checks and it comes back clean? could it just be a tranny issue?

THIS I seriously doubt his work since he couldn't even get the rims right.


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It was a cost cutting measure. He explained it to me upfront saying that if he had bought the extraordinarily expensive xenons and factory ms3 rims it would mean a loss for him and an asking price too close to a clean titled ms3 with similar kms.

Wrong rims, air bag deployment, and clutch vibrations. Your right, sounds like a GREAT deal! Really dude if you can't afford a reliable one, then don't get one. Last I checked a blown motor from a bent/broken rod is around 5-6 thousand American.


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1000km on a seized bov? Turbo is probably fucked.

Hmm, I'd definitely have it checked over and see what's going on. Either way, goodluck in your decision

You do not buy a salvaged titled car from someone who admits to cutting costs. It's that simple. That is HUGE red flags right there. Fucking Ms3 rims go for like $400-$500 a set ALL DAY here.
What did he really save? And the answer is nothing!


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You're an enthusiastic member lol.

From our long discussion he gave me the sense that if it is integral to the vehicle it was oem and there was no dicking around. I think oem fenders, bumper, rad, compressor, etc are a good sign. However positive I might sound I am not at all sold on the car. I'm just trying to figure out if it is in fact a good deal.

Regardless!!! If I do a piston height test and compression test and they turn out okay what could the vibration be? TOB? anything serious? and does anyone know of people running without a bov on the stock turbo? or have first hand experience on the effects of this.

one thing i like is the up front honesty, the thing that scares me is the unknowns. is the frame damaged? all alignment items good? will insurance cover it (your insurance)? is there any resale value on the table if you decide to sell it? check it out and weigh your options and go from there? also you never specified if it had a warranty?

He said the frame was fine but how could he really know right? However, all the panels lined up great and the doors both shut as they should.

Alignment is good based on the condition of the tires but I would be taking it to get it check before handing over any money. I also need to drive it first haha. My prelude had some issue in that department and I would rather not relive that.

I'll be talking to my insurance tomorrow to see how much coverage I can get.

Resale is unsure.

Warranty is also unknown as I forgot to ask him about it but seeing that it wasn't mentioned scares me a bit but the guy seemed quite reasonable so it could be something that could be worked out.

If only this wrecked car could have been perfect :006:

Enthusiastic, yes but don't think I'm coming off like an ass. I applaud his honesty but I would just think he could have gotten lightly used OEM parts and made the car 100% rather than buy different Mazda parts just to offset costs. Attention to details goes a long way.


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And depending on how long the BPV has been seized and how long the turbo has been surging, the turbo could be screwed as well. Why would he continue to drive it knowing the BPV was seized and the turbo was surging.


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I agree 100% about going all original parts. Maybe it could be a good bargaining point if it goes that far?

About the bov: He said he didn't know anything and I sort of believe it since he doesn't deal with many forced induction cars. BUT he did say he tried to free it up so it's clear he knew something was wrong. It does seem strange that someone who repairs cars for a living wouldn't look up what it was that wasn't working and realize "oh gee I shouldn't drive this". On the other hand if he did really know that the bov was an integral part of the intake system and that running in it's current state could cause damage you think he would have fixed the issue. It's not overly expensive for a new one and I'm sure with some work the TS bov is probably fixable.

Edit: I remember him saying his buddy over at mazda said it should be making a "whoosh" sound. So maybe that is the reason why he investigated a little.

dont bother, just my 2 cents, which .5 cents canadian now?

I wouldn't touch the car. When I bought the Civic there was *ZERO* indication anything was or ever had been wrong with the car. It was returned to KBB excellent condition and no corners were cut that I could ever find.

If you have the slightest reservation about this car, do yourself a favor and keep looking elsewhere. The allure of the MS3 is the awesome bang-for-the-buck, but the performance comes with a lot of potential repairs that can really dig deep in your wallet, and it sounds like this shop is more about cosmetics and unit body work than mechanicals.

Run away, run away now.

I wouldn't buy a used Speed 3 unless it was in perfect shape amd had little to no evidence of modification.

I wouldn't pay more than half of what he is asking.


Sent via blown passenger side speakers.

Edit: my bad

I sent him an email today saying I would not be buying the car and listed my concerns.
Thanks to everyone who has helped point me in the right direction.

Maybe some day I will be back on here with a ms3 but If I am going to put down 20k+ on a fast car I don't think it's going to be fwd. If only the Canadian prices were not inflated on the ms3.

*Back to looking for a mz3 2.5 hatch*

VIN: JM1BL1H37A1170212
Hopefully the next person interested plugs that into google before buying.

Smart man and you seem to really know your shit on searching and how to help others search. Come back any time. Best of luck to you.


Sent from my iBro 5 using tapatalk, Bro!

Just saw. Wow. Good move listening and running away.

Find more, post away. You have the msf buying a used mazdaspeed link when you joined. Use as much as you can on all used cars.

No BPV? Two words: Blown Bearing

That's a rip off. Priced way to high for a salvage and the amount of damage wow! And you'd be married to it unless you didn't mind taking a HIGE hit on resale.

Don't revive 4 mount old threads for no reason.