Hi all, here's the story of my 2001 cape green MR2(https://i.ibb.co/fYGbXjc/Screenshot-2022-11-10-071838.png) (https://ibb.co/fYGbXjc) (https://i.ibb.co/zVkchCF/Screenshot-2022-11-10-072016.png) (https://ibb.co/zVkchCF)
Basic detailsBought: Aug 2022 on 102k miles
Cost: £2300
Spec: Hardtop, aircon, black leather
Things I've done- re-routed and poppered strap to cure softtop ears
- Removed an O2 sensor to look for pre-cats - still present
- Engine light P0155 (oops!) - fitted new O2 sensor
- Checked bags and drains
- Had a Toyota specialist check it over
- cured exhaust heatshield rattle, replaced missing bolt
- Sewed up a hole in the shifter gaitor
- relocated alarm sounder to free up froot-space
- Sold on oversize battery held in with cable-ties and fitted proper size yasua with factory retainer
- Replaced aftermarket manual extend aerial with good used one from Dick Sloan
- Donated original bad LCD Sony HU to someone for their RAV4
- Fitted double din DAB+ BT JVC HU (£80 from marketplace), running with green illumination!
- Spent £480 on bodyshop headlight polish, repaint of OS front wing and NS rear wing which had laquer peal
- Fitted good seatback from Dick Sloan to existing seat base to cure holed DS bolster
- Assembled compressor, plugs and last resort slime kit in case I want to run without spare tyre
- Found a hardtop stand and bag on marketplace
- fitted a cig socket behind dash and routed a usb-c cable to the dash-top cubby for phone
- fitted a suction mount phone holder to the flat area in front of the dash-top cubby
- fitted a used garmin mini2 dashcam from CEX
- Adjusted handbrake lever, locknut missing, so must find another
To do- Hardtop is a bit rattly, partially solved with roller shims and adjustments to clamps
- Engine is using oil, monitoring for now
- Ordered aliexpress door shut shims, waiting to arrive and fit
- Only have one LH boxing glove hard top striker cover, would love a RH one to go with it, looking out for one
- Wasn't super clean on purchase, might treat to 'new to me' valet in the spring
Wow fantastic buy (especially with the hardtop) and in the colour I really, really, really wanted. When I was looking, all I could find were dogs. Looking forward to seeing more of this one :)
Since it had elderly owners & done little recent miles, how are the tyres?
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on November 10, 2022, 11:14Since it had elderly owners & done little recent miles, how are the tyres?
Haha - well, in April they were like this...
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
They obviously changed them for the sale, but went for ditchfinders. I'm not sure if I want to change them all imediately though.
Damn. The wheels & tyres on my Green (at the moment) are from another car I bought, - also 'ditchfinders', - including the wrong size rears. Some perishing on those too, even though they aren't old. Ordinary rural driving, they actually felt ok. Cheapest tyre prices are when ebay has a 20% off. You may already know, choice is a bit limited for the car.
:) good start for sure :)
lest see how long before the little mods happen and then the bigger ones :) :)
most important thing to do is to love to drive and enjoy your 2 8) 8)
Quote from: idiotgap on November 10, 2022, 10:54Only have one LH boxing glove hard top striker cover, would love a RH one to go with it, looking out for one
I know OEM is desirable. But they are not complicated, an upholsterer should be able to knock one up between sips of tea. You have the example for them to copy.
Quote from: Ardent on November 10, 2022, 18:04I know OEM is desirable. But they are not complicated, an upholsterer should be able to knock one up between sips of tea. You have the example for them to copy.
Unsure of the size required for the Boxing Gloves but, just maybe, they are readily available for example:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aasta-Mini-Boxing-Gloves/dp/B0026OPS6O
Good effort. But, no.
Not that complicated. No thumb required. ;)
Quote from: Ardent on November 10, 2022, 21:45Good effort. But, no.
Not that complicated. No thumb required. ;)
I suppose that's a thumbs down then! 👎
Aftermarket do exist, I'll keep an eye out for the oem though and probably never bother. I can't imagine I would actually use them, there's a triggering niggle in me having just the one!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=striker+covers+mr2
(https://i.ibb.co/xqb2McL/strikers.png) (https://ibb.co/xqb2McL)
£37 for a couple of off cuts of material.
:o
Quote from: Ardent on November 11, 2022, 09:47£37 for a couple of off cuts of material.
:o
The odd 45p is for the material, the £37 is for the cutting, sewing, packing transport, overheads, profit and 20% of it is tax. The tax is VAT / Value Added Tax and with figures like that we can see the true Value Added!
I will sell my OEM ones for £37.50 posted UK mainland if anyone is interested!
I have never had them on... ;D
Quote from: J88TEO on November 11, 2022, 10:30I will sell my OEM ones for £37.50 posted UK mainland if anyone is interested!
I have never had them on... ;D
You are such a tease Joe!
I'll sell my OEM TRD one's for £50.;)
That's the beauty of a Forum, friendly offers to sell at bargain prices, and of course, as pre owned, the items do not attract VAT.
Quote from: idiotgap on November 11, 2022, 11:02You are such a tease Joe!
Seriously I rather have £37.50 (less postage ) in my pocket than them sitting in the grove box!
Bargin.
I read somewhere, each glove was hand sewn by Tadashi Nakagawa.
@J88TEO and I actually talked about this before in facebook land when he was 'boasting' about having the mini gloves, he's not far from me so I wouldn't need to do posting even. My wife caught me mid-chat though... and swiftly let me know my budget for this boxing glove project is about a fiver! I'll have to hope I see one at an autojumble in 15 years time :-\
I'd actually got Dick Sloan to price a pair into a bundle of bits I got sent down from him, but he'd misplaced them in the end though so I had to settle for some credit off something else.
Maybe not a fiver. But does Mrs Gap, or yourself not know someone, that's a dab hand with a sewing machine. Or pop in on an upholsterer and ask out of curiosity. You could go for colour coded gloves.
Like
@J88TEO mine sit in the glove box.
Have never fitted them for fear of losing them via.
A, the wind
B, some clown removing them.
Perhaps better putting the £37.50 towards better tyres as we all know that good tyres (with the correct pressures) are probably THE most important things on a 2!
Quote from: carolineasb on November 12, 2022, 12:39Perhaps better putting the £37.50 towards better tyres as we all know that good tyres (with the correct pressures) are probably THE most important things on a 2!
Lies. Go-faster stripes and a cone air filter. Themz the boyz
Quote from: shnazzle on November 12, 2022, 13:00Lies. Go-faster stripes and a cone air filter. Themz the boyz
Save towards fitting a twin turbo v12
Update on what's going on with the green car:
- Aliexpress copy TRD door shims fitted, not sure if there is much effect beyond the placebo
- inphase USW10 subwoofer fitted, made a huge difference, loving this one
- aftermarket heated seat kit fitted, seem great so far, but in partially following the Toyota instructions which include tapping into the blue and black wire which is in the bundle going from the px sill plate to the dash side fusebox, I seem to have connected them to permanent live rather than switched, so I run the risk of leaving them on and running the battery down, so I must work out where to get a decent switched live from.
- Flexis are blowing and getting a bit noisy, I've had a quote from 'Mr Exhaust' to weld in new ones, but it's not cheap at <> £500, so mulling other options, but I'm not super keen to get involved with rusty bolts myself
- Still using a fair bit of oil, might run a seafoam treatment through before an oil change.
- looking at going to Le Mans Classic in the MR2 at the end of June and will try to get to Hatton. Some mates are talking about taking bikes to get about at Le Mans which won't be mega easy with the two.
I had my flexis replaced.
The bends were £15 each from an online exhaust catalogue, and then I paid a welder to cut the remains of the old ones out and weld new ones on.
I went for slightly oversize IIRC to help the 2ZZ flow a bit better than stock.
I agree with what's been said on f'book...£500 is a rip-off. If the car isn't a daily driver you could take your time, get the tools required. prepare the job & fit yourself. Alternatively, buy the flexi's on ebay & get a local garage to weld them in for you.
Another approach is buy an aftermarket cat, - you'll get recommendations on here, & trade the o/e in for the platinum scrap, - I think you can make a profit.
@idiotgap Good call on a bike to get around at LeMans.
As for carrying one on a 2 it has been done and I have mentioned it previously but "SEARCH" is un helpful.
The rear towing eye socket/S are used with a threaded rod and a bike carrier or diy system fixed on.
Iirc there was also mention of it on Spyderchat.
PS
I don't recall a positive comment about oil consumption/ reduction treatments. I would save the money to buy more oil.
Hi
@Joesson I'm a keen cyclist and did many searches on the subject of carrying bikes on an MR2 before buying the car, haven't got round to buying the threaded bar yet that will go into the towing eye sockets, but that's where I'll start I imagine, I think I read that there was a supplier on aliexpress. I seem to recall a carrier came up on fb via one of the groups but I missed it.
Quote from: idiotgap on January 9, 2023, 07:25'Mr Exhaust' to weld in new ones, but it's not cheap at <> £500,
Clearly not a job they want to do, so priced silly.
Could buy a new cat for less than that. Taking the p.
I've got a quote from another place now at £200 so I'll probably go with that
That's still flippin' expensive. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294952389090?fits=Car+Make%3AToyota%7CPlat_Gen%3AMK+III%7CModel%3AMR2&hash=item44ac8849e2:g:EwsAAOSwCt9iaW5v&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8Jt%2B8SJovxDX0Yj3NzZsbJHtBDtohwNNy%2B6H51YdtHiSQQpn%2BK5OSrPDdj%2Bp1UmlLHfxjFXtWCeB3OnbP6oF6dg6S%2Ft0VmmYuPVI3VJplPOFLOte%2BV467n7XQ4hM3L6ZapHU3wXtq3oHmuu%2F3vJqw2jBWuuW6mq0%2BetmSVophJJG%2F%2FsVbgipDJcakQjIPu1PHtb8yt2H4U8%2FJD%2B7IgA%2FiE7rUVc29Tk5UpDqTSWQZveyGyJBtNsxc4rsuOLkW3qAtotEr59Dy%2BiSUJ8D7u01qvgmSagJh%2B%2BLbJcA%2B2tVwEeuz2MS%2FZcTwYVkvsN4WBMlDw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9j0y4SzYQ
Indeed! While £200 is a lot less than the £500 you were considering it is still more than an aftermarket complete new catalyser section, " with fitting kit".
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-MR2-ROADSTER-CATALYTIC-CONVERTER-CAT-1-8-VVTi-03-00-02-01-FITTING-KIT/130353313042?mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338353466&toolid=20006&customid=s:GS;gc:EAIaIQobChMI8LnpoLO7_AIV0YBQBh0GWA7dEAQYBSABEgL4B_D_BwE;pt:1;choc:2&customid=s:GS;gc:EAIaIQobChMI8LnpoLO7_AIV0YBQBh0GWA7dEAQYBSABEgL4B_D_BwE;pt:1;choc:1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8LnpoLO7_AIV0YBQBh0GWA7dEAQYBSABEgL4B_D_BwE&pageci=7892cc68-1f11-40a7-a4e7-c8d969cbb567&epid=249139622&redirect=mobile
And that is with one search on the www!
It's also worth bearing in mind that, if your cat is the original one (and it probably is), it's close to it's end of life. Repairing it may be a false economy.
Quote from: Carolyn on January 10, 2023, 09:29Repairing it may be a false economy.
It's a fair point, we think the cat is original, I've been encouraged to retain the OEM quality part if I can. Even if the flexi parts are £30 only, I can see how a business with overheads and offering aftercare needs to charge something for the time it's going to take to weld them in. I'm probably ok with the latest quote.
I have four cars, I know how to do some things and enjoy some kinds of tinkering which saves me some money. No doubt there is scope to do more, but I also have a full time job, three kids and like to rely on getting outside help when it looks to me like I wouldn't have so much fun with it or stuck for time.
Quote from: idiotgap on January 9, 2023, 07:25- aftermarket heated seat kit fitted, seem great so far, but in partially following the Toyota instructions which include tapping into the blue and black wire which is in the bundle going from the px sill plate to the dash side fusebox, I seem to have connected them to permanent live rather than switched, so I run the risk of leaving them on and running the battery down, so I must work out where to get a decent switched live from.
I had a heated seat error and ran the battery down last night so had to muck about jump starting the new-ish Yuasa battery today. Hopefully not killed permanently, I have it on a c-tek now conditioning back to health. I think I must have knocked the switch when I was getting out with shopping bags on the way back from the flexi welding which was done yesterday.
Where is a good switched live?
Preferably running along the LH side of the car or near the passenger door jamb fuse box. I didn't really want to use a piggyback fuse as the heated seats each have an inline fuse, but I can if that's the only reasonable option.
@idiotgap said:
Where is a good switched live?
Preferably running along the LH side of the car or near the passenger door jamb fuse box. I didn't really want to use a piggyback fuse as the heated seats each have an inline fuse, but I can if that's the only reasonable option.You mention the passenger door jamb fuse box, that must be the preferred place to start with any new/ auxiliary wiring it must make your and any subsequent owner's diagnostic life easier.
Time flies and stuff happens so here's what's happened over the last 2 and a bit years
Feb 2023 Bought a luggage rack
IMG_20230205_104320.jpg
Mar 2023 - fitted ford focus misting screenwash nozzles
Mar 2023 - bought a lovely flip key from keymoon
Apr 2023 - got a better condition gearknob, gaiter and a/c button from Dick Sloan
Brighton 'incarnation' with the gang
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May 2023 - TRD hood release button sticker + 3d printed a coin holder
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June 2023 - Hatton
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No more attachments allowed on the previous post... so will add more here
Jun 2023 - Le Mans Classic
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Jul 2023 - frunk and engine cover struts
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Aug 2023 - shopping no problem!
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Aug 2023 - Carfest
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Aug 2023 - Edenbridge show & bike rack test
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continuation!
Oct 2023 - androidauto/carplay screen, completely removable so only for roadtrips, lives in the volvo most of the time.
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Oct 2023 - Torque Moto Cafe
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Dec 2023 - A brompton does go in
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May 2024 - Trip to the ring to watch the 24hr (no laps!)
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Aug 2024 - Carfest again
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so we're kind of up to date now, all the fun stuff anyway!
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Still using the car as much as possible and really enjoying it, but there have been some downs as well as ups.
A neighbour reversed into the driver's side rear quarter just before the Nurburgring trip, that was repaired by his insurer thank goodness, with these cars being such low value you always wonder if you are going to end up with a write-off.
October 2024, I managed to spin off the A3 and into a ditch, no real harm done in terms of injuries, no other cars involved or anything like that, but we had to rebuild some of the suspension and there are some cosmetic witness marks in the front bumper.
IMG_20241104_132441.jpg
Then came the real calamity, the gearbox had been making a bit of noise for a while, but still worked so I chose to have the fluid changed and keep running it for as long as possible. A new business venture means I don't have much ready cash at the moment, but then horror of horrors, we couldn't get the MOT done in March 2025 - the tester tried but his unit filled up with oil smoke...
So right now the car is with a breaker who is going to stick a facelift engine and 6sp box in it for me - painful as the bill will be I can't see myself falling out of love with the car so we will weather the storm!
to be continued after I get the car back - hopefully sooner but key aim is to be in time to join Stu Crann and co at carfest
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:) :'( :)