1990 Mazda MX-5 1.6L Petrol · G120 OPW

The most recent MOT (2025-10-14) passed, but with several advisories: a minor exhaust leak at a mid-section joint, a non-excessive oil leak, light oil misting on the nearside rear shock absorber, and a minor windscreen crack in the lower nearside corner that doesn’t impair the driver’s view. No new failures were recorded—only previous concerns carried forward as advisories. The vehicle shows a clear pattern of recurring issues, particularly around exhaust emissions and brake performance. In March 2024, it failed due to excessive carbon monoxide at both idle and fast idle, suggesting a fuelling or ignition problem—possibly related to the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, or engine management. Earlier, in April 2022, it failed again for the same emissions issue, alongside excessive binding on the nearside rear brake and imbalanced rear brakes. Brake pipes were consistently flagged as corroded and greased over in both 2022 MOTs, and all suspension arms were corroded, with one front mounting point deemed “excessively corroded” in 2022—raising structural concerns. The trend appears to be stabilising, not worsening: no new failures since 2022, and the latest MOT shows only advisories. However, the persistence of oil leaks (shock absorbers and general), minor exhaust leaks, and brake-related issues over multiple years suggests underlying wear or deferred maintenance—not sudden new breakdowns. Mileage stands at 218,146 over ~36 years, averaging ~6,060 miles/year—within typical range. This suggests either light use, long lay-ups, or careful ownership.