Inkeys' 2007 Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT 'Nancy' Diary

Inkeys · 2007 Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT

Mazda MX-5 Mk3 (NC)

'Nancy' the NC1 Diary

Read the full write-up at 'Nancy' the NC1 Diary ↗

Ownership diary of a 2007 Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT, 'Nancy'

A forum diary by owner Inkeys tracking the first months with a newly bought 2007 Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT, covering routine servicing, small cosmetic fixes, a rust repair and repaint of the boot lid, and a simple phone/Bluetooth audio upgrade. It is an ongoing, informal thread rather than a finished restoration.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Model: 2007 Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT
Colour: Stormy Blue
Mileage: Approx 108,000 miles at purchase

Parts used

Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.

Suspension & Steering 1

Front ARB drop linksFreelance Mazda
Replaced both front drop links to cure noise
In the shops
Genuine Mazda Front Anti-Roll Bar Drop Link – RH ↗MazSpec MX-5 Spares & Accessories· £39.99 GBP
Genuine Mazda Front Anti-Roll Bar Drop Link – LH ↗MazSpec MX-5 Spares & Accessories· £39.99 GBP
Genuine Mazda Rear Anti-Roll Bar Drop Link ↗MazSpec MX-5 Spares & Accessories· £41.99 GBP

Brakes 1

Rear brake padsFreelance Mazda
Fitted new rear pads during service
In the shops
Rear Brake Pad Set, BP20, Wilwood Caliper ↗Good Parts· $106.00 USD
Rear Brake Pad Set, BP35 Race Only, Wilwood Caliper ↗Good Parts· $149.00 USD
Rear Brake Pad Set, BP10 High Performance Street, Wilwood Caliper ↗Good Parts· $60.00 USD

Body & Trim 4

Rear light clustereBay
Secondhand unit fitted to replace one with a cracked black surround
Door wing mirroreBay
Secondhand Stormy Blue mirror fitted to replace a damaged one
In the shops
Door Mirror Mk2/2.5 (Used) ↗MX5 City· $56.44 USD
Silver Door Mirror Mk3 (Used) ↗MX5 City· $90.31 USD
Innocent Blue Wing Mirror Mk2 (Used) ↗MX5 City· $56.44 USD
Scuttle grommetsMX5parts
Two replacement grommets purchased
In the shops
Grommet-Wiper Cable to Scuttle ↗MGbits4U· £0.88 GBP
Self etch primer, high-build primer, 35J Stormy Blue paint, clear lacquer
Used to repair and repaint the rusted PRHT boot lid
In the shops
Paint Spray - Clear Lacquer ↗MGOC Spares· £17.95
POR-15 High Build Primer (formerly Tie Coat) ↗Motorsport Auto (The Z Store)· $31.00
1967-1976 Camaro & Firebird Trunk Paint Refinishing Kit (Gray & White, Self-Etching Primer) ↗Heartbeat City Camaro· 178.80

Electrical 4

Battery clampMX5parts
New clamp purchased for the battery
In the shops
Battery Terminal Clamps ↗MX5 City· $7.78 USD
Battery Clamp Rod 5-3/4 Inch ↗TRGB· £2.48 GBP
Battery Bar Clamp Rod 8-Inch ↗TRGB· £6.00 GBP
LED rear registration plate light unitsMX5parts
New LED units fitted after boot lid rust repair and repaint
In the shops
LED Number Plate Lights ↗TRGB· £23.05 GBP
LED Rear Running Light Strip (2024+) ↗Flyin' Miata· $79.99 USD
AUX Bluetooth USB dongle
Wired into OEM stereo for handsfree audio and calls
In the shops
Tribute-Series Bluetooth AM/FM USB Aux Radio Assembly: Europa Slim ↗Retro Sound – Ford Capri Mk1 (1969–1974)· AU$1,500.00 AUD
Tribute-Series Bluetooth AM/FM/USB/AUX Radio Assembly – Europa (Late) ↗Retro Sound – Ford Capri Mk1 (1969–1974)· AU$695.00 AUD
Tribute-Series Bluetooth AM/FM/USB/AUX Radio Assembly – Philips Tourismo ↗Retro Sound – Ford Capri Mk1 (1969–1974)· AU$795.00 AUD
Ground loop isolator
Fitted between dongle and AUX port to stop audio buzzing

Photos

30 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from 'Nancy' the NC1 Diary. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.

How it was done

Starting condition

Bought with 108k miles and patchy paperwork, though a digital service app showed regular servicing despite low recent mileage. Known issues included a noisy front ARB drop link note, a slightly surging throttle on upshifts, small dents on a wing and the boot lid, and stone chips.

Early fixes and servicing

Owner swapped the dipstick for a readable one, had Freelance Mazda in Chatham carry out a full service (oil, filter, plugs, diff and gearbox oil, air filter, engine flush), adjust the clutch pedal, update the DSR, fit new rear pads and replace both front ARB drop links.

Cosmetic repairs

Replaced a cracked rear light cluster and cleaned out leaf debris from both clusters, fitted a secondhand matching wing mirror, and sourced new scuttle grommets, a battery clamp and LED rear registration light units.

Boot lid rust repair and respray

Repaired rust on the PRHT boot lid by removing corrosion, applying rust converter, fabricating and epoxying in a small steel patch, then filling, sanding and applying etch primer, high-build primer, Stormy Blue paint and clear lacquer before refitting with the new LED registration lights.

Interior and electrical

Fitted a DIY auxiliary Bluetooth audio solution wired into the OEM stereo with a USB dongle and MagSafe phone mount, later curing a buzzing noise with a ground loop isolator.

Progress so far

By the later update the owner had sourced a secondhand set of 17 inch OEM wheels for possible refurbishment, fitted new wipers, and was considering lowering springs, a Cobalt backbox, painting rear light lenses and a deeper interior and engine bay clean, with work mostly deferred to spring.

A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at 'Nancy' the NC1 Diary ↗