Models · Mazda
Mazda MX-5 NB (Mk2 and Mk2.5) buying guide
The second MX-5, built from 1998 to 2005 with fixed headlights, a heated glass rear window and 1.6 and 1.8 engines. The facelifted car, often called the Mk2.5, brought a stiffer shell and variable valve timing for the 1.8. Both engines are durable; the structure decides the car.
The versions
- 1.6 (B6-ZE), five-speed manual
- 1.8, 138bhp at launch; the facelift 1.8 (BP-Z3) gained variable valve timing and around 146PS
- Six-speed gearbox, limited slip differential and Bilstein dampers on Sport and special edition 1.8s, starting with the 1999 10th Anniversary
- Two-seat roadster, rear-wheel drive; a rare four-speed automatic 1.8 was also sold
What to check on a Mk2 MX-5
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Sills, rear arches and the hood drains
What to look for: Run your hand along the underside of each sill, paying most attention to the rear third, and feel for anything gritty or lumpy. Look around the rear arches with the wheels on full lock for bubbling. Then pour a little water into the drain channels behind the seats and check it runs straight out underneath.
Why it matters: The hood drains block, water backs up inside the single-skin sills, and they rot from the inside out, rear section first. It is the defining fault on this generation. A car with clear drains and sound sills will probably stay that way, so the drain test tells you about the future as well as the present.
The front chassis rails
What to look for: The rails run down each side of the engine bay. Use a torch and a small mirror, or a phone camera, to see the inner face between the engine and the rail, around the anti-roll bar mount, then check the underside of the rails from below. Look for swelling, flaking or holes.
Why it matters: The NB has multi-layer front rails that rot from inside, hidden from view, and they are the most involved structural repair on the car. This is the check most buyers skip. A ramp inspection by an MX-5 specialist settles it if you can't see clearly.
Oil at the back of the cylinder head
What to look for: On a 1.8 especially, look at the back of the engine where it meets the bulkhead. Note any wet oil, and particularly oil sitting on the rubber heater hoses that run across behind the engine.
Why it matters: A known leak on these engines. The oil itself is a nuisance rather than a disaster, but it softens the heater hoses it drips onto, and a failed heater hose loses coolant. It is a routine repair, best done before it reaches that point.
Also in the full guide
- Cambelt and water pump history
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Mk2 MX-5
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
Mazda MX-5 NA (Mk1) · Mazda MX-5 NC (Mk3) · Mazda MX-5 ND (Mk4)
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Mazda.