Wish to purchase Mazda 3 MPS - Fears about engine failure issues - opinions please

[cargle]

Hi All,

I am looking to purchase a Mazda 3 MPS 06/07 model.

Looking to buy privately (not dealer) as alot cheaper, and have found a couple of examples which I like and appear to be in great shape with minimal K's

I had heard about the the engine mount problems, both examples have had the factory recall etc, also heard about turbo seal problems..

But a mate recently advised that apparently there are loads of engine failures (bent rods/cracked) on these cars, which was confirmed reading the forums at mazdaspeedforums.org

This now has me a little concerned, and kind of taken the excitement out of purchasing one.

I wouldnt be looking to modify the car, but still wish to get an opinion from the Australian scene.

Cheer in advance.

[rogwick]

I haven't heard of too many engine failures. Some MPS's are running the stock turbo with the stock mount with no issues. Changing the mount can make a difference but I wouldn't say its a major issue using the stock mount. As far as turbo, not all have had the white smoke problem. I'll admit the typical seals on the MPS are nothing flash. I've had the water pump replaced due to leaking seals. See what other folks suggest to "loads of engine failures on these cars"

[MISSMPS]

Mines '06 3MPS and it's had the water pump replaced and just today i had the faulty CD player replaced under warranty

And of course the recall on the engine mount was done

And i know everyone is going to add that its only done 26,000k's so i beat them to it

[Grajy]

LOADS of engine failures is wrong. Some, maybe. Every type of engine in the world has had failures.
Nothing wrong with the 2.3L turbo engine, period.

[SarcasticOne]

I think there has been less than 10 people on these forums with either a 6mps or gen 1 3mps with stock engines that have had piston/rod problems... so I think you'll find its probably less than 2-3% of cars it has happened to... plenty of guys have racked up 100,000+ km with only minor issues

[tigamica350]

06 3MPS 112000klm still going strong!

[Caffeine Fiend]

As all have said above I wouldn't be concerned. If there were inherent issues with the 2.3lt turbo, Mazda wouldn't continue to use it pretty much unchanged in the Gen II


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[cargle]

Thanks guys/girls.

My R34 had been written off recently *not my fault :-), so was looking at either WRX or MPS for something newer and also different, but have never really like the WRX for some reason.. Also looked at the XR5 Turbo, but no cruise control and footrest really ruined it for me..

So have really liked the MPS, the Thread dedicated the engine failures on the US website, was some scary reading, but as you have all mentioned, it does seem to minimal and mostly associated with modified engines...

Will have a further think, but you have helped put mind at ease. Cheers.

[darkness]

Thanks guys/girls.

My R34 had been written off recently

Hey hey, you've come from the same car as me

[Nexus]

In my opinion it's massively overstated as an issue.