StewC625

Well, I think I see why I got such an outrageous deal on this car. After reading today's forum stuff, I saw one about build dates, and thought to myself, "self, you don't know the build date of your car."

So I looked and ...

AUUUUGHHHHH! AUUGGGHHHH!

September of 2003! What the ????

Ok, guess I got a lot rat, which would explain why they basically gave the car to me (lease rate calculates down to a capitalized cost of under $24,000 at a reasonable money factor.

Well, the good news is, that the car seems fine - no signs of lot rot, though after seeing that, I'm going to go have the oil changed. While I'm there, what does it need with that build date?

I'm guessing:

M-Flash of the EPROM in the ECU
Some sort of heat shield update under the car (it is rather warm in the trans tunnel area)
Air Bag recall?
???

Anything else?

Let me know your thoughts.

Stew

Sea Ray

It should have already had all that done to it. The insulation under the cup holders is only done on request, it did help a little bit on mine. The other shield is something to do with a transmisson dampner.

Airbag harness had to be done before being sold, but I would have them confirm that and the M flash.

Enjoy the car!

StewC625

Well, it runs great, so guessing it may have had the M-Flash. God knows whether it had the airbag update, and considering you could roast meat in the cupholders, guess I'll bitch about that.

Thanks for the info ...

JeffS

I need to stop reading this message board. After looking at this thread, I went out and checked my build date. September 2003- and I just bought the car a few weeks ago! Time for an oil change for me, too.

The dealer did the M-flash and fixed a rattling door panel just after I bought the car, and did so without any complaint whatsoever. The A/C seems plenty cold to me- I have to keep it turned down after a few minutes. So, I don't know what's up with that on other older cars. I live in North Carolina, and it can get hot down here.

There are a few other small rattles in the car that I'd like to hunt down, but that's about the worst of it. Now I'm just crossing my fingers.

arattle

No biggie. My car is 9/03 as well, and I got it less than two months ago. Would I prefer a newer build? Sure. But the fact that I didn't even know that it was that much older, and couldn't tell by either the inside or the outside appearance, tells me that it's not a big deal. It even had all the inside plastic covers, etc.

-arattle

JeffS

Good point. Mine was a dealer driver with about 800 miles on it, but it's in excellent condition. Doesn't seem any worse for the wear.

mysql101

I bought mine new - 7 miles on the odo in April. I later found out the car was built Dec 03. It was the only car that had what I wanted (or rather, had what I wanted, and didn't have the extra crap that I didn't want)

Lucky for me the car has no issues so far.

beachdog

Mine is a September 03 build date too but I picked mine up Dec 1, 03. Your car is probably not in range for the damper recall, just the airbag. Technically the dealer should have done the airbag recall before selling it to you.

Quality is excellent on mine. No broken switches, no rattles, no squeeling brakes, no cracked lenses etc. The only problem that I have had was the ABS pump died. Didn't actually die, its sensors reported an error and the pcm would shut it down. Took a day for the part to arrive and no problems since.

Don't let this board make you paranoid. Too much information can be a bad thing. It there were boards like this around 20 years ago everyone would have been afraid to drive whatever car they owned.

Just enjoy.

StewC625

Well, I just spent 5 hours in it again today, driving from Chicago to Detroit. Whatta blast - the car is absolutely in its element at an 85 mph cruise - zipping along, cutting though traffic along i-94, etc.

Gotta say I haven't had a true sports car in ages - was a little fatigued from the "active" ride over the crappy pavement in Michigan, but no biggie. I loved rocketing past slower cars when needed, doing "point and squirts" in the traffic, etc. Oh, and I noticed after an hour or so on the road that I had goosebumps and it must have been 60 degrees in the car - this despite having spent the last hour trolling in 20 mph traffic in downtown Chicago.

My only complaint is the "Ron Popeil Cup Holder roaster" - although, once I got out of traffic and on the open road, my diet cokes stopped getting warm.

If an early build is a problem child, then I got a good one it looks like. Not a squeak or rattle. 1200 miles and no complaints at all.

Thanks for the perspective.

knowledge1213

where is the build date located?

StewC625

On the door jamb sticker in the driver's door opening. On ORDINARY cars (note I didn't say "normal") that sticker is on the "B" pillar between the doors. Since this car doesn't have a B pillar in a normal sense, it's on the front end of the left rear "freestyle" door. The build date is in the upper left corner of the sticker - month and date in numeric fashion (09-03).

tlining

Its great for heating up poptarts!

arattle

My 9/03 car also has had no issues in its first 2300 miles. Good mileage (17-22 mpg so far, mixed driving), AC is as cold as any other car I've ever owned, no rattles or interior blemishes/cracks of any kind, etc. Even the Potenzas seem fine, although it sounds like Dunlops are a little better. No worries, Pirelli PZero Nero M+S, here I come.

-arattle

tlining

After reading these posts, I went out and checked my build date, 07/03 I purchased my RX 3 weeks ago, it had 80 miles on it, my question is does anyone know if Mazda can check to see if all the recall work has been done? My car was a trade from another dealer.

G8rboy

I've also got a 9/03 build, puchased in December... and I couldn't be happier with it. Only work done has been airbag harness recall and AC Amp replacement per the TSB, and of course the L and M flash upgrades. Keep in mind that 9/03 isn't really considered an early build date- there's a lot of May-June builds out there on the road that are just fine as well.

Atacdad

RX-8 danish recipie:

1 danish, preferably with fruit on top


Preheat RX-8 for 10 minutes at cruise. Insert danish into cup holder area such that the sliding door can be closed. Close door. Bake 10 minutes on cruise or two miles of backup.

Remove to napkin and enjoy! Don't forget to drive!

Eddyx

I just bought mine a week ago and it has a build date of 9/03 also. I noticed the next day. I always look after I get the car,guess I better check before signing. I figure everything is almost a year old so if parts fail due to age and not usage I still have 4yrs to go on the warranty.

Under the hood I found 2 stickers for TSB/RECALLS I have not cross referenced the numbers yet.

What does the insulation for the cupholders look like? Mine gets hot also

MELRX8

I don't know if that is so unusual. My RX-8 is a 9/03 build vin 16969 bought in April. According to Mazda all I needed was m-Flash. While there I checked out three 8's on the showroom floor, 9/03, 10/03, and 11/03.

Been driving mine for four months, turned 6,000 miles today and no problems.

Cam

iTrader: (1)

Dont sweat it man. I just brought home my 8 two days ago and it has a 6/03 build date.

But the dealer performed all the TSB's, so who cares.

Get out and enjoy your new 8

Oranje

I have an Aug 03 build -- purchased in Dec 03, and (knock-knock) no worries.

Check out my garage link for details.

Cheers,
Oranje

JSE RX-8

yea i bought my car in feb/'04 and the build was sept/'03 with only 12 miles on it. no problems but i dont think any of the flashes were done. i plan on getting the M flash and having the other things looked at as well form this thread just in case. Does it matter that i am getting the M flash without the L flash?

MELRX8

I was told M includes all previous flashes.

JSE RX-8

ok thanks. thats what i was hearing too but i wanted to make sure from other members on the forum.