Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

Buying a 2004 from a close friend, am I missing anything?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 04-10-2011, 12:10 PM
  #1  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Buying a 2004 from a close friend, am I missing anything?

Hello all,

I am buying a 2004 Ti Gray 6spd GT model from forum member and close friend ndtechie09. I would have bought Polak's old car (also a close friend) but he sold it before I could afford it...

Anyway, I would like you all to look over my list and let me know if i'm missing anything. The car currently has 38,000 miles on it and was regularly serviced at Faulkner Mazda in PA.

Reliability Parts to be Purchased:

BHR Ignition Kit
BHR (Walbro) Fuel Pump
BHR Radiator
Sohn OMP Adapter
MazMart High-Flow water pump and thermostat
MazMart Oil Pressure Kit
OEM Cabin Filter
OEM NGK sparkplugs
Racing Beat Gauge Panel Kit (monitoring critical temps/pressures)
rx7store.net High Flow Cat
FLEX Innovations Grounding Kit
Brake Pads
Racing Beat screens
SEAFOAM!

Last edited by rickeo; 04-11-2011 at 11:09 AM.
Old 04-10-2011, 03:42 PM
  #2  
Time for boost...
iTrader: (24)
 
RX8Soldier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 14 Posts
something often overlooked are the oil cooler and A/C screens from Racing Beat. Just a suggestion
Old 04-10-2011, 03:44 PM
  #3  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Added!
Old 04-10-2011, 03:47 PM
  #4  
Blue Bullet?
iTrader: (3)
 
mscamp02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: morehead, Ky
Posts: 2,593
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
looks like a pretty solid list and definitely sounds like you did your homework, quite a few of those I still need to add to my ride.
Old 04-10-2011, 03:49 PM
  #5  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Yeah, i've been a forum member since 2005 as both of my best friends had RX-8's and I loved them. I've been lurking for a few years now and now that I'm going to (finally!) own one I've been doing nothing but reading.

Thanks for any input you can put in guys!
Old 04-10-2011, 04:03 PM
  #6  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Even if it's your mother's car.. get a compression test done first and make sure you have all the service records or service parts (oil, filters etc) invoices
Old 04-10-2011, 04:40 PM
  #7  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Ok, ill put a proper compression test on the list.
Old 04-10-2011, 04:46 PM
  #8  
Registered
 
Beefy98's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Never do business with friends! Didn't u see that old I Love Lucy episode with the washing machine?
Old 04-10-2011, 06:14 PM
  #9  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Out of what I have listed, what do you think should be first on the list? Lets assume the compression test is normal.
Old 04-10-2011, 09:31 PM
  #10  
Time for boost...
iTrader: (24)
 
RX8Soldier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 14 Posts
BHR ignition or SOHN oil adapter
Old 04-10-2011, 10:48 PM
  #11  
I HATE SPEEDBUMPS!
 
monchie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 8,549
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Beefy98
Never do business with friends! Didn't u see that old I Love Lucy episode with the washing machine?

lol

Didn't see it. What happened?
Old 04-10-2011, 11:06 PM
  #12  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by RX8Soldier
BHR ignition or SOHN oil adapter
Had a feeling it would be those two. Thanks for the input!
Old 04-11-2011, 12:31 AM
  #13  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
GeorgeH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
If they have not already been done, put a starter and motor mounts on your list.
Old 04-11-2011, 06:53 AM
  #14  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by GeorgeH
If they have not already been done, put a starter and motor mounts on your list.
Yes in my mass amounts of reading the past few days i've heard of the motor mounts collapsing. This is something the dealer can take care of, no?
Old 04-11-2011, 10:55 AM
  #15  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
GeorgeH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Yes, but it's relatively easy to do yourself (search for threads) - just be aware that the threads in the mount are aluminum and strip easily, so be careful when starting the bolt engagement.

My mount sheared in two, as opposed to collapsing, but it's all bad.

One more thing - consider a de-carbonization.
Old 04-11-2011, 11:09 AM
  #16  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by GeorgeH
Yes, but it's relatively easy to do yourself (search for threads) - just be aware that the threads in the mount are aluminum and strip easily, so be careful when starting the bolt engagement.

My mount sheared in two, as opposed to collapsing, but it's all bad.

One more thing - consider a de-carbonization.
Seafoam? I'm quite familiar with that....
Old 04-11-2011, 11:17 AM
  #17  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
GeorgeH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I like water, but then I don't always follow the crowd. Sometimes that's a good thing, and sometimes not.
Old 04-14-2011, 07:28 AM
  #18  
running on double cream!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rickeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Doylestown, PA
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
As far as the TSB's go, there are quite a few. They won't all be listed under the hood, will they? Will any dealer be able to look up what was done and what wasn't?
Old 04-14-2011, 07:49 AM
  #19  
Registered
iTrader: (4)
 
alnielsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Buddhist Monastery, High Himalaya Mtns. of Tibet
Posts: 12,255
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Never buy a car from a friend. It can ruin a friendship when things go wrong with this car.
Old 04-14-2011, 07:54 AM
  #20  
Registered
iTrader: (4)
 
alnielsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Buddhist Monastery, High Himalaya Mtns. of Tibet
Posts: 12,255
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by rickeo
As far as the TSB's go, there are quite a few. They won't all be listed under the hood, will they? Will any dealer be able to look up what was done and what wasn't?
TSB''s aren't the stickers on the car, recalls are. And some dealers ran out of stickers, so some cars don't have those even tho the work was performed. TSB's are an advisory to the dealer on how to repair certain problems. They are not recalls. If your car is under warranty and you have this type of problem, the TSB will be performed under warranty. If it is out of warranty, the TSB will be performed at your cost just like any other repair.
If a service performed to the car was entered into the Mazda database, any dealer will be able to recall that record.
Old 04-23-2011, 03:35 AM
  #21  
Renesis Nemesis!
 
My 8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Alot of guys install oil catch cans on the 2004 models..
Old 04-23-2011, 03:59 AM
  #22  
I HATE SPEEDBUMPS!
 
monchie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 8,549
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by alnielsen
Never buy a car from a friend. It can ruin a friendship when things go wrong with this car.

True in some way. Your friend will say "as is" and no warranty what so ever, unless, the friend will offer some help if problem occurs.
Old 04-23-2011, 04:19 AM
  #23  
Renesis Nemesis!
 
My 8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
You can always get a new friend, we're talking about an 8 here, lol

Just understand that you are buying a used vehicle and if you expect some sort of assurrance in the future you should probabaly be in the market for something with a warranty. I wouldn't go out and bag a car I bought from a friend and then blame him when I need service. What difference does it make who the previous owner was? Just because you know where he lives when something goes wrong is no reason to to expect compensation.
Old 04-23-2011, 02:30 PM
  #24  
Renesis Nemesis!
 
My 8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Oh, and get one of these..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8avOiTUcD4Y
Old 04-23-2011, 02:52 PM
  #25  
Flame On!
iTrader: (4)
 
1.3_LittersOfFurry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New Orleans, La
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I think everyone here already made it clear. Buying a car from a friend can put a strain on your friendship. I sold my last rx7 to a friend. She was like a child to me. I told him everything I could about the car and what he shouldn't do. 3 days later he blew a coolant seal. Our friendship ended on that day. The car, my child, is now rotting under a tree. Worest deal I ever made. Lost a friend and now a awesome 7 is sunk in mud under a tree rotting away.


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Buying a 2004 from a close friend, am I missing anything?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:52 PM.