by "Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
Published 08/03/2017 at 11:21
by "Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
Published 08/03/2017 at 11:21
Tags: Mazda
; Mazdaspeed
; mazda6
STARS: 5
I thought I needed to take pictures for the insurance on my Mazda 6 MPS. Turns out they were not needed for the type of insurance I wanted (as basic as humanly and legally possible).
Let’s not let them go to waste though, this is what a 12-year old, 110.000+ mile, unknown previous user history, Mazda 6 MPS/Mazdaspeed 6 looks like on a sunny day;
Exterior
Interior
It’s been mine for a bit over a month now, and it has behaved pretty well in that time. I have put new summer tires on, treated the leather and general interior a bit, fixed some fuses and the indicator lights, and washed it twice. I also found out the CD player doesn’t work, so that’s another item for the list. Then again, who uses CD’s anymore... Unfortunately this radio does not have an AUX port either though. That is on the list for mods as it seems to be quite simple to add one, and I kind of don’t want to replace the OEM radio.
The major item that needs to be done to have it pass inspection in December is to have the local Mazda dealer/garage (or perhaps an independent) take a look at the airbag/seatbelt pre-tensioner light that is consistently on. If that can be fixed without costing a fortune, there are some mechanical items to sort out. The headlights have been messed with and I want to get those fixed before darkness is coming... I’d hate to blind other people with badly adjusted headlights. There are some bushings and some seals that are on the worn side, and a small leak where the second cat meets the custom catback exhaust. If all that is sorted and the car remains mechanically sound... It’s modding time.
First on my list will probably be shocks and springs to drop the car and ride height a bit...
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
08/03/2017 at 11:35, STARS: 1
Neat! Any records on engine maintenance? Or mods? I know these motors are capable of some high numbers but are also high maintenance.
"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
08/03/2017 at 11:42, STARS: 1
Looks like it has an aftermarket exhaust on it. Any details on that? Mine is stock and it’s amazingly quiet. Too quiet. I’ve been thinking about adding a cat-back exhaust.
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On the aux-port: the factory head unit has a port on the back side that you can plug one of these guys (not sure which one you’ll need) into to get that sweet sweet 3.5mm action.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
08/03/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 1
Yours looks sweet and clean!
The exhaust is aftermarket indeed. No details or paperwork included when I bought the car, but it seems to be a Simons catback exhaust:
http://www.simons.se/produkter/sportsystem/mazda/6/6-mps/182
No idea if it’s a quality item. It sounds pretty good, but it resonates a little bit around 2000rpm I believe and can sound loud inside the car. It’s a blast to hear in parking garages... Here’s an old video where you might have to put up the volume a bit and you can mostly hear first and second before wind and road noise takes over:
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I have been meaning to record something better with a better GoPro placement for the sound, might do so a little bit later today.
"Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed)
08/03/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 2
That reminded me, my Mazda 6 had the Takata Airbag Recall already done when I bought it, you might want to check up on yours as the Mazda 6 and MazdaSpeed 6 are both affected according to “Car and Driver”.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
08/03/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 0
Nope, no records on maintenance or anything. This car has been a gamble to buy. The only thing I did was a PPI at a Mazda dealer/garage and they found the issues listed in the post. They kind of assured me it would not cost a fortune to rectify but you never know, which is why it’s a gamble.
Basically I will try fix it up and enjoy it as long as it doesn’t cost me too much. I am lucky enough to own this car out of enthusiasm rather than necessity, since I can get to work by walking and get around the city easy with public transport and cheap taxis. So it’s a bit of a luxury item and I’ll try to get and keep it in a good state.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
08/03/2017 at 12:26, STARS: 1
Yep, will do that when I have it checked out for the airbag/seatbelt pre-tensioner light. Who knows, it might be the reason it’s on, maybe the previous owner just disabled it crudely... Oh, the joy of having no idea about how your car has been treated :P.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
08/03/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 0
Oh, and those ready to install aux things look a lot better than the mod I was reading about on mazdaspeedforums, haha. That one is all DIY and though not too hard, it probably would have taken me a few times to get right.
I might replace the entire unit with another OEM radio if the CD changer/player is completely borked. It won’t let me load anything, just beeps and shows WAIT... on the display.
"MrFurzzy" (mrfurzzy1)
08/03/2017 at 20:31, STARS: 0
Try checking the wire harness and plugs under the passenger seat for thexample air bag light. I’m not sure if it is the same on the MPS, but on my wife’s 2006 6i that plug caused the Airbag light to come on. All I had to do was disconnect the battery then disconnect that plug and reconnect it. From what I’ve read online it seems like the plug can get a bad connection over time from the seat being moved around.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
08/07/2017 at 16:05, STARS: 1
Here’s some video/audio from a GoPro on the outside that’s a bit more recent and clear. Not really revving it too high, maybe up to like 4000-4500 I think at most. Just excuse the somewhat poor shifting.
And a video from inside. Some parts with window open but you should be able to distinguish when it’s closed or open.
It’s a pretty decent sounding catback but I have no reference with stock or even experience with other inline-4 turbos and how they are supposed to sound, hehe.
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"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
08/09/2017 at 10:26, STARS: 0
On the aux-port: the factory head unit has a port on the back side that you can plug one of these guys (not sure which one you’ll need) into to get that sweet sweet 3.5mm action.
Another option that plugs into the expansion port and makes the head unit think a tape deck is present:
http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/
I have one that I used in my MS6 for many years and quite liked it. (No, I’m not selling it; it has been moved into my Miata!)
"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
08/09/2017 at 10:31, STARS: 0
First on my list will probably be shocks and springs to drop the car and ride height a bit...
Of the various items I modified on my MS6, the springs/shocks combo was by far my favorite. Make sure any springs you pick are designed for the extra weight of the MPS/MS6— some of the springs that first came out for the regular Mazda 6 just had the Mazdaspeed 6 name later added to the packaging, and they ride too low in the heavier car.
I really liked the Revolution Performance Motorsports K-spec springs that were designed to work with Koni shocks. (I also happen to have a set in my shed should you be interested in international shipping.)