My boyfriend and I are looking to buy an RX8-R3 in the next couple of months and are looking for any advice you all have.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/

 

Welcome aboard and good luck with your vehicle search. This forum is a great place to come for advice, feel free to ask away all the questions you have in mind.

 

Get a rotary specific compression test before you buy, even if you have to pay for it. It will be the best $$ you spend even if you don't get that car. After you pick one, depending on miles, there are a number of things you should do. If you don't get it from a mazda dealer, I would change the oil and oil filter (filter being the key thing there) as they probably used an off the shelf filter and that is bad. Make sure you use a mazda filter (bypass is higher on the mazda filters for the SII).

 

Healthy Ignition is crucial to the performance and life of a rotary engine. If the ignition (coils) are more than 20k miles old, it is time to change them. Change the wires and plugs at same time.

Check the vehicle's service and maintenance records: here is our list, based on mileage.
RX8 Club’s recommended maintenance schedule, more comprehensive and proactive than Mazda’s schedule.
30,000 miles:
- Replace Ignition coils
- Replace Plug wires
- Replace Spark plugs
- Clean MAF (mass air flow sensor)
- Clean ESS (e-shaft sensor)
- Reset ESS profile
- Clean power steering connections
- Clean battery terminals and clamps
- Replace transmission fluid
- Replace coolant (Mazda FL-22 is highly recommended)
- Replace air filter
- Replace brake fluid (fluid in the brake lines AND the clutch line)
~$300 USD in parts if you shop smartly.


every 60,000:
...all 30,000, plus...
- Clean all chassis electrical grounding points
- Replace accessory belts
- Clean OMP lines
- Replace rear differential fluid
- Replace thermostat
- Clean / Straighten AC condenser fins
- Clean / Straighten oil cooler fins
- Inspect catalytic converter
- Clean / Inspect intake valving
- Consider / inspect all points in 90,000+ as well, many items fail early
~$130 USD in parts if you shop smartly.

90,000:
...all 30,000, plus any 60,000 not yet done, plus...
- Replace coolant bottle
- Replace radiator hoses
- Replace radiator
- Replace front O2 sensor
- Replace motor mounts
- Inspect clutch pedal assembly for flex / weld breaks
~$900 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
At 100k, anything original in the cooling system is really suspect and failure prone. It represents the biggest threat to your engine.
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So we bought an RX8, but the compression is bad, 70 in the back 80 in the front. We are looking to rebuild but are having a hard time finding a mechanic in Springfield, Mo. We have questions; are we going to damage the engine more if we drive it? Are we going to damage it more by letting it sit? Jrg's first baby!