Just picked up a 2010 R3 with 71k and low comp for $6000. New motor is on it's way ( on backorder) I am going to replace all 6 oil injectors and new clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing. My ? is a local member pointed out a few wierd things about my R3. I have Stance coilovers on the front but OEM yellow Bilsteins on the rear..... I also have a "standing " front strut tower bar, ( does not bolt to third location on firewall) and my bumper has no fog lights, nor does interior have a fog light switch. It does have the lower lip etc.
wierd???

 

Sounds like a good question for the previous owner. Especially the coilovers on the front only. I wouldn't be terribly confident in a car with high spring rate up front and stock spring rate in the rear.

Did you ask Mazda to run the VIN to confirm it is actually an R3 from thr factory?

 

Yeah its confirmed, also has red stitching steering wheel, shift ****, Recaros, matching material red stitch rear seats.
And door sticker shows tire/wheel size as the 19" 225/40/19
Lower side skirts, and R3 spoiler

 

I don't think it's really possible to convert a Sport/GT to an R3.

Remember that MT Sport and GT come with the duck lip spoiler, so you need to replace the entire trunk lid to get the R3 spoiler since the mounting holes are different. That's why the R3 spoilers are otherwise "Automatics only."

Sport lacks too many features to convert properly to an R3, while most GTs come with moonroofs and that's a dead giveaway.

Kind of strange with the fog lights, though. Not that they are useful, but still.

 

Right???
I mean for $6000 and getting a new motor even a GT or sport is a good deal for a series 2.
Just frustrating because I wasn't going to mess with suspension. Maybe just some H&R wheel spacers and 245 rubber.
But missing the OEM strut bar is dumb as well.

 

And its Velocitu Red Mica, Its a R3 just has a "checkered" past.....

 

You could see if there are other wrecked 8s. Just make sure it's a MT, as AT strut tower bars are different.

 

My understanding is the R3 mounts to firewall, but the biggest ?, is why have coilover up front only, and have a normal series 2 crossbar

 

I am not sure if there are any differences between the R3 strut tower bar and GT/Sport manual trans one. Here is the one on mine for reference.

 

I will take a pic of mine tommorow, it's from strut tower to strut tower.. .no firewall

 

I believe the stereo equipment in the post below came out of a 2009 R3 that is being parted out in the Louisville, KY area. From what I saw on facebook, it had front end damage and engine and transmission were gone. Might be an option if you're close.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-s...pgrade-267987/

I don't know the seller other than the 3 positive feedback responses he has on this forum, so you'll need to do your own research on that end.

 

Yeah mine is just from strut tower to strut tower.....

 

Weird, I think that one was only used on automatics. Manual ones all connect to the firewall.

 

09 R3 owner. And the R3 most definitely should connect to the firewall.
I haven't seen any manual trans that didn't as far as I remember. But I can't speak for autos since I have avoided them like the plague.

To me coilovers in front and stock on rear with an improper bar and missing lights screams hoax R3. Would definitely be digging around and checking every number you can scrub up on that car.

Recaro seats from R3 can be fitted into other trims with minor change. steering wheels can be changed but not all the control can be hooked up always depending on the options in the car.

Go check the omp on it since series1 and 2 are different and then check the options the R3 does and doesn't have and check what's in your car. I.E. r3 has no power controls on seats and has to wiring for it, no nav, no sunroof, and polyurethane filled bars where I believe all the other trims are hollow.

Small stuff like that is easy for someone to over look when they are rebuilding the car to make it seem like an R3.

And it may very well be an R3 and they just did a poor job of repairing an accident which if that's the case I would be checking frame and chassis thoroughly for any damage.

 

Here are some pics straight from the Service Manual:





So yeah the shoddy replacement story is more likely. The PO could have had an accident that would have required the replacement of the strut tower bar, used the AT version willingly or unwillingly as it is cheaper(very likely).

Really, the no fog light bit is strange, because only Sport didn't have them. I'd pull open the fuse box and see if there are any fuses or at least wiring under the fuse box for the fog lights.

I wouldn't say I avoid the AT like plague. They aren't common to begin with. But crap like this(along with the missing oil cooler and steel driveshaft) is why I wouldn't consider one.

 

I just replied to your pm about my front bumper for sale and ran across this thread. I actually have that front strut tower brace that I could sell, but I need to find it first. I'm using the Mazdaspeed one. I have a bunch of OEM R3 parts I've removed and kept with the mindset of being able to bring my R3 back to its pure form, but it's been 6 years since those components were removed. strut tower brace, front bumper, rear wing, radio head unit, air box

 

My guess would be it was in some kind of front end accident. Did you run a vin history check? Although with wrong parts on the car it is likely somebody repaired it themselves and not through insurance so it might not show an accident.

 

I already own the car ,(paid $6000) clean carfax. Shift **** red stitching, side skirts.... not sure why someone would invest a TON of money to gain maybe 10% more for the car???? No power seats , no sunroof. Even the sticker in drivers door jamb says 19 " wheel. And yes the wheels are the 19" forged BBS. Tracks fine, waiting still for the new motor. Just wierd about the strut bar, no dogs, but lower lip?????

 

Pictures under the hood and of the car's frame would be the telling sign of a serious collision. do you have links to the ad or your own pictures? Of all the things mentioned the only one that would concern me is the front bumper if I'm picturing what you're describing. An S2 base/GT bumper just doesn't snap onto an R3. It requires different "brackets."

But, playing devil's advocate, full R3 interior swaps do happen. I've seen 3-4 full interiors for sale over the last 2-3 years and aren't hard to do.

I don't trust Carfax. My daily driver 6 was hit by a hit-and-run driver which caused extensive damage to the point where insurance repaired it and sent me a check for depreciated value, but it doesn't show on Carfax or any site I've looked at. It's been 2 years so that should be long enough for it to show up.

 

I hear ya, I didn't notice any pinch welds, respray or anything. It's also Velocity Mica Red, xEnon lamps, R3 spolier,
I just think in its past , before the owner O bought it from, they sold off some R3 parts, but why Stance coilovers ln front and Yellow Bilsteins rear, and OEM springs...
Either way, I cant complain, $6000 for her and getting a new motor with Zero out of pocket. It was a good buy.

 

It also could have been modified, aftermarket bumper, suspension, brace. Then somebody tried to return it to stock.



The weirdest part to me is not having a fog light switch. You would have to replace the entire headlight stalk with one from a base.

 

Right?????

So my biggest concern is the lower lip and actual front bumper are cracked. ( the PO lived in Amarillo and raced Mountain bikes, was moving to NM and needed a suitable vehicle) the damage was due to a snow drift.
Second issue is drivers side headlight has a "burn" from girlfriend improperly jump starting a friend
1. I want a decent looking front bumper, dont care about R3, but would want a "low" look, i.e. stock series 2 with a lip.
2. both headlights are "milky " but would definitely replace both, but no lenses only?

 

ahi

 

a. That door jamb sticker picture isn't for a Mazda.
b. You could save money on new headlights. Lots of shops are able to restore them or go on YouTube and see how they do it.
c. When you say stock series 2 lip are you referring to the R3 lip? The R3 is technically series 2 along with the base and grand touring trims from US 09-11 RX-8's. That lip is for R3 bumpers unless you do a simple DIY of your own.

 

My bad that pic is of my Mercedes Vert.
Yes I have R3 bumper.