Got my Zxi way back in the dark ages think it was 1998 Ex fleet motor with new engine after a blow up on M1 J30 on AA report paid 7k for it
Now has 158k on clock but engine went in at 76k
Great motor not much in the way of work done Cv boots 1 rear cal replaced and lifters in block as rattle was get on my tit's
Have added and removed alot of stuff over the years spent about 8k on it now just finished the order for my new 2.5 lump and finished fitting all whiteline kit on it though not sure about the koni shocks on it at mo as i'm getting a knock on pulling away and full lock turns will need to look into it soon as it stop frigging raining lol.

best buy for my motor has got to be HDI lights boy it makes it look good

96 1.5 GXi 83k
Had her for 11-12 years now & waltz'd through all MOTs, just a new battery a few years back.

BUT - I'm on my 4TH EXHAUST now! 4TH !! With the first 3 littering the verges of southern england, I would like to know if this is a common rot spot?

battery and exhaust lifetime depends of what you buy
my stock battery and exaust last more than all the others non-mazda I've buyed together

main problems i have had for a 97 is everything underneath the wheel arches (drop links, ball joints and track rod ends)

97 1.5 94000miles

clutch
2x c.v. joints
frojnt and rear drop links
sticky vavle
vavle seals maybe??
i smell a top rebuild
clutch pedal housin top bolt broken
injector and fuel rail
eats juice
leaky head
doesnt start when shes cold
central lockin packed up
dizzy cap
plug leads
bottom ball joints
wiper linkages
front pads
drinks oil
breaks me heart
but i love her

I've only recently got mine, one month ago in fact.. *first post woo* 1996 323F 1.8i... Got it on 85500:

Problems I bought it with:

HT Leads naffed
Rocker Cover oil leak
Backbox internally collapsed
Alternator belt feeble

Got those fixed, well.. the backbox still needs doing but ehh...

Since then, in the month I've had it, the central locking has arsed up on the passenger door, and the heat shielding has decided to start rattling at 1550 and 3150rpm. It's most annoying.

Everything else is lovely so far.

I took my heat shield off of my BG as I was going to paint it but can't be arsed to put it back on now

Rust on the sunroof and water not draining down the pillar channels is my biggest problem to date (not counting the distributor failure)!

had the BG 2 years, going on 130,000 miles
still runs sweet as a nut, only problem i've had is the bulb in the back license plate was out, and the stock exhaust was blowing.
apart from that i've had no problems, looks like i got lucky

mines 1997 just 71,000 1.8 executive,
full exhaust,
drivers side ball joint,
failed test on a few things this year,
both front window seals have gone so it leaks when it rains!!
think i'm also gettin ready for a new clutch
and yeah my headlight bulbs are foreva blowing!!
oh an 2 new wing mirrors but they wernt the cars fault!

i've had it since july 07

1.5 BA
had mine since june 09 and so far i've replaced
front passenger side driveshaft,
" " " cv boot,
rear left strut,
timing belt, serviced and brake pads at 111k miles.
and now the front wiper blade arms are starting to pop off which is doing my nut in, more money being spent on it.

my wipers did that 2 i got replacement from a scrap yrad working fine now

I've had various 2L v6 94 323f BA's common faults I've noticed are

Drivers seat mounts r always breaking- replaced 3
CV's and boots
Leaky rockers
rubber suspension mount thingies on the front
Had a radiator pipe split on me- it was right in the middle of the V- pain in the a**e
Tyres (lol duh)
Many distributors have failed on me- and the O rings on them go quickly too
Wheel bearings

Oh and watch out for this one- once, when I really needed the brakes, slamed my foot down and managed to break the master cylinder off its mounts- no brakes, so I free wheeled into a parked car........ not one of my best moments- haven't heard this happen to any1 else, but be aware of it guys

zxi 2lt v6 - 85,000 miles

I havent had it long but only probz i have is it needs a new fog light, i knew that when i bought her though, problems:
cant lock it from drivers door
when you open the passenger door and shut it there is a gap where the window glass doesnt go back inside the rubber seal properly so u have to open the window and shut it again for it to work

gunna try and sort these probz over the weekend though.

1.5 Imola 85k had it a week, bought as M.O.T failure

Lights and central locking problem (40amp fuse and couple bulbs)
Track Rod End
Handbrake sticking (was lying about for abit)
Cat (got one from scrapyard £30 )
Drivers Mirror Glass (missing, replacment also from scrapyard)
Exact same problems with windows as previous post (still to sort)
Radio not working

1.5 BA...since July 2008. 120.000 km = 74.000 miles

- New battery
- New rear brake cilinders.
- New O-ring
- New oil + filter
- New Iridium spark plugs


Sometimes, [EU] passengers side window not going up and down smoothly, sometimes, when I close that door, the window sticks out of the sealings...( same problem as mentioned above )

Solution, slightly pushing the window back, and not using the electrics on that window to often

Not to much trouble, good car so far, I'm pleased with it.

Only getting the brakes refurbished.

1998 V6 ZXI

88k miles

Had it for 2 years.

Issues:

Replaced gearbox
Central locking
Front gaiters

No other problems.

92 BG bought almost 2 years ago
111k miles

drops links naff

exhaust likes to blow often!

windows sometimes stick

central locking starting to stick on the passenger side as i dont use those doors

bit of rust on the arches

pretty big rust patches had to be welded near the rear arches and the centre of the sill that overlaps was a mess

more rust on and around the sunroof (a job for summer)

95 1.8 glx ba auto bought 2 years ago
50k
rocker cover gasket
rear exhaust box (to fast over a sleeping policeman,woke the b*****d up thou)
sold

2002 1.6gsi bj auto bought 4 months ago
39k
problems? none

1996 1.5 16v gxi owned 8months when i got it had 121,000 now got 144,000

its had:

new water pump
new timeing belt
new alternator
all new anti roll bar links
new brakes all round
center of exhaust done in s/s (with no filter)

problems

smokes really bad when very cold start up
some times wont hold revs when cold and cuts out
eats oil
my electric window switchs caught fire when driveing around
my back box hits toeing eye when cornering makeing a nocking noise
rust is starting to settle in on arches (had to have some welded on cill for last mot)
and the most enoying is the f**king boot jams shut and takes ages to open

how strong are these engine's?? how mutch life has mine got left in it??

I bought my wife a 1998 1.8i executive auto, with just 18,000 on the clock, FSH. Cost? A ridiculous £1,800.

That was 2 years ago. The mileage is now 34,000. The work I've had to do to it:

Remove a heat shield,
New exhaust,
2 new tyres.
2 oil services.
Spark plug change.

That's it! Touch wood.

BA 323f ZXI 2.0 V6
Owned for 4 years 4 months bought for £1,600 April 06 with mileage 94.452, Now 115,241.

Replaced:
Clutch
centre & back exhaust
Both rear suspension strut supports
Air inlet pipe
Battery

104000 miles
Chip on Windowscreen, - left
Dents and scrapes - left for moment
Air con radiator got more holes than the governments' road tax policy
- fixing soon
Inlet Manifold gasket causing erratic idling - got head gasket and my step-father who is mechanic will fix.

Kev

[img]http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac53/steveholt50/DSC_5621.jpg[/img]

The Mazda 323 in my opinion is the most reliable car i have ever owned, and i am over 50.
Since buying her in 2003, i have only had to replace two rubber bushes and new battery and a couple of bulbs.
Everything else was replaced as a service option or personnel preferance.
Stainless Steel Exhaust from Longlife Exhausts..brilliantly well made system.
I have had no engine issues at all...no heat shield issues..all electrics work including the ariel.
HINT:Do not power up radio when its frosty...let it thaw first..helps the ariel motor..
Have decided to keep the old girl so will soon get it undersealed to keep it in good shape underneath..

Enjoy...

I've had 2 different post-Ford ZXis.

[list][*]Both frequently needed the corrosion skimmed off the brake disks.[/*:m]
[*]In both cases the firm suspension on the ZXi killed headlamp bulbs - both sides go within a week of each other every time[/*:m][/list:u]

The following seem to be common:
[list][*]Both had the scratches from winding the front windows up and down.[/*:m]
[*]The rubber is twisting loose off the steering wheel skeleton.[/*:m]
[*]The concertina portion on the air intake hose split.[/*:m]
[*]Clanky suspension from worn drop links.[/*:m]
[*]Needed new sump.[/*:m][/list:u]

[list][*]My air intake resonator started letting in water and had to be disconnected. Others here have mentioned the same.[/*:m][/list:u]

[list][*]I've also seen plenty of others where the powered antenna has stopped working.[/*:m][/list:u]

The external tensioner for the timing belt once seized to the point of snapping during a change. My dealer told me this is reasonably common too.

I've never had the full complement of front seat mount trim covers. They always go missing.

But it has done over 130,000 miles. Other makes would be dust by now.

1.5 1998 Imola 113k miles

Window sticks out when shut from the inside.
Exhaust bracket broke off from back box.
Window scratchs when opening and closing
Alternator belt snapped, so changed them both.
N/s/r shocker leaking
Rocker cover leaking
Air con comes on when ever put on de mist on wind screen, not a fault but does my nut in!
Car is quite thirsty by everyones opinion, 350 miles to about 55-60 litres

[quote="Joseph689"]Air con comes on when ever put on de mist on wind screen, not a fault but does my nut in![/quote]

That is a standard thing with air con, helps clear the screen more efficiently

[quote="_stuz_"][quote="Joseph689"]Air con comes on when ever put on de mist on wind screen, not a fault but does my nut in![/quote]

That is a standard thing with air con, helps clear the screen more efficiently[/quote]

I like that it does this, if only I had gas in mine

In theory, it also helps keep the rubber seals lubed up prolonging their lifespan by running the a/c pump to circulate the gas and oil in the system, so if you're the kind of person that doesn't use it often, at least this way its likely to come on a few times in a month and hopefully get run for long enough to keep things working nicely.

Its been mentioned before. Mines the same with the heater controls but I dont have aircon, least its less weight to carry around

Mine was perfect but it doesn't like signposts...

BA 2.0 119Miles
Common faults for me are the track rods, ball joints, and CV joints...
Passed MOT last week with no adviseries! Im happy