Hello,

I currently own a Corolla T-Sport which should hopefully sell this weekend, after that I'm looking for a 3 MPS on an 07/08 plate, seems to be a buyers market for these at the moment due to the tax bracket and the people that are bit to thick to understand total cost of ownership

Can anyone help me out with buying tips, what to look out for and any potential issues? I noticed on some pics the drivers side bolster can look tatty and the drivers door plastics are easily worn

Whats the Bose stereo like and does it have AUX?

I'm also looking at FN2 Civic Type-Rs as I've owned a lot of Honda's anyone owned both the MPS and FN2 and if so any comments?

Are there any specialists in the North West at all?

As for me I come from a long line of jap car ownership inc a lot of Civics, a Prelude an S14A and my Corolla which I wil miss greatly when it goes its been an awesome car

Thanks

PS, why does this website hang for ages sometimes?

I'll answer the easy bits and leave the 'potential issues' to the clever people here.

The drivers bolster on my 08 MPS is slightly worn but no more so than I would expect for leather in a car of this age. If you're looking at 07 and 08s be aware there was a facelift in 08 though i think not all 08 or 58s are somehow (mine is) - which includes alcantara/leather seats instead of fabric/leather and a piano black dash centre.

Bose has AUX input but it sounds muddy from my iPod but great from my other halfs sony walkman. £100 to add bluetooth/ipod in mk1, use search. The stereo as a whole is great in my opinion, its not audiophile but for a stock system its impressive. Go for a test drive with a cd you know well

Tuners, not sure about the north west but Gunther (Total MPS / XO Power) on these forums is famed in the north east.

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'08 Velocity Red MPS3 Aero Facelift. Corksport SRI+TIP. JBR 70a REM. JBR RARB. JBR Heavy Knob. J-Speed SSP. StopTech Sport D&P.
Cobb AP (J-Tuned), Autotech HPFP, GFB BPV, Euro rear fog, ETS TMIC, Bilstein B14 coilovers
Summer / 17x8 Lenso Samurai D1R. 235/45/17 Yokohama V105.
Winter / 17x7 TSW Apex. 205/50/17 Yokohama W.Drive.

when my engine is cold the timing chain is slack, but tight when warm. I dont believe I have vvt problems. is this not normal when cold?

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Used to have : 2008 MK1 3MPS Cosmic Blue - J-Tuned, stainless steel dials, eBay TIP, Sure SSP, Sure Anchors, K&N Replacement, Drilled Airbox, LED side lights, LED interior lights, LED reverse light, MTEC drilled discs, Yellow Stuff pads, NGK LTR7IX-11, EGR block off.

Now: 2005 Corolla T-Sport

As I understand it, the chain tensioner needs oil pressure to work and the chain needs oil on it to be quiet. I reckon that if you start the engine from stone cold, and then switch off, on a restart there shouldn`t be any strange noises from the engine.

As mentioned in a previous thread by Skip, it does sound like a diesel when starting from cold.

But agree with oil pressure/lubrication required from cold start. Oil will drip from the chain and return to sump when you shutdown so makes sense.

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ZZB March 2013 :(

Thanks for the replies, I must admit I'm a bit concerned about some of the things I've read, my S14A had VVT rattle and although it would never have caused an issue it drove me mad and led me to sell it, I've read some other threads on here so I know what to look for with that.

Hopefully the Corolla goes on Saturday and I can look into sorting out some test drives

vvt only rattles if it broke. if it broke, £750 will fix it.

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MPS KILL COUNT
1 MK1 3. twice
1 six

now driving a German whip

Mk5 r32

ita all about the noise.

Coming from a tsport and then a compressor myself, you're gonna love the mps!!

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Tuned with by

K1 Rods//Wiseco Pistons//CX Racing FMIC//JBR Widepath Intake//Custom 3" TBE//Grimmspeed EBCS//Forge BPV//JBR SSP//JBR RSB//JBR Side Mounts//JBR BSD and Baffle//Sure TIG Set//Sure R3 RMM//KMD Internals//XS Power Exhaust Manifold//P&P Intake Manifold//Fidanza Flywheel and Eagle Motorsports Organic Compound Clutch//GTX3071//DVC30 Meth Kit//3 Gauge Pod.....430 WHP SO FAR...