Recently purchased this,...what I thought was a 1996 M-edition Miata (I verified by the vin #) the only thing this supposed M-edition has left id a heater, a radio with headrest speakers and that's it.
*crank windows
*non-power steering
*no A/C
*No cruise control


I'm looking for any help with the below pictures as to what is what. I cannot tell how much "hardware" the previous owner has removed when he took everything off. I'm going to attempt to buy and reinstall every factory option that an M-edition is suppose to have.

 

 

 

You bought a modified car, PO removed all that it seems.

 

By what means did you verify that it is an M-edition through the vin? If everything you say is missing its most likely not an M edition. Easiest way to tell is the paint code, 96 M came in Starlight Blue Mica (color code A5).

 

You may be able to enlighten me...

Why?

WHY would you buy a car that has NONEOFIT, and want to waste $ALLOFIT$ on M Edition parts?

 

Long story short, I bought this car to replace my daily driver (bone stock) 2002 civic. Why would I buy a heavily modified, turbo'd, roll caged, very short geared, stiff as a board Miata to be my daily driver............because it looks better, handles better, sounds better, and is a 2-seater convertible with summer just around the corner,........


My problem is now to try and make it as comfortable, and reliable with all the nice creature comfort's that my civic has.


The car originally came with A/C I'm positive of that, I'm also 99% sure the entire steering rack has been swapped to a manual one.


I am not for sure if it's a factory M-Edition car or not. The Vin says that the car is. But the paint color says that it's not.....? Re-paint perhaps? I'm not sure.
Real factory M-Edition or not I'm simply trying to re-install the Complete A/C, Power steering system, Cruise control, and power windows so the car won't be bothersome to daily drive.


I could use any help identifying if I am missing ALL the parts and I need to buy everything. Or If I am lucky and some of the parts remain an I only need to source the missing pieces to the puzzle.


If need be I'll resort to buying a complete parts Miata and pulling everything from an entire separate car,.............But I think that's overkill for what I'm trying to do.

 

See my buying the Miata thread here for many many more pictures. Just trying to make the car less "race car" more everyday car. I have time, I have decent money to spend just need some help with what parts I still have and what all parts are missing.
https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo...-inside-83158/

 

Most likely not a real M. Some listings incorrectly list non M's as M's.

 

Wait you bought a caged Miata to replace your daily driver? Like full cage?

Edit: looked at the other thread and realized its just a roll bar. NVM.

Post pictures of the steering rack. Then someone can tell you if its a manual rack, or a de-powered rack.

 

That car is supposed to be an M? The one with the black paint? The same black paint in the truck, and under the hood?

It's not an M, and I'd guess it never was. Where in the vin is the M? Or did you call a dealer? I was under the impression the vin is totally useless unless you get a build list from the dealer.

Power steering sucks. I'd have a fit if someone reinstalled it on my car!

 

I went through my comments in that previous thread.

Did you trade the civic in for this?

I'd attempt to make the most of it. Make the car more reliable first and above all. Look up megasquirt info to rid of the AIDS (link ecu). Rust management. Look over ever nook/cranny of the vehicle and form a plan for repairs or things that you're not comfortable with from the previous owner.

 

Just looked through your other thread and saw more pics of the car. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) you don't own an M edition.

The carfax/vin check will always show Miatas as m edition, LE, or whatever. I don't know why because it confuses and misleads a lot of people.

 

I'm becoming less of a noob everyday lol.


My M-Edition assumption was based solely off of the Vin # and Carfax report that the dealership provided me.
Car-Fax is such a let down.


Just my luck it would turn out not to be an M-edition after all I guess; oh well black looks better then starlight mica whatever anyhow.


The car much be a base model. (I have no idea what package it is)
*The steering is a manual rack, not a depowered rack
* The windows are crank window from factory. Have not been converted
* No cruise control either
* But the car did originally come with A/C even though it gone now

 

No thankfully I still have my 02 Civic hx daily driver. with my nice cold a/c, cruise control, and power steering. 240k. miles an cant even hear the motor running.
I have plenty of time to address the many daily drivability & reliability issues with Miata, in the meantime I'll just continue driving my civic. No rush.
I'd the very minimum I am going to have to re-install the complete A/C system and get a power steering rack put in.
If I don't swap to a power steering rack then I'm going to need about a 450mm. aftermarket steering wheel to get the thing to turn

 

Or a gym membership