I'm trying to figure out if my dealership is giving me the runaround.

My piano black radio face plate was damaged at the car wash by someone spraying air freshener on it. It actually ATE through the plastic. The car wash was very cool and filed a damage report immediately. Their process is to have me get a quote from a dealership, then send a check directly to the dealership for the amount.

The quoted price was around $600. The dealership claimed you can't get the piano black area alone, it comes with the "core" (their words). I requested the piece being replaced back. When it came time to get it back, I kept getting the runaround. Finally got to talk to the parts manager who informed me that Mazda requires dealerships to exchange these "core" parts. He didn't know what I was talking about when I mentioned the words head unit or firmware etc, so I know he's not a big RX-8 guru there.

He then told me that this $600 part is not only unreturnable to me but is also refurbished. He claims I can't have the piece back because the $600 is only for the exchange program and they have 30 days to return this part or they will get charged $1000 from United Audio. He also said I couldn't get a new part, that they only do refurbished exchanges. I don't understand how someone can pay $600 and not own the part. I also don't understand why I had to get a refurbished part and wasn't told that at the time of the quote. Aren't they still producing this part for the cars coming off the line now?

Are these people screwing with me or is this really how Mazda has this set up?

 

You should ask this in the audio/interior section. I can't speak from experience or such, but I am pretty sure that plenty of members have bought NEW ones and kept the OLD ones when they damaged theirs during audio installs. The PCB (circut board) behind the faceplate seems to be pretty fragile.

 

OK, mods can you move this to where it's supposed to be?

 

I think these are what your looking for, and what the hell is with all our dealers in the Chicago area, I hope that wasn't everybodies favorite Naperville Mazda.

Top Piece

Bottom Piece

 

^she damaged the 'main' panel of the HU

hey RSD, why don't you ask one of the online vendors about the HU, maybe they can hook you up with a good price?

 

To me it sounded like she only needs the piano black area, but they are trying to bullshit her into replacing everything.

 

the link you posted only showed the 'replaceable' parts of the HU trim when you put in different modules into the main HU

the piano black covers the whole center console, remember? IIRC the car wash sprayed the air freshener onto the edge part of her center console and damaged it, i don't think mazda sells just the main console panel

 

Ebay..

 

you can buy just the faceplate it's $150.IIRC, i'll have to go look it up.

 

The car wash already paid for it and it is installed. I'm just trying to figure out if they are giving me a line of BS about this whole "you can't have your damaged part back because Mazda doesn't let us purchase new parts....it must be exchanged"

 

yes, that is what I'm trying to figure out.

 

pics of the damage here

 

that's BS if you paid for it. if it was a warranty item then it makes sense.

 

It's not warranty because it was damaged and paid for by a third party.

I just want to find out if this "exchange program" is legit.

 

I don't know about where you are but here you have a right to keep your replacement parts at any auto repair place. It's a law.

I'm betting they replaced it as warranty. and are looking to pocket the cash. Then they will need the part to exchange it.

 

^Yep

Tell them to give you the part or give you the cash. You'll be there at 4 to pick up either, or to drop off a letter of intent (to sue).

 

There could be a "core" charge. The price they gave you was the exchange price. There would be an additional charge if you want to keep the original. Cores are sent to a referb shop, fixed and resold as exchange units.

 

OK, could they have just charged me for the face plate? Or is what he is telling me true: that the core and the faceplate are together and cannot be separated (he equated it to an engine not being taken apart at the dealership)

 

For $600 you bought a brand new HU. Even a 6-Disc changer is only $430 from rosenthal.

 

LOL, sounds like Turtle Wax bought me a refurbished HU when it wasn't what I needed at all.

 

well as long as it didn't come out of your pocket it doesn't matter lol

 

RedSheDevil,

Attached is the picture from the RX-8 tech manual. What you wanted was just part #9. What it sounds like they sold you was a refurbished complete head unit (parts #9, #6, #8 and #2). A $600 exchange price for a refurbished head unit sound about right as this includes a lot of expensive items. I'm not sure that a new part #9 would have been that much cheaper.

You need to call around to several Mazda dealership parts departments to get a feel whether the refurbished head unit is BS or not.

 

except it does matter ... first, I want my piece that was paid for by my proxy (Turtle Wax). Second, I want to figure out what really happened so they don't continue doing this if it is a shady practice. At least I will be able to make an informed decision on if I would bring my car back there for service.

For any dealership out there that may be reading this: if you treat your customers right, they WILL be loyal. If you rape them, not only will they leave ... they'll probably tell all their club members and your service department WILL lose in the end.

 

thank you! that is part of the info I needed to make some calls (and not sound like an idiot while on the phone).

 

the center piece should only have been $150 too. I've had it replaced... along with the climate control unit.