Eric Schwamb

Guys,

I want to install the mazdaspeed kit on my new 8. The local dealer is asking $1000 for the labor to install it. Does anyone have opinions as to whether or not this is a reasonable labor charge? What did you pay?

Thanks,

Eric

TRU681

I was quoted $750 to install the kit & $750 to paint it.

Catspaw

Hmm.. i thought the MS kit came painted from the factory?

TRU681

He's probably reffering to MS style , knockoff, or he might of painted his car to another color.

Outlaws eXtreme

The Real MS kit usually can be bought painted and ready to be install. The only good thing I could think of for the dealer to install is the warranty factor.. and all the documentation if you ever decide to sell it.

Eric Schwamb

One other reason to have the dealer install it is that if you just purchased the car (like me :D ) you can roll the price of the install into your financing.

Did you get that from a dealer or a body shop? Anyone else have install quotes?

TRU681

Hey Eric, I got the price from a bodyshop. I got the PolyUrethane MazdaSpeed Kit.It won't crack as easy as fiberglass!They are riping you off if you're installing the Mazdaspeed Kit that's from the dealership!They charge about $120/hr so I don't believe it takes 8 hours to install the kit.My MS kit is an aftermarket kit so it takes more labor to install it because sometimes the aftermarket kits doesn't fit exactly right so cutting & trimming takes more labor.The Ms kit that's from Mazda dealership suppose to fit perfectly so it should be that much!

NoTears316

$1k for the labor just to install is a ripoff. If that includes painting, that might be different, but my MS kit was factory painted when I ordered it.

RX-Hawk

It cost me about 1k for dealer to do the MS body kit, all the mazdaspeed suspension, and lightweight flywheel. Took about 6 hours for flywheel, 6 for suspension, 6 for body kit.

flip

do it yourself.. its EASY! :D

Eric Schwamb

Well, it definately sounds like they are asking a little too much then. The funny thing is, $1000 is the price they negotiated down to. Originally they tried to tell me it was $2000 worth of labor.

I'm going to talk to them tomorrow to try to get the price down further.

Eric Schwamb

Actually, I am fairly mechanically inclined. I thought of installing it myself, but I was hesitant because it is my understanding that you have to cut the rear bumper. I just wasn't sure how difficult it actually was.

Is there a "how-to" posted anywhere? That way I could get an idea of what I would be getting into.

Kel Rx8

p.s
ask a local 8 owner here, we are all a family now
if your local i would help im doing my sides soon.front is kids play
rear may take all of 4 hr's done right

RX-Hawk

Well I emailed ALL of the mazdaspeed dealers in San Antonio and Austin, and only one place was willing to do the install. They didnt know how much it would cost because they never did it before. They gave me estimates of times which turned out to be pretty close. It was a little more than I expected but they did do a good job on everything.

Eric Schwamb

Nevermind this question...I found a write-up in the DIY section.

black-rx8-msbodykit

iTrader: (-1)

what is the point if you buy all those part and tell someone else to install for you, it's waste of money and you don't even know how to fix it in the future if something wrong. I install my bodykit, spoiler, coilover with edfc, and also big brake kit for my car in school. it took 2 of my friend and I about a day to finish all those parts, it turned out very good. it save money and time the money i saved, i can probably buy a turbo already.

said7

if you take your car to the dealer to get anything installed you must love getting ripped off.

said7

go to a mom and pop body shop and get it painted for like 400-500 then install it yourself. At least what id do.

Shocka

OFF-TOPIC
comon now.. thats like me telling you
why do you pay someone to redo your bathroom or put down carpet or even buy a prebuilt computer? Do it yourself it will DEF save you expenses and you can fix anything if it breaks..

now i am not saying you are not capable of these, they are just examples of the many things we pay for in life. Please dont get me started on the sub par quality of a prebuilt Dell, Compaq, or any computer except AlienWares and some of the higher end ones. That is a whole another thread.

You pay because you cant do it 100% correctly the first time. I would rather pay a dealer to do it right once then me who is not that handy try to do it. Just not worth the hassle and time for me. In that time I could probably produce on one of my website contracts and make the $$ up.

ON-TOPIC ..
according to other coments seems like you are paying alot, but if you trust the dealer and feel they will do a great job man its just worth it. a mom and pop shop, some are great some are shady so make sure its a refferal.

Bindon

To get my MS rear, and INGS front and sides installed and painted, I was quoted 1000 CAD.


-Bindon

Eric Schwamb

There might be a little confusion here...I don't need to get the parts painted because I am getting the real stuff.

As far as the dealer quote goes....it is a total ripoff....

I called another dealer today and asked them what they would charge to install. Their answer was $600 - $720 depending on how long it took them to "line things up".

ranger4277

Definitely do it yourself. It isn't difficult, just take your time. Maybe somebody who has done it before will help you for a beer. *ahem*

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Front bumper - 1 hour
Rear underspoiler - 2 hours
Rear spoiler - 2 hours
Side skirts - 2 hours

That is how they are going to charge you. Based on $120/hour rate, that should ba a MAX of $840.

That said, it will really only take about 5 hours to install the whole thing. The parts come with very specific instructions and templates for the placement of every part and fastener.

I did the side skirts recently (the most involved installation of all the parts) and it took me about an hour with hand tools and a drill.
The bumper is a direct swap - practically no labor at all unless you have fog lights.

Eric Schwamb

Well, it's not a waste of money to me. Here's why:

I have done my own work on my cars my whole life. The engine in my FD was installed by me....entirely a one man job. I'm in the middle of installing a full set of pillow ball bushings in it. Oil changes, coolant flushes, hose jobs, injector replacments, whatever....I've done it.

I have no doubt that I could handle the MS body kit install on my own, if I put in the effort. But there's the issue....the EFFORT. The reason I bought the 8 in the first place was to have something reliable that I DON'T have to put much effort into. If I want to put effort into something, I'll go work on the RX-7. If I know the MS kit is going to be really easy to install, then I'll go ahead and do it. But if it requires too much effort, it will defeat the whole purpose of buying the 8....at least for me.

Discman2

1000?!

thats terrible. I know a guy that will do it for me for less than $200


:D