So I took my RX8 to a local dealer here in San Juan, PR cus it had a check engine light on. (I have had the check engine light diagnosed as a Catalytic Converter problem by a different dealership before and they did say it would be covered under warranty). This dealership said that it probably was a catalytic converter but before they replaced it they had to replace the spark plugs and engine coils which came out to approx $700 after tax and labor+parts. Am I the only one who thinks they must be smoking crack or have prices for spark plugs and coils gone up in recent days?

On a separate note I asked them to check out the recalls for the Mazda and they said there was only one issue that had not been addressed and that was a reprogramming of the computer. But they were adamant that i had to get the $700 procedure done first before they do the recall. They even insisted that anytime a car came into their dealership they had to do the recalls or they would get into "trouble with Mazda" as the rep put it. Which ofcourse they wont do without me forking over the $700 first. I have changed sparkplugs before and ignition coils from my limited understanding are the coils that run from the spark plug to the engine right? Unless I misunderstood them completely they quoted me $125 for each coil and $150 to replace all four spark plugs plus labor......

Has anyone out there experienced anything similar?

 

The exact same thing happened to me in february, I had 2 bad coils but they wanted $700 for 4 new coils, wires, sparkplugs (which were new anyways), and to check the cat. I told them to burn in hell, ordered two coils and did the change right there in their parking lot.

 

You can get 4 new coils for $120 from Rosenthal Mazda/Finishline and best price for 4 sparkplugs is usually $75-80. Throw in high quality wires for $60 from BHR. Maybe 2 hours of your time if you're slow and methodical and take frequent breaks to watch the game on TV.

 

Next to changing the air filter and oil, swapping out your 'plugs/cables/coils is the easiest DIY there is. Save your cash and do it yourself.

 

use rx7 plugs, save yourself even more cash there. You can get all 4 of them for $20. better and easier to replace them frequently. the iridiums are a rip off. plugs get so gunked up in a rotary there's no point in running them a long time.

 

^im running 7 plugs too...so far so good

 

$700.00 is blatant robbery. That dealer should be banned.

 

Gee Easy... people have to make money.

2 hours labor = 200
coils 360
plugs 140
Tax

 

wow...$700?? That's crap!

Sounds like when my dealership tried to screw me by saying they can replace my brake pads and turn my rotors for the low low price of $400

 

Thanks for all your input guys. $700 did seem like some major bullsh*t and I am planning on doing the work myself

 

This should be reviewed by all rx8 owners. The same thing happend to me at a dealership and I told them to screw themselves. I bought the 4 plugs for $78 and installed them myself. Seems like dealers are making out with highway robbery on this issue.

 

warranty does not pay a lot

so dealership gotta make the money from somewhere

i dont blame them.

 

same here....

car goes in for new engine here in about 45 min
they said they might have to replace them and it would cost 700 bucks WITHOUT labor just parts...

BULLSHIT

I talked to the owner of the dealership and told him that im not paying for a new set of anything, I haven't even made a payment or owned the car a month and it needs a new engine already....

Carbon build up do not happen over night...