Trying to figure out if this is worth the 319 dollars it costs to do. (30,000/60,000 mile maintenance)

I would rather have Mazda keep with the scheduled maintenance so it is on their books and their butt is anything goes wrong after, plus if I ever need an engine down the road, they've got all the records in their system already.

this is the list as per the mymazda site

Inspect: Drive belts , Fuel lines, hoses and connections *1 , Cooling system , Engine coolant level , Function of all lights , Brake line, hoses and connection , Disc brakes , Tire inflation pressure and tire wear , Steering operation and linkages , Front and rear suspension and ball joints , Drive shaft dust boots , Washer fluid level

Replace: Engine oil filter , Brake fluid , Manual transmission oil , Rear differential oil , Engine oil.

they do some stupid stuff like add fuel additives and reset computer system, BS stuff that I KNOW I don't need or can do myself in 2 minutes.

 

Having it on their books is nice, but is that the entire list of what they do?

 

thats the list I see from mymazda.com, it seems to follow the maintenance schedule you can download in a PDf.

 

But I guess the the plugs, wires and coils are extra.

 

Don't do it. They'll park your car in the back lot for 6 hours, then call you to pick your car up.

 

^Ha. That somehow seems so believable.

 

Actually, I would be there watching, they have free wi-fi for people waiting so I'd be there working while they work. I've done that every other time I've brought it in.

 

Its a 319 dollars oil change job. why ? here


You can "inspect" all these stuff with your eyes, without using any lifts. unless you're blind of course.

This part rarely fails, and if it does you will hear it. just hope that at the time you are not in the I want to go fast mood.
Again, visual inspection is more than enough, I mean, rofl do I need to pay someone to check my Washer Fluid level? seriously.

This is the stuff that actually cost them some money. but lets see, Last I checked Autozone has this oil change special 5 qts of Pennzoil + oil filter = 17 bux. hmm, MT tranny oil 10 bux a quart, need 2, ahh make it 3, 30 bux. then Rear diff oil, same price, 2 is enough. 20 bux. w00t. 67 bux worth of parts. ahh fine its Mazda dealer so they use Mazda oil filters. but hey, I got them for like 5 bux each. Lets just say they are good enough to replace the washers in the process, add another 3 bux. hmm. Labor, 1 hour is enough. remember, how much they're paying them to do the work is completely different from how much they're charging you, I assume they pay them 50 bux an hour.

reset computer system for WHAT ?

lol add fuel additives lmao.


if you are not afraid of getting dirty, do it yourself and it saves u around 200 bux. Keep records? keep all the receipts. I know I did, all inside one big box in my basement.

 

I think I'm just gonna drop it off and have them do the oil change and an alignment. I wouldn't mind the transmission flush but not for 175 dollars.

Is changing the diff fluid difficult? looks like it's just remove the drain plug and fill in the fill hole?

 

Its not difficult at all. you just to have a tube to push the fluid in.

for me, I fab my own tool, a clear plastic tube + an empty 2 L Coke bottle so I can push the fluid into the rear diff.

*edited* for the transmission, just open the shifter and pour the liquid in. It works for this Aisin Tranny.

 

This is often the case. They are charging you for nothing. Even having all the service records with them may not help if an issue develops. Case in point, I'm getting a new differential installed today $2500. They serviced it 8 months ago but all the fluid gradually leaked out due to an unsecure plug and slowly destroyed it. They are stating it's not their fault. Oh yeah, We'll see about that...

I'm at 104K miles and have done all the maint myself but couldn't for a while due to an injury. Save your money and check it yourself. You are going to do a better job than any Mazda dealership and I guarantee you won't leave plugs unsecured or tires unrotated if you do it yourself.

 

That seems like a good deal. You can pay nearly half that for a brake fluid flush alone. Having done that myself a number of times I'm happy to pay someone else. The other fluid changes depend on how agile you are and how much you enjoy crawling around. Having just turned 65, and with back surgery a couple of years ago, I just paid a couple hundred more than that for somewhat more service. Same as your list, but they comped installing my set of new spark plugs, put in new air and cabin air filters, rotated and balanced the tires, and the next oil change is free. BG44 stuff, which I have no idea of its value. A few other items of questionable value, but part of the package.

20 years ago I'd have done it all myself.

Can I ask which dealer? I'm also in NOVA.

Ken

 

I brought my 2004 rx 8 in for a tranny flush at 45k, midway point between next replacement. After picking up my car and noticing a problem with my tranny, I called back and the dealership has accused me of improper care of my car as they noticed a problem before and during service, but failed to inform me until I called with an issue on my car.... Still working on the details with the Dealership VP very suspect service.... I am having an inspection done on my tranny on Monday from a third party and then have a meeting again with the VP on Tuesday....

Pretty much every step of the way they have been searching for a while to avoid liability of the problem.... Avoid the dealerships!!!

Here is the thread of those events...
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/need-advice-2004-rx8-gte-6spd-tranny-issues-195589/