Ok, I should do it next time I'm home.

 

Sorry, here's the itemisation. Looks fairly standard except the pollen filter and gear and diff oil.

Oil Filter 13.50
Fuel Injector Cleaner 12.44
Motor Oil 69.78
Brake Fluid 19.43
Coolant 1L x2 43.24
Filter Cooling Unit 45.60
Gear Oil 18.00
Brake Cleaner 11.00
Labour 323.00

I have excluded the smaller things such as wheel weights, sump plug, enviro disposal, workshop supplies, etc.

The costs all add up, they just seem very excessive, especially the labour cost - even my BMW mechanic charged only $70 p/h.

I think once the warranty expires (May 08) I will start taking it to a rotary specialist than a dealer. What are people's thoughts on that? Anyone here use someone like Promaz for their servicing?

 

I would be happy to take mine to a rotary specialist but nobody on here seems to be able to recommend someone in Sydney.

 

I just called him for a quote ...

... I don't usually get quotes :S

 

people like simon will firstly use products other than mazda rotary oil. Instant savings on those. I have also been speaking to him recently about sourcing coils and so on from places other than mazda. So when you combine that with cheaper labour costs, more knowledgable labour and I will never go back to a Mazda dealer.

 

I have dealt with Simon in the past he he seems liek a nice and honest guy. I live in Glenroy so it's only a 10 minute drive as well.

If I was to get my servicing done from him prior to warranty expiring, will it void my warranty?

 

The situation is that if they follow the service schedule and use approved or equivelant parts they (The manufacturers) aren't allowed to void warranty.

I have been bugging Simon for a while to get a standard pricelist for servicing 8's up but he is so bloody busy.

Cheers

Andrew

 

Im with Revolver, been holding out for someone to recommend a Sydney Rotory specialist.

 

Have you tried Mazsport? Bill Nabham.

Bill built the 4-rotor 26B in the BMW drag car I sometimes get to work on / crew for, and he drives it as well.





Cheers,
Hymee.

 

mdr/revolver, check out http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=144457

 

Hey thanks Hymee/Auzoom.

I'll check some of those out. Maybe we should start a sticky of member recommended mechanics, auto-electricians, etc?

 

No worries Rev. Make sure when you speak to Billy, you mention me so he can charge you double.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Ok, 40K service with Crookvale (booked in before getting leads from Hymee/Auzoom). Deep breath, here goes (my comments/queries in red):

Labour

Replaced engine oil and filter
Carried out 'MMDS' check for codes and pcm update would be nice if they bothered to tell you what's been done here
Replaced brake fluid and bleed hydraulic system I know they actually did this because they replaced the brake lines (see below)
Replaced engine coolant checked and bleed cooling system
Replaced pollen filter
Inspected fuel lines hoses and all connections
Checked battery electrolyte and fluid level
Checked brake booster and all lines
Checked all oil levels
Topped up all fluid levels
Inspected and adjusted parking brake had been adjusted before but good to see they're on to this common problem
Checked power steering fluid, lines, hoses and connections
Checked front and rear brakes
Tightened steering and suspension components
Tightened bolts and nuts on chassis and body
Checked interior and exterior lights
Inspected all drive belts and adjusted if required
Secured door check straps and lubricated
Inspected all tyre pressures including spare umm, no spare - confirmation that this guff is straight off the word processor
Lubricated locks, hinges and latches
Inspected and aligned washer jets
Carried out fill vehicle inspection and report
Carried out road test to manufacturer handbook so that's what those burnout marks were from? lol

subtotal - 247.00 (i.e. 40K service labour charge - extras below)

I always wonder just how much of this stuff they really do in dealer service centres. I'm betting it depends on how busy they are. Comments on the price for labour please?

Rotate and balance - checked tyres, rotated best to front - 28.50

Fitted Mazda Speed stainless brake lines (supplied by customer) - 95.00 this seems fair to me - comments?

Fitted Magnacore spark plug leads (supplied by customer) - 57.00 ditto

Fitted Whiteline end links (front and rear) (supplied by customer) - 114.00 seems exxy but am I being too tough?

All OEM parts left in boot

total labour - 541.50

Parts

Seal, drain plug - 0.45
Oil filter - 7.78
MRO 5 L - 47.81 seems remarkably cheap
Filter cooling unit - 31.24 what's this?

total parts - 87.28

Petrol, Oils, Lubricants and Supplies

Dot3 brake fluid - 26.40 Is Dot3 a brand? Comments?
Anti-freeze/boil - 44.00 a lot for green water
Fuel tank treatment - 15.00 what's this?
Engine oil flush - 15.00 ditto

total POL - 100.40

Workshop supplies and enviro levy - 18.00

GST - 74.72

Total - $821.90

Service was hopeless. I had to ring them after 5pm to find out if the car was ready or not. Dopey at the other end of the phone asked for my credit card details without even telling me the total cost. Spare litre of MRO not left in boot (had been done previously without having to ask). No attempt at wash or vacuum.

Bye bye Brookvale. I won't be back. Couldn't even be bothered complaining to them.

 

My comments are in blue ... sorry if I seem a bit arrogant, I'm doing this in between doing work...

[QUOTE=Revolver;2269347]Carried out 'MMDS' check for codes and pcm update would be nice if they bothered to tell you what's been done here It would be nice, but I'm sure they're just telling you this because it looks like they're doing work when they really aren't

Replaced brake fluid and bleed hydraulic system I know they actually did this because they replaced the brake lines (see below) If they did it properly I'd be very surprised

Inspected and adjusted parking brake had been adjusted before but good to see they're on to this common problem Isn't this a part of a regular service?

Inspected all tyre pressures including spare umm, no spare - confirmation that this guff is straight off the word processor Just goes to show they'er just trying to make it seem feasable for you to hand over your wallet at the end of the transaction...

I always wonder just how much of this stuff they really do in dealer service centres. I'm betting it depends on how busy they are. Comments on the price for labour please?

Rotate and balance - checked tyres, rotated best to front - 28.50

Fitted Mazda Speed stainless brake lines (supplied by customer) - 95.00 this seems fair to me - comments? Sounds expensive since they already had the wheels off to rotate the tyres

Fitted Magnacore spark plug leads (supplied by customer) - 57.00 ditto A guy leans over into the engine bay and plugs in four leads ... sounds expensive again

Fitted Whiteline end links (front and rear) (supplied by customer) - 114.00 seems exxy but am I being too tough?WHOA! ... they had the car up already, and it would've taken them all of 10 minutes!

Parts

Seal, drain plug - 0.45
Oil filter - 7.78
MRO 5 L - 47.81 seems remarkably cheap Whoa! (again)

Filter cooling unit - 31.24 what's this? No idea

total parts - 87.28

Petrol, Oils, Lubricants and Supplies

Dot3 brake fluid - 26.40 Is Dot3 a brand? Comments? Dot3 is a type/regulation name/rating
Anti-freeze/boil - 44.00 a lot for green water Normal
Fuel tank treatment - 15.00 what's this? Wynns Spitfire!
Engine oil flush - 15.00 ditto As if they ever do this!

 

What did I do?

I agree but I doubt half of them understand what they are doing.

Guarantee you they double dipped on this one and the lines as the brake fluid is supposed to be changed on the 40,000k service

Note they havent checked the Brake and Clutch Pedal. Handbook says to do it every service.


Would love to see the details of this

Save your money and get it done at a specialist

Assuming $120/hour that 45 min to change Brake lines. Remember they were changing the fluid as part of the service anyway.

I think 30 min to change 4 plug leads is a bit much! like.. twice as much

This would take me an hour with 4 jack stands and 1 jack. They have hoists so no way it took them an hour.

Thats trade price. Good deal!!!

I think this is the cabin air filter

Dot 3 is the grade of oil used. WHile its "acceptable" use DOT3 in the 8 I would be disappointed they didnt use a DOT4 oil.

That is an INSANE amount of money for (2litres?) Antifreeze

This is an OPTIONAL extra and they should have asked if you wanted it 1st.

As above

I always get a time from them and inform them that I will be there at their designated time to pick up. I also inform them that if the car isnt ready 10 min after that they will have a car for me at no charge or they wont touch my car. I had a bad run in once which cost me a days pay (In theory) and so I never let them forget it. But then again its all talk now as I wont go back to a Mazda Dealer.

 

Thanks guys - very helpful responses, particularly Andrew's. Confirms some suspicions. I'll follow up those leads and find another workshop for all future servicing, etc.

Edit - couldn't help myself. Have fired off a comprehensive complaint to Brookvale Mazda. Doubt it'll do much good but I feel better getting it off my chest. Suppose I was stupid asking a dealer to do anything beyond standard servicing in the first place but it really shouldn't have to be so hard to get reasonable pricing for extra work.

 

I found out today that the creeps at my mazda dealer have NEVER changed my gear oil since I've had my car ...

... I've done 90000km, which means (I believe) it was due for its THIRD gear oil change.

I now have a noisy gearbox and the possibility that I'll have to buy a new on in the near future ... I'm not happy!

 

Welcome Dave. Post back your experiences.

Nate, its scheduled for change every 50,000k.

 

Stony silence from the thieving ********* at Crookie so far. Probably don't check their emails...

 

Follow it up by faxing it to the Dealership AND Mazda Aus' requesting acknowledgement . Make sure you place a CC on the Fax stating its going to Mazda Aus'.

 

Cromax - how did you find that out?

 

I will hazzard a guess he went back over his service recipts and its not on there.

 

[QUOTE=auzoom;2270350]


That is an INSANE amount of money for (2litres?) Antifreeze

/QUOTE]

this was just the straight antifreeze not just 2L of pre-mix. so it isn't such a bad price for a dealership. sure you can buy it cheaper elsewhere but you pay the premium for 'mazda' just like I payed a premium for 'motul' gear oil.