It's on my receipt.

As the tranmission oil was being drained it was sludgy and excessively sparkly.

After the change, 2nd and 3rd gear crunch more noticeably, I have much louder "thrust bearing" noise ... which isn't a thrust bearing btw mates, it's your main shaft in the gearbox ... and very hard to change gear when it's cold.

Also ... my engine mount wasn't replaced with the updated version ... it was replaced with a standard one.

Sooo ... we'll wait and see what happens to the dealership.

 

Excessively sparkley?? We call that "Panning for Gold". You know what that means...

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

rotarenvy, its still an insane price.

cromax, I am confused. Did they change the transmission oil or not?

 

Yes, something I'd rather not do if I can help it!

 

Yeah, Promaz changed it. They're very thorough and very honest.

I definitely recommend them!

 

Hi all,

I have not read the 24 pages of this thread, so apologies if I repeat issues.

I have noticed an upward trend in the cost of servicing and it is becoming quite unpalatable.

50km = $560 (Tom Kerr West Ryde)
60km = $1077 (Tom Kerr West Ryde)
70km = $638 (Rockdale)

I am not savvy with certain items and it I find it hard to say know when the service person is there telling you "it's optional but should be done". I love my car, and why would I not want the "recommended" stuff to be done?!

Here is the itemised list from my 70km service today:

Job 1:
Labour as per manufacturer's schedule $142.51
Oil Filter $11.94
Rotary Oil (10L) $146.62 (I never remember it being this expensive)
Gasket Sump Plug $1.20
Oil System Clean $10.50
Oil Disposal $8

Job 2 Fuel injection clean
Labour $64.60
Injector cleaning solution $25.40

Job 3 Air conditioning Sanitiser (this was "recommended")
Labour $53.20
Fluids $26.80

Job 4 Power Steering flush (Also "recommended")
Labour $45.50
Dexron III fluid $14.50
Flush and conditioner $30.00

The total labour was $305 + GST.

I run the risk of sounding like a tight ***, but it is working out at >$1500 per annum in servicing costs for this car. I was also shocked when the service manager told me that the 80km service would be even more expensive. It is bordering on BMW/Merc costs.

Not to mention all the "non recall" work that has been performed. Imagine if the car was out of warranty and problems arose with those items.

I have owned Nissans in the past (200SX and 350Z) and even the "big" services were no where near the 4 figure mark. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The 8 is a great car make no doubt, but it's long term ownership is becoming a bit hard to wear.

 

10 Litres of Rotary Oil! WTF???

Power Steering Flush?? WTF??? It is electric, not hydraulic FFS!

Sorry, but they have reamed you badly. No way do I spend $1500 per year in servicing, but then again, it does depend on the km's.

They actual service costs weren't too bad (apart from the oil). $8 for oil disposal is a bit rich, and I have no idea what an "oil system clean" is - It shouldn't really need it if it is serviced regularly, and it is not like it is a really old car.

Fuel injection clean is a little on the expensive side, considering they just pour some stuff in, and I'm sure they don't physically touch the injectors. That would take way too long. I doubt the solution ought to cost that much.

They have taken you for a ride.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

As Hymee says, they have taken you for a ride.

Only 3.75L of oil needed for a change. AND they should leave the balance from a 5L --in you case + another 5L -- bottle in the car.

Injector cleaning via the various additives is also close to voodoo stuff, more so the air conditioner 'sanitiser' and the power steering 'flush and conditioner' (did you get additional curls and highlights?? )

There's at least $160 in that service which worthy of being described as a rip-off

 

Hymee and Timbo,

Thank you for your input. It served to confirm my worries about being ripped off.

I needed an extra 5L of MRO for periodic top ups, hence the 10L total. But it works out at $74/5L which is kind of expensive.

It is unfortunate that servicing has come to this.

I guess the fact of the matter is that all that is required is the manufacturer's service schedule. All the ancillary stuff is a pure money-making exercise.

Regards,

 

Exactly. And $75/5L MRO is about a 50% premium. More like $50 I thought. I'll sell you a bottle for $60. LOL!!

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Mate I would be going back to the service dept and asking for an explaination with an upfront comment to the service manager that you will be taking their feedback to Mazda Australia (and I suggest you actually do this).

As a dealer they are obliged to discuss with you UPFRONT any non standard work they do. If you went in there with the intention of a standard service being done and they did more than that without your permission then they are in the wrong.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Andrew

 

I'm sorry to see this happen to you, but they have a bit of explaining to do.

For example if you do your research (and rang around) you'd find the 50k service cost should be between $300 and $350.

Slaven Mazda in Phillip, Canberra charged Timbo $187 for his 50,000 km service a couple of years ago....

Labour $88.00
Workshop supplies $15.00 (??)
Oil disposal $8.00
5L Rotary Oil $49.50 (1.25L in the boot)
Oil Filter $8.76
Sump plug Gasket $0.75
TOTAL (inc GST) $187.00

.....and a free loan car (Mazda 2 auto)

Prices haven't gone up that much since then....good luck and let us know how you go pursuing a credit.

 

it seems the idea tis to have done some reseach before you go and get a service and agree on prices before they start work. If you drop your car off and let them do a 'service' of course they will charge like a wounded bull as its a business and they are there to make money at the end of the day.
I have been burnt so many times just saying do what you have to on the * and my previous cars and no in heinsight should have done reseach before hand to see what actually did need doing and how much it should be cost.

 

The funniest bit was the "power steering fluid"

ask them to show you where they put it in because im having an extremely difficult time finding the resevoir...



OH WAIT THERE ISNT ONE!

 

Good point, Drew...I had forgotten

Send the police in. These people are fraudsters and thieves

 

Hi all,

It has been illuminating reading your comments. It is my fault for being a dumbass and feeling pressured by the service guy into having all the optional rubbish done. But I have learnt my lesson. It always happens the hard way.

And I will enquire on Monday about where precisely the power steering fluid reservoir is.

Cheers,

 

I tried to point out the power steering fluid farce in my initial response

You should get refunded a bunch of money, or more.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

As Auzoom suggested i would raise this with MAzda Australia especially the 'power steering' point . You never know they may throw in a free service?!....but unlikely

 

Had my 40K service done yesterday.
When I picked up the car this is the real conversation I had with the service adviser.

Me: What kind of oil did you put in.
SA Mazda Rotary Oil 5 liters here on the bill, extra oil will be in your boot. Mazda says to only use rotary oil in the RX8.
Me: OK do you sell it in 1 liter bottles? I hate carrying 5 liters around.
SA yes over at the parts counter you can buy 1 liter bottles, I always suggest to RX8 owners they should buy a bottle and keep in the car. When the light comes on the dash put a liter in and the light will go out.
Me: Are you kidding me? Wait until the Oil light comes on? I always check my oil every fill up and add if needed.
SA that is best but lots of people do not know how to check oil.
Me Shaking my head.

And I check my boot today no oil.

Arghh..

 

They'd probably know all the answers as they probably have been edumacted by Lock!

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

I just got quoted $235 for the 50,000 km service. Does that sound like a reasonable price to you guys?

 

That doesn't seem that bad. I had a 6 monthly service @ 54k km and that cost $200.

Whats the cost of Rotary Oil these days? I needed some spare to top up the engine and 5L cost $80.. I thought that was a bit steep....

On to the 60k service of death... I better save those pennies now!

 

Hmm...and in my mad rush to go to the GC on Friday, I didn't check the bill and saw I got charged $72 for 5 litre container of oil....wheres the other 2?

Too late to do anything now....

 

The new RX-8 GT uses 4.4 ltr of oil instead of earlier RX8 using 3.7ltr , so Mazda wont be able to rip people of as much as before . by keeping the difference .

Cheers
Michael