I think I was having 'a moment' And to really hang them by their ***** the bastards .............. (take a deep breath) :D

 

Got a call from the lovely Rita at City Mazda late last week....my cabin filters were waiting for me. Dropped in today, they fitted them in 5 minutes and I was outta there.

Supplied and fitted gratis, on the house, free, libre, nix, nil, zip, nada.......gotta love that kind of service .

 

I checked my 20K service and saw that they didn't replace the Cabin Air Filter. I rang them today and they said that all Mazda dealers are inspecting them and if they look like they don't need replacing then they don't. He also said to me that it would cost me another $80 to have it replaced. I find that rather rude when I should have had it done as it is mandatory in the scheduled services manual. I already paid them $245 for that service.
Can anyone advise me what to do as this mob seem to do what they want and it seems like they get away with it.
Nojooc you're a dealer...what's up with this??????
For your info......the dealer is Oldmac at Springwood in Brisbane.
I should have just taken it to Grand Prix.....they do look after you there.
rx88er

 

rx88er

Sounds like you have had a bad time with Oldmac, let me know how you go with Grand Prix Aspley, I am using Eagers at Newstead because they are conveinient for drop of to the city for work, their service is okay nothing too special, but always ready on time and all work done as schedule.
If you get on okay with Grand Prix Aspley I may try them.
We should get together with Hymee for a Beer and Steak at the Caxton one lunchtime soon, let me know if you are interested, I will set it up with Hymee.

 

Jambo...
just had the service done and they were fine. Charged me extra for the Cabin Air Filter as they had to replace it and they said that if its in the Service Manual then it gets done. So I forked out an extra $55. Not happy that I had to pay, but at least I can be confident with them that its done properley.
Are you listening OLDMAC SPRINGWOOD.....your service is crap and for you to suggest all Mazda dealerships are adopting your inspect only and not replace but charge the customer still is all bullshit.
BTW....running late, gotta get to that Anger Management Course

 

If the manual says replace and they didn't at least the should do it for only the cost of the parts.

I remember when I was buying my car Oldmac cancelled a test drive on me twice.... so I'm not surprised by this service.

 

The cabin filters can be replaced in less than 30 seconds....there is no labor cost involved.

 

Yeah - 30 seconds worth of workshop consumables.

 

I posted earlier in the thread re: Brookvale Mazda and what they do for you.

Dug out the invoice last night for the 10K:

Service and safety check (whatever that means - airbags I guess).
Brake condition checked.
Wheel balance and rotation.
Castrol XT 1030 (must talk to them about the rotary oil).
Enviro levy.
Touch-up paint.
sump plug seal.
oil filter.

All no charge for reason previously mentioned. Car was ready on time and service book stamped and intialled.

Downside - no engine wash or re-flash but maybe I need to ask for those.

BTW, they have agreed to fit Hymee's exhaust kit when I can get the cash together to order one. They reckon about 1-1.5 hours to take off the stock parts and fit the new one. Sound about right Hymee??

Those guys who have been unhappy with Hornsby might like to give these guys a run. Of course, I cannot comment on cost yet but the service is good.

 

really? i thought Mazda wouldn't install third party parts like exhaust...
they are in effect voiding their own warranty terms.

 

The service manager raised the warranty issue with me and effectively said it was my risk to check whether the parts breach warranty, which is fair enough.

It is also important to distinguish between Mazda Australia (or Japan for that matter) and your dealer. They're different legal entities and your warranty is with Mazda not the dealer.

Of course, an argument would be available that the dealer is effectively the agent of Mazda for servicing and warranty purposes but the fitting of after market parts could not be described as servicing and I think the dealer would only be voiding the warranty if they fitted parts without your approval.

If my service guy changes his mind for any reason, I'll post something about it. I might also dig out the warranty and have a closer look at this issue before I proceed with the work.

 

It is common for dealers to fit new exhausts to cars, even for delivery. Expecially in the V8 crowd.

At the end of the day, the more chargeable hours they get the boys to work, the better. They are in reality like most workshops, but with Mazda acreditiation.

30 to 45 minutes for an experienced "Hymee Enhancer" to do the job. Centenary Mazda had a bit of a problem with the first one - trying to get the factory slip joint apart. The instructions are quite detailed in what needs to be done. I got an email today from a happy customer in Scotland who got his local Mazda dealer in Edinburgh to fit his new Hymee exhaust.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

10K service - $153 including oil.

20K service - $212 including oil, but no cabin filter replacement. Doesn't even say on the invoice that they checked it.

30K - $159, but I supplied the oil this time. They were going to keep my oil bottle and the dregs from the oil change, but when I asked for the bottle back with the left-overs, they 3/4 filled it for me again for free. Cheers!

I go to Regal Mazda in Newcastle. A free car wash is standard, as is a courtesy car for the day if it's available, or a lift home (I only live around the corner).

Overall their heart is in the right place, but their knowledge about the RX-8 is poor. Never heard of Mazdaspeed, pretty vague on the whole ECU flash thing, didn't know about the oil sump replacement until I told them, etc. I try and keep the instructions as simple as possible when I leave my car with them. You'd think that people who work in the car industry would have some passion and interest in cars, especially the ones they service?

 

For some of them it's obviously just a job. How many mechanics do we know that couldn't be bothered to look after their own car properly let alone someone else's. Obviously a generalisation and there are some great ones out there. That's why this thread is such a good idea.

 

Just got my my 10,000k service done at Mellville Mazda here in Perth.
Labour $112 - Included wheel rotation and balance, PCM upgrade and recal
Parts & Oil $78.29
Service Products and Waste Disposal $16.77
Total inc GST - $231.30

Service was great, they supplied a courtesy car for the day - no charge! They actually offered to pick up car from home and drop off when service completed. The left over oil was also left in the boot for me with no prompting. I think these guys are reading this forum and learning a bit about the service we all expect.
Washed and vacuumed free! All in all I'm pretty impressed with their service.

The PCM upgrade made some interesting changes. I own an auto and the shifting was a hell of a lot smoother. 3rd to 4th at high rpm was pretty snatchy. Its much smoother now. It also idles a lot smoother. As for the pedal response, I was a tad dissapointed. Very flat now. I'm hoping its just re-learning my driving characteristics and will adjust as it learns I like to get up and going quickly.

Cheers
Steve

 

Picking up on Zoom RX8's comments, I wondered if my service guys have read this thread.

Rather than wonder further, I just sent it to them via the service enquiry screen on my dealer's website.

Perhaps if we all did the same we would all enjoy a more consistent level of service and pricing. Can only hope.

 

We have fitted not one but two of hymees exhausts now.....
I think we qualify as an approved Hymee exhaust fitter !

Happy Customers are as follows...
Tonym
alfredfroz
xatnep
jeffneil
kanen8

Regards Daz

 

Perhaps I should send a Hymee Certified sign for one of the workshop bays. :D Then you can up your charge-out rate, just like HSV. Hehehehehe.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Bad Hymee! Bad Hymee! :D :D

 

will be getting my brakes replaced with new 'superseded brakes' all under warranty at all four corners. This is due to the squealing that had occured from braking everytime.
Question, what are superseded brakes?

 

Superseeded maybe?? Brake pads that are impregnated with some noise reducing material

 

Superceded means old part number. They are saying that the current pads are the trouble, the pads that were available a while back had no problems.

I wasn't aware that we'd had a change in pad material in the newer RX-8's here in Australia.

Gomez.

 

Not sure but was told that the rear pads are in melbourne while front had
to be shipped from japan.
ALso remembered someone mentioning that htey were getting these pads aswell due
to squealing. Well, can't complain about new pads!

 

No but it means that the rest of us are likely to be stuck with the dodgy pads when ours wear out through normal wear... I really hate squeaky brakes!!!!!

 

Just serviced my car under supervision from Ken my rotary mechanic .

.Decided to give Mazda the flick :p i Used Royal Purple oil on the transmission and Differential,75-w90 ,the oil in the transmission flowed like dirty water it had very little viscosticy , and the colour was greyish with plenty of metal shavings

My car has only 36,000km so i was quite suprised , the differential oil was in far better condition .

The Mazda dealer on my last service told me that i had used up 75% of my front brake pads , this i found was totall bullshit , i still had 40% pad wear left , but decided to change them anyway both front and rears .(replaced them with BENDIX SEE writte up at bottom of page)

Also replaced the brakefluid and bleed the brakes

They also said that they needed to machine my discs also total bullshit my discs are like brand new , any how they have totally lost me , being here and on a daily learning curve has given the confidence to go beyond my mechanical threshold

Royal Purple oil has given a Definite improvement on the gears smooth i believe it has also decreased noise level , i have the RP short shifter .

From now on i will change my Engine oil every 5000km after seeing the condition of the oil

Next service i will change the coolant and replace the spark plugs :D

Dont take for granted what your Mazda dealer tells you i have caught them out many a time . :p

Replaced brake pads to Bendix from repco between you and me these pads are just as good as the Mazda ones IMHO in fact i would not be suprised if mazda used the same pads in a mazda package , these pads are reasonably priced at $95 fronts and $70 rears shop around .

These pads are great for everyday driving , if you go on the track obviously EBC REDS OR HAWKS , FERODOS ,Endless are more suited however dont forget that unless they are suitable to your discs they will chew them up

cheers
michael