xkcel

I am trying to get some advice as to which spark plugs and ignition coils to buy.
My car is at 40k, bought it at 23k, and i'd like to put something nice in, but probably not BHRs. (2009 series II rx-8)
RX-8 - 2009 + - Maintenance - Rosenthal Arlington Mazda Parts Store
That is the link i've been trying to one stop shop from.
Here is my dilemma. Is the stock coils and plugs worth almost 400$? I have not heard rave reviews about the stock equipment.
Compared to the below link the stock equipment is astronomically Over priced.
09 2009 Mazda RX8 Ignition Coil - Engine Electrical - Beck Arnley, Genuine, Karlyn, Standard Motor Products - PartsGeek
Hell, for a mere 100$+ more I could get the BHR setup, though I don't know how long it will last.
I do like the warranty on my car, but taking as I do all the maintenance myself, I doubt i'll be able to show work done. (oil/filter change, transmission fluid change, clean air filter, spark plugs and coils) Also I haven't been able to find a dealer who can handle doing an oil change, let alone fixing other things. (5 trips to fix brakes, 3 trips to fix clutch pedal, 432434543 million trips to fix coolant sensor, 1 low oil level light on immediately following oil change) If you're wondering which dealer Hiley Mazda Arlington TX.
So I guess, what do you guys use? and are you happy with it?
Also i'll be doing the work myself... I have never replaced coils/ spark plugs, so please don't suggest something super difficult installation wise. (I've read the DIY section, seems pretty easy, though I am curious if I can take coils out using the front left tire method). Also i'd like to give super kudos to the DIY section. My first time working on a car ever and it still runs :-P. Thanks guys.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Physically, no other coil option is plug and play, due to dwell times, fitment, etc... OEM or BHR are the only two options there.

As far as cost, pretty much there is only a reason to pay more than ~$35 a coil for the basic BWD coils from an auto parts store like Advance Auto, if you are going all the way up to BHR coils. You are correct, paying dealer coil prices is nearly the cost of the BHR kit, and there is only speculated improvement in lifespan. Increased lifespan for the dealer Revision C coils has not yet been proven.


OEM Wires and plugs from parts stores are easily obtainable as well. Amazon even has our plugs for $18 and change each.

devlin95

iTrader: (5)

keep an eye on craigslist, I found a bnib set of OEM coils and NGK sparkplugs from a guy in Arlington for $80, twice.

xkcel

I found this.
Seemed about right. Hopefully I didn't just get ripped off ;-)
Thank you for the help!
Hopefully something comes out about the BHR coils that is good because i'd love to have longer lasting coils.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes, that is a reasonable price, and the parts are correct.

monchie

If your in a budget like me, i bought a tune-up kit and that includes the coils, plugs. and wires for $245 on eBay, and have it installed by a rotary mechanic for $80. It's better to get the BHR if you want to make it last longer.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

save, buy the BHR kit... ^really? monchie, 80 bucks for 30minutes of your own time to work on your own car?

Coldwound

iTrader: (1)

First timers it will take a bit longer then 30 minutes... about an hour and a half... after that 30-45 minutes

dozer

iTrader: (3)

i would hope that youre drinking beer in that first hour and half.

monchie

I don't have the right tools for it, plus i'm too lazy to do it...

cyclone1208

iTrader: (5)

lol i go to hiley mazda in arlington for oil changes etc...never had an issue with them

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

LOL, "don't have the right tools and too lazy". Yet, you were able to cut all the spring on both of your cars with a contraption you made from watching episodes of McGyver

xkcel

Warning rant below.

First trip to Hiley Mazda Day after I bought my car. (23k)
1. Get oil change (just because not needed)
2. Inspect vehicle.
3. Check coolant light turns on.

Hiley response:
- Tires great condition
- Air filter great condition
- Brakes Great Condition
- No maintenance required
- Coolant light issue could not be determined

Second trip to Hiley Mazda (1k miles later) (24k)
1. The brakes are screeching like crazy
2. Coolant light still turning on. I made sure the coolant is full.

Hiley Response:
- The brake pads need replaced they are gone
# wait a second... one thousand miles ago you inspected them and said they were great.. well okay.
- Coolant not covered by warranty, but it shouldn't be a problem just ignore it


Third trip to Hiley Mazda (not 100 miles later)
1. The brakes are screaming

Hiley Response:
- Put spacers? lil things to quiet brakes down.
* This made the brakes stop screaming.

Fourth trip: (27k)
1. oil change.
2. Fix broken visor (driver side)
3. front tire driver side leaking air

Hiley Responce:
- everything is green for service
- Get ready for 30k mile maintenance!
- front driver tire has slow leak in it.
- we should replace them, but we don't know how to do the warranty / wont help with warranty.
* visor fixed without issue

On my way home from dealer check oil level light turns on. I put my weekly supply of oil into the engine. Check light turns off.
Go to auto store and buy oil and get my cars oil at the right level.
I was going to buy a K&N air filter for my car and wanted to see the condition of the current filter.
Open the air filter box and it is dusty as hell and I had to vacuum it out because of all the dirt in it.
Previous owner put in K&N filter apparently.
Start saving money for jack stands, floor jack and tools.

Fifth trip: 30k
1. oil change.
2. price out 30k maintenance
3. ask if they check my air filter
4. ask if they rotate my tires.

Hiley Response:
- Oil change done!
- Hey we can replace the coolant sensor it is under warranty.
# thought you said it wasn't
- We do check the air filter everytime!
- we rotate your tires
- Tires look great green all around.
- 30,000 cost 1400: transmission fluid change: spark plugs: coils
- don't you want to change the internal car air filter!?
* they replace coolant system and that makes the coolant light not turn on.
* I suspect they really just disconnected the sensor and charged me for replacement.

Take the car home, no check engine oil light this time!
Bought Necessary tools to do oil change.
First oil change on my oil: 33k miles
Blackest oil I have ever seen.
Oil filter appeared to be incredibly old.
Front driver tire still has slow leak, back tires do not; so no rotation occured.
I don't think they know how to change my cars oil.

Change up dealerships to mesquites and they say my tires are too worn to be covered by warranty.
I go to get my inspection for my car and they tell me my tires, which Hiley said were green are extremely bald and needed replacing thousands of miles ago.
Discount tire is surprised my tires didn't go flat or just fail. I thought it was normal that in first the back tires always lost traction, always.

Mazda Hiley has awesome service reps. They are friendly, polite and all their paper work makes you think they are taking care of you.
The problem seems to be the mechanics messing up simple oil changes, not actually checking anything on the car for your multipoint inspection and generally not giving two ***** about you knowing what is going on.

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

Great STORY!!! The money you spent going back and forth to the dealer could have bought you a new set of tires. No offense, but you seem to lack the common sense of how to perform basic maintenance on this car... Or any other car, because all those inspections you had someone pay to do could have simply been performed by yourself on your own driveway!

Oil level? Seriously, if you wait just to top off your oil on every indication of Low Oil Level light, you have no business owning this car. And the tires, how the hell could you-yourself miss that? We won't be surprised if your next rant is about "Engine replaced by the dealer..." a few months from now. Take an hour or two so you can start by reading the first few pages in these helpful threads:

Congratulations, you got an 8!
New and Potential Owners START HERE!
Suffering a misfire, START HERE! <--- Very Important for you, because a blinking CEL does not mean your car will blow up in three seconds!

tonik

xkcel what do u meant by "coolant light still turning on"? is it ON all the time?

xkcel

Tge coolant light is in relation to the passenger side coolant container, that has the overflow tube that sprays our engine. (Lame). The sensor breaks and turns on intermittenly between different gears/rpms. Unfortunately from what I read on the forums you have to replace the whole container. I believe they replaced the container, but probably didn't hook the sensor back up. So mine doesn't turn on anymore probably due to it being disconnected. I'll need to check that at some point.

xkcel

Great reply!
Anything else?

rx8chick91

Does this work for the 2005 rx8 AT?

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

It will work, they're OEM parts. Try the Advanced Auto online and use the listed codes below for the ingnition parts. Note that motor oil and other exclusions apply. The coupons (which do not stack):

20% off sitewide via code "P20"
$10 off orders of $30 or more; $25 off $70 or more; $40 off $110 or more via code "A124"
$20 off $50 or more via code "ES123"
$30 off $90 or more via code "HUGE30"
$40 off $100 or more via code "TRT41" "DOW19"
$50 off $175 or more via code "HUGE50"

Dirtyswiff

you guys are so nice, no one had to do any searching lol

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

In the new member subforum, flaming isn't tolerated, and common questions generally are. If you find the question annoying or stupid, simply don't respond. If you find most threads here similar, then just avoid the whole subforum.

Dirtyswiff

i didn't think it was annoying. you call it a flame i call it great advice, there are far more greater answers when you search, forgive me for stating thee obvious. im new as well and even i knew that.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I was answering your implication that they didn't get flamed for not searching.

Dirtyswiff

lol i felt attacked just now..... jk im just tryin to help my fellow newbies.