MadRonin

When you had your 30,000 mile service done, did it cost $600? I just got off the phone with the dealer telling me that the 30k mile checkup I scheduled for this week is going run around $600. When I asked why it was so much he said that the cost of plugs for the 8 have gotten really expensive.

This just doesn't sound right to me. If it's right then I'll keep the appointment and I'll pay it. But I'd like to not get bamboozled on this.

guy321

I dunno, but racing beat is selling them for $33 bucks.

Rosenthal sells the entire set for $112 and the plug wires for $50..

According to the service schedule plug replacement is at 35k (heavy) or 37k (normal) anyway...

For an oil change and spark replacement, you can do it yourself very easily and save $600 (ripoff)

Although, they also change break fluid, MT and diff oil according to the service sched (at 35k)..

Brice-RX8

Save your money and do it yourself, that is a ripoff, the hardest thing to change would be the brake fluid if they do that. I bought redline fluids for my (MT) tranny and rear diff and paid a service station $20 to change them on a lift, took all of 15-30 minutes and I got to watch. Plugs and oil you could do yourself in the driveway.

Elara

When I had my car in for the 30k checkup, they tried to sell me a package that would have been extra on top of my free factory maintenence checkups for about the same price. I said no, and they offered to knock it down to $350. I still said no- their argument was "well, it would be really good for your car to have all this done" and my argument right back was why, then, was it not included in the factory maintenence schedule to begin with? Obviously mazda didn't think it was necessary.

So yes, I think they're kinda full of it- spark plugs don't cost that much. And anyway, my car is getting it's spark plugs replaced TODAY, at it's 35k checkup- so you shouldn't be needing those for at least another 5k miles, if not 7500. So why are trying to replace yours at 30k? Ask them for a list of what they plan to do, exactly, and have it broken down by price BEFORE you let them work on your car. And make sure it's ONLY what the factory recommends for the 30k checkup.

mcstin

I have read most of threads in this forum over the last 5 months and have never read anything as to why the spark plugs are so expensive for an 8. Any one care to enilighten me? TIA

RPIRX-8

If you add up the service prices for all those services, $600 isn't all that bad.

Replace Spark plugs
Replace diff/tranny fluid
oil change
rotate tires
bleed brakes
brake inspection
engine coolant system flush

I think there is more. Now a lot of that you can do yourself, its just about how much time, space, and tools you have. I personally didn't have time to do all this myself, so I had the dealer do most of it. Now that I have speed bleeders I will do the brake bleeding myself as well as oil changes, and fluids. I bet if you just add up the parts its fairly expensive.

therm8

http://www.sparkplugs.com/results_ap...1&AAIA=1416844

If spark plug price is the only reason for $600, buy your own and have them do it. $19.95 each in that link.

storemannormin

Hum is it just me but my salesman At Mazda told me I would not need to change the plugs until 100,000 K from reading the post I take he had no clue

MadRonin

I'm taking my car to a new dealership because I'm fed up with the service at my current dealership. When I called to get an oil change done and have them check my continuously squeaking breaks (5 times a charm) they said that they would not give me a rental unlike my usual dealer. I also mentioned that my car had 30,000 miles on it and he said about getting the 35k service done early. I figured why not 'cause I've put 30k on my 8 in 15 months. That's when he said about the service costing $600.

So here's my conundrum. I can a) go back to the old dealership and get my oil change done and my breaks checked (again), b) take it in to the new dealer and spend $600, or c) do it myself. I've never changed my oil nor have I ever replaced plugs before. How much of a chance do I have of screwing up my car?

guy321

They are iridium, they tend to be more expensive.

DARKMAZ8

If I do my own oil changes and tune up, will that void the warrentee?

guy321

Mazda oil filter $5.75, 99 cents for the crush washer
$112 bucks for spark plugs
$50 bucks for wires (not listed in your post)
$1.45 each for diff and tranny crush washers.
$ 8.50 * 6 = $ 51 for diff and tranny fluid
$ 12 bucks for break fluid (just a guess)

$184 for parts.

Labor, shouldn't take more than 2 hours to do ALL that.. at about $80 bucks an hour that's $160


So approx $340ish.. Maybe $400 with tax and additional charges.. I wouldn't pay more. Maybe $50 - $70 bucks for the coolant flush if nessescary


I didnt see the coolant flush in the maintenence sched..

guy321

No, just keep your reciepts to prove you did them. Just dont strip the drain plug or oil filter

guy321

If I can do it, you can do it.. I have callous-free girly hands.

Your only issue is that you have to get under the car and from your posts i take it you are a *tiny bit* more girthy than I am.. I can do the oil change without jacking up the car.. you can drive it up on ramps if you have to.. you DO need to pull the tire to get to the plugs easily..

If you can undo bolts, you can change the oil and plugs.

HELAS

no but they might start to ask questions. If so just say that you take ur car to another Mazda dealership for that

NavyDood

Also the fact that the RX-8 is the only car that uses them. So supply and demand just aint there.

apotocki

Can someone help me understand why the brake fluid would need changing???? I can understand all the other fluids, but, what makes necessary to change the brake fluid?

Thanks

Brice-RX8

Brake fluid attracts or changes to water (not sure which) due to heat, and that interfers with it's ability not to boil when hot from driving hard. You are suppose to change brake fluid every 2 years on car with ABS from what I understand.

guy321

ANY car can use them for increased performance and prolonged plug life.. we may be the only car that uses them as OEM equipment but I am not sure about that. Even if we are, I think other manufacturers may use them in the future in thier performance vehicles. Also, there are sports bikes that require iridium plugs also.


NGK iridium plugs , the latest evolution of spark plug technology. The iridium center electrode is both stronger and harder than platinum. This allows NGK engineers to design an ultra-fine (0.6mm)center electrode reducing the voltage requirement for spark. This allows for a brighter, stronger spark from your existing ignition system. The ground electrode has a tapered cut at the firing end which reduces quenching for better flame core growth and increased ignitability. The combination of fine wire center electrode and tapered cut ground will increase performance, improve acceleration, and fuel efficiency

Iridium is a precious metal that is 6 times harder and 8 times stronger than platinum, it has a 1,200(=F) higher melting point than platinum and conducts electricity better. This makes it possible to create the finest wire center electrode ever. Prior till now, platinum had been favored for long life or performance spark plugs due to its high melting point, also the technology did not exist to machine and bond iridium on a spark plug electrode(at least in a cost effective manner). Iridium industrial spark plugs have been around for years, but still sells for over a hundred dollars per plug. Just now is the technology available to effectively use iridium in a spark plug for automotive applications. The strength, hardness and high melting point of iridium allows NGK to manufacture there iridium ultra-fine wire center electrode to 0.7mm. One of the finest firing points for a spark

apotocki

Hmmm...Ok, but I thought that a brake system was a closed system?......but, I won't claim to be an sort of an 'expert' when it comes to ABS systems. Maybe there is a difference there as opposed to the 'old fashioned' systems?

guy321

I dunno how it works, but I do know that in my older cars, brake fluid would break down and turn green/black after a while...

Nubo

There's a tiny vent in the resevoir, I believe, to accomodate fluid level changes. And the rubber seals in the system are not 100% impermeable.

beachdog

In addition to the correct statements added by Nubo, the ABS system is going to be more sensitive to water/contamination in the system. Flushing the brake fluid is very cheap compared to a brake system failure.

RX8 XTC

i only paid 275 for the 30k service, 600 is a rip off id say !!

rammstein

It is my understanding that under hard use, brake fluid can eventually heat to the point of boiling. This causes air bubbles in the system, which in turn can be responsible for a spongy brake pedal. Bleeding/flushing the brake fluid gets these bubbles out, and bleeding is a requirement for most Driver Ed events to ensure good braking. Even ATE super-blue is only like $10 for a big bottle. I say replace the brake fluid at regular intervals, its cheap. I did my own when I had the 944, without ABS. I think with ABS its a bit more of a pain, but I haven't tried it yet. I figure 1300 miles isn't quite enough for any fliud changes yet (besides oil), so it will be a few months before I bother trying personally.