Engine Mounts: I think the stealership scammed me
 

I have a 2007 RX-8 with about 86k miles on it. A little over two years ago (at about 70k miles) the engine was replaced because it failed a compression test (and at no cost to me, so WOO HOO!)

I bring it in for the airbag recall/replacement a few months ago and they tell me that the rubber on the engine mounts is worn off, metal is touching metal, and that they need to be replaced. They quote me (in writing) $700ish for parts and labor. I figure that I can replace those myself, buy some OEM replacements for like $200 and change, and finally got it done today.

However, when I removed the old ones they had plenty of rubber on them. In fact, they looked like the new ones but dirty. I think these were replaced with the engine, and I think they scammed me. And although they didn't get my money, somebody else did, and I stressed about needing the work done. (If only I had been smart enough to check them before I ordered replacements.)

But, I want to closer than I am now to being sure about this, in case I want to make a stink about it. Can any of you experienced members tell me if these are still good, or did I really need to replace them.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...bb30c6de9e.jpg

This is just one of the two, but both are in this condition.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...651412332c.jpg

This is just one of the two, but both are in this condition.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...ebe23223b8.jpg

This is just one of the two, but both are in this condition.

If you didn't feel any obvious or unusual
vibrations before, I doubt they were metal on metal.
However, examine them closely, splits can be hard to see when the load is off.
Also, some mounts are liquid filled, and what appears to be oil is the filling.
Rubber degrades over time, so you can look at the expense as preventive maintenance.

* They do look good just from your pics.

They probably decided they were bad, based solely on the amount of shake at idle, and likely did not actually inspect them. I can't tell if they are bad from the photos. I see what looks like some oil, so they may be leaking, but I can't say for sure.

Like BC said, they were probably going to fail soon anyway, so you may have just done a little early maintenance.

That's likely the penetrating oil I sprayed on it to break the bolts/nuts.

I think unless they were compensated by Mazda, it's unlikely they changed the motor mounts with the rebuild.
There are plenty of stories of dealers replacing only what's required during rebuilds.

Here's the quote. They used the word "broken." I've seen broken engine mounts, and they don't look like what I took out.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...b2a1c5ea25.jpg