seals@cavalrydesign.com

HI,
My Mazda (JAP IMPORT) Rx8 is with a garage after they located a low mileage engine to be fitted. On trying to fit the engine they realised the car was an import and they had located a UK engine. They have now told me they need new parts from Japan which will cost £600 to allow the Uk engine to fit. The parts are called 'Front Casing and Tips'.

My question is, does this sound true?
Does the car really need this part and is £600 a bit expensive?

I have a certain mistrust as I told them it was an Import and they call themselves 'Japanese Car specialists', and they should have known by the Auto transmission, the chassis number and the Japanese writing on the controls. My problem is, they want to charge me £300 for the labour of taking the old engine out. My argument is they should have not bothered, as they should have known it would never have fitted.

Any advice would help.

Thanks

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

As far as I know, all engines, regardless Japanese or USA or UK, is all the same, as long as its the same type. 6 port - Called High Power, the 4 Port - Called Standard Power , newer 2009+'s 6 Port High Power.

So unless they found a "wrong" engine, no way u need extra stuff to fit in.

seals@cavalrydesign.com

Hi,
Thanks for your response.

Not sure if this makes any difference, but the Car is an automatic of which is only made in Japan. It is a 54 plate, not sure how this relates to 6 or 4 port (that bit went over my head!).

As I beat him down on price, I wonder if he is trying to claw back some money, or if it is genuine.

Thanks

bse50

Easy way to look at it, since later automatics have 6 port engines - 6 gears transmissions...
How many gears have you got?
Also, how much kw? high power is rated at 170 kw - 231hp.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

What model year is your 8? All 8s after ....2006? (2005 Japanese model year I think) are 6 port. If you have a 2004 or 2005 (I think that would be 2003 or 2004 in Japanese model years), then your automatic is most likely a 4 port.

If you have a pre-2009, and they found a 2009 engine, then it shouldn't even come that close to fitting, due to the changes made.

If you have a 4 port, and they found a 4 port, then it should be a straight swap

If you have a 6 port and they found a 6 port, then it should be a straight swap

I highly recommend finding more details on which engine you have, and which engine they found. Even a pic of the Japanese raised lettering on the top of the old engine would be helpful, since if we can't deduce what it is, I am sure someone here could translate.

Worst case, provide more info on your car, and get a picture or three of the replacement engine. We should be able to identify them.l

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

There would also be a ECU change required if you are changing from a 4 port to a 6 port engine.

seals@cavalrydesign.com

Hi,

One again thanks for all this info.

My car is 2004 plate.

I'm going to email the garage and ask them to verify my number of ports and ask them to confirm the amount of ports on the low mileage one they are providing.

I have just called 2 other companies who supply JAp engines, and they said that it would not make any difference either, just need to swop the manifolds etc.

Thanks again, I feel as I have some further knowledge and info I can fire back.

seals@cavalrydesign.com

I forgot to say, I have 5 gears.

Thanks

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I bet you have a 4 port engine, and I imagine that low mileage 4 port engines are probably getting very rare, since they are 4+ years old, and had the lowest production count between the 2 versions, so I bet they found a 6 port.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

5 gears? Hmm I didnt know they make 5 gears AT. I thought they only have 5 MT.

Anyway, you should need a 4 port engine.

seals@cavalrydesign.com

Thanks once again.

Will update you tomorrow when I hear back from the garage.