Yeah dealers suck (all of them mostly except for Porsche and Mercedes I find), they act like they are doing you a favor. The Mazda dealer I frequent is okay, but every once in a while they try and feed you a line of BS. That was the part I hated, don't say you are going to call if you are not going to call and then finally when I would call they would tell me the car had been ready for hours. It happened every god damned time,

 

Update -

Service advisor says engine should be here and installed this week (not holding my breath)

I contacted Rotary Resurrection for input and ultimately decided to let this be Mazda's problem for the duration of the warranty. I'll have it tested again immediately before warranty expires (9/17). If it's still good, great. If not, new reman will immediately go to RR.

The good so far:
-Dealer went straight from compression test to engine replacement. No fight, no confusion about warranty, no nothing on my part.

The bad
- Communication. As in, None. I dropped the car off for $120 compression test and '80 point inspection'. I made a point of talking to the advisor about how I'd wanted an RX8 for so long, flew out and drove home, excited etc. I was friendly and engaging.
- 2 days later, I have to call; 'numbers are low' etc.
- Multiple promises of a call, zero follow through
- days later 'she's sick'
- no compression results
- no results of 80 point inspection

I understand it's the holidays and all. But a really easy way to build happy clients is to manage their expectations.

And it's a good thing this is a toy car I can leave at the dealer for weeks: no loaner.

We'll see how good a job they do. I photographed every bit of this car, it went to them perfect, including every underhood and underbody panel, fastener, etc. and I want it in that condition when it returns.

I'll provide updates as it happens.

 

Started engine replacement today!

 

good - keep us updated on it. My engine warranty is good for a few more months, fingers crossed I either need it and get it, or it lasts well beyond that timeframe, LOL.

 

Got the car back today - it runs!
Service ticket says they checked cat, coils, and performed engine decarb procedure, then performed compression test. 'Both rotors below minimum spec 6.9' (no test results).
The procedure included Engine, gasket set, oil/filter, and new coolant all at no charge.
They wanted to change the plugs (for $170!) I declined... I have a $55 set on the shelf at home
I allowed them to change the right engine mount. I will do the DIY filled mount mod soon. They said clutch looked almost new.

I did get to meet and talk to the mechanic. He was very engaged and detail oriented (good) and had asked to keep the car an extra day so he could perform a few extra hot and cold starts. He mentioned he'd performed 'more engines than I could count' on the Series 1 and only a few on the Series, 2, as expected. When asked for break-in procedure, he shrugged and said 'drive it normally'. And come in for oil at 5k

I will break it in gently and change the oil to 0w40 immediately.

They scratched up the roof on the driver's side dammitt. 'No we would never do that, that was there when it came in' and I have no picture proof of the contrary. Clear coat damage, perhaps it will buff out easily.

We'll see how she does. GLAD TO HAVE IT BACK!

 

150 miles, fresh oil and plugs, no leaks, looks like they did a good job.
So far so good.
Breaking it in gently, keeping it under 5k/50% throttle. Feels peppy anyway!

 

600+ miles so far,
Slowly increasing rpm's and load.

Dealer mechanic did an excellent job. I have been over and under the car, no evidence of sloppy work, no leaks, nothing broken.

 

Excellent news!

 

Good to know! Not trying to burst your bubble, but remans are known to fail in the 10k's-20k's. I know a guy who had his engine rebuilt by Mazda and he started losing compression 8 months later. Make sure to do a compression test after you put a couple thousands miles

 

Car is under warranty till Sept 2017

I will take it for compression test Aug 2017 (assuming it is still running well!)
If good, good.
If no good, new engine will go to RR for proper treatment

 

Good to hear..

All the fuss about nothing and how bad this Dealer was...

They are people just like us and not perfect, all they get (usually) is crap from ignorant customers who give them a bad name, or demand action because they spent money there or they did not, they think they own the Privately owned Dealership.

Been there done that....and we have to smile.

There is good and bad in all, and if you employ people you know how hard it is to get good employees that are either not trying to embezzle you or steal workshop parts or supplies for their own cars.

 

I bitch about them on the forum but promise, I'm nice to them in person. Smiles and handshakes all around.

-Mechanic did a great job
-Service Adviser communicated very poorly (or not at all),
-Car received nice gnarly scratches on it, costing me many hours of paint repair work. I'd not call that 'nothing', still angry about that.

 

2nd oil change at about 600miles.
Tore apart the oil filter, nothing in it. Good!

 

1,100 miles
3rd oil change
Nothing in the filter, oil looks good.
This may be a 'new' engine, cannot find a reman tag on it anywhere. Would be interested to find out how to tell.

 

dyno it!

 

Good to hear acroy, my engine is still doing great at about 10K KMs now.

Also interested in the reman question. I actually had mine taken a look at by my friend who owns RX7 specialities in Calgary and he said it looks like a new one. That being said he didn't yank it out and tear it down or anything.

 

Oh I will

Good!
Interesting. Wonder what the story is with these engines.
Regardless, I plan to have it compression tested again Aug 2017, a couple months before the warranty is up, and go from there.