Going to hit 30K on 07 MS3 - maintenance suggestions?

[peter.sellers]

Hi,

What maintenance have you guys done at 30K? I checked the manual but it didn't say much other than tighten nuts & bolts etc

I saw a similar post a few weeks back about a recommended tranny flush at 30K. What do you guys think?

Thanks

 

[Domino81]

Wash it, wax it, check fluids?

 

[SubieKiller3]

Mazda suggests that you change cabin filter, change Tranny fluid, inspect brakes, bg induction service, and I think that is about it.

 

[Hapa88]

Mazda suggests that you change cabin filter, change Tranny fluid, inspect brakes, bg induction service, and I think that is about it.

If you follow "Maintanance Schedule 2"
Mazda recommends that you change cabin filter at 25k miles.
At 30k miles you are to Inspect the following:
Cooling System & level
Fuel lines & hoses
Brake lines, hoses & connections
Brake & Cluth fluid level
Disc Brakes
Tire inflation & wear
Steering operation & linkages
Power steering fluid level
Front & rear suspension, ball joints, bearings
Driveshaft boots
Washer fluid level
Function of all lights

Also do the following:
Tighten bolts & nuts on chassis & body
Lubricate All locks & hinges
Replace Oil & filter
Tire rotation

Note that Mazda does NOT recommend changing Tranny fluid & BG induction service. These services are recommend by Dealerships/Stealerships as a means for them to make more money.

 

[MaikuMS3]

it is better to do it yourself if you want to save some money. BUT, if you want to sell your car in the future, it is better to take it to the dealer and let them do it so you will have higher resell value and the receipt will prove that you take good care of your car.

 

[Hapa88]

it is better to do it yourself if you want to save some money. BUT, if you want to sell your car in the future, it is better to take it to the dealer and let them do it so you will have higher resell value and the receipt will prove that you take good care of your car.

I don't believe this to be true for a few reasons.
1) Kelly Blue Book value doesn't consider dealer serviced vs self-serviced at all
2) If you trade in the car to a dealership, they won't care either
3) Most private party buyers will low-ball the crap out of you anyway. A "Dealer serviced" might help you seal the deal on a buyer, but I highly doubt it'll fetch significantly more money. .

 

[MikeHTally]

Buyers don't care who serviced it and won't pay extra for a dealer-serviced car. Records of regular maintenance might create more interest, but not necessarily more money.

 

[irnbru83]

I "need" to do 30k maintenance on my '07. Dealership says $400 for their service. I've never heard good things about transmission flushes (I come from driving F-bodies and a transmission flush seems about the worst thing to do to those trannies), so should I tell 'em to knock $100 of the price and NOT touch it?

 

[oaklandopen]

Good luck bargaining...I don't see that happening

And why are tranny flushes bad, for any car? Unless the process is done wrong, there should be no issue. Its like a regular oil change

 

[irnbru83]

I don't understand the concept other than how many friends I had who got a tranny flush around 70-80k and within 5000 miles needed a rebuild (talking automatics, FWIW). Mine went past that just fine and the transmission fluid was still sexy red.


And this particular dealership has been good in the past about taking money off for services I don't require when they are in a big over-priced package deal. We'll see.

 

[Wurf]

Without even considering the mileage differences, I think it's sufficient to say a GM auto trans is a completely different assembly from a FWD, Mazda 6spd manual.
I plan to do mine in a few months after I hit 25K. I believe grenading after changing the fluid has generally been an issue for those putting the wrong fluid in this trans in an effort to improve shifting feel.
Otherwise my thoughts are same as Oaklandopen.

 

[irnbru83]

Without even considering the mileage differences, I think it's sufficient to say a GM auto trans is a completely different assembly from a FWD, Mazda 6spd manual.
I plan to do mine in a few months after I hit 25K. I believe grenading after changing the fluid has generally been an issue for those putting the wrong fluid in this trans in an effort to improve shifting feel.
Otherwise my thoughts are same as Oaklandopen.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that my distrust of transmission flushes is mostly superstitious and based purely on results of a completely different car. Same way my grandmother won't put new shoes on the table.

 

[Hapa88]

I "need" to do 30k maintenance on my '07. Dealership says $400 for their service. I've never heard good things about transmission flushes (I come from driving F-bodies and a transmission flush seems about the worst thing to do to those trannies), so should I tell 'em to knock $100 of the price and NOT touch it?

What's included in the $400?

Browning Mazda here in SoCal offers a 30k service for $269.95 on special (normally $300)
http://www.browningmazda.com/specials/service.htm

Includes (I'm including prices I typically see)
Oil and filter service (~$25)
tire rotation (free to $25)
brake inspection (free)
new air filter ($20-$40)
fresh trans. fluid (?? - Mazda manual doesn't have a replacement schedule for this)
drain and replace brake fluid (?? - brake fluid is listed as "inspection" past 60k miles)
drain and replace coolant (?? -coolant replace at 60K OR 120K depending on coolant type)
clean the battery post (free)
multipoint inspection (free - because they can make more money finding problems)

Soo, from my estimates you're paying about $200 for the Trans flush, coolant flush, brake flush, and labor and these services aren't recommended by Mazda until at least the 60K mark.

The only other thing, for a $400 service I could think of is the spark plugs. Those are about $10-$12 each and are pretty easy to do yourself ($50 & about <1 hour labor).

I'd say, if you wanted to be safe, save your money and do those services at 60K instead.

 

[irnbru83]

Yeah, this is not happening. $400 for what they are offering is ridiculous.

 

[manny3]

off topic

 

[cymx5]

Yeah I was quoted over $500 for the 60k mile service at a dealer. When I realized 90% of it was 'inspection' I just changed the fluids and spark plugs and called it a day. Got my brakes replaced, and did a visual walk through under the car while it was on the lift.

Total cost less than $100.

 

[W08MS3]

had a 30k done 8/16/10 at Biggers Mazda Elgin IL...

$536.90 all said and done...
Labor 314.16
Parts 183.88
Misc 20.00
Tax 18.86

30k service listed as...
Air filter
Rotate tires
Engine oil flush \ filter
Flush brakes
Flush auto or drain / refill manu

Inspect
Belts
Brake linings
Tires
Cooling system
Hoses
Battery
Top fluids

Checked small noise issues under warranty:
Driver seat inside rail rear made noise, lubed
Front driver wheel noise over bumps, lube caliper and pad back after 4k

 

[knokout5]

$314 for labor??? riDONKUlous. i just called a mazda dealer here in ohio to schedule a 30k service. i told them i didnt want an oil/filter change or tire rotation cuz i had em done recently. the woman said "well...everything else is just inspection.." and after a long pause, we agreed i didnt need to come in...i asked if they recommend a transmission flush, and one of the techs said not until after 60k..so i took my car to Firestone, paid $15 for a complete inspection and called it a day...i will replace my own cabin air filter, which looks like a pain in the butt by the way.

 

[oaklandopen]

^^^meh....its really not that bad. You just have to be flexible, and the hardest part is getting one filter on top of the other during install.

There are plenty of how-to stuff...and there is a youtube vid on it as well

 

[knokout5]

^^^meh....its really not that bad. You just have to be flexible, and the hardest part is getting one filter on top of the other during install.

There are plenty of how-to stuff...and there is a youtube vid on it as well

yea i did see the youtube video by speedy3. i guess since its my first time, it jus seems nasty to do.