30K mile service?

[McBadass]

I recommend spending the time to learn your car... and do it all yourself. I dont own a speed but if I did I would try to save every penny and do it myself... so I could buff it up haha

 

[grant]

^^yeah, labor that isn't adjusted correctly. I've got a few friends that work at dealerships, and they charge you for how long a "job" is scheduled to take to complete by Mazda Corporate. This is Ford's system, but they own Mazda so go figure. But, if a job is scheduled to take an hour by the service manual, they charge you for an hour, even if they knock it out in 25 min. The mechanics also get paid on this system. I've seen them get paid for 15 hours of labor all before they even hit their lunch break. You're being charged about $80/hr for labor, now list the number of things they are checking out, and allocate at least 1 hour of labor, plus parts, and thats about what you will pay at the dealership for most services.

How is that Ford's system? That's called Flat Rate. It's standard across the industry. It all averages out and can work in your advantage. Say the job is supposed to take an hour, but a rookie is doing it and it takes him 3 hours. Would you want to pay the extra 2 hours?

 

[MikeHTally]

How is that Ford's system? That's called Flat Rate. It's standard across the industry. It all averages out and can work in your advantage. Say the job is supposed to take an hour, but a rookie is doing it and it takes him 3 hours. Would you want to pay the extra 2 hours?

The service manager will get the rookie some help and it still won't take more than the flat-rate time. Flat rate works against the customer every time.

 

[mortimersnerd]

I have been told by the local dealership that I am due for 45,000 mile service. Not sure what exactly that involves. If it is a bunch of inspections, I don't think it should be necessary because I just had the car inspected there at that same dealership when I was buying it (from a private seller). That was less than 1,000 miles ago.

I've been thinking about getting the Transmission fluid changed to that Motorcraft stuff everybody raves about, and possibly replacing the plugs, but I may either do those things myself (at least the plugs) or just take it to a little local shop instead of the dealer. Any real reason to take it to the dealer for stuff like that?

The only real advantage to the dealership is fewer hassles with warranty coverage. They're also more likely to be familiar with our cars, but our cars aren't all that different from most of the stuff out there. The Motocraft tranny oil is pretty good. I didn't notice a huge difference, but I'm happy to know I've got good stuff in there. Worth the money overall.

 

[bigdaddy]

Called Mazda Corporate customer service line and spoke with a rep, she wasn't much help. She took my VIN number to verify what car I had and updated my personal information but other than that, not much help. I told her what two local dealers wanted to charge me and how it was way over the top of what the owners manual said needed to be done as far as service. Her line was "well each dealership is independently owned" and "that they may be recommending what they feel is needed for driving conditions in your area". I said that both the normal driving conditions on schedule one nor the hard driving conditions on schedule two listed what the dealer wanted to do. I keep referring to the maintenance schedules in the owners manual and she did say that was the "minimum" needed to maintain the car. I did say I felt like they were just trying to run up the bill but she never bit on that, she just keep saying that all I needed to do was follow the maintenance schedule which is what I'm going to do. I'll have my mechanic do the oil and inspections and will make another dealer appointment for the noise because my car is still under warranty.

Jim

You go to Diablo Mazda Subaru in Walnut Creek?

 

[JimsSpeed3]

You go to Diablo Mazda Subaru in Walnut Creek?

I bought it from Team Mazda in Vallejo but called Antioch Mazda for the 30K service since I live in Oakley now. Didn't try Walnut Creek Mazda but I guess I could give them a call. I'm going to take it back to Team for the warranty work I want done, it's the second car I've bought from them, they are nice but they are also the farthest away.

Jim

 

[Quiksilver05]

I just had my 30k done today too at Wescott Mazda in National City but paid $75. Paying anything more than $200 you know something is up! I know this is a bit off topic but during my 15k I had issues with the drivers side rotor which was warped. My car would shake real bad when I brake. I still had my warranty so they ended up resurfacing the rotor even though I told them to just replace it. So today when I got my 30k done I told them about it again and how my car still shakes really bad when braking. I still have my warranty until 54k so I asked them to just replace it under warranty they told me that they can only do it once under warranty. I found that kind of odd like he was giving me the runaround and on top of that he says when my brakes wear down you can get it replaced then which he said my brakes are needing to be replaced soon anyways but when I got my full circle inspection everything was marked GREEN meaning excellent. Hmmmm!

 

[Ninkumpoop]

The service manager will get the rookie some help and it still won't take more than the flat-rate time. Flat rate works against the customer every time.

Flat-rate does NOT work against the customer, ever. If anything, it promotes getting the job done right the first time because the dealer/tech doesn't make money for mistakes and a redo due to the mistake. It also gets the tech to try to finish the job faster since he gets paid the same either way and the faster he finishes, the sooner he can get paid on another job. If anything, dealerships just tend to charge a bit more than the standard mom/pop shop; but at the same time, you can rest assured that it's most likely going to be done right since it's what their techs are trained for.

 

[Z-Indy]

Called the dealership and they quoted me $120 for the 45,000 mile service they say I need. I asked what it consists of. He said oil change (which I am due for) rotate and balance tires (just got new tires so this is not needed), check fluids, check other stuff.

I just had the car inspected there at that same dealership when I was buying it, so they were supposed to have checked everything at that time, and they gave it a clean bill of health except for tires and wiper blades, which have both now been replaced.

I will not be paying $120 for this.

 

[Russm]

Had the 30 K service some time ago, . removed all brake calipers, cleaned and lube shafts, replaced brake fluid, rotated tires, alignment,lubed all hinges, complete visual check and tighting of all under body nuts and underhood nuts and clamps, replace tranny fluid and oil & filter change with cabin filter replaced, vacumed and offered to wash car(Wouldn't let them touch the painted surfaces!!!!).
Russ Darrow Mazda Milwaukee
$345