Hello all -
First - I am new and glad to be joining up with a bunch of other Mazda drivers! I wanted to thank you in advance for any help you can provide...

Mycaris up for 60K service already - I have a 2004 Mazda 3s in Velocity Red Mica and love it so. But I don't love the price tag of $800 for getting my 60K service at the dealership, and I've read enough to know that it isn't always necessary to use the dealer.... I have a trusted mechanic right by my house where I can take my car for what seems like a big discount to the Mazda dealership's estimate... But I just want to make sure I am not forgetting something important for a 2004 Mazda 3s 60,000 mile checkup.

So far, I suggested the following to him, and he quoted:

- $38 for oil change, tire pressure, antifreeze and etc.
- $20 to rotate tires / balance 2
- $15 - $20 for air filter
- $150 - $200 for flushing transmission fluid and filter
- $65 - $70 for brake fluid (including labor)
- $80 for coolant replacement

= roughly max of $428 just based on these figures (plus tax, I'm sure)

That comes to slightly more than half of what the local Mazda dealership quoted me. I just wanted to see if there is anything else I should ask or if there are other things I definitely need to have done? (Do I need fuel injectors cleaned?) I tried to read up on it in my user manual, but I don't think it even suggested this many things above for 60K miles, unless I read it wrong.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!
Thanks! :-)
Cheers-
Kate[/align][/align]

 

Kate - By all means stay away from the dealer! I've been fighting their gouging since I worked for one years ago. Whether your Mazda is out of warranty or not, you do not have to go to the dealer for any required service. This was decided in court years ago but some dealers insist on lying about it. In addition, dealers often add "required services" to the factory list. Some of these services are either not required or are completely bogus.

The services you listed are normal for 60K miles but I have a couple of questions. First, why is antifreeze listed with the oil change then coolant replacement (antifreeze is the coolant) listed separately for $80. Is the $80 just the labor? If so that's a little high but not completely out of line just as the $150-$200 for a trans fluid flush is $50-$100 high. I just had it done on a Tribute for $95 at a Mazda specialty shop.

Regardless, Your private shop's prices are in the ballpark and certainly better than the dealer's. One other thing; In my experience you have about a 50-50 chance of the dealer actually doing the work you pay for. I've sung this song before but you must assume that a dealer will cheat you if they can and sadly, being a woman, the odds of their taking advantage of you are much greater.At worstthey will give you a "wall job" (that's where they park the car againsta wall, do nothing, and charge you) or at the least leave out a couple of services that are difficult for you to verify as completed. As I havesaid before on the forum, 40 years of experience with dealers and a stint working for one taught me that dishonesty and BS are in their DNA.

Avoid dealers like the plague they are and make tracks to your favorite private shop. If your are not having any specific problems, just do what is listed in the manual and nothing more. If your '3' is running well you don't need to clean the injectors either. This service is often oversold although it won't hurt anything if you decide to have it done.

Good luck!

Mazdatkb

 

I feel the pain of going to a dealership... i just recently had my oil changed for the first time... it took close to 2hrs for the service to be done and there was nobody else there than me. When i asked why so long ..they told me that they where washing the car and detailing it..but of course when i got in my car the car was dirty and not washed.. did not have time to argue and just left and washed it myself... I did a better job....[:@]

 

The manual (in my 2007 manual, starting page 8-6, Schedule 2) lists the following for 60K (for USA, Canada, Puerto Rico):

1) Engine Oil and Filter
2) Replace Air Filter
3) Spark plugs are listed for replacement at 75K, meaning including doing them at 60K probably would be advisable (not included in your list), might as well get them done rather than going back in 15K just for them
4) Replace coolant - if you have normal coolant (not long life - most people have normal).


Other comments:

A) At 60K,there is lots of inspecting of hoses, lines, connections, linkagesand the like recommended.It wouldn't be crazy to think the inspections might reveal something. This is where a Mazda dealer who knows the car might be the best choice - if you trust your dealer, that is.

B) Transmission and brake fluid should not need to be touched, unless there is a sign of aproblem, or something excessively strenuous about your driving conditions. These are two of the most expensive items on your list, skipping them would save you some $.

C) I canagree withrotating the tires.

D) In myopinion, at 60K,I'd do allother filters, if not previously done (ie. if you've never done the fuel filter, do it at 60K).