Going in for a service....and other stuff

[Munter]

Ok Guys the Munter is booked in for a service on the 6th June. It's 100,000 miles since it was born.

Now apart from normal servicing I know it needs rear pads, and the fronts are "random" brand fitted in a hurry. So I'm thinking the EBC Red Stuff pads from mx5parts.

I'll also be getting them to change the rear diff oil as it's probably still the original stuff...

I also want to fit new / better suspention (possibly the P5 kit), and a new exhaust (not loud, but good), and I think the cam cover gasket has sprung a leak.

But heres the thing last time I gave a (different) garage a load of things to do as well as the service, they didn't get around to a lot of them.

So I'm tempted to have the service + pads and diff oil done as one item. Then go back on another day with the other items + anything else they find on the service (I'm a bit suspect about the suspention bushes after 100,000 miles and 11 years).

Is that a reasonable plan, or is there actually likely to be a labour saving getting stuff done on the same day/booking as the service?

Plus suggestions for parts always welcome. But I need the pads for friday so nothing hand carved by tibetan monks.

[Wigeon Incognito]

I'd say get it all done in one hit. Surely if you have booked your car in and asked for all of the items to be done, then they should do them!

[Munter]

Wigeon Incognito said:

I'd say get it all done in one hit. Surely if you have booked your car in and asked for all of the items to be done, then they should do them!

You'd think that. But although you tell them lots of things all they really seem to write in the book is :"MX5, Service, Mr x, Own Oil" and your thinking, I said a lot more than that. Does that mean you have plenty of time and know you'll do everything, or as some of it doesn't "need" to be done you'll just do what you have time for.

I've used this new guy a couple of times now and he seems pretty good so I guess I give him the benifit of the doubt and get all the bits.

[Wigeon Incognito]

I suppose if you get all the bits, book it in, and present them to him then if the worst happens and he doesn't do it you'll just have to book it in a second time anyway i.e. you'll be no worse off for trying than not.

Plus, with all the bits in front of him he may be able to shave some total labour time off in some areas.

I was a bit glib with my previous reply as I know exactly what you mean. It's happened to me before.

[growlerkat]

What about if you write it down,give them the list and ask for a courtesy car? Then if they don't get it all done you still have a means of transport until they do-or is that too simple?

[Munter]

growlerkat said:

What about if you write it down,give them the list and ask for a courtesy car? Then if they don't get it all done you still have a means of transport until they do-or is that too simple?

I certainly dont think they'd leave me without transport. Plus at £35 an hour he doesn't give out courtesy cars.

I was contemplating giving them a list so they know what I want doing.

[MX-5 Lazza]

How about just doing it all yourself? You are throwing money away getting all that done at a dealer and all the jobs except shock replacement and I guess the back-box are easy to do.

Engine oil change - £25 Mobil 1 from Costco + £10(?) oil-drain can + £15(?) oil-filter + £1.50 plug-washer.
Gearbox oil change - £30(?) for oil + £1.50 plug-washer + £10 for hand pump.
Diff oil change - £15(?) for oil+ £1.50 plug-washer.
Front brake pads - £50(?) for Axxis pads from P5.
Rear brake pads - £65(?) for Axxis pads from P5.
Cam cover gasket - £15(?) + a couple of blobs of instant gasket.

So the lot for under £250.
The (?) are because I didn't look up the prices, just made a guess.

Engine oil - 30 mins.
Diff oil - 30 mins.
Gearbox oil - 30 mins.
These 3 can be done more or less together as it's the draining that takes most of the time so I reckon 45-60 mins max.

Front pads - 30 mins.
Rear pads - 30 mins.
Cam cover gasket - 15 mins.

So in total I reckon the lot would take 2.5 hours - 3 if you took your time.
A garage will probably charge you for 4-5 hours or so.

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Wednesday 28th May 22:17

[Munter]

MX-5 Lazza said:

How about just doing it all yourself? You are throwing money away getting all that done at a dealer and all the jobs except shock replacement and I guess the back-box are easy to do.

Engine oil change - £25 Mobil 1 from Costco + £10(?) oil-drain can + £15(?) oil-filter + £1.50 plug-washer.
Gearbox oil change - £30(?) for oil + £1.50 plug-washer + £10 for hand pump.
Diff oil change - £15(?) for oil+ £1.50 plug-washer.
Front brake pads - £50(?) for Axxis pads from P5.
Rear brake pads - £65(?) for Axxis pads from P5.
Cam cover gasket - £15(?) + a couple of blobs of instant gasket.

So the lot for under £250.
The (?) are because I didn't look up the prices, just made a guess.

Engine oil - 30 mins.
Diff oil - 30 mins.
Gearbox oil - 30 mins.
These 3 can be done more or less together as it's the draining that takes most of the time so I reckon 45-60 mins max.

Front pads - 30 mins.
Rear pads - 30 mins.
Cam cover gasket - 15 mins.

So in total I reckon the lot would take 2.5 hours - 3 if you took your time.
A garage will probably charge you for 4-5 hours or so.

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Wednesday 28th May 22:17

To some extent I agree with you. But I've had a go at doing these things before. Took me 2 hours to get a sump nut out, then oil all over the drive. And now the OH say I'm no longer supposed to play cars on the drive after I dropped it off the jack...It missed me... And even if he does charge me for 5 hours. Thats £175. Which I'll happily pay not to crawl around on the drive having someone tut gently in the background. I wouldn't have anything done at the local dealer!

I love her really.

[Kinky]

Munter,

I'd be tempted to go down the route as suggested by Lazza.

If you were closer I'd be more then happy to muck in - as I know a few of us would.

K

[Munter]

Ok well I handed it over with a sheet of A4. They are going to do the service, but I'm going to attempt the oil leak (although I have asked them to confirm it's leaking where I think it is), and fitting the exhaust (for which they will measure the cat section so I know which one to buy).

Suspention wise I've yet to make my decision on what to go for...so that'll have to wait.

[Munter]

Pah typical. Replaced the cam cover gasket myself. Oil leak is now worse than it was.....

[skinny]

did you silicon it? the gasket appears to need a bit of help!! also, it's important you torque the bolts in teh correct order (talking from experience! )

lastly, did you get a genuine mazda part? non-genuine's leak.

Edited by skinny on Tuesday 17th June 21:51

[Munter]

Part from mx5parts. In a mazda bag so I assume genuine. Sealant used. Followed the enthusiasts manual for the tightening sequence..... Pah. And Pah again.

(see this is why I dont play with brakes....)