Where to get me MX5 serviced?

py2006

This is probably a silly question but does the fact that my MX5 is a Japanese Import mean that I must get it serviced at a Mazda or specialist garage?

My car is long due a service.

Can anybody recommend a garage and also approximately how much will this cost?

Thanks

(haven't a clue about cars)

Henry Ford III

Simple cars. Any independent could do it.

smash

could ask this guy, he sells a lot of them - http://www.webcars.net/

py2006

Henry Ford III wrote:

Simple cars. Any independent could do it.

As I have never had a car serviced before as I am only driving a couple years can you tell me if the garage gives you a printout of what was checked and the results etc.

Do they actually bother to do the things they say they do. A mate of mine doesn't trust them at all. He reckons they only do a half arsed job.

ambro25

py2006 wrote:

As I have never had a car serviced before as I am only driving a couple years...

:eek: You mean, you haven't serviced your car in two years !?!

Or you've owned several cars in the last 2 years, but never yet owned one long enough to get it serviced ?

For what it's worth, I've had Europa (Mazda dealer) service my MX-5 a while back - expensive but reliable and sound, with full print outs of work, parts, etc.

py2006

ambro25 wrote:

:eek: You mean, you haven't serviced your car in two years !?!

Yep!

ambro25 wrote:

For what it's worth, I've had Europa (Mazda dealer) service my MX-5 a while back - expensive but reliable and sound, with full print outs of work, parts, etc.

Cool, thanks! I will check them out! How much did that cost you?

smash

py2006 wrote:

Cool, thanks! I will check them out! How much did that cost you?

depends what they do to the car...

py2006

steve06 wrote:

depends what they do to the car...

Well, what did you get done and how much was it?

I'd say I would need a full service!

Mr Magnolia

TBH if the car hasn't been serviced in a few years you're going to need a few things done - depending on milage (what's the milage?)

Oil change
Oil filter
Spark plugs
Fuel filter
Air filter
Pollen/Air filter
Fan belt (might be ok, needs to be checked)
Brake pads (might be ok, need to be checked though they weren't mentioned on your NCT)
Timing Belt (might be ok, depends on milage, needs to be checked)

Going to cost a couple/few hundred depending on what has to be done. Ask around, see if anyone's recommended to you at a reasonable price. I don't know anyone in Dublin. Price around

If I think of anything else I'll let you know

unkel

py2006 wrote:

Yep!

Quickly, put on your flame suit

py2006

Sparks400 wrote:

TBH if the car hasn't been serviced in a few years you're going to need a few things done - depending on milage (what's the milage?)

Oil change
Oil filter
Spark plugs
Fuel filter
Air filter
Pollen/Air filter
Fan belt (might be ok, needs to be checked)
Brake pads (might be ok, need to be checked though they weren't mentioned on your NCT)
Timing Belt (might be ok, depends on milage, needs to be checked)

Going to cost a couple/few hundred depending on what has to be done. Ask around, see if anyone's recommended to you at a reasonable price. I don't know anyone in Dublin. Price around

If I think of anything else I'll let you know

Yep, I reckon I will need the whole she-bang (is that the correct word?). I am thinking of selling the thing in a year or so too.

franksm

www.mx5ireland.com

Bring it along to our next techday (tba) and we'll help service it. Eg. oil takes 10 mins to change, sparkplugs 5 mins. Are your sparkplug leads > 30,000 miles old ? If so, change them, they don't last long on the MX5. Symptoms will be hesitation at certain rev ranges and bad emissions from the exhaust

py2006

franksm wrote:

www.mx5ireland.com

Bring it along to our next techday (tba) and we'll help service it. Eg. oil takes 10 mins to change, sparkplugs 5 mins. Are your sparkplug leads > 30,000 miles old ? If so, change them, they don't last long on the MX5. Symptoms will be hesitation at certain rev ranges and bad emissions from the exhaust

Hey thanks, although, I'd need a thorough service complete with printout of tests and results etc as I may need that when it comes to selling it.

ambro25

flame suit no needed... note it's only because you knock around in an MX-5
(poor thing - ya criminal, ya!).

Can't remember how much Europa was, but it wasn't cheap and it was only 'half a shebang' (ya see, I get mine serviced at least every 6 months - word of wisdom to you young'un: believe it or not, it's cheaper that way, car regularly maintained = less component wear and risk of failure).

Take up franksm's offer, you'll not find any better "specialists" locally

Oh, yeah - if you're getting it serviced now with "selling it in a year" in mind, don't forget to get yerself checked in for a service while you're at it: noone in their right mind will want to buy a car with a last service a year ago.

...and then they wonder why everyone buys their second hand cars in the UK! Jayyysus!!! :rolleyes:

py2006

ambro25 wrote:

Take up franksm's offer, you'll not find any better "specialists" locally

I don't think I could afford him! :rolleyes:

ambro25 wrote:

Oh, yeah - if you're getting it serviced now with "selling it in a year" in mind, don't forget to get yerself checked in for a service while you're at it: noone in their right mind will want to buy a car with a last service a year ago.

Well I may sell it in withing the next couple months but if I do wait a year then I will get it serviced again! :rolleyes:

BrianD3

Given the other thread: if you are picking a place for the service check to see if they have an exhaust gas analyzer and can diagnose emissions problems.

Stevo11

As Frank said, bring it to a techday...
As for a print out (?), just save the receipts of the parts you buy in the motor factors... and bring your car to our next dynoday.. he'll give you a print out ;-)

oh... sparks400, theres no fanbelt in an MX5

Steve

JHMEG

Stevo11 wrote:

oh... sparks400, theres no fanbelt in an MX5

And the pollen filter doesn't really affect performance either

bazz26

Imo a car should be serviced at least once a year or every 12,000 miles, which ever comes first.

Mr Magnolia

JHMEG wrote:

And the pollen filter doesn't really affect performance either

Who said it would?

Mr Magnolia

Stevo11 wrote:

oh... sparks400, theres no fanbelt in an MX5

Steve

I'm confused, linky

Maybe some MX5's do and some don't

Mc-BigE

Its an alternator belt, not a fan belt, there's also a power steering/ air con belt.

can rememeber if its two belts or one belt for all.

OP i have a service manual for the 89>94 mx5 model 1.6 & 1.8i at home (in my pre-baby seat time!) if your interested. its not haynes, its a different one, can't rememeber the name, but its a good one (yellow in colour)

If your interested pm me for my address and send me a A4 size stamped Jiffy bag and ill post it back to you.

here's a good website for info and parts

www.mx5parts.co.uk

Mr Magnolia

Mc-BigE wrote:

Its an alternator belt, not a fan belt, there's also a power steering/ air con belt.

can rememeber if its two belts or one belt for all.

Ahh right, the fan isn't run off the altenator/fan belt

Mc-BigE

Sparks400 wrote:

Ahh right, the fan isn't run off the altenator/fan belt

Correct ,the fan is run off the..... battery:D

py2006

Mc-BigE wrote:

Its an alternator belt, not a fan belt, there's also a power steering/ air con belt.

can rememeber if its two belts or one belt for all.

OP i have a service manual for the 89>94 mx5 model 1.6 & 1.8i at home (in my pre-baby seat time!) if your interested. its not haynes, its a different one, can't rememeber the name, but its a good one (yellow in colour)

If your interested pm me for my address and send me a A4 size stamped Jiffy bag and ill post it back to you.

here's a good website for info and parts

www.mx5parts.co.uk

Mine is MK2 from 1999. Would there be much of a diff?

Mc-BigE

py2006 wrote:

Mine is MK2 from 1999. Would there be much of a diff?

Thats the Mk2 model, so it could be quiet different, how close, i don't know,but maybe someone else here can answer that one.