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Just took my car in for its 60k service at Tom Kerr. It’s a 2004 SE. They ended up changing the iridium plugs. When I asked why, they said that was appropriate change the plugs every 60 months or so and given the car is now 7 years old probably a good thing. I queried the assistant service manager and advised that that was the case for the non turbo NB but not the SE with the iridium plugs. The owners manual only makes reference to change over at 120k and no time period. Is the dealer correct to change the plugs in an SE at 60000km? He did offer to remove the plugs and replace the old ones; probably should have done so but declined putting this down to 'lesson learnt' big time and never ever again.

nbse2 wrote:Just took my car in for its 60k service at Tom Kerr. It’s a 2004 SE. They ended up changing the iridium plugs. When I asked why, they said that was appropriate change the plugs every 60 months or so and given the car is now 7 years old probably a good thing. I queried the assistant service manager and advised that that was the case for the non turbo NB but not the SE with the iridium plugs. The owners manual only makes reference to change over at 120k and no time period. Is the dealer correct to change the plugs in an SE at 60000km? He did offer to remove the plugs and replace the old ones; probably should have done so but declined putting this down to 'lesson learnt' big time and never ever again.

There is no way I'd leave Iridium or Platinum plugs in any longer than 80,000klm regardless of what the service manual recommends. They are worn out anything over that, leaving these sorts of spark plugs in over that creates premature coil/ignition system failure because of the extra load on the system with the worn plug. They've done you a favour, and I wouldn't question it at all.

Cheers
Woz

thanks for that. Damn expensive though!

In lengthy debates it generally comes down to using normal NGK BKR5E's and changing at 30000km. You can keep an eye on them that way.There's no advantage to using others - they are for new engines that are a pain to reach the plugs.

nbse2 wrote:thanks for that. Damn expensive though!

They're cheaper than coil packs and ignition modules.........
you don't have to replace them with Iridiums or Platinums either.......

Cheers
Woz

Changed mine on the NC at 120,000 kilometres. They were still fine.

Price to buy 4 here in AU $98!!!!!

Price off Amazon delivered to my door - $24

shite! I was charged $215 just for the plugs. I need to write to Mazda and get them to correct the owners manual to "change the plugs in the SE as per the non Turbo i.e. at 60000km"

every mazda owners manual i have seen has iridium plugs change at 100,000km or 60 months for turbo models, and 120,000km or 72 months for non tubro models. i don't see why the MX5 would be any different.

nbse2 wrote:shite! I was charged $215 just for the plugs.

Shite indeed if the 4 Iridiums alone cost you $215!

Is it possible they also changed the plug leads?

93_Clubman wrote:

nbse2 wrote:shite! I was charged $215 just for the plugs.

Shite indeed if the 4 Iridiums alone cost you $215!

Is it possible they also changed the plug leads?

nope, he went to a dealership for servicing. examples the high costs.

project.r.racing wrote:nope, he went to a dealership for servicing.

Yeah, seen - used to use them [dealers] myself from '90-'00, but level of service & competence didn't match cost.

Dealer rant begins
Not entirely unjustified either ......

no, the leads were not changed. Each plug cost $53.91. If you want an extra laugh, the cost to replace the high beam bulb in labour only was $21.00. I dont know what you call that one.

nbse2 wrote:no, the leads were not changed. Each plug cost $53.91. If you want an extra laugh, the cost to replace the high beam bulb in labour only was $21.00. I dont know what you call that one.

Since they don't make a lot out of selling cars they make up for it in the service and spares area's
Someone has to pay for their flash showroom, sales people, mechanics, service area and spare parts.

Appears you where selected as that someone.

From my personal previous experience working as a tech in a T**8*a and briefly a K*a dealership, find yourself a decent private workshop to look
after ALL your cars, theres no value, honesty or loyalty to be found at your average dealership. They just want to take your money and have you
leave.