Well, that was fun...

[Rocky]

As Clubman says, this is the local Mazda Dealership which I selected to do the major services as it seemed to be the sensible thing to do in this instance.
So the consensus is that there is only one fuel filter and it is in the tank? I could not find any agreement on the net.

[taminga16]

Thanks Clubman,

"It's Rocky's only Mazda dealership, which Rocky favours over the other non-specialists".

I understand this, but it has dragged on for a time.

Greg.

[93_Clubman]

It can be challenging deciding who to trust with your car, especially if you've had a bad experience or two, & there's a limited pool to choose from.

[Rocky]

Well, the Mazda 6 saga is hopefully finished for the time being (until it needs the inevitable repairs that go with older cars)
The in-tank Fuel Filter (only one) was fitted today. $383. bringing the total for the major service to two grand when I add in a new Brake Reservoir cap.

MX5 still awaiting a Timing belt and Water pump. They are looking at aftermarket options for me. That major service will be around $3K when finally finished.

As Taminga says, I couldn't afford to have the Dealer work on my cars in the normal course of events although Son's recent experience with his old Mazda 3 with private mechanical outfits was really no cheaper. Hard to find good alternatives.

[RedMX]

Hard to find good alternatives.

That was the fuel to get my Cert3 as a automotive mechanic... I got sick of getting poor quality vehicle services/lied too & over priced bills.....Spent about 5 years as a dealer Technician at VW/BMW (twin branded dealership) only to get sick of the low wages & stress. plus the pressure to "Sell" un-nesasary things to the client (dealer mentality) kinda goes against my ethos & mentality .... but yeah I got my qualification from it in the end

But yeah hopfully you find a good place to get your cars sorted Rocky..... somtimes it's hard to find a good workshop these days... :/

[Rocky]

The major Dealer services on the MX5 and the Mazda 6 have now been concluded.
The Mazda 6 had all fluids and filters, Plugs and Cam & Crank Sensors replaced and the final bill was $1950.
The MX5 had the same plus belts and water pump for a final bill of $3600. All genuine parts used.
No doubt there will be further items that will require replacement in coming years but hopefully there will be a few years before I have to spend any serious money. I have no intention of selling the MX5 and intend to keep the Mazda 6 for maybe another 5 years.
I now have the name of a good local mechanical business and any further work will be taken there.

As a postscript, after the first part of the MX5 service (it was done in two parts due to parts availability) I found these small pieces of broken plastic in the footwell. I collected them and took them in for the remaining part of the service this week. I suspected they were something to do with the clutch as it now had a clicking sound. They immediately recognised the bits and said it was a "Clutch Button". Anyhow they replaced it and the clutch no longer clicks. (they charged me for the new one even though they broke it)

[RedMX]

Brilliant news to see that you found a good workshop for future servicing Rocky.
Quite common for those lil rubber stoppers to perrish fail & cause the creaky clicking pedal sound. Even if it did'nt fail while they had it.... it would have been a matter of time before it would failed anyways..... Actually that reminds me I need to sort one out for the partners S13 Silvia

[Rocky]

This has been a real 'learning experience' for me having avoided Dealers in the past.
I have learned about parts I didn't know existed - Cam/Crank Sensors and 'Clutch Buttons'.
I found out the Mazda 6 has it's Fuel Filter and pump in the tank and the Brake Reservoir Cap is faulty by design (now ordered from Amayama)
I found out that on older models, genuine parts may have to come from Japan and can take months.
..and the Dealers WILL sometimes show a bit of consideration for you when they realise you are a real car fanatic. They were careful to always keep the MX5 under cover during the several days they had it. (I told them that if it had to sit in the sun, I would to go down, wash it and put the car cover on) (They kept on referring to it, with a smirk, as "Your Baby".)
On the other hand, they will charge you handsomely for absolutely everything they can think of.

[bruce]

Amayama is good. Purchased a few things, usually stuff not available from Mazda Australia. Interesting to see they quote prices from different countries and you can choose (say from UAE results in a longer wait). They must accumulate all the orders for Australia and stick them in a container and ship them to Sydney - as that's where my latest order came from via Aust Post. That's how their shipping rates are so cheap.

[93_Clubman]

Rocky, great to hear that both cars are now done, that the dealer experience wasn't too painful, & that you've identified a good local mechanic for the future.

Agree stick with your NB8B for as long long as you're happy with it & it's reasonably reliable. Any early ideas on what might replace the Mazda 6 circa 2030?

Re clutch button, not sure of the NB setup, but on the NA there is a plastic clutch pedal switch (which tells the ECU the clutch pedal has been depressed) which gets brittle with age, eventually shatters, & ends up on the footwell carpet.

Re dealers & babysitting - interesting concept

[Rocky]

Mate, just one of the reasons I am happy to keep the Mazda 6 is that I have absolutely no idea with what I would replace it.
There is nothing on the market that appeals to me. Has to be a good-looking small sedan - would be nice if it had a liftback/hatch. Probably our first automatic ever - makes sense at our age. I like the current Mazda 3 sedan but it doesn't have a hatch and the Hatchback is not as pretty - and it has that i-stop thing that cannot be permanently disabled - which is a deal-breaker for me.
My perfect car would be a 2019 Ford Focus made by Toyota.

[KevGoat]

Huh? The Focus was a Toyota? I've never heard that before. I've been looking at a couple of these in ST form as we need a new hatchback or SUV. The Suzuki S-Cross Allgrip Prestige 1.4 turbo is our favourite that we've dríven so far, as that suits both of us (not just me ).

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk

[Rocky]

No Kev, I mean that I love the look of the Focus but wouldn't own a Ford. My ideal would be a Focus but made by Toyota.
I could never own an SUV - just don't like the look of them and how they drive and they don't deliver anything I want or need.

[KevGoat]

Ah haha ... I took that the wrong way!!

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[93_Clubman]

it has that i-stop thing that cannot be permanently disabled - which is a deal-breaker for me.

Msg'd you about this.