ND Gearbox Oil [Combined]

A number of threads at the moment essentially on the same topic will be combined here,

  1. My model of MX-5 is: ND1
  2. I’m based near: Lincolnshire
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Gearbox and transmission oil change cost.

As above really, looking to get the gearbox and diff oil changed but have been quoted £287,is this about right? It seemed a bit high to me but seek experience of others please.

I’d say oils, let’s be generous and say £20 per litre, your car needs 3 litres. New washers or even new sump/fill plugs, generous again OTT pricing £30. Labour, well how much an hour and that’s all it should take, work it out?
I’m not being mean, I’d probably think £150 is tops for that job and wouldn’t pay anymore.

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Thanks, and that’s sort of the figures I had in my head. Dealer has quoted this and to my mind seemed excessive.

I’ve no idea what labour charges are now at say a Mazda dealer, £100+
Maybe my estimated cost is a little mean, I’m out of touch because I do my own stuff whilst I’m able.

Get two other quotes if you can, so you have local comparison.

A decent local independent garage will be able to do a gearbox and diff oil change without any issue :+1:t2:

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My local independent has gone from £30 to £80 an hour plus VAT since COVID.

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I would use a local independent garage but just need to make sure the correct specs of oils are used which is my concern with independent garages. Need to find a good reliable one in my area that knows about MX5s

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True. I had mine done in Mazda and I saw the genuine stuff (for the gearbox) in the drum. You can easily obtain the Mazda SG1 hypoid gear oil for the diff, from MX-5 parts.

Next, note the OEM gearbox oil grade is 75w-80
A user recently did his gearbox oil with this

and kindly reported every step of the way, saying it’s fine. Prob need 3L to be on the safe side?

If going ‘trusty independent’, you could feasibly get the juices yourself and get them to do it.
If you do go down this route, you’ll also need 4 (two each for the gearbox and diff) washers. These are the ones that you’ll need

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Where in Lincolnshire are you?

South Lincolnshire, Near to Peterborough which is where the quote is from But willing to drive a bitfor a good garage.

Yep, would do it myself but wanted to get it done by someone the first time so I can just see how easy accessible it would be on axle stands which is how I would have to do it.

Quite a few youtube videos show it being done, if that’s any good.

These might be useful, as they give various torque values. I printed thse out and gave them to the dealer lol

Gearbox oil change

Diff oil change

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So I asked for a breakdown of the costs for this, the parts are £104 and the labour is £160 an hour. I am in the wrong job…

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And for that you might end up with them sticking Mitsubishi stuff in BOTH the diff and gearbox, same grade too(!!), like another poster has experienced!

Yep, doesn’t fill you with confidence really. Guess I’ll watch the YouTube videos and just do it myself if I can.

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I’ve heard Mr Roddison has his own gearbox oil mix, someone correct me if that’s not so. If you fancy a trip up there get a quote from him for the job.
I’ve got no idea of his prices but you’ll no doubt get the proper oil in both gearbox and diff.

Where is that please?

Sheffield

Okay, thanks for that.