My NC2 MX5 has a full mazda service history, it’s a 2009 car with c. 46k miles on it. I had the gearbox and diff fluid changed when I got it however the service interval is coming round and I’m wondering whether or not it’s worth taking it to a dealer for the service (will only be a engine oil change and brake fluid change I believe) and MOT. What are you experiences with main dealers (prices etc).
At the moment I’m on the side of using a specialist whilst it’s getting the underseal done however if a full mazda service history is worth it then maybe I should just pay the extra.
No, any trusted garage can service an NC, nothing special to be done at all.
Your car is 8 years old, therefore an older car and there are so many for sale the secondhand values are pretty down due to the number of cars in the market.
I gave up using the Mazda main stealer when the Mazda warranty expired. Have been using a MX5 specialist with access to the Mazda electronic service history since. Price wise the specialist is £20 -£30 cheaper but my MX5 no longer gets a service wash.
Advantages for me using a specialist other than a small saving in price is distance, specialist is 4 miles from me, and the nearest dealers are a lot further. I stopped using the original main dealer because of the obnoxious know it all idiot that held the title of “Senior Service Advisor” that I had to deal with.
I think its down to personal preference really. I’m on my 4th MX5 and have always maintained a full Mazda service history on each car. It certainly seems to help when I sell the car privately.
I’m lucky that my local Mazda Dealership are very good, and I always request a certain technician to carry out my service work. You pay main dealer prices but I like the fact that OEM parts are used.
Having had some truly dire service from main dealers in the past (none of them mazda) I only allow them to service a vehicle while it’s still in warranty. And then it’s only for convenience of getting the warranty work done. I do like to see a service book kept up to date when buying a second hand car, but it doesn’t bother me if it’s a main dealer stamp or an independent stamp on the book. I certainly wouldn’t pay extra for a car that was exclusively serviced by a main dealer. As long as it’s service history is complete, I’m happy. My 5 which is now 19 years old get serviced by me most years.
I’m learning as I go along, service-wise, and trying to implement that myself going forward. It might be narrow-minded of me in the eyes of some but I’m planning on keeping this car until it dies, one way or another. For me, a dealer service history isn’t absolutely necessary as the outcome should be identical, whether I service myself or have a Mazda dealer service or take it to a 3rd-party garage. If the oil is changed, filters are changed and it passes its MoT I’m happy. If anything, not relying on a dealer service means I can use the saved money to do more frequent servicing.
Whilst it’s a good 90 minute drive from my home, to date I have had everything done at Michael’s place and very very happy with the work.
There are other good specialists in service, repair and modifications around the country, but for Norfolk / Suffolk you cannot go wrong. He also does the under-seal, which I would recommend if you going to keep the car for some time.
I will be updating the post above as have had 4to1 manifold and re-chipping done and now have 178hp, which as my other half states “thats enough for her to drive it” I have also just yesterday had him fit MeisterR advanced suspension & coilovers and boy do they make our MX5 drive on the Norfolk back roads nice…
Just out of interest how much extra on average do you think you got when you sold each of the cars due to the Mazda Service history or if it was only it made them easier to sell, of the cars you sold how many of those transactions with those people do you reckon would have not happened if you had not the Mazda stamps.
My own experience is that condition of the car, milleage and price was the only thing that mattered in selling a car privately.
Interesting post – I too have a 2009 NC2 with full Mazda service history, just coming up to 35000 miles. I had a close inspection of the history after I’d bought the car and found that one year had been missed. I confirmed this by ringing Mazda, who also confirmed that different things are done each year, in my case the service that was missed listed a Diff oil change. When the car had it’s next service the schedule for that year was followed and it didn’t list Diff oil so, of course, it didn’t get changed. From this response it appears these main dealers are a bit too robotic for my liking.
When I have my service done it’s going to a well recommended specialist (CBS in Nelson) with a list of what I’d like doing. I don’t think using such a specialist rather than a main dealer would put any future potential buyers off – just my view though.
Just out of interest how much extra on average do you think you got when you sold each of the cars due to the Mazda Service history or if it was only it made them easier to sell, of the cars you sold how many of those transactions with those people do you reckon would have not happened if you had not the Mazda stamps.
My own experience is that condition of the car, mileage and price was the only thing that mattered in selling a car privately.
I usually ask around £250 less than main dealer forecourt price. My cars are always summer use only. My last 2 cars have sold in 2 to 4 days for the full asking price. The Mazda dealer service record is always a good selling point. For me it makes it easier to sell.
I was an engineering manager for 40 years (now retired) and have always believed in using manufactures consumable items and having the car serviced to the manufactures schedule. As per my original post I’m lucky I have a good local dealership. I’m VERY fussy with my cars, If the dealership was not up to standard I admit would find a good independent specialist.
