Help - Large Repair Bills - Any Advice?
 

Hi there,

I’m new to the forum and just am looking for some advice please? I drive a 2007 1.6 ‘3’. I bought the car two years ago and it has been exemplary and I am really pleased with it. Last August it sailed through the MOT without issue.
I just took it for the standard ‘drivers club service’ at my local Mazda dealer and they have issued a frightening report with regards to the suspension condition and brakes. I have no doubt in what they are telling me and I also have no doubt at all as to the cause of the suspension issues, the roads in West Yorkshire where I live being of a very poor quality. I always seem to be dodging potholes, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.

Here is the report and expense:

Both rear shock absorbers leaking very badly. £325 with genuine Mazda parts, £235 with non-genuine but approved parts.
Offside front lower arm and suspension bush split. £288 with genuine Madza parts, £203 with non-genuine but approved parts.

The other issues are both sets of brake pads and discs need renewing:
Front pads & discs. £274.00
Rear pads & discs. £225.36

All in all, I’m looking at a total bill of £937.00 minimum. The car when in good condition would probably be worth around £2500 on the used market. Is all this worth it I ask?

I like to take the car to Mazda for genuine service and I like the fact that the electronic report is updated. However, I’m wondering if I can reduce these bills perhaps? What do you guys do in these situations? I also know a very good MOT garage and get on well with the owner. In times gone by he used to give me some very good prices when repairing other manufacturer’s cars (mate’s rates). However they are not associated with Mazda and I wonder if this financial shortcut would affect the re-sale value of the car as the work would not have been carried out by Mazda, or a Mazda approved agent.

Thanks for reading and hopefully I can get some good advice?

Steve

I use a good general repair shop for most repairs. There's nothing special about those items that requires a dealer. I do go to the dealer for engine related service.

Do you have any tinkering experience yourself? Do you have some tools and time? The brakes can be very easily done yourself with a few tools, and you can sometimes get the rear caliper tool as a loaner from an auto parts store (not sure if that's common outside of the US). The rear shocks can be done at the same time and are only three bolts.... shocks cost ~$30-50 US each. The front struts can be had for about $100 US, though unless you have a spring compressor tool (again loaner item) and an impact wrench it will take you a while to compress the spring. Not sure on the lower suspension arm.

If all the things absolutely need to be done then do what you can yourself and pay someone to do the rest. Remember both brakes and suspension are wear items, so you really need to budget them in for periodic replacement vs. them just being broken.