Archived Thread

NFT: Auto Repair Question

MartyGlickman : 4/18/2015 8:33 am

My daughter drives a 2011 Mazda 3 and the right headlight assembly got moisture inside causing the entire unit to fail. The Mazda service cost me $1,930 to repair!!! It was $918 for the Head Lamp Assembly, $266 for the bulb, $436 for the HID control unit (ballast), $156 labor and then tax. Can anyone knowledgeable out there tell me if this is legitimate or was I ripped off!!?

$266 for a bulb?

Chris in Philly : 4/18/2015 8:40 am : link

Who fixed it? The Pentagon?

I'm not a mechanic but that seems awfully high all around, even for a dealer using manufacturer parts.

I looked at some Mazda forums...

Chris in Philly : 4/18/2015 8:47 am : link

out of curiosity. It seems like it's fairly common to get gouged on these repairs. I also didn't realize they were xenon bulbs. OEM parts are brutally overpriced.

Keep researching

fivehead : 4/18/2015 9:11 am : link

You're on the right path by doing your homework. Join a forum and ask which parts people have used to fix their issues. Do not let those mechanics gouge you!

After quick eBay search, I found this...
Mazda 3 lights - ( New Window )

RE: Keep researching

BMac : 4/18/2015 10:17 am : link

In comment 12238856 fivehead said:

Quote:

And that's a "designer" light assembly. If you look farther, you see the full assemblies for as low as $157.00. Plus, there are You Tube how-tos out the whazoo.

Looks like a massive dealer hosing to me.

keep researching online

haper : 4/18/2015 11:24 am : link

my sister had a similar problem with a 2006 lexus and i stumbled across a vague reference wrt a recall online. she mentioned it at her next maintance and it was fixed for free, no questions asked. so keep looking online and even if you don't find anything i would still raise a stink w the dealer.

the headlight assembles can be quite pricey; on this lexus the out piece is heat sealed so you can't take the thing apart and reseal like i've done on a bmw.