Dropped my relatively newly acquired magna into my local Midas centre today (Had it for just on a month, clocked up near on 2K so far) for a comp service. Had a few cars serviced with these guys in the past, always been great with what NEEDS to be done and what can wait. Expected a bill around 500ish.....

Got the phone call at midday, turns out all the little stuff I thought was a minor issue, was in fact on death's door.

Car needs full service, new rear plugs, injector clean(should help with crappy fuel consumption), rocker gasket (It has been drinking oil), right hand drive shaft (there has been a thump in the last week), rear brakes (handbrake is useless), fuel filter (according to the midas man is 6 years old.....) plus shocks and a few other bits and pieces.....

End result, 1998 Magna Advance purchased for 2.5K needs a 2K service..........


It better feel like a whole new car by the time I pick it up in the morning......

For that amount of work $500 is pretty good IMO.

Tell them thank you but no thanks.
Here is why
New rear plugs are iridiums, $20 each = $60 and an hour to install.
Injector clean, tell them to shove it, ask them if the injectors will be taken off the rail and sent off for ultrasonic cleaning. if not, you can grab a set from the wreckers ($20ish) then send them off on an exhange basis for reco ones (about $160)
Rocker cover gasket is what, $10? and 15 minutes of time?
Drive shaft, $100, half an afternoon work
Handbrake is something I've never doe so cannot comment.

Fuel filter is cheap and easy to do.
Shocks, thats given, good time to lower the car, Looking at about $440 for aftermarket shocks.

If you have some tools, and/or some mates who know about cars magnas (not just mates who have worked on commodores as they wouldnt know a magna) get them over and do it yourself you'll save at least $1000...

I was expected 500, came out to near on 2K............

EDIT: TUFFTR, normally I would be along the same lines, but I'm recovering from abdominal surgery right now and can't really do much for myself......

mate where abouts in nsw are you? i could possibly put you onto my mechanic as im trying to ween him onto getting to know magnas inside and out as he is a ford nut!

I was expected 500, came out to near on 2K............

EDIT: TUFFTR, normally I would be along the same lines, but I'm recovering from abdominal surgery right now and can't really do much for myself......

$2,000?Where did I get 500 from lol Shiiiiiiiiiit no thanks! Way too much! I had 3 heads reconditioned and one finally installed for $1,500.

Tell'em to rack or sell the car...

Go else where...I've never known Midas to be cheap...at least from my experience....talk to some of the NSW guys, they'll help you with better local contacts...

dont try midas, they charge heaps mate.....usually if you go to smaller mechanics they are negotiable with price, but more risky!

Rear brakes are easy. G-clamp and sockets. Lift your centre console and see how much adjustment is left on the handbrake cable. Otherwise I think there are additional adjusters on each rear wheel.

Fuel filter can be a tricky bastard. Got to crimp and pull while not killing the little clip. The only thing I'd pay someone to do.

With beer and food you should be able to lure some members over to help out.

M*das quoted me $2500 for work that elsewhere I was quoted around $1000. I doubt that I will ever get them to do work on my car.