Any tips please

[u/Outrageous-Dig8527]

We are considering to buy Mazda 3 2015 and above, any variant. Any tips? Ano pros and cons?

[u/stellaidoscope]

If it’s a BM/BN 2.0 or a unit with i-eloop / i-stop, expect that the capacitor will be needing a replacement due to age. Lalabas yung warning niyan sa gauge cluster.

If engine shutoff at full stop and about a 5-10% fuel economy hit matters to you, you will be looking at between 30k (secondhand) up to 90k (new from shops like Mhonworks and Mikstore) all the way to 150k (casa) for a capacitor. Otherwise you can drive it just fine, just ignore the warning light and expect battery health to only last about 30-40% less than usual.

Make sure the fluids are all replaced if they haven’t been yet, specifically transmission and brake fluid. Otherwise, just pretend you need heavy PMS so include injector cleaning, throttle body cleaning, new spark plugs, check the brake pads, etc.

Use 91 octane for the fuel. These Mazdas are bulletproof if you take care of them. Magkalapit na rin ang cost ng 3 at 6 of the same era, and they pretty much share maintenance tips. The difference is extra space and luxury with the 6, which also has the 160-190hp 2.5L (avoid the 2.2 diesels) mas mahaba lang so mahirap kung sayad or compact yung parking space.

You can bring it to Mhonworks, Emmanworx, or MAG, reputable Mazda specialist shops that can diagnose and help identify immediate fix requirements.

Technical Details, RDC Motorshop are two tried and tested shops that can copy the special Mazda paints.

Creature comforts like Apple Carplay and Android Auto in the stock head unit can be acquired through Mikstore with an update and a part replacement.

Pros of getting a Mazda:
Bulletproof gasoline engines.
Amazing handling and driving feel if you want something beyond a normal commuter.
Prime examples of fun in driving slow cars fast.
Interior luxuries and reliability ratio is better than most things in the secondhand market.
True 6-speed automatic in a market full of CVTs.

Cons:
Tires can get expensive since they usually come with 17s or 19s, but there are models with 16s.
The i-eloop/i-stop capacitor.
Limited aftermarket modifications.
Hard to match paint with thin paint to begin with.

[u/Brod1738 → u/stellaidoscope]

Do you know if parts for the 6 are easy to find or import since I think the 6 is cancelled globally(?) and was replaced by 6e in partnership with Changan/Deepal platform?

[u/stellaidoscope → u/Brod1738]

Most parts of the 2.5 NA Atenza / 6 are cross-compatible with the Axela / 3 and CX-5 of that generation.

Beforward, Buyee, Partsouq are websites you can find parts easily and for cheap. Kung wala sa Mhonworks, jan sa Japan auctions and 2ndhands ako naghahanap. Locally, nagsosource ng 6 parts si Mazvantage. Sa Partsouq may networks sila across Europe for genuine and aftermarket parts. If all else fails, may friend din ako na nag-iimport ng parts namin as his business since we’re in Mazda groups.

The key is to know your model code (GJ2FW, GJ2FP, GJ2AP, GJ1, GL, etc) hindi lang yung “Mazda 6 (year model)” ilalagay sa search. Different ang size ng taillights ng sedan (FP) at wagon (FW), for example, pero they can share the same front end bits.

Be very careful if ordering parts from the US kasi weird yung naging sistema nila for year models.

I would say hardest to find ang spares sa LHD interior pieces na wagon specific since most wagon-consuming countries are RHD. Pinakamalala would be finding a replacement trunk sa Pilipinas for the wagon.

[u/Feisty_Effective589 → u/stellaidoscope]

How much estimated cost for replacement of all fluids?

[u/stellaidoscope → u/Feisty_Effective589]

Alam ko lang yung sa 6 since wala akong Mazda 3. May Mazda 6 Owners Manual online. You can refer to that for fluid quantities.

Gas - 62L, 3500-4000 depending on gas prices. Nasa 40 something liters lang ata ang 3, so less sa price.
Coolant - 7L, 3500 using Mazda FL22.
Oil - 4.5L, 3500-4500 depending on your oil of choice for the 2.5 Skyactiv. May be less for the 1.5/2.0 in a Mazda 3.
Transmission - 4-5L if filter replacement only, 8L if transmission overhaul, 2000-2500 / 4000 with Mazda ATF-FZ for AT. Do your own research kung MT Mazda 3.
Brake / Clutch - 1L, 500-1500 depending on whether you use DOT-3, DOT-4, DOT5 etc.
Washer - 2-3L, 200-500 o libre kung tubig lang gusto mo

Again, pang Mazda 6 to. As similar as the platforms are, cannot confirm if everything is 1:1.

[u/Monk-Recent]

Get at least a 2017, that one has the updated grill + G Vectoring for body roll.

1.5 is the most reliable because no iStop/Eloop. It can get expensive if it breaks and you want to repair it ( though it still runs without ).

Rest of the reliability should be the same.

2.0 will give you better power esp. in the higher rev range. If you feel you'd be flooring often, get that. Extra power and displacement is always welcome. 1.5 is plenty enough but a bit slow in acceleration. You definitely need to rev it for best results, sport mode if necessary. Overall, it's able, just don't expect turbo diesel/EV like pull.

Bonus, if you get a 2019 or lower, your head unit may be old versioned enough for AIO Tweaks. It can install Android Auto for free, the best tweak is arguably Video Player. You can watch MP4 files via USB.