Where do you get your oil filters from? Price at local Mazda dealer is about seven quid for filter plus about three quid (IIRC) for sump plug washer. The dealer in question is almost 20 miles away, so factor in a gallon of petrol and the total cost is about 13 pounds.

I believe the filter is about six quid from Moss (but is it a Mazda one?) and they don't seem to list the sump plug washer. Then there's the p&p charge to factor in as well. Does anyone get their filter + sump plug washer via mail order, and if so how much?

I want to use a pukka Mazda OEM filter, so this will restrict sources somewhat. (1/00)
I got my local dealer to throw in the washer for free. I then pushed it and asked (and got) washers for gearbox and diff. for free too! I then asked for a throttle gasket and he said he'd have to charge so I told him not to bother. :-) (1/00)
.. buy it when you are near the dealer .. filter keeps for several years! (1/00)
6.49 from Halfords for filter. Oil is on offer at moment 8.50 off fully synthetic. 10 quid off everything if you spend over 50 quid. (1/00)
This site had info on oil filters and the anti drain valves. http://minimopar.simplenet.com/oilfilters.html (3/00)
Just about to do the first sevice on my Roadster. How on Earth do you get to the oil filter?! It certainly is buried isn't it?! I think the last service that I done on a car was in 1990, on my 1961 Minx Convertible, aah what a joy to work on! So much space under the bonnet that you could climb in and walk around the engine! (well practically!) (4/00)

Some people remove the undertray and the inlet manifold strut - this makes it quite easy to get to from underneath.

Me - I use a three legged spider oil filter removal tool with a 3/8 socket extension, a U/J and another extension - then I can start to unscrew it. Then, risking lots of scratches, I can just about reach in to it by hand, unscrew the filter and remove it forwards past the manifold and up just behind the radiator.

I tighten by hand to replace with a new one - I use a latex glove to get a better grip (and anyway to protect my hands from oil. If you are very careful, you can do all this without spilling oil or blood! And it helps if you use genuine Mazda filters 'cos they're very small.

I could never get those gaskets right around the base of the cartridge holder on my Rapier (Hillman Minxes/Sunbeam Rapiers etc had replaceable elements inside a can - and needed replacement every 1000 miles!) And I did 110000 miles in my 1960 Rapier! Happy days! (4/00)
.. nah .. gorrilla arms .. lying in the gutter with head forward and steering lock fully to left turn .. stick your right hand into the gap behind the wheel and undo that filter ..by hand! .. but you do need some rags under it to catch the drips. (4/00)
I finally managed to remove the old filter by removing all the ducting and pipes at the top of the bay, and then moving the alternator out of the way, then from underneath the car I managed to skewer the old one with a large screwdriver and remove. I noticed that it was a japanese filter aswell. So much for the Dealer that I bought it off having it fully serviced before I picked the car up. Not unless the garage has a supply of Jap filters, possible I suppose, It was very clean. (4/00)

My car has a Japanese filter on now, as was the one before it. They both came from Moss in Stockport. I think a lot of places that sell MX-5/Eunos filters buy them in japan and import them here.

If this is true, then Mr Mazda Dealer is making a tidy profit on the ones they sell here that are from Germany. Mind you, they *are* making a nice profit when they charge over a hundred quid for an oil change (9K service). :( (4/00)
I have always liked Purolator oil filters. I see that someone is advertising them in ST/HT at what seems to be a reasonable price. Any techy, MGS types out there wish to comment - I'm thinking of buying a few (4/00)