Lexus: Lexus Maintenance Costs! Ouch!

I just bought a used 2003 300 RX in Apr. Just had the 25k service. Cost me
$116. Just basically an oil change, tire rotation, clean air filter, lube
rubber suspension components, check brakes, and a car wash. I think I can
find a competent mechanic to do the same things for a lot less. Hope this
helps.

--
Ed Smith
"Phil" <net> wrote in message
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I 
I 
have 
hate 

In article <5Jo1d.187859$mD.162279@attbi_s02>,
"Phil" <net> wrote:
 

The dealer would LOVE for you to come in and do his maintenance schedule
and pricing.

What you need to do is see the owner's manual and add up the individual
service items that the manual calls for.

Good example: my 02 Odyssey hit 30K miles last month. I asked the
dealer, how much for a 30K service? $370, he said.

Hmmmm. I already had my own schedule in hand, having gotten that from
the book. The necessary items: new air filter, new cabin air filter,
oil change, brake fluid change, inspect brakes.

I did the air filter myself; $10. I did the cabin air filter myself;
$25. I had them do an oil change, brake fluid flush, and rotate the
tires (and while he was doing the tires, I asked, "How do the brakes
look?"). $100 even, out the door.

Total: $135.

They would have charged me $40 for the cabin air filter and $72 to
install it. Thanks, no. If I had to, I'd remove it and not reinstall
it if replacing it was a $110 item. No thanks.

I bet I could have had the corner garage do the mechanical work they
did, with equal results.

Your Lexus is worse; they charge more for both parts and labor. Hey,
that fancy dealership building costs money to maintain.

You need to find a good independent mechanic and avoid the dealer as much as
possible. Read the owner's manual carefully. Do what IT says needs to be
done and AVOID the hyped service schedules that APPEAR to be factory
recommendations but in reality are just dealer "severe service"
recommedations adopted for everyone. Pay attention to timely fluid changes
and the timing chain (if applicable). The rest generally should only be done
as needed.

"Phil" <net> wrote in message
news:5Jo1d.187859$.. 

You can request what service you actually want performed. My Lexus dealer
charges about 2 to 2.5 times what my Toyota dealer charges for simple
things, like tire rotation, balance, and 4 wheel alignment. I've decided I
will only use Lexus for my oil changes and warranty work, and Toyota for all
else.


"Phil" <net> wrote in message
news:5Jo1d.187859$.. 

Phil wrote: 

Luxury car dealers charge high rates. What you quoted is actually cheap for
a Lexus dealer; mine wants $499 for a $15K maintenance for an ES330, which
buys an oil change, transmission flush, and new air filter (plus
"inspection" of a bunch of things). If you just buy those services from
them, its cheaper: they charge $230 to flush the transmission fluid, and $55
for an oil change; so doing those two alone would "only" cost $285 (and you
can get an air filter for $20 at an auto store and put it in yourself) --
cutting the price in half. If the luxurious waiting room, convenient hours,
and ultra-courteous service are really important, then it may be worth it to
you. Otherwise, consider an independent shop.

Regarding cheaper Lexus models to maintain: If you really want to have a
dealer do the work, then consider getting an ES330 or RX330; these are
mechanically identical under the hood to the Camry and the Highlander, so
some Toyota dealers are willing to work on them. And, Toyota dealers charge
less than Lexus dealers.

-Doug in VA

These costs are a little high but probably fairly representative of what
dealers are charging these days. I don't understand the 10K services-
typically Lexus specifies that you do either one or two oil changes between
the 15K services and they should run somewhere around $75 or so.

You can cut these costs dramatically by a little DIY, finding a good
independent mechanic, shopping among dealers and looking for specials, and
making sure they only do what is specified by Toyota, not their gold-plated
recommendations for extra service. You can probably cut the costs by
one-third to one-half this way.

I'm unsure why you find spending $4K In 90K miles that out of line. Nor do
I understand how you can maintain a BMW M3 for less. When I owned an M3,
the prices for services at the BMW dealer were about the same as the Lexus
dealer. If you're spending significantly less, then you're either cutting
corners or doing some of the measure I mentioned above. There is no way I'd
consider a BMW an inherently cheaper car to maintain, other than the free
service during the warranty period.

If you're just going to throw the keys at the dealer and say "do the checks"
then $4K in 90K miles is about what it takes to maintain any premium car.

- Mark

Steve Larson sent this message::
 
Why Lexus oil change? Something special about their oil?

I take my '98 M3 to an independent shop which is about 70% the cost of the
dealer. Oil changes are around 10k miles at $80, for 7 quarts of synthetic
oil and filter. The 25k service is about $400 and the 50k service about
$670. The rates may be no better than Lexus, but following the BMW
maintenance lights on the dash has me taking the car to the shop quite
infrequently. Over the several years I have owned the '98 M3, a '91 Honda
Accord, and a '95 Honda Odyssey van, all serviced at independent shops, the
routine and expected maintenance on the M3 has been less. Mostly due to the
more frequent visits the Honda require. The BMW has no timing belt to
replace which also helps cut maintenance costs. On top of all of that, the
M3 reliability has been markedly superior to the Hondas.

I am mechanically inclined, so if self maintenance is possible on the Lexus
to some degree, I will do that. Now, just to find a competent independent
Lexus shop in the San Francisco Bay area.

- Phil

"markjen" <net> wrote in message
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