$460 for 15k mile service

[KlausK]

I have a '06 ES330 and my dealer wants $460 for 15k mile service. They say
it takes 3 hours to do it. According to the manual, 15k maintenance includes
oil change & tire rotation plus a bunch of "inspections."

My questions are: (1) why does it take 3 hours? (2) is it worth $460?

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by KlausK
I have a '06 ES330 and my dealer wants $460 for 15k mile service.

And people in hell want ice water. What's your point?

They won't get it if they don't ask for it. So they ask. And stupid
people happily give it to them, thinking "well, if I can afford the car,
I damn well better be able to afford the service!"

Meanwhile, back at the Toyota dealer, the same service is a buck fifteen
or less.

Post by KlausK
They say
it takes 3 hours to do it. According to the manual, 15k maintenance includes
oil change & tire rotation plus a bunch of "inspections."

An oil change for ANY car is thirty bucks. Of course, this is the LEXUS
dealer, so they charge $140.

Tire rotation--call it ten bucks per wheel, forty bucks total. Now
we're up to $70 in real world costs. Lexus dealer: $50/wheel.

Inspections? I can guarantee you that the tech won't perform any such
inspections. But you'll have them noted on your record anyway.

There's nothing magical about an oil change on a Toyota V6 engine, nor
about rotating the tires. Yet you'd think a Lexus dealer uses magic air
to run their tools, and special oil squeezed from the anal glands of
Arctic minks or something.

$460? $70 with a reputable mechanic. Save the $400 to pay half your
overblown car payment next month.

Post by KlausK
My questions are: (1) why does it take 3 hours? (2) is it worth $460?

(1) because that's what their book says, although he'll be done in 15
minutes, and (2) no.

[Larry Rogers]

Elmo
Please be careful. Too much truth at one time can cause some people to
go into epileptic shock. Let the dealer do that. Wouldn't want the poor guy
to be afraid to visit this board anymore.

Larry
In the back yard, under the oak.

[satmech]

Post by Larry Rogers
Elmo
Please be careful. Too much truth at one time can cause some people to
go into epileptic shock. Let the dealer do that. Wouldn't want the poor
guy to be afraid to visit this board anymore.
Larry
In the back yard, under the oak.

Dealer is high, but they KNOW the car. At least find someone who KNOWS
the car too. Lexus makes mucho dinero by repairing Toyota tech mistakes.

I've seen it.

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by satmech

Post by Larry Rogers
Please be careful. Too much truth at one time can cause some people to
go into epileptic shock. Let the dealer do that. Wouldn't want the poor
guy to be afraid to visit this board anymore.
Larry
In the back yard, under the oak.

Dealer is high, but they KNOW the car.

Good point.

But at 15K miles, this shouldn't be an issue.

A $70 service for $460, all so a guy who "knows" the car is under it
looking around as he unscrews the filter....at 15K miles....well, let's
hope that car doesn't need him looking around at 15K miles.

[Jeff]

I had a similar experience. I have a new GS430. The 5,000 mile service
was free but when I took it in for the 10,000 mile service it was $200
for what seemed to me was just an oil change and inspections. Sure the
free donuts and TV were nice but, now I am wondering about bringing it
to them for the $15,000 service. So I am glad you asked that question.

My question is if I took my car to a Jiffy-lube or local mechanic for my
15,000 oil change would that void my warranty? I do not really want to
ask Lexus that question because whatever they say would be verbal and
therefore not worth the non-paper it was not written on.

I live in the US (Virginia).

Jeff

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty

Post by KlausK
I have a '06 ES330 and my dealer wants $460 for 15k mile service.

And people in hell want ice water. What's your point?
They won't get it if they don't ask for it. So they ask. And stupid
people happily give it to them, thinking "well, if I can afford the
car, I damn well better be able to afford the service!"
Meanwhile, back at the Toyota dealer, the same service is a buck
fifteen or less.

Post by KlausK
They say
it takes 3 hours to do it. According to the manual, 15k maintenance
includes oil change & tire rotation plus a bunch of "inspections."

An oil change for ANY car is thirty bucks. Of course, this is the
LEXUS dealer, so they charge $140.
Tire rotation--call it ten bucks per wheel, forty bucks total. Now
we're up to $70 in real world costs. Lexus dealer: $50/wheel.
Inspections? I can guarantee you that the tech won't perform any such
inspections. But you'll have them noted on your record anyway.
There's nothing magical about an oil change on a Toyota V6 engine, nor
about rotating the tires. Yet you'd think a Lexus dealer uses magic
air to run their tools, and special oil squeezed from the anal glands
of Arctic minks or something.
$460? $70 with a reputable mechanic. Save the $400 to pay half your
overblown car payment next month.

Post by KlausK
My questions are: (1) why does it take 3 hours? (2) is it worth $460?

(1) because that's what their book says, although he'll be done in 15
minutes, and (2) no.

[Ray O]

I had a similar experience. I have a new GS430. The 5,000 mile service was
free but when I took it in for the 10,000 mile service it was $200 for what
seemed to me was just an oil change and inspections. Sure the free donuts
and TV were nice but, now I am wondering about bringing it to them for the
$15,000 service. So I am glad you asked that question.
My question is if I took my car to a Jiffy-lube or local mechanic for my
15,000 oil change would that void my warranty? I do not really want to
ask Lexus that question because whatever they say would be verbal and
therefore not worth the non-paper it was not written on.
I live in the US (Virginia).
Jeff

Your warranty will not be void as long as you have the maintenance items
listed in your owner's manual performed at the recommended time and mileage
intervals. You should keep your receipts as proof that the maintenance was
performed. Keep in mind that if Jiffy Lube or your local mechanic causes a
problem, then they, and not the automaker, would be responsible for any
repairs caused by their problem.

[tww1491]

Post by KlausK
I have a '06 ES330 and my dealer wants $460 for 15k mile service. They say
it takes 3 hours to do it. According to the manual, 15k maintenance
includes oil change & tire rotation plus a bunch of "inspections."
My questions are: (1) why does it take 3 hours? (2) is it worth $460?
;

This is standard for Lexus. Several years ago we owned a RX 300. The
maintenance cost for that car when compared to the Honda Prelude I had at
the time over 30k miles was four times as much. In 2003 we traded for a
Pilot -- less expensive to run and very reliable. For example, I had to
have the rear brakes replaced at 27k miles on the RX300 at a cost of around
$300; we are still on the original brakes on the Pilot at 65k miles.

[mcbrue]

The big problem is where can you go to get the required warranty
services done? Don't you have to have those strange fluid inspections
done at the dealer because no one else knows how to do them?

And yes, the Lexus inspections are the highest I have encountered -
much more than the Mercedes. But I haven't owned any of the real
luxury cars yet like Rolls, etc.

[KlausK]

Post by mcbrue
The big problem is where can you go to get the required warranty
services done? Don't you have to have those strange fluid inspections
done at the dealer because no one else knows how to do them?
And yes, the Lexus inspections are the highest I have encountered -
much more than the Mercedes. But I haven't owned any of the real
luxury cars yet like Rolls, etc.

So, do you get maintenance services at your dealership?

[Aluckyguess]

Take it to econo and change the oil. The warrantee is still good if you dont
do anything. Lexus and all dealers will bend you over any chance you get.

Post by mcbrue
The big problem is where can you go to get the required warranty
services done? Don't you have to have those strange fluid inspections
done at the dealer because no one else knows how to do them?
And yes, the Lexus inspections are the highest I have encountered -
much more than the Mercedes. But I haven't owned any of the real
luxury cars yet like Rolls, etc.

[Jeff]

What does that exactly mean?

"The warrantee is still good if you dont do anything" ?

"Lexus and all dealers will bend you over any chance you get" ?

Could you clarify what you mean?

Thanks.

Jeff

Post by Aluckyguess
Take it to econo and change the oil. The warrantee is still good if
you dont do anything. Lexus and all dealers will bend you over any

Post by mcbrue
The big problem is where can you go to get the required warranty
services done? Don't you have to have those strange fluid inspections
done at the dealer because no one else knows how to do them?
And yes, the Lexus inspections are the highest I have encountered -
much more than the Mercedes. But I haven't owned any of the real
luxury cars yet like Rolls, etc.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Lexus charges a lot more for the same work their Toyota siblings do
using many of the same parts from the same production lines. It's more
of a marketing thing, just to make things more "comparable" to other
luxury brands, otherwise most owners will feel they bought cheap cars
like Toyotas. ;) Just keep the receipts.

In the US, Toyota cannot decline warranty if you have a professional
mechanic do the work using equivalent parts -- don't have to be Toyota
parts. You can fill the tank with non-Toyota gas and it won't void the
warranty. Just don't fill with beer.

Of course, if a mechanic screws up -- Toyota or non-Toyota -- the shop
has honor the warranty.

Post by Aluckyguess
Take it to econo and change the oil. The warrantee is still good if you dont
do anything. Lexus and all dealers will bend you over any chance you get."mcbrue"

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Lexus charges a lot more for the same work their Toyota siblings do
using many of the same parts from the same production lines.

And then idiots come in to places like this and say, "Well, if you can't
afford the service, you shouldn't have bought the car."

[Jeff]

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Lexus charges a lot more for the same work their Toyota siblings do
using many of the same parts from the same production lines.

And then idiots come in to places like this and say, "Well, if you
can't afford the service, you shouldn't have bought the car."

It's not about affording it. It's about objecting at getting fleeced.

(I suppose the answer to that one would be "if you did not want to
overpay in principle, why did you buy a Lexus .... <grin>). Ah, well.

[j***@hotmail.com]

So if you want to get fleeced you buy a Lexus? ;-) ;-) ;-)

Post by Jeff
It's not about affording it. It's about objecting at getting fleeced.
(I suppose the answer to that one would be "if you did not want to
overpay in principle, why did you buy a Lexus .... <grin>). Ah, well.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Or idiots bought the car and then realized they were getting fleeced.
Or if you bought the car you're an idiot.

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty
And then idiots come in to places like this and say, "Well, if you can't
afford the service, you shouldn't have bought the car."

[David Z]

Post by KlausK
I have a '06 ES330 and my dealer wants $460 for 15k mile service. They say
it takes 3 hours to do it. According to the manual, 15k maintenance includes
oil change & tire rotation plus a bunch of "inspections."
My questions are: (1) why does it take 3 hours? (2) is it worth $460?

Call the dealer and ask them what specific tasks they are proposing to do
and how much each task costs. Write them all down, including the price.

Then ask which tasks are the minimum required BY LEXUS (not the dealership)
to maintain the warranty.

Then, if you are agreeable, tell them to do only the minimum tasks, plus
whatever tasks YOU want to do. Otherwise, get the job done elsewhere.

Also, get price quotes from other Lexus dealers. Some people also like to
go to Toyota dealers.

Let us know what they tell you and what you decide.