Mike728

I can't believe I read all of them.

Arty101

Not too convenient for you?

BEARCATJER

I just bought a new LEXUS..2014 ES 350...my 6th Lexus over a 25 year span..and the 6 lexus dealers i dealt with have always been consistent in their treatment of me as a customer...EXCELLENT...the plush environment of the dealership, the amenities provided from Starbucks to free loaners to shuttle service etc. During my ownership of all those cars I have NEVER used a LEXUS dealer for service...ONLY for WARRANTY repairs...once in 25 years!!!..and the dealership/s always treated me like i was their only customer!
If i were the gentleman who started this thread i would
1.write a detailed letter to the President of Lexus about his experience with that dealer..im very sure he would receive a substantive response.
2.Use a Toyota dealer as some others do for actual repairs he needs, or even find a local repair shop which specializes in Lexus and similar brands...they would be much cheaper than a Lexus dealer based on my experience.
3. Use a local company for the constant flow of deals on oil changes, tire rotation, front end alignment etc that are available all over America
4.keep copies of all receipts for work done for warranty compliance . The one thing you sacrifice is that Lexus wont have your car's maintenance and repair history in their computer system, but that has NEVER been an issue/problem in my experience in dealing with Lexus when i traded or bought another car

I have used the above approach for 25 years and other than recalls or collision repairs HAVE NEVER NEEDED ONE OF MY CARS REPAIRED BY LEXUS and have driven 3 of the 6 over 100,000 miles each!

With exceptions im sure, all dealerships prices for parts and service repairs are very excessive compared to other sources...at least that has been my experience. As an example, back around 2007 i owned a 2002 RX300. When the mileage hit the upper 80s, i contacted my lexus dealer for a price on the 90000 service and was quoted $1400. I took a list of the exact items the 90k service included to a local repair shop which had an excellent reputation in my community and requested their price...$950!..so i had them do it and drove the car until it had 134,000 miles on it!
Good luck...Lexus wants to know about a subpar dealer like yours.

williakz

Excellent post!

Only addition is that an owner can add his own maintenance and/or repair entries to the "official" Lexus computer record for the VIN.

bc6152

I didn't know this. Can you say how it's done.

williakz

Check out "Maintenance" section of http://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/my-lexus/home.do

bc6152

OK, found it. Thanks...

BEARCATJER

thanks for the info . i now find i am registered on the site where i can enter my service etc records and i had forgotten about it due to OLD AGE! Very helpful.

atoyota

For what it's worth, there must be a huge variance in what dealers charge for service. I just scheduled my 20K service which has the oil/filter change, tire rotation, inspections, fluids, etc and they quoted me $115 and some change. That seems reasonable for having it done at Lexus.

airchomper

Do you get the Toyota 0w-20 for $1/quart? If so, how??

gmanusmc

Don't think anyone's getting 0w20 TGMO for a buck a quart unless it's stolen and it's an under the table deal - most are paying $5-6 a quart

williakz

Pennzoil 0W-20 Full Synthetic. The same stuff my dealership pours into my LS for $300 (or whatever it WOULD cost if I paid for it!)

bc6152

Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic 0W20 or 0W30 is $25.17 for 5 quarts at Walmart. The V6 takes 6+ quarts... I have not seen it for less anywhere.
A Fram cartridge for the V6 runs about $6.00.

williakz

Yup, $25.17 at Walmart. But, look carefully, there's a little coupon stuck to the jug. It explains how to enroll in the Pennzoil/Shell Rewards program (FRN). Once you do, you simply enter the code under the cap on the jug and you are awarded $1.00/gallon off any grade of Shell gas up to 20 gallons worth (ie. $20 discount.) So, $25.17 - $20 = approx. $5 for 5 quarts = $1/quart. If, like me your car requires 10 quarts of oil, buy 2 jugs and get $2/gallon discount. Only trick is you only have one pump visit to knock down the 20 gallons. Easy to pull off with my LS, not so much with the wife's GS.

As for filters, get the branded Toyota ones from Sewell. They run just over $5/kit any quantity, but if you order more, per unit shipping goes down. Drain plug washers from Amazon at less than a buck a piece.

As for actually changing the oil, train up a crew at your local Walmart like I have. They change my oil (using my 2 jugs of Pennzoil 0W-20), install my filter kit (using my Toyota Special Tool), and install my drain plug washer - all for around $15. Can't be beat and my hands never get dirty. So not $300 but $10 (oil) + $5 (filter) + $1 (washer) + $15 (labor and disposal) = $31. I've got this down pat, because I have to: my LS requires it EVERY 5,000 miles!

airchomper

Well thanks Williakz for the tip,

Sounds like you have quite the set up.

There's an ebay seller http://www.ebay.com/itm/151376015384?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT.

with awesome deals on crush washers.

I have an LS430 and the transmission and oil drain plug bolt take the same washer size. Having a 50 pack of the oil drain bolt washers is incredible.

How do you think the Pennzoil compares to the Toyota 0w-20? I run the 'yota oil in my engine because the 'yota oil is one of the thinnest oils on the market at 0 degrees, and that's awesome because I live in Minnesota and am immensely bothered by cold weather starts. And the 'yota oil's high temperature viscosity is actually really close to the thinner 30w oils.

I get the 'yota oil for $6.34 at the Lexus dealer (and the stupid Toyota dealer wants $6.74/quart). But if the Penzoil comes with a gas coupon, that'd be ideal. I think my engine wasn't treated the nicest by the previous owners. It has some deposits.

It would be nice to pick up a few jugs of it, and change the oil every gas fill up. It'd be excessive but probably the easiest way to clean out the engine.