$1,100 for the 60K!
#17
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Honestly, it appears rather simple. I think what gets people is the removal of so many items that most haven't done before. Document and record locations of the screws, make sure you don't drop any bolts and off you go.
#21
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I agree with the spark plugs! It doesn't seem that hard, but a f*** up on our motors would be disastrous lol
#22
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I would ask them for an itemized cost breakdown so you can see where the costs truly are. When I called the dealerships asking for an item-by-item parts and labor breakdown of the crazy quotes they were giving me, they obliged and that's where I saw where they're really gouging you.
The SA is right in that the spark plug replacement is the bulk of the cost. But every dealer I contacted quoted their spark plug parts costs at twice what Sewell sells them for. So you're at least paying a 100% markup on spark plugs themselves alone, before labor's ever factored in. Spark plugs are $13 on Sewell, and were $25 at every dealer I contacted. So that put spark plug parts at $150. Labor ranged from 3-5 hours, and came out to around $300-500 depending on the dealer. So spark plug quotes I got in total made up about $500 of the $1000 I was being quoted.
The remaining key services are brake fluid flush, oil change, and filters. Filters are dirt cheap online and you can do them yourself, so factor about $30 for those. An oil change at my dealer was about $50, and brake fluid flush was $112. I'm not including tire rotation because I have staggered tires.
So add up $500, $30, $50, and $112 and you get to $700, at least $300 less than the quotes they were giving me. So essentially I was paying $300 for them to "inspect" a car that I'm having no noticeable problems with.
What I ended up doing (and maybe it'll work for you too), is had them do the spark plug change at the same time as the cam gear TSIB. I bought the plugs on Sewell for $13 each and left them in glovebox. I took my car to the dealer for the cam gear TSIB. After they diagnosed it and told me what they had to do, they told me I also needed the spark plug change. They quoted me something like $500. I said that's fine, but all the pre-work for the spark plug change is the same as the TSIB, so I should be charged much less in labor. He told me he'd look into it. Called me back and said they'd do it for a half hour's labor ($57). I told him great, plugs are in the glovebox.
This also works for the fuel pressure sensor recall if you haven't had it performed, since the pre-work is similar to the TSIB/plug change.
A warranty claim can be denied if it can be shown that lack of performing a recommended preventative maintenance item caused or contributed to the failure in question. So if you never get an oil change and your engine blows, yes of course they can deny your warranty claim because your lack of oil changes contributed to or caused the engine failure. But you don't lose your warranty - they just won't warranty that particular claim. If you never get an oil change and your nav screen dies, they can't deny your warranty claim on the basis of not getting oil changes, because oil changes have nothing to do with nav screen function.
You can do all service yourself and all your Lexus (and aftermarket) warranties will apply in full. If they were to find you did something incorrectly and caused a failure, then they simply wouldn't warranty that failure. Very simple.
This can all be researched with a quick Google search for Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Last edited by calvin2376; 01-12-12 at 01:02 PM.
#25
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Thanks for all the replies and shared experiences.
The last 60K I had done at a dealership was on my 1997 GSX eclipse. Their 60k includes a timing belt replacement which is a much deeper dive into the engine bay. This cost $1200 total which is very understandable considering the cost of a broken timing belt and the work involved. This cost is ridiculous because we all know this takes their techs less than 2 hours of actual work.
The last 60K I had done at a dealership was on my 1997 GSX eclipse. Their 60k includes a timing belt replacement which is a much deeper dive into the engine bay. This cost $1200 total which is very understandable considering the cost of a broken timing belt and the work involved. This cost is ridiculous because we all know this takes their techs less than 2 hours of actual work.
#28
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Anyway... it's illegal to condition a vehicle warranty on having any non-free service done at any particular place. You always have the right to do it yourself, or at any shop of your choice, with no impact whatsoever on warranty (assuming the repair is done correctly.. obviously if you DIY and you break something during the work that's on you... though ONLY that is on you, the rest of the parts on the car remain under warranty.)
Likewise it's illegal to require you use only OEM parts (but again if you use a crappy/defective aftermarket part they don't have to cover a problem cause by that part, they still must cover anything else)
Last edited by Kurtz; 01-12-12 at 03:01 PM.
#29
A dealer lied to you? HOW SHOCKING
Anyway... it's illegal to condition a vehicle warranty on having any non-free service done at any particular place. You always have the right to do it yourself, or at any shop of your choice, with no impact whatsoever on warranty (assuming the repair is done correctly.. obviously if you DIY and you break something during the work that's on you... though ONLY that is on you, the rest of the parts on the car remain under warranty.)
Likewise it's illegal to require you use only OEM parts (but again if you use a crappy/defective aftermarket part they don't have to cover a problem cause by that part, they still must cover anything else)
Anyway... it's illegal to condition a vehicle warranty on having any non-free service done at any particular place. You always have the right to do it yourself, or at any shop of your choice, with no impact whatsoever on warranty (assuming the repair is done correctly.. obviously if you DIY and you break something during the work that's on you... though ONLY that is on you, the rest of the parts on the car remain under warranty.)
Likewise it's illegal to require you use only OEM parts (but again if you use a crappy/defective aftermarket part they don't have to cover a problem cause by that part, they still must cover anything else)
#30
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Lexus dealer or not, $1100 for the IS250 60k is nuts! The majority of the cost is associated with the spark plug replacement which from all my reading is a 2-4 hour job based on ability. Sadly, besides the spark plugs, this is a rather regular maintenance.
That said, the good news is I'm doing it myself and putting the savings into more productive purchases like the F-Sport intake, multiple oil filters, gaskets, etc. for a grand total of $465.69 thanks to the CL discount through Sewell Lexus.
Many thanks to each of you that have contributed to this site. You've saved me a lot of money and time with the recommendations, DIYs and vast insights into this vehicle.
Invoice below:
Filters: Engine Oil Filter-Oil Filter
04152YZZA5
$3.95 3 $11.85
Filters: Interior Cabin Air Filter-Cabin Air Filter - Particle
87139YZZ08
$14.75 1 $14.75
Gasket: Oils and Fluids-Crush Gasket, Oil Drain: 10 Pack
9043012031PCBAG
$8.00 1 $8.00
Spark Plugs-Spark Plug (FK20HBR11), each
9091901249
$13.20 6 $79.20
Push-In Clip-Push-In Clip
7586730120PC
$3.97 2 $7.94
Push-in style clip fastener-Push-in clip (bag of 10)
9046707211BAG
$9.50 1 $9.50
GASKET, AIR SURGE TANK TO INTAKE MANIFOLD
1717631050
$3.34 3 $10.02
Oil Filter Wrench-Non-Lexus Oil Filter Wrench
001133035991016
$21.93 1 $21.93
- Air Intake Kit-F-Sport Cold Air Intake Kit
PTR0353100
$302.50 1 $302.50
That said, the good news is I'm doing it myself and putting the savings into more productive purchases like the F-Sport intake, multiple oil filters, gaskets, etc. for a grand total of $465.69 thanks to the CL discount through Sewell Lexus.
Many thanks to each of you that have contributed to this site. You've saved me a lot of money and time with the recommendations, DIYs and vast insights into this vehicle.
Invoice below:
Filters: Engine Oil Filter-Oil Filter
04152YZZA5
$3.95 3 $11.85
Filters: Interior Cabin Air Filter-Cabin Air Filter - Particle
87139YZZ08
$14.75 1 $14.75
Gasket: Oils and Fluids-Crush Gasket, Oil Drain: 10 Pack
9043012031PCBAG
$8.00 1 $8.00
Spark Plugs-Spark Plug (FK20HBR11), each
9091901249
$13.20 6 $79.20
Push-In Clip-Push-In Clip
7586730120PC
$3.97 2 $7.94
Push-in style clip fastener-Push-in clip (bag of 10)
9046707211BAG
$9.50 1 $9.50
GASKET, AIR SURGE TANK TO INTAKE MANIFOLD
1717631050
$3.34 3 $10.02
Oil Filter Wrench-Non-Lexus Oil Filter Wrench
001133035991016
$21.93 1 $21.93
- Air Intake Kit-F-Sport Cold Air Intake Kit
PTR0353100
$302.50 1 $302.50
The lexus dealer in dever wanted $800...still I am going to do it myself and save the cash.
Also Calvin--thanks for the right info on the warranty. While we are here to help each other, we also need to help each other ensure the info is right.