Just got quoted $600 for replacing spark plugs and air filters...seems a bit much!!
04-25-12, 09:30 PM
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12-12-12, 09:24 AM
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There are countless threads on this. By dealer standards, $600 is actually on the low end. The dealer will charge $25 per plug, so that's $150 right there. Probably another $30-40 in parts for air filters. Then add in the 4-5 labor hours for the spark plug change at $120 per hour, which comes to between $480-600 by itself.
Add these up and you get $150 + $30 + $480 = $660, so you're actually a bit below.
I recently hit 60k and needed the plugs changed and called about 6-7 dealers in the 1-2 hour radius of me, and their quotes for the spark plug change alone (parts + labor) ranged from $400-800. Do a search for "60k service" or "spark plug quote" and you'll get threads with even higher quotes than that.
In truth the only unreasonable part about a $600 quote for a spark plug change is the parts. You can get plugs on Sewell for $13 each, but most dealers will charge $25. That's at least a 100% markup, since you know if you can get them from a dealer for $13 then you know dealers can get them for less.
The labor for a spark plug change really will take 3-5 hours of time, that's not really an overstatement or way they're screwing you. And all dealers charge an hourly labor rate of somewhere between $100-150, so doing the math gets you up in the hundreds of dollars pretty quickly.
Here's my advice to all on the spark plug change:
1) No matter where you go to get it done, buy the plugs on Sewell for $13 each (unless the dealer or shop is already quoting you that price). Regardless of what dealers say, you CAN bring your own parts in. If they refuse, go to another dealership. Stress that these are OEM Denso iridium pre-gapped plugs bought from a Lexus dealer.
2) USE OEM PLUGS. A lot of people have come on here asking if there are better plugs to use, or saying they found some non-OEM plugs on eBay for cheaper. I have seen at least 3 threads of people who used non-OEM plugs, put everything back together and turned the car on only to find it misfiring or not working properly. That meant they had to not only tear the car apart again, but also spend the $75 on OEM plugs they should have just spent in the first place.
3) If at all possible, have the spark plug service done at the same time you're getting one of the following services done:
- Cam gear TSIB
- Carbon build-up TSIB
- Fuel pressure sensor recall
- Valve spring recall
That's because in the above cases, almost all the pre-work (removing parts, gaining access) is the same as for the spark plugs, and that's really where the labor cost comes from for the spark plugs. I had my spark plugs changed at the same time as the cam gear TSIB, and instead of charging me 4-5 hours labor, they charged me only a half hour's labor of $57 since they were already in there and had removed all the necessary parts.
Add these up and you get $150 + $30 + $480 = $660, so you're actually a bit below.
I recently hit 60k and needed the plugs changed and called about 6-7 dealers in the 1-2 hour radius of me, and their quotes for the spark plug change alone (parts + labor) ranged from $400-800. Do a search for "60k service" or "spark plug quote" and you'll get threads with even higher quotes than that.
In truth the only unreasonable part about a $600 quote for a spark plug change is the parts. You can get plugs on Sewell for $13 each, but most dealers will charge $25. That's at least a 100% markup, since you know if you can get them from a dealer for $13 then you know dealers can get them for less.
The labor for a spark plug change really will take 3-5 hours of time, that's not really an overstatement or way they're screwing you. And all dealers charge an hourly labor rate of somewhere between $100-150, so doing the math gets you up in the hundreds of dollars pretty quickly.
Here's my advice to all on the spark plug change:
1) No matter where you go to get it done, buy the plugs on Sewell for $13 each (unless the dealer or shop is already quoting you that price). Regardless of what dealers say, you CAN bring your own parts in. If they refuse, go to another dealership. Stress that these are OEM Denso iridium pre-gapped plugs bought from a Lexus dealer.
2) USE OEM PLUGS. A lot of people have come on here asking if there are better plugs to use, or saying they found some non-OEM plugs on eBay for cheaper. I have seen at least 3 threads of people who used non-OEM plugs, put everything back together and turned the car on only to find it misfiring or not working properly. That meant they had to not only tear the car apart again, but also spend the $75 on OEM plugs they should have just spent in the first place.
3) If at all possible, have the spark plug service done at the same time you're getting one of the following services done:
- Cam gear TSIB
- Carbon build-up TSIB
- Fuel pressure sensor recall
- Valve spring recall
That's because in the above cases, almost all the pre-work (removing parts, gaining access) is the same as for the spark plugs, and that's really where the labor cost comes from for the spark plugs. I had my spark plugs changed at the same time as the cam gear TSIB, and instead of charging me 4-5 hours labor, they charged me only a half hour's labor of $57 since they were already in there and had removed all the necessary parts.
But we did find out from the dealer that there were some safety recalls due on it, one of them which would involve engine work so I'm hoping I can just give them all the parts and get away with a 30 minutes of labor charge like you did.
Any handy links to all the parts needed? I think it's this: http://is.sewellparts.com/accessorie...2006/2056.html
I'm doing it on my own today. I started yesterday but ran out of light when I stripped my Allen key. Still trying to finish today. I've never undertaken anything mechanical but I'd say it's going great so far. I bought the gaskets and plugs from Sewell and followed a DIY a member on here did. It's on PDF and really detailed!!
I know about the Spark Plugs Change being required in the '08 Is 350, but I'd never heard of Injector Cleanings, Intake cleanings and air sensor cleanings being required. Any tutorial on those?
Last edited by Shahryar; 12-12-12 at 09:37 AM.
12-12-12, 11:41 AM
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So for once, the IS is going to be a bigger ***** than my M3. Haha. I caught a misfire in my E46 M3 and replaced coil packs and spark plugs in less than a hour. Now I'm going to be looking at 4-5 hours? Good thing I have another 10k miles to go, I can mentally prepare myself. Lol.
12-12-12, 11:47 AM
#21
So for once, the IS is going to be a bigger ***** than my M3. Haha. I caught a misfire in my E46 M3 and replaced coil packs and spark plugs in less than a hour. Now I'm going to be looking at 4-5 hours? Good thing I have another 10k miles to go, I can mentally prepare myself. Lol.
12-12-12, 12:02 PM
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Great post except for the part about the 4-5 hours in labor. I recently did the spark plug change on my 350 following the DIY on here and it took me a little over 2 hours. I think if I had to do it again I could do it in under 90 minutes without breaking a sweat. If dealers are charging more than 2 hours to change the spark plugs on a 350, they are seriously ripping people off.
I 100% agree on the 350. The 250 took me a bit longer to change but the 350 is surely manageable under 3 hours if you know what your doing. It would take the dealer 3-5 hours including having to wait for the car infront of yours to get its sparks changed as well. lol
12-12-12, 12:12 PM
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12-12-12, 01:52 PM
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I normally have the oil change at the dealership only, runs about $70 which includes a pretty good car wash and interior vacuum.
I would change enginer or cabin filter myself since it is easy.
for everything else, I buy oem parts online (mostly from Sewell) and have it done at my trusted local shop (Exact Motorsports in Milpitas where I live).
I would change enginer or cabin filter myself since it is easy.
for everything else, I buy oem parts online (mostly from Sewell) and have it done at my trusted local shop (Exact Motorsports in Milpitas where I live).
04-23-13, 12:18 PM
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I posted some months back over here about the spark plugs that would be needed in my parents' recently purchased used 2006 IS 350. Just ordered six of the Spark Plugs ( Spark Plug (FK20HBR11) - Part #: 9091901249 ) from clublexus for $10.95 each at the club lexus online price. Will be taking these plugs to dealer to get the spark plug change done with the valve spring replacement. When I brought it up with the service advisor late last year, he said that there would be no charge for the spark plug install since they are taking everything apart for the recall anyways. I hope that is still the case.
Also, I notice the product description on the sewell page says that the plugs should last for 110k miles. But I believe w/ the IS 350, you should be changing the plugs everything 60k miles.
Also, I notice the product description on the sewell page says that the plugs should last for 110k miles. But I believe w/ the IS 350, you should be changing the plugs everything 60k miles.
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