Club Lexus

Cecioboe · 03-03-09, 06:39 AM

MY 2001 RX300 has 90K on it.

The dealer cost for the scheduled maintenance is about (gasp) $2000. I know the timing belt is important, but what do I really need to do to keep it running well? I need reliability as I am a woman who drives frequently between Dallas and Ft. Worth at night alone (for work) and don't want to get stuck.

I just looked up the KBB value of my RX and it ranges from $6000 - $9000.
Repair cost vs. car value is pretty high - any thoughts? I like my RX just fine but am not sold on it being the only vehicle in the world I must drive.

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DaveGS4 · 03-03-09, 06:59 AM

Couple of suggestions

1) Take it to an independent shop and get a quote for similar maintenance.

2) Find out what items are involved in the maintenance and pick and choose from them (timing belt is usually between $800 and $1200 of it). Do others later if you can and spread out the cost

Most any educated buyer is going to ask if you have done the timing belt at the 90K mark and your value will be diminished if sold. It is something you shouldn't skip for too long though - it can leave you stranded.

masboy · 03-03-09, 07:28 AM

Cecioboe, as DaveGS4 said....try ask to an independent shop. My 03 ES was due 90K service last year but I decided to do the most important part "water pump & timing belt" at that time, and it's for $750 **independent shop price** and it's been running perfectly fine so far.

As far as I know, 90K service will run about $950s-$1100s in most independent shop.

I don't know where you are in Texas, but try to ask people for a suggested independent shop in this section.

Good luck!

vanguy · 03-03-09, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecioboe

MY 2001 RX300 has 90K on it.

The dealer cost for the scheduled maintenance is about (gasp) $2000. I know the timing belt is important, but what do I really need to do to keep it running well? I need reliability as I am a woman who drives frequently between Dallas and Ft. Worth at night alone (for work) and don't want to get stuck.

I just looked up the KBB value of my RX and it ranges from $6000 - $9000.
Repair cost vs. car value is pretty high - any thoughts? I like my RX just fine but am not sold on it being the only vehicle in the world I must drive.

Go to a Toyota dealer. I did a timing belt change recently and cost around $500.

sktn77a · 03-03-09, 08:22 AM

There's quite a bit of maintenance to be done at 90k - all fluids (engine, transmission, differential, coolant, brake, PS, etc), timing belt, maybe water pump, maybe plugs. You can typically (but not always) get all this routine maintenance done at an independent for half the cost of the Lexus dealer. And not everything absolutely MUST be done at this time. Try a Toyota dealer also. I've found I can negotiate the price of some items down at the Lexus dealer if I have some reliable alternative figures to throw at them (25% to 30%, depending on the job). But I ended up at an independent for the 90k service because I wanted everything done at once.

In rare instances, however, (eg shock replacement) the dealer was actually cheaper than the independent! Go figure!

lexus114 · 03-03-09, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sktn77a

There's quite a bit of maintenance to be done at 90k - all fluids (engine, transmission, differential, coolant, brake, PS, etc), timing belt, maybe water pump, maybe plugs. You can typically (but not always) get all this routine maintenance done at an independent for half the cost of the Lexus dealer. And not everything absolutely MUST be done at this time. Try a Toyota dealer also. I've found I can negotiate the price of some items down at the Lexus dealer if I have some reliable alternative figures to throw at them (25% to 30%, depending on the job). But I ended up at an independent for the 90k service because I wanted everything done at once.

In rare instances, however, (eg shock replacement) the dealer was actually cheaper than the independent! Go figure!

strut replacement was cheaper @ the dealer??

alaskaty · 03-03-09, 10:20 AM

I would probably do water pump and timing belt, and maybe even drive belts for an additional $50 while they're doing the timing belt. My ES for all 3 cost $800 - $850 at the Lexus dealership.

Remember, your truck is basically a Toyota Highlander, so any competent mechanic that can work on Toyotas should have no problem with your RX.