dctex99

and it seems dealers wing it? I took my Lexus for the first time to the LOCAL dealer; while waiting I saw all the ones in the showroom with body side moldings installed for $795. I knew that someone mentioned the list price was $150 for the moldings and that Sewell charged us about $98;...so thought I would check the Escondido price. They looked it up in the back and said they were $395. I was so tempted to ask,"So it is another $400 to install on all these cars??"" but decided forget it; I would just NEVER do business with these people. Got a so so car wash and a gas refill; I am so spoiled by Longo Lexus that this 35 million dollar dealership seemed kind of lame.....

markrivers

And this is why Elon Musk got it right with the elimination of dealerships.
Buying a car should be like buying an iPad.
It's going to be $499 whether you buy it here in California or in Maine.

RGSW

It's my understanding that the body side moldings are painted over "white" plastic. When dinged the paint may chip and expose the white plastic underneath. Guess that's better than a "door" ding? I have opted not to have the body side moldings on my last two RX 350s.

SteveCraig

Need to put things into perspective.
Typical Lexus buyer isn't typically a "hands-on" person. A very limited few owners will try anything like this themselves.
Add-ons are almost as lucrative as extended warranties for the dealers. After all, they are in business to make $$.
I put on my own side mouldings & hood deflector only because I enjoy tinkering. Some do not.Dealers can go as high as 400% in mark-up for parts.

Another easy comparison:
I can get a set of 16 hydraulic lifters for any vintage 350 (5.7l) Chevy at any GM dealer for $ 8.32/each.
I can also get a set of 16 hydraulic lifters for my vintage 350 (5.7l) Buick at any GM dealer for 13.76/each.
Not much else the same between them.
Both purchases will get me the identical part numbers.
Buick was generally a more expensive car to buy going in vs. the Chevy, the parts will follow suit.
What do I buy ?
I go with the Chevy lifters & put them into my Buick.

kitlz

My dealer has a special going on. The side door guards, mud guards and the door edge guards for $495 installed. Obviously some people don't want to be bothered going through the trouble of ordering and installing them. I'd recommend asking the dealer to throw them in as part of the deal or buy them and have a body shop install them for less.

dctex99

I only went to this dealer to do my Recall. They had a "NON NAV" Rx for almost 50k on the lot,,,why???
$2595 for Chrome Wheels, $895 for "Smooth Finish coating" and $795 for body moldings,,,amazing; but yes, your comment about 400% markup....well, a friend used to do the old Pinstriping on Cars...he bought it by the roll; charge $7 a car, and the dealer charge $69.95 for it...that would be 1000% markup.....sometimes they would generously "throw it in free", what kind hearts; never give a sucker an even break is their motto.....

kitlz

I figured you were there for service only. Just putting it out there for other people to ponder.

There's a dealer by me that puts 20" Vossens on some of their RXs and jacks the price up $3-4K. Now that's a real It's not like those rims are practical for this area between the potholes and snow/salt. As far as my dealer, they only do stuff like pin striping and chrome pillars. BTW, they installed the JDM visors and mud guards for me no charge. I didn't buy them there either.

SteveCraig

End of the day it's all about the jelly-beans.
Invoice out 100 jelly-beans today, pay out 25 beans today. I'm 75 jelly-beans richer.

Another discussion, for another day is costs on replacement boat parts !

kitlz

Another food analogy <<Adding disclaimer that some posts may cause the munchies>>

We are talking about optional accessories here. Most can be purchased from CL vendors for less. Installing yourself will save even more money. Bottom line, you can control how much dealers take out of your pocket.

dctex99

Being I used to be in that business(marine parts),we could always use the excuse of silicon bronze, high grade stainless, and all the other
excuses that all parts are in a terrible atmosphere, btw boat paint is awesome to use around the house.lol