SW17LS

Nope, you can have your car serviced anywhere, or service it yourself and they cannot void the warranty, as long as you have records...

Lexusxoxo

Have you guys heard of eOilchange.com?
3 oil changes for $30 bucks on a Groupon deal.
In the San Diego area Lexus of El Cajon honors these.

http://www.groupon.com/deals/e-oilch...om-6-san-diego

Arty101

Nice to know. I'll remember to explain that to Lexus the next time they say that the other shop, be it JiffyLube or SpeedDee didn't have the right equipment or knowledge to service my 300h due to the complexity of the hybrid and denied warranty coverage. We're talking about both the minor and major services, not just an oil change. Talk to the hand or to the other shop

SW17LS

Did Lexus try to deny you warranty coverage? What was the issue?

Theres nothing so complex about the hybrid system that anybody can't change the oil. Even in the minor and major services, all we're really talking about is an oil change or tire rotation and them inspecting things for tens of thousands of miles before you get into any sort of "real" service. Anybody can perform this work on any car, hybrid or not.

I had a Prius for years, had it serviced at Toyota, independent shops, JiffyLubes...no problem.

Arty101

Nope, but I can see a case for any dealer, Lexus or otherwise deny warranty based on the "other" guy's service. And yes, most of the major service are for fluid changes, special inspection on top of the routine oil and tire rotation.

For instance, if your JiffyLube used a generic Peak or the yellow Prestone antifreeze on your Lexus or Audi, you'd think there wouldn't be a warranty issue down the road? There may be other specific or proprietary chems all these auto makers use in addition to their own antifreeze. Is there some magic pixie dust in their chems? I don't know, but just asking the question.

lesz

It has been decades, now, since states started passing laws saying that maintenance did not have to be done by the dealer to maintain warranty rights. At this point, I don't think that Lexus or a Lexus dealer would even question where the work was done unless there was something obviously amiss, such as running with the oil level 3 quarts low or having brake fluid in the crankcase.

SW17LS

lesz is right, this just doesn't happen. The law is very clear, and the last thing Lexus wants to do is get drug into some public battle over denying warranty claims. Its a hard case to make that someone other than Lexus changing oil or rotating tires contributed to the failure of some warrantied component.

I've owned 6 Toyota/Lexus products over the last 15 years. All of them have at one point or another been serviced by someone other than Lexus/Toyota. I have never had a dealer question that when doing warranty work, never. We're on the largest Lexus owners forum on earth...whens the last time you read a thread about Lexus denying a warranty claim for *any* reason, let alone because someone other than Lexus serviced the car? I've been around these forums for 10+ years and I cannot remember reading a single thread on that subject.

This is straight from the ESh service booklet:

You have to make sure that the correct fluids are being used. The only proprietary fluid in the car is the coolant, and make specific coolants are very common across many manufacturers nowadays, even some place like JiffyLube is going to know that there is a special coolant. If you're worried about it, buy and bring your own coolant. Anyways, nothing has to be done with your coolant, its a long life coolant.

I just flipped through the ESh's maintenance schedule, other than oil changes and tire rotations and checking that the drivers floor mat is installed properly, etc...the only other items are to replace the air filters, replace the battery in the key, and change the brake fluid every 30k miles. I just don't see paying Lexus $130 an hour to do this stuff.

If it gives you a warm fuzzy to use the dealer, or you enjoy the level of service and convenience go for it...but its *very* expensive.

Mike728

A little off topic, but really? What's wrong with Lexus' brake fluid, that it needs to be changed that frequently?

lesz

When I recently took my GX in for service (at a Toyota dealer), I asked the service adviser the same question. His answer was that, over time, moisture can build up in the brake fluid. He also indicated that there was little risk in going a bit beyond 30,000, but that it definitely should be replaced at somewhere near that mileage. I got the feeling that doing so was more of a precaution and protection against a problem that might happen, as opposed to one that was guaranteed to happen.

gmanusmc

This is exactly right - it's not that the fluid degrades that much (although it does), it's that moisture builds up causing possible problems throughout the braking system.

Bill G

SW17LS

These guys answered pretty well...

mrBillFL

I'm impressed brake fluid is listed on the service interval. I change all my cars brake fluids about every 4 years or less.

much cheaper than calipers. in the long run.

arlinek

Just bought a 2013 Lexus ES350 with 4K miles through a private owner. It is one year old+, almost exactly. The elderly couple (orig. owners) were under the impression that it needs it's first ("free") maintenance visit at 5K miles, not realizing as I just was reading, that it's 5K miles or 6 mos., whichever comes FIRST. In fact, they have just passed the first yr. anniversary with no apparent visit. I'm a little concerned they will try to deny the 4-year warranty (3 year balance, in actuality) - car is running fine, of course. Any info or opinions on this?

SW17LS

Don't worry about it one bit. The 5k mile service is just a tire rotation.

arlinek

Thank you; you've given me some peace of mind.