RJLsES

Since 2006, after a couple of Lexus dealer service appointments, I've been using a small auto care chain (three locations) to service my 2006 IS250 with good results. 135K miles and running well.

My IS250 is pretty low-tech compared to my new loaded ES350 F-Sport. I'm wondering if my local auto care place is going to be 'smart' enough to service my new car and If I should go to the dealer for service.

I'm mostly concerned about all the electronic bells & whistles on the new car.

Anyone else have similar concerns, especially if your newest car is lots more complicated?

coolsaber

Its not the tools, but the person using those tools that matters. If the techs at the shop are just tools then they wouldnt be even able to do simple things like oil changes. If the techs are good, your car is just another day at the shop.

Keep good receipts of all the things you take it for, including the part types since those are needed if you need to visit the dealer for some insane warranty work etc. Warranty work of course skip the local and go to the dealer.

TlR
Service Centers depend on the quality of their techs and SAs. If historically they have been lackluster, I avoid them, since who knows what they will do (overfill, underfill, wrong oil, mess up the aero underneath, and the best part I wont even know until its too late).

Local shops, I can see what they do and the quality of their work. Just underwarranty I have to document everything more then a dealership.

mikemu30

My feeling is you drop 50k on a car and then look to save $50 on service?? Ill stick with the dealer as long as the car is under warranty.

Freds430

Every 5,000 and 10,000 miles your local mechanic only has to rotate the tires and change the oil. Every 30,000 miles, I would have the Lexus dealer changed the brake fluid.

Every 10,000 miles an oil change and tire rotation is needed. At the Lexus dealership this should be less than $100. Every 30,000 miles the brake fluid needs to be changed and again about $100. Every 20,000 miles change the air and cabin filters. This combined takes five minutes and the air filter can be bought on line at Lexus Parts World for $18. The cabin air filter can be bought at Walmart for $18, It is the Fram Fresh Breeze #10285 with carbon and baking soda to filter the air. Wiper blade inserts again can be bought at Lexus Parts World for $20 for both refills and takes five minutes to replace. You are done until 100,000 miles. At Lexus Parts World use cl5 in the promo code for 10% discount. If you go in and ask for the 10,000, 20,000 30,000 maintenance you will be paying big bucks for a lot more items you do not need checked and inspected. Once a year replace the key fob battery cr2032. Keep receipts for everything. I take my oil filter and 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 purchased at Walmart for $24 to my local Toyota dealer and they charge me $20 labor. This has worked for me for both our cars for over a million miles with zero problems. Nothing needs to be done hopefully to the bells and whistles.

SW17LS

Absolutely. Thats the beautiful thing about a Lexus, its at its core just a Toyota, and anybody that can work on a Toyota can work on a Lexus.

I have an independent mechanic that does all my routine service. Its cheaper, but honestly he does better more trustworthy work, I can bring him the specific fluids and parts I want used, its a small shop and they all love my Lexus because they typically work on older ones. He and I have become friends. At the dealer master techs dont do oil changes, they have lube guys who aren't any more trained than people at quick lube places. At my independent shop everything is done by ASE mechanics because thats all they have.

The only reason to use the dealer is because of the comfort of the dealership and the convenience of the loaner and quick in and out, which is something worthwhile dont get me wrong.