dchen2

So I plan on having my mechanic (who specializes in toyotas and have also helped service another GS430 before mine) do the 90k service for me car soon.

Since I heard lexus-parts.com had the cheapest prices, I figured I would give them a try first and had a bit of a shock prices wise.

I emailed them with a inquiry for all the parts needed for a 90k service and got the following list:

Shopping Cart
Qty Description
Unit Price
Amount
135030F010-IDLER SUB-ASSY, TIMI $78.48 $78.48
135050F010-IDLER SUB-ASSY, TIMI $78.14 $78.14
1356809070-BELT, TIMING $56.56 $56.56
161005927583-PUMP ASSY, WATER $131.02 $131.02
1632562010-GASKET, WATER INLET $4.92 $4.92
1780150060-ELEMENT SUB-ASSY, AI $40.15 $40.15
4333039535-JOINT ASSY, LWR BALL $76.85 $76.85
4334039415-JOINT ASSY, LWR BALL $76.85 $76.85
4546059015-ROD ASSY, TIE, RH $50.83 $50.83
4547059015-ROD ASSY, TIE, LH $68.73 $68.73
87139YZZ01-ELEMENT, AIR REFINER $30.30 $30.30
9043012027-GASKET,OIL PAN DRAIN $1.02 $1.02
90915YZZD3-FILTER, OIL $5.41 $5.41
9091602586-BELT, V-RIBBED $47.42 $47.42
9091603100-THERMOSTAT $16.69 $16.69
9676124019-RING, O (2) $2.89 $2.89

To cancel a specific item, enter "0" for quantity
& select UPDATE ORDER. SUBTOTAL $766.26

After I recovered from the sticker shock of seeing just the parts costing 766.26, I emailed lexus-parts back and learned the prices were with the CL discount and they were supposedly all the 90k service items. I was originally under the impression and from reading my owners supplement that the 90k mainly just involved the timing belt, serpentine belt, waterpump, and thermostat.

Whats all these extra parts on there like the timing idlers, lower ball joints and tire rods which add another $440 worth of parts to my total?

My mechanic quoted me 6.5 hours for the waterpump, timing belt, serpentine belt, cooland, thermostat and powersteering drain and refil. If I were to have the mechanic directly order the parts it would only be 150 for the water pump, 50 for the timing belt, 40 for the serpentine belt, and 17 for the thermostat. According to him, that rough $280 parts total would be all the parts needed and then with 75/hr labor, the total woulda only come out to 488.50 labor +280 parts + 35 shop supplies (coolant and power steering fluids) = $750ish with tax out the door.

However, now if I am to take lexus-parts advice and order all their parts (price is roughly same as price quoted by mechanic) I would be look at just $800 for the parts alone! And then I figure installing all the extra parts would mean increasing the labor to 10hours, thus increasing my 90k service cost from $750 to ~$1600!

I was quoted only $1200 for the full 90k service at the lexus dealer, though that doesnt include the waterpump and thats at their high $95/hr labor (yeah, labor is much cheaper in UT than elsewhere).

By the looks of it now, if I was to do the full 90k service it would make more sense to just pay $1500 with the waterpump replacement and get it all done at the dealer if it'll cost me the same amount to do it outside and then I am saved the hassle and time.

Tammy

Have your mechanic check the front suspension for wear in the lower ball joints and tie rod ends. If they are worn, this is a good time to replace them. Your tires will last longer.

The water pump is usually replaced with the timing belt. This is a good idea if the coolant was not replaced during previous scheduled services.

The timing belt idler bearings may be worn and loose after 90K miles.

The idea is to replace the parts that commonly wear while the engine is opened up. This saves in labor costs if a idler bearing fails in 10K miles and the engine ruins the new timing belt.

How long do you expect to keep the vehicle? You need to decide how much money is enough.

dchen2

thanks tammy, that makes sense. I heard about how the waterpump and thermos usually fail around 130-140k and so I figured it made sense to replace those while the engine was all opened up for the timing belt change.

Are the timing belt idlers the timing belt pretensioners that some other forum members mention replacing when they get their 90k done?

My new all season tires just got last night and I am gonna get them mounted today. Then afterwards I plan on getting a alignment done at the dealership and I'll ask the techs there to check for suspension wear like you said.

Tammy

The idlers are the pretensioners when installed...