Hi All

My first post are far as I can recall....please be gentle..

I have an LS430 (six speed 2005 model). Has 45000km on the clock....it is very much driven to church on Sunday type car, in my case used to take my 90 year old mum shopping on Saturdays...(we are lapsed Catholics)

My question is regarding the timing belt, which is well and truely due on a time basis. Called Lexus of Blackburn for a quote....they hit me up with $3715 (includes water pump, tensioner, pulley gaskets...parts are quoted as 1.1K) asked how much time they are allowing. Was told 12 hours. So my maths is telling me a labour cost of 2.6K, do I conclude that they are

1. Not interested in servicing a 20 year old car, albeit has only cover just over 2k km per year since new and Lexus of Blackburn more focus on selling cars rather than maintaing an existing Lexus customer.
2. They are flying in a mechanic in from Tokyo
3. This is what it costs to have a timing belt changed on a LS430 at a dealership

I have recently done timing belts on my Alfa 147 GTA, about 2K...Land Rover Discovery belts, 2.2K...both included all tensioners, belts, water pump and gaskets. Both car asre V6 and teh Alfa is not a simple car to maintain, a V6 squeezed into the front of a car designed for a 2 litre engine!!

Would also apprecaite any recommendation regarding mechanics that anyone has used and would use again.

Many Thanks

Paolo

 

I did mine in 6 hours. There is nothing special that requires a specialized mechanic. There is a good write up in this forum that outlines the steps and you will see. Parts are around $200.

 

That's a crazy amount of money even if it is Canadian.

I can't do it in six hours, more like eight. I'm old and slow. You did not say how many miles are on the car, but I'd probably do the radiator if it has not been done.

These cars are worth keeping. If you can't do it, find some one with EXPERIENCE, that won't screw it up. Get everything from Rock Auto. I'm guessing someone with Toyota experience would be a good bet.

Loren

 

These are very typical dealer rates. See some examples here- https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...te-survey.html

$2.6k / 12 hours = $216 (Aus) or $148 (US).
Most forum members don't rely on Lexus dealers for TB service but many will use a Toyota dealer for a slight cost advantage. YMMV in Australia...

Have you considered taking the LS to whoever serviced the Alfa Romeo and Land Rover? I'd like to think your 430 is much easier to work on.

 

I might also add I had my laptop and went step by step which made it much easier.

 

Dealers, well the larger ones, have buildings and shops that cost millions to build, millions to operate, and require someone paying for the overhead. It is not that they are trying to push you away from them. It is just what it costs to do the work there. Even the salesman that sold me all 3 of my LS430s from the dealer discouraged me from having any work done there because it just makes no economic sense on an older car. Find a Lexus/Toyota specialist in your area and expect to pay around half price. Look at reviews if you cannot find someone you personally know to give their experience. A lazy mechanic that does not put back all hardware as it comes from the factory or breaks clips/wires and does ghetto repairs with electrical tape and glue can destroy any car. Some telltale signs of a shop with these kinds of problems is if the shop and lot are disorderly with tons of cars sitting around, clutter, junk, trash everywhere, etc. A workshop that is surgically clean with mechanics that are in uniforms that are relatively clean is a good sign.

Or plan B is take a vacation, schedule the work with the Car Care Nut in Chicago, and drop the car for a loaner while he is getting it done. Do the tourist stuff around Chicago for 2 days and drive home.

 

How much does TCCN charge?

 

That’s quite a drive from the southern tip of Australia…😳

 

Reach out to him and ask...

TCCN Automotive
https://tccnautomotive.com/
(708) 840-8226