Good ideas, but I’ve done them. I’m not just looking for an independent mechanic, I’m trying to find a local Lexus mech. that wants extra work on the side. I’ve also posted in the local section here in Club Lexus, but that section doesn’t seem to get visited much.

 

 

 

It takes only a minute to look under services on your local Craigslist, often really good mechanics advertise for business there.

Surely there are lots of regarded independent auto repair shops in your area you could call and ask if they have a good experienced person able to do your work.

 

To be clear, there is NO reason why you need a Lexus tech to do that job. Its very straightforward, and any certified mechanic can do the job and do it very well.

Its not as easy as just saying to a Lexus tech "come over and do this at my house", they need tools, a lift, lots of things. Just find a good independent shop and take it there.

The beauty of having an LS vs a Mercedes or an Audi or something is that anybody can work on it. A gas station could do this job...

 

 

and why jeopardize someone getting fired

 

FWIW, I've done it. At a MB dealer, I asked one tech and he said no but pointed me to another. This one came out to my home and hooked up an electrical plug that I had forgotten where its home was in the middle of a job I was doing.. I asked him what I owed him and I had to talk him into taking anything. Another occasion was when a Vette I was working on had a broken plastic window gear. I couldn't get the new piece in. I went into the garage area at local Chevy dealer and asked where a Corvette guy was. The tech walked me over to another tech and with the gear assembly in my hand, he said give that damn thing as he knew exactly what i wanted. He said i do these all day long and quickly put it together for me. I discreetly tried to give him something but he refused to take it.

I wouldn't be afraid to ask.

Oh, almost forgot. Doing my first oil change on my '11 LS, I managed to drop the oil filter canister and the inside pieces went flying. For fear of not getting it back together properly, I went to Lexus and again talked to one of the techs about it. He promptly put the thing back together and refused to take anything.

BTW, my wife thinks I'm crazy when I do such stuff.

 

 

Go find an Indy shop where you can build a relationship and get a warranty on the job.
Nothing against guys doing side work, but you want some sort of assurance that the job will not only be performed, but done right with some backing to fix things if they go wrong.

A good independent shop has probably done this job many times and knows exactly how to get it done right without costing you a fortune.