Is anyone in the MD/NoVA/DC area due soon for their 60K service? Reason I ask is that I'm due for the 60K service in about 2K miles, and I've been calling around for quotes and the prices are ridiculous. The main thing is the spark plug replacement - the 6 spark plugs by themselves from Sewell are $78. Dealers are quoting me anywhere from $387-560 for the replacement, assumes 3 hours labor. Even my independent shop quoted $350. What I'd probably do is buy the plugs off Sewell and supply them to the dealer so I only pay labor, but the best labor quote I've gotten is still $230.

I'm definitely inclined to do the spark plug replacement myself to save this money (there's a great DIY on CL), but I'd love to do it alongside or with someone else. The brake fluid flush I may just have my shop do for $110, but I could be inclined to do that myself too, I just don't know what's involved.

Bigrahizzl - what mileage are you at?

And sick - do you change your own oil? The oil change for me at my 60K service is free, but all future oil changes are not, and so after this upcoming one I want to start doing them myself. I've never changed the oil before, but I think with the DIY on here I could, and after the first time or two it'd get to be pretty easy. I ask you because I know you're nearby in MD.

Anybody near Baltimore, MD in need of a spark plug replacement, brake fluid flush, or both and interested in doing it yourself?

 

^ brake fluid yes - I need to do asap because I should have done at 30k (According to this nice breakdown from Kurtz (Knightshade on my.is: http://my.is/forums/f126/dealer-vs-m...7/#post5733603 ). I'm at over 41k now.

I had ordered the brake fluid already w/ my sway bars from Sewell a few months back (part# 004751BF03 at $4.19. I think I read you need two for the change so I ordered 4 so I can have 2 for next time).

I def need to change my oil filter at least - I may have some mileage left on the Mobil 1 synthetic that's in there but the filter doesn't last as long as the oil from what I've read. For that I had also ordered the parts from sewell w/ my sway bars (6 of each):
a) Filters: Engine Oil Filter-Oil Filter (04152YZZA5) $3.99 each
Gasket: Oils and Fluids-Crush Gasket (Oil drain plug) (9043012031PC) $0.85 each

I don't need to worry about spark plugs for another 20k miles but if someone's working on them, I'll hang out and try to learn.

 

Do you know how to do the brake fluid flush? I've never done it before, but I'd like to learn seeing as how I'll need it every 30K miles.

If you know how to do it or you have a good DIY, then I'd definitely be interested in joining you for it (I'd just order the parts off Sewell like you did).

And have you ever changed the oil? Let me know when you're doing it next, and if it matches when I need it maybe I can learn from you.

 

I haven't changed my oil yet, but i do paln on doing it myself. I'm not ready for the stuff yet, but i would like watch, so when i'm ready i have an idea on what to do.

 

I've bookmarked DIY threads on both the brake fluid and the oil change. I'll go through and put a post together later today.

The brake fluid change just seems to be drawn out but if you had access to a lift instead of having to jack up the car one or 2 wheels at a time that seems like it would make things a lot easier. But then again if we do have enough jacks/jackstands might not be worth it to drive all the way to northern VA.

But People in the threads pretty much seemed to say do it w/ someone experienced first and then you can handle on your own. It's pretty risky in that you cannot get air in the system period so you have to do it carefully. It's definitely a DIY though and I'm down to do it to save money (And then take care of on my family's other cars). I have a friend who does it on his own in his STi so I can see if he could join to help out.

Oil change seems much simpler. Lift would be nice but you'd be fine w/ a ramp. For the oil change, I mentioned that I have the oil filters and gaskets. I also already have the Assenmacher AST Toyota / Lexus Oil Filter Wrench TOY 640 / 09228-06501 - 64mm which it seems most people recommend (check out this recent thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...er-wrench.html )

As I mentioned, I have to do both asap so after you check out my post later, tell me when you're up for joining. I'd be down this Sunday which right now is 70 degrees and sunny. I'd recommend you just go ahead and order the parts for brake fluid and oil change from Sewell now w/ your spark plugs since whether you use it now or later you'll still use everything. And it doesn't seem too costly.

 

I'll probably be doing an oil change on my WRX this weekend, and after that some misc stuff on the IS. If anyone needs a place to work on their car or would like to join, let me know.

 

Hey Calvin, I'm glad I found this thread. I'm no where near the mileage you are, but I'd love to join you all and learn a thing or two. I'm sure we could all figure it out with the help of the posted DIYs. Also, my apartment complex has a relatively empty parking area if you wanna use it.

 

Where in MD are you located? And what stuff are you doing on the IS? I still need to do my red-outs.

Hey Aaron - I guess spark plugs won't be applying to you for another, oh 60K miles or so haha. When are you getting your car back, or have you already?

I think you, sick and I are all relatively near each other in MD. I'm thinking more and more that I might leave the brake fluid flush to the experts and focus on just doing the spark plug replacement myself. The brake fluid flush is only needed every 30K miles and it's crucial to get it exactly right, and Towson quoted me $112, so I'll probably just do that. The oil change however is a different story - I'm not paying for an oil change every 5K miles, I definitely want to do that myself. My upcoming 60K mile oil change will be free so I'm just having it done at the dealer, but after that I'll be doing it myself, so if one of you guys is planning on changing the oil in their car anytime soon I'd love to be there and observe (and help out if needed, of course).

 

Calvin, i'm Pasadena its only like 20-25min from your place. I stll have to do redouts too, after that i'm going to be buffing out some scratches. Let me know if anyone's interested in coming and i'll pm you my address.

 

Calvin, I'll see if I can find links later to back this up but you don't have to do the oil change every 5k miles. You could probably push it even to 10. Certain oils can go longer to the issue is the filter. I've been using Mobil 1 in my car since my 2nd oil change I think (whenever the free one(s) stopped) and the last time, I went like 13k on it or something and sent it in for a Used Oil Analysis to Blackstone and they said that the oil had broken down a little too much but not enough to worry about damage to the car. But they suggested not letting the filter go as long.

My plan was to just keep the oil in for 12kish miles and switch out the filter every 5k

 

I'd be up for joining. I'm in Laurel so about 30 minutes away. But I could only do Sunday though (which you guys might prefer since it's supposed to be nicer that day). Anyone here going to be familiar w/ brake fluid flush? If not I think my friend I mentioned earlier w/ the STi might be able to join

 

I'm not familiar with brake flush. Sunday is perfect, thats the only day i'm available anways. If your buddy want to join that cool. I was thinking about starting around noon or whenever you guys are ready.

 

Yeah I've read quite a bit about this, and literally everyone has a different opinion on oil change intervals, which oil to use, etc.

My car is CPO, and for the warranty to be applicable I must keep up to date with scheduled maintenance. That means either changing the oil with regular non-synthetic oil every 5K miles, or changing the oil with synthetic every 10K miles. I likely will do the synthetic so I don't have to change as often, but in any case I will be adhering to the Lexus recommended maintenance schedule so that I don't have to get into any discussions on whether I've conformed to the warranty requirements, etc.

 

Calvin, im at 45,700 miles at the moment. Everything u guy have mentioned i have never tackled b4. DIy would be great but i doubt id be able to make the trip. Plus, the roads up in MD suck LOL ill have a hel of time trying to dodge all those pot holes LMAO

 

Bigra,lol you'll be alright as long as don't go into the city(I'm sure Calvin knows all about that). Did you order your polisher? They sent me the wrong coils, so i had to send it back.