What do you get for "service A"? I never use these bundled service tasks, I always go a la carte. My first oil change was $139 at the dealer.

 

I've saved lots of money in the past by simply asking for the services the maintenance guide says need to be done, a la carte. Services such as "A" are simply a way to make money.....for years I had this done at a Toyota dealer (on my 2013 RX) and it worked great, though lately (with fewer cars being sold) they've started pushing lots of unnecessary stuff). When I got our 2013, Lexus published an estimate of what every service would cost, and when I compared that number with the a la carte strategy, I found I saved fully 60% (i.e. paid on average 40% of the published Lexus estimate). Vive le a la carte!

 

I have always used a la carte scheduling. I never go in and ask for the 20,000 mile service ex. Every 10,000 I get the oil changed. Every 30,000 miles get the brake fluid changed. Every year change the cabin and engine air filter myself. Takes 4 minutes and cost $40. So 50,000 miles cost me about $600.

 

I have always brought my own oil and filter and the Lexus dealer or Toyota dealer charges me $35 labor. The Mobil 1 I buy the five quart jug at Walmart for $23 and the Toyota oil filter online for $5. So total oil change $63. I do this to save some money but more to have Mobil 1 in the engine.

 

What synthetic brand do the Lexus dealers use?

 

My Service Manager told me a few years ago and I can't remember the brand. Sorry. It is a brand I heard of but not a major brand like Mobil, Pennzoil, Castrol etc. He said if you go in and buy oil you get Toyota synthetic made by Mobil. They use huge oil filled drums in the service department.

 

Yea, they buy the cheapest oil out there and charge you top dollar, thats why I change my own oil.

 

I concur. You won't find any franchise dealer using one quart or even four or five quart containers to fill your engine after doing an oil drain. They purchase all of their fluids in bulk, as it is less costly, take up less space and is typically easier to dispense that way, not to mention getting rid of all of the empty plastic bottles that would accumulate every day. I always use a solid, well known name brand synthetic for my oil changes and differential fluid changes. I do use Toyota WS auto trans fluid for transmission service.

 

Well, in almost every instance, the nice looking stuff you buy in shiny quarter containers is the exact same stuff that is sold in bulk...same ratings, same quality, likely the same manufacturer. There may well be some cheap oil available for shops which want to cut corners, but I see no evidence (from what I read) that Lexus dealers use substandard oil...