The rub with supplying your own parts is that if something goes wrong after your service the installer can blame the parts that you supplied. It would be up to you to prove that his labor was at fault, and that would turn out to be time consuming, aggravating and stressful, and possibly expensive.

 

I just got mine done at a Toyota dealership - $725.00 out the door for timing belt, water pump (plus coolant), and serpentine belt. Was $499 just for timing belt work; asked about water-pump and they said it would be an extra $300 +$30 for coolant and $60 for serpentine belt.
He took off $100 for the water pump and I had a 10%coupon that got it done for about $725 out the door. I'm at 218k miles and hope to be good until 300k when I might upgrade to an LS460 by which time I hope it should be in my price range

 

if you have an '04- '06 with the lifetime transmission fluid and have not already done something you might consider it at this point. if you wait until 100,000 miles like my owners manual suggests it will almost always need some attention. drain and fill or full fluid replacement I am unsure, but begin to consider your long term options.

 

Did they try to recommend replacing the idler, tensioner and thermostat as well?
My Toyota dealership parts dept said they didn't have the parts for a LS430 (3UZ-FE), and so I bought the parts from Amazon. The parts are similar to a Toyota Tundra (2UZ-FE), I think.

Sent from an Android device using IB Automotive Group forum reader.

 

The main problem with service pricing is location. It seems in the south east areas things are just cheaper. So if a dealer sets a price nation wide, they goof themselves up in those states, as they are then not competitive.
I'm a DIY person, but still I think the best value is the Lexus dealer, in my area some time back I compared TB replacement prices, and all the independents where higher priced than the Lexus dealer, and did not include a loaner car. And that made the Lexus dealer shine.

 

No, actually when I asked the service rep writing me up he said they never have to replace the tensioner. I took his word for it.

 

I paid $918 at my local Toyota dealer. Can't remember all specifics, but believe it included belt (obviously), water pump, crank & cam seals, thermostat, idler, labor, and an oil change. Not as cheap as some others on here, but not as much as Lexus wanted either...

 

Says they are obligated to perform repairs and maintenance and again it is their call. Sounds like they are not obligated. You should sell the car and get another one.

 

Paid $1,900 CAD today for this at the lexus dealer.
They used lexus brand parts.

 

This is an old thread, but assuming the newest LS430 is over 13 years old, but most are over 14 (some were made in June 2006 but most by November 2005), imho it is not a good idea to have a Lexus dealer perform a major service any longer.

I think their is a mystique associated with having a car serviced at only a dealership, but I will stake my reputation on it. Indies do better work, they have to. One upset customer or one single case of wrongdoing they could be out of business. Not so with a dealership.

Take a brake fluid flush--dealer is not going around to all 4 corners and pushing new fluid out. At least not the one I went to. Would you do 1/4 of a job on your own car? No, you would not. And neither would an indie if he wants to stay in business. But a dealer tech is compensated by the job, and this is an extreme case of time is money. There's zero money to be made marking up a pint of brake fluid. There is on a brake job and/or a major service.

 

Ill throw this out — If anyone else needs a TB job done and you’re in the northeast, I will do it for $600 including parts. I’ve done so many of these by now it’s easy

 

Just adding my experience.... Reputable indies guarantee parts they buy. You buy the parts, NO guarantee. Reputable indies charge a higher labor rates, if will do work at all, when customer provides parts, as a deterrent, because they do not want to do such work and wish to avoid the trouble should a part fail. If the indie will do the work, and a customer provided part fails, going back to the indie will require customer paying for part the second time and paying higher labor rate the second time.

 

Wow! That is a great offer! Very nice of you!

 

I'll take you up on this in a while. I'm in MA. I'm at 195K, TB last done at 92K 6 years ago. Was thinking of doing it myself but the guidance of someone with experience would be huge.

 

For sure. Let me know