LS430 timing belt!

[Bigture]

Hello all.  For what its worth - I'm a very new Lexus owner (LS430 '02).  Last June I purchased it, October it passed its MOT but (there's usually a "but") there was little service history, and I did not know if it had a timing belt done - so I checked a few places for quotes, and do you know; the least expensive was Lexus in Bolton ( £500 including water pump ).  On Friday morning I took it in, got a curtesy car (CT200h).

By the time I got home they rang me up to say that the radiator was kaput, they even sent me a video of the problem rad.  Strange as it may seem I was seriously considering a new rad because of problems with auto box's mentioned in other posts.

A little earlier today I went to pick her up (and pay!!!!!) - they had given her what seemed to me was a great valet (inside and out)  -  I was glad to be back driving her - the CT200h was a nice car, but not in the same league.

I think that sometimes we (me) give the main dealers a bad time - I must admit, thus far, they have played fair by me (apart from trying to charge £70 for 5 litres of oil.

Sorry about the rambliness ( is that a word? )

Here's hoping I keep away from my wallet for a goodly while.

Best wishes to all,

Bob.

[steveledzep]

I like rambliness Bob, good post.

I've not needed to bother my local (60 miles away !) dealer in Cardiff much, but they have always been helpful.

Just this week I asked them to process a claim on my Lexus extended warranty and after I submitted a few relevant photos they confirmed the problem was covered.  It's booked in week after next for the work.

[Oldboy]

Great to see a Lexus dealership being competitive on their prices

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[The-Acre]

Interestingly we often hear that a main dealer price is good for a cam belt change, and you know its been done properly. How much for the rad if you don't mind me asking?

[Bigture]

Pretty expensive The-Acre  -  £350

[Tinonline]

Reading Lexus very helpful I find with batteries and tyres good value for quality and at least match all others. My non franchise Jag specialist works on all manner of classics and has knowledge of Lexus so that's my route if I don't do the work.

welcome to the pleasure dome!

[steve2006]

7 hours ago, Bigture said:

Pretty expensive The-Acre  -  £350

Wooh! That made up for the cheap cambelt job, did the price also include the tensioner and idler pulleys?

[Oldboy]

Reading Lexus were expensive for cambelt change. It was 350 and when I asked them to change the water pump as well the said that would be another 350. I did tell them that they are next to each other and couldn't be the same cost again but they didn't budge...so I ended up at powerhouse Camberley for 520. I think it was a central call centre that was quoting me the cost and not the dealership itself. I went to them for wipers and they also fitted them for free.. When I spoke to them face to face while fitting the wipers they said I should have gone straight to the service desk and agreed that the call centre had got the cambelt and water price combined wrong !!

A lesson to us all...speak to the people that know and not the the call centres monkeys that know nothing ! [emoji1]

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[PJD]

On 27/02/2016 at 6:21 PM, steve2006 said:

Wooh! That made up for the cheap cambelt job, did the price also include the tensioner and idler pulleys?

Would a Lexus Dealer replace the Belt and Waterpump without doing the tensioners also?  Not being facetious - genuine question...

[cruisermark]

1 hour ago, PJD said:

Would a Lexus Dealer replace the Belt and Waterpump without doing the tensioners also?  Not being facetious - genuine question...

Well normally they say they check the condition of the waterpump and advise the customer - i would of thought they have the same approach for the tensioners aswell - so the answer to your question is yes

[Tinonline]

Yes dealer will infact just replace the belt and inspect the pump etc..

My motor had only a genuine 72k but needed new pulleys plus water pump. Whilst you're there it is worth replacing as much as you can.

I did this job myself. So makes it quite cheap to do so much. 

[PJD]

Hmmmm - does seem slightly odd, - given how important the waterpump and tensioners are.  Seems sensible, at that point in the car's life, as Simon says, to just do the lot whilst you're there, rather than try and scrimp on a few quid.

[arfur45]

I also found lexus reading pricey when I enquired about a 100k service,cam belt,water pump and mot recently 

My usual local independent  did all the work for £850.

Was very pleased compared to dealership quote

Incidentally it was her 10yr mot and sailed through again without an advisory