RX400h 100k servicing and MOT results in £2100 charge

[Romasato]

Good day,

Someone might find my story informational - this is not a post to complain or anything. Maybe just to demonstrate how servicing costs can suddenly sky-rocket... Though it left me curious if I was taken for a ride? The guys at Lexus Edgware were so far nice and helpful - no complaints there.

My RX400h just passed 100k on the odometer so I decided it needed to get serviced properly at an official Lexus shop. The official because timing belt needed changing as well - and I was thinking the official garage is the trustworthy place for this type of job. It also coincided with my MOT expiring - so booked for that one as well. Took it to Lexus Edgware (Jemca), since Twickenham (Currie Motors) do not provide the cheaper servicing option.

Initial quote:

• £40 - MOT
• £399 - major service for 5+ year old cars (the value service as they call it)
• £395 - timing belt change
• = £734

Left it with them. Few hours later they emailed me a link to a vehicle-vision.com where they had a video uploaded (I have attached it here as well) demonstrating and explaining the discovered faults - with a quote and a button to approve the quote. The manager also called immediately to go over and explain everything etc. Quite a nice touch the online video and quote - did not expect that.

The issues were:

• Rear driver side shock absorber leaking
• Both shock absorber gaiters (rubbers protecting them, part no. 48760-48040) torn/split.

Initial quote: £1250+ for parts and labor. 
This is the part of the story that got me confused. During the call I looked up on lexus.co.uk the price for 5+ year old vehicles to replace "Rear Shock Absorbers" - it is £395. So I did suggest that we replace both - the manager did agree and it was (for some reason!) a cheaper option than replacing just one (???).

New quote to do both shocks and gaiters: £915.42 (in addition to the £734) => ~£1650 

Later, the car does not pass MOT and I get another call. The reason: one of rear brake calipers is stuck and did not pass the brake efficiency test.

• To replace it is £350 (single caliper)
• To try and loosen it: ~£165 (cost for an hours labor since everything needs removing to try that - according to the manager)

I decide that replacing it might be a better option in case it will stick again.

New total: £2099

 

The car is still with Lexus Edgware, going to pick it up tomorrow. After all these repairs it must be golden now!
Any second opinions? I can't help just wondering how much less it could have cost at a local garage - especially given that car does have a patchy official servicing history with some gaps. Maybe was not worth going the "official" way. I also had already been putting aside some savings for this 100k service as I did expect a lot of expense - but twice less than that :)

Lexus_vv-video-92717_(1).mp4

[stevet]

Would of thought the shocks were £395 for a pair, fitted? oem ones are only about £120ea to buy. Rear brakes stuck quite common as they hardly get used. I strip and cleaned mine annually. Easy 30 min job.

[PCM]

I'm assuming it's not under a Lexus Warranty?

It sounds a lot to me, but ... Lexus servicing etc, at Lexus, seems to be ...

( Is it air suspension? If so, that pushes up suspension prices a lot! )

[ChrisKaye]

It's a 400h so no air... (Fortunately!)

Just think in another 20k miles you'll be in for the lovely spark plug change ~£600 from memory!

I'm very disappointed with Lexus over the shocking costs to keep the older models on the road - take for example your timing belt change, it will ONLY be the belt that gets changed, the tensioner and pulleys could still be an additional cost!!

Being a hybrid, I don't think you have a traditional water pump to worry about but on a non-hybrid you'd be mad not to change it at this stage and guess what: additional cost.

I sympathise with your thought on proper trained Lexus mechs working on your vehicle but it certainly comes at a price.

Again being a hybrid, I'd be loathe to recommend an independent (unless there is a really good one in your area) for any engine servicing or work - but would be happy to use one for the brakes and shocks.

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[RXJasonRX]

Hi. My RX400h is always serviced by Lexus Birmingham under the Essential Servicing plan. This is specifically for older cars, and they have always looked after me and are always very reasonable and customer oriented. See if you can get the Essential Servicing where you are.

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[RgrWynne]

I think that it is a case here of having been serviced outside of the system you are going to get penalised. The shocks and rear brake calipers would have been covered under the very reasonable extended warranty . Of course to qualify for that you need to have main dealer servicing. My daughter has had about £3k's worth of warranty work done on a 2008 RX400, including replacing both rear discs and calipers, but I think as has been said you need to develop a relationship with the dealer and try to get the ' essential service package'

[DanD]

On ‎06‎/‎04‎/‎2016 at 11:20 AM, ChrisKaye said:

It's a 400h so no air... (Fortunately!)

Just think in another 20k miles you'll be in for the lovely spark plug change ~£600 from memory!

I'm very disappointed with Lexus over the shocking costs to keep the older models on the road - take for example your timing belt change, it will ONLY be the belt that gets changed, the tensioner and pulleys could still be an additional cost!!

Being a hybrid, I don't think you have a traditional water pump to worry about but on a non-hybrid you'd be mad not to change it at this stage and guess what: additional cost.

I sympathise with your thought on proper trained Lexus mechs working on your vehicle but it certainly comes at a price.

Again being a hybrid, I'd be loathe to recommend an independent (unless there is a really good one in your area) for any engine servicing or work - but would be happy to use one for the brakes and shocks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes there is a water pump, and yes, Lexus often recommends to change it at the same time as the cambelt. This was certainly done on my previous 400h.

[ChrisKaye]

Is the water pump electric rather than belt driven on a 400h?

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[Gliderpilot]

No it's driven by the cam belt!

[harrylime]

put it this way, in my opinion they shoukd have at least bought you dinner before doing that to you. Reconsidering my search for an RX

[Parrot of Doom]

I think you wasted your money going to a main dealer.  I paid a fraction of those costs having mine serviced at the same mileage at a Toyota/Lexus specialist near Glossop.  I didn't need new shocks but the quote you received is gobsmacking.  There's nothing special about these cars that makes that price realistic, they're just ordinary shocks and springs.  I wouldn't be surprised if they replaced everything in that stack, even if it didn't need replacing.

I think I paid around £6-700 for the service including belt and tensioner, plus a brand new front caliper.

[harrylime]

Any chance you could pass the details of the specialist near Glossop please? I've had trouble finding one locally in South Yorkshire

[ymmf]

For my 2003 RX300, I bought cambelt from Lexus Birmingham off eBay for £45 and got my local garage to change it for under £200 labour - and the labour included changing my engine oil/filter/air filter/gearbox oil/differential oil (I BYO all the parts).