Minor service

dr_rick · October 10, 2016

So, I've had the email talking about my ISF needing a minor service. Obviously I'd like to minimise the expenditure despite the stated £295 being reasonable. The local main dealer will use my oil / filter so long as it's the right spec. So the question to the masses; what brand have people been using?

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-2355-lookup-results.aspx?vehicleid=7206&variantlist=144294:0,157966:0,157967:0,157968:0,157969:0,157970:0,157971:0,144294:0,157966:0,157967:0,157968:0,157969:0,157970:0,157971:0&yearFilter=2010

Now, to confuse things, Lexus state they use 0W-30, but the link above which is model specific links to a range of 5W-30. Suggestions?

GibletPH · October 10, 2016

Have you enquired about a service pack from your local dealer?

dr_rick · October 10, 2016

No, but conversely I don't have the funds lying around to purchase a service pack this year.

Did a quick scoot round for costs: Opie will do an oil change bundle for £65 inc oil & filter, which means I'll save myself £110 on the service alone.

Plus I think I'll chuck in a K&N high flow panel filter at the same time. Which will be nice.

Grey One · October 10, 2016

I've been quietly looking for an indy route to keep servicing costs down on the ISF, but as Lexus is relatively new to the performance car space there don't seem to be any specialists out there that you may get with other marques which is a bit frustrating, as you (at least where I live) have to go via the dealer or a generalist indy, so I choose the dealer. That may change, but the service costs (per the post above) are just too high in the general market, but with the ISF seem a necessary evil for now. You also have the whole warm blanket thing of dealer service, warranty etc. to think about on newer cars, but the on last couple of services I have felt my jaw drop of on some of the servicing costs charged by Lexus (e.g. £180 for wheel alignment for which they charge the same just to check it as they do for any adjustments made!)...

dr_rick · October 10, 2016

See there's the thing. For an alignment I'd head to a local specialist as I know that's their bread and butter and with reputation I'd be comfortable that they know better than a dealer how to set the car up.

For servicing, technically I could change the oil myself, but that would be daft. So the question is, how far up the chain do you go? I know we're in the realms of not needing to have a main dealer stamp to maintain this that and the other. But these are rare cars and definitely enthusiast owned. I know I can get the car serviced elsewhere, afterall we're talking 10 litres of oil and an oil filter (plus the condition report), for £295. I've never seen anyone here particularly pushing for indy servicing, so until told otherwise, I assume people are using main dealers. I have no problem with £295 per se as compared to M cars or AMG vehicles I think the cost is probably reasonable. In fact, it's not far off what I was paying for my Lotus Elise S (I know, same family engine).

However, I do think main dealers like to pull your pants down for consumables. So my asking about supplying my own oil yields an immediate saving of £110 over just throwing them the keys and coming back at the end of the day to collect. Can't sniff at that really.

Grey One · October 10, 2016

I would generally agree with you on the alignment, but with my current and former ISF I've found the dealer does a better job that a generalist - I think the ISF has quite particular adjustment requirements and settings that normal tyre places can't match (happy to be shot down on that one, but I've had this happen to me a few times and the dealer setting always seems better)