Servicing - Specialist or Dealership?

[B1RMA]

34 minutes ago, C.B said:

It does say in the extended warranty handbook it has to be maintained by lexus to keep the warranty valid. Its not lexus that warranty the car and warranty companies love a method not to pay out.

I agree there about the warranty company trying every method in the book to avoid paying out.

[Womble72]

1 hour ago, C.B said:

As reliable as these cars are if anything does go wrong they are also eyewateringly expensive to repair. £8k for a gearbox, £12k for an engine. I will take my warranty at £350 a year thanks. I dont even find the servicing that expensive compared to an M, RS or AMG and with just over 100 cars in the country not sure how many independant garages will have seen one before. Rather limited knowledge than no knowledge! (Although preston lexus told me my car was going to need its cambelt doing at the next service recently 🙄)

Say no more. 😂😂

[Womble72]

1 hour ago, C.B said:

It does say in the extended warranty handbook it has to be maintained by lexus to keep the warranty valid. Its not lexus that warranty the car and warranty companies love a method not to pay out.

I didn’t realise the extended warranty wasn’t with Lexus, to me the extended warranty would be a waste of money then, the only warranty that’s worth anything is the main dealers one. That probably explains about the gearbox issue and non replacement that LED to a member selling their F as Lexus wouldn’t replace it under warranty (extended warranty package).....a new car remains under warranty even if not serviced by the manufacturer, that monopoly was toppled a long time ago, even the manufacturers would confirm this, they don’t like it but they can’t lie about it either. The only stipulation is that genuine manufacturers parts are used. 

[Silkmen]

Thanks for all the input, I was 50/50 yesterday before asking the question. By 5pm I was in the no brainer Lexus service camp, now I'm back being 50/50 🤣🤣🤣

I plan on having the car for 7+ years as I do like to hold onto my cars and when I come to sell it I expect the car to be 10+ years old. I've owned nothing but Lexus cars for the past 18 years and in all that the time the only thing I've had fail on me (excluding consumables) are ball joints on my first Lexus (IS200). I appreciate previous non F ownership may not be that relevant, but to me I have confidence in the brand and how reliable they are.

[Northern isf]

Why not go out and get some quotes for servicing and compare the two 

[Killysprint]

At the end of the day you pays your money and take your chance.

if at any time in the future if you decide to sell and there’s a similar car in similar condition with a lexus SH - it’s very likely that the LSH car will sell first, or if you trade it in you’ll get more with a Lexus history. 

Also remember the RCF and GSF when new were expensive cars - and as such running costs should be expected to mirror other cars in their market sector - but they don’t. From what I’ve seen servicing as others have commented are cheaper than those of lexus’ competitors. For comparison my colleague had his year old RS5 services today. First year service, after 6000 miles. £560. For essentially oil, filter and pollen filter.

As for the warranty - the most important point is it’s manufacturer approved.  You’ll find that most extended warranties- I.e those paid for after the new car warranty expires are provided by a 3rd party.

I warranted the M5 I had before my ISF. It was BMW branded, all the paperwork and booklets were BMW, but cover was provided by Mondial. In the time I had it - no claims were knocked back or rejected by the warranty company. Claims in 2 yrs - £9200.

I took out the extended warranty when I bought my ISF. Never used it. It was there for peace of mind after the M5. Don’t expect to use it on the GSF either. Fingers crossed!

[Silkmen]

1 hour ago, Northern isf said:

Why not go out and get some quotes for servicing and compare the two 

I did just that, comparison below:

50k service £375 with Lexus, specialist £240.

60k service £875 with Lexus, specialist £600.

32% saving on average isn't huge, I think I may go with Lexus this time and then revisit the question next year.

[Malc]

I read all of the above ........  then there's the little niggling things that don't seem to be in a normal ( Lexus ) service schedule that the indy will probably do as a matter of course, like suitably greasing the caliper sliders and the like at appropriate times .......  rather than relying on the punter to have to replace the hugely expensive calipers at some time due to seized pins maybe

just a thought 

Malc

[Womble72]

1 hour ago, Silkmen said:

I did just that, comparison below:

50k service £375 with Lexus, specialist £240.

60k service £875 with Lexus, specialist £600.

32% saving on average isn't huge, I think I may go with Lexus this time and then revisit the question next year.

My last service bill from my local Lexus specialist who I’ve used for the last 15yrs.....”full service”

trust them 100%

[rayaans]

12 hours ago, Womble72 said:

Sorry but it doesn’t, Lexus will insist on a “health check” first and if they’re happy with the Indy garage and if they’re known to them like “Westfields” they will provide cover, I was offered extended warranty on my recall after they did a “health check” free of charge that I didn’t ask for, car was given 100% clean bill of health, I don’t think Halfords would fall into this category 😂😂 

Let's rephrase. It has to be maintained by Lexus after the warranty has been taken out. Otherwise it's void.

[Womble72]

4 minutes ago, rayaans said:

Let's rephrase. It has to be maintained by Lexus after the warranty has been taken out. Otherwise it's void.

I am amazed tbh, u can buy a brand new Lexus, service it from day one (which is 40/50% cheaper than Lexus)....for 3 years and warranty can’t be voided providing “genuine Lexus” parts are used BUT for an extended warranty u “have” to use Lexus at 40/50% more expensive to keep a non manufacturing warranty void?.....I’m not saying it isn’t the case and they do say as cars get older they cost you more. 😂😂.....didn’t see it being by main-dealer servicing though 😂 

 

[Martin F]

6 hours ago, Malc said:

I read all of the above ........  then there's the little niggling things that don't seem to be in a normal ( Lexus ) service schedule that the indy will probably do as a matter of course, like suitably greasing the caliper sliders and the like at appropriate times .......  rather than relying on the punter to have to replace the hugely expensive calipers at some time due to seized pins maybe

just a thought 

Malc

F-Cars don’t have slider pins 😉

[Malc]

8 hours ago, Martin F said:

F-Cars don’t have slider pins 😉

but you get my drift .......  there might be summat, apparently insignificant,  that Lexus wouldn't plan to do but the indy would as a matter of course !

Malc

[Martin F]

Yep, I understand.

But then there is the flip side that  a Lexus dealer see's a lot more of the same type of cars and has access to Lexus technical knowledge and documentation that an independent never will. As an example I wonder how many independents are aware of the high pressure fuel pump recall and the reasons, and that is quite a public piece of information.

This is an interesting thread and good debate as there are pro's and con's to both approaches. 

Myself I hate using any garage(independent or main stealer) and would rather do all work myself as then I know everything has gone back correctly and nothing has been damaged in the process. But for my RCF i do use Lexus just for servicing to keep the stamps in the book. 

 

[Killysprint]

2 minutes ago, Martin F said:

Myself I hate using any garage(independent or main stealer) and would rather do all work myself as then I know everything has gone back correctly and nothing has been damaged in the process. But for my RCF i do use Lexus just for servicing to keep the stamps in the book. 

 

100% with you.

 

[Northern isf]

18 hours ago, Silkmen said:

I did just that, comparison below:

50k service £375 with Lexus, specialist £240.

60k service £875 with Lexus, specialist £600.

32% saving on average isn't huge, I think I may go with Lexus this time and then revisit the question next year.

The savings in my opinion won't be worth the hassle of selling the car in the future if you do come to sell obviously!

[B1RMA]

I'm lucky I have a 'rent a ramp service' 2 minutes from my home, it's dead cheap and if I ever want to do any little fettling (which is about my pay grade) i use them. Used it to fit the Quicksilver exhaust to my RCF and have fiddled about with my Mini on it too. If like me you feel the main dealer may not be quite so anal about mechanical things it gives you piece of mind.

[olliesgrandad]

3 hours ago, Martin F said:

Yep, I understand.

But then there is the flip side that  a Lexus dealer see's a lot more of the same type of cars and has access to Lexus technical knowledge and documentation that an independent never will. As an example I wonder how many independents are aware of the high pressure fuel pump recall and the reasons, and that is quite a public piece of information.

This is an interesting thread and good debate as there are pro's and con's to both approaches. 

Myself I hate using any garage(independent or main stealer) and would rather do all work myself as then I know everything has gone back correctly and nothing has been damaged in the process. But for my RCF i do use Lexus just for servicing to keep the stamps in the book. 

 

I know someone who scrimped on servicing an almost new Ford which if Ford serviced would have had a component replaced as a routine update. The wrecked engine was the result of the local garage not having access to the latest service bulletin from the factory. 

From the other perspective if I were in a Mercedes it would be serviced by my local indy who I have known for 30 years as he was service manager with MB and then Ferrari and his techs are all time served MB guys. 

[Womble72]

24 minutes ago, olliesgrandad said:

I know someone who scrimped on servicing an almost new Ford which if Ford serviced would have had a component replaced as a routine update. The wrecked engine was the result of the local garage not having access to the latest service bulletin from the factory. 

From the other perspective if I were in a Mercedes it would be serviced by my local indy who I have known for 30 years as he was service manager with MB and then Ferrari and his techs are all time served MB guys. 

My brother in laws best friend is affiliated with Ford and BMW, he is on the list for advancement/replacement of parts, he also repairs both marcs that a customer would imagine have been repaired by the main dealer, problem is today with mechanics, dealers pay is atrocious and their mainly “oil service technicians”. The dealer may see more specialist cars leave their showrooms but the service department isn’t the same place as the showroom, an affiliated Indy will have all the latest information and software equipment to remain affiliated to the brand.......any other Indy is just that, an independent garage and definitely not an Indy specialist. I had two major service items missed on two different Lexus and two different main dealers. I’m of the option they think when if fails it’ll be them you turn to for a huge repair bill, no way of providing the item wasn’t serviced after the fact.......main dealer servicing is a personal preference and had I not had the previous two issues on separate cars maybe my opinion would be different.....I had my F pulled apart on its first specialist service so I know now everything is done and done properly......buts obviously that’s just me. 😉  

[gb1600e]

5 hours ago, B1RMA said:

I'm lucky I have a 'rent a ramp service' 2 minutes from my home, it's dead cheap and if I ever want to do any little fettling (which is about my pay grade) i use them. Used it to fit the Quicksilver exhaust to my RCF and have fiddled about with my Mini on it too. If like me you feel the main dealer may not be quite so anal about mechanical things it gives you piece of mind.

Similar with me. It it bolts together its within my skill range to un bolt it and sort it out and I enjoy doing it as well, or probably better, than anyone else can. I'm the sort of guy who cleans everything and paints nuts bolts and brackets before putting them back. When changing all my brake pads I spent hours cleaning the inside of wheel arches and everything within reach. Sad I know.

As for FLSH and warranty then potentially it gets more important as a buyer and a seller the older the car gets. When buying my 9 year old ISF privately a FLSH was essential and the extended warranty was transferred to me.  I have both a service plan and warranty paid monthly for less than good night out would cost.  In a year or so it might get sold and will still have a FLSH and warranty to transfer and I expect the first serious buy to snap it up.   Well that's the plan anyway.   

[DAW]

On 9/25/2019 at 2:50 PM, Womble72 said:

I didn’t realise the extended warranty wasn’t with Lexus, to me the extended warranty would be a waste of money then, the only warranty that’s worth anything is the main dealers one. That probably explains about the gearbox issue and non replacement that led to a member selling their F as Lexus wouldn’t replace it under warranty (extended warranty package).....a new car remains under warranty even if not serviced by the manufacturer, that monopoly was toppled a long time ago, even the manufacturers would confirm this, they don’t like it but they can’t lie about it either. The only stipulation is that genuine manufacturers parts are used. 

Actually TWG are responsible for the dealer retail warranties as well as the extended warranties & the level of cover was apparently specified by Lexus.  TWG explained that to me when I was talking to them about after market exhausts.  One of the reasons they will only sanction an axle back exhaust is that Lexus require them provide a high level of cover to even include  the sensors attached to the exhaust.

[Womble72]

2 hours ago, DAW said:

Actually TWG are responsible for the dealer retail warranties as well as the extended warranties & the level of cover was apparently specified by Lexus.  TWG explained that to me when I was talking to them about after market exhausts.  One of the reasons they will only sanction an axle back exhaust is that Lexus require them provide a high level of cover to even include  the sensors attached to the exhaust.

What I’m miffed about is the fact that u can buy new, service at Indy specialist obviously with genuine parts BUT after 3 years old the warranty company (the same company) then insist on the car being serviced by the manufacturer despite the 3 previous years not being done by the manufacturer but the warranty is still valid until that point.

[Killysprint]

The original warranty conditions contain T+C’s that contain terms defined by our friends in the EU. I.e allowing others to service the car as long as manufacturers original parts and schedules are used and adhered too.

the additional warranty is your choice, you don’t have to buy it, it doesnt come under the rules in place for new car warranties and hence they can impose whatever contractual conditions they like.

The reason why the warranty is cheap and so restrictive on maintenance  (£450 a year? - I paid £140 a month on my M5) is that the cars don’t go wrong, and also to push cars through the dealers and continue to generate revenue for them. Speaking to my local dealer they only exist due to the significant contribution from used car sales and servicing. New car sales alone won’t support the dealership.

[rayaans]

16 minutes ago, Womble72 said:

What I’m miffed about is the fact that u can buy new, service at Indy specialist obviously with genuine parts BUT after 3 years old the warranty company (the same company) then insist on the car being serviced by the manufacturer despite the 3 previous years not being done by the manufacturer but the warranty is still valid until that point.

Probably because of legal issues. Manufacturer warranty comes with the car. Hence why I presume Lexus are unwilling to move it to 5 years like Toyota as it means you can technically get it serviced anywhere and no revenue would come in. 

 

[PRT68]

What really miffs me is the Lexus versus the Toyota warranty. I have an RC300h, 3 years warranty. Toyota RAV4 hybrid, 5 years. To get the extra 2 years warranty on my Lexus, £995. Many of the components are shared. Should really be the other way round. Still, my choice.