Keep up dealership service history or not?

[DanLS460]

Hello everyone. I’ve recently purchased a 2007 LS460 with 105,000 miles on the clock. It has 13 main dealer service stamps since being registered, with all works being carried out by Lexus. Last service was at 100,000 in 2020. Obviously it’s now due a service but I wanted to get some opinions on whether I should keep up the full main dealer service history going {and inevitably pay higher costs} or take it to a local Lexus specialist. 
Many thanks for your advice

Daniel

[Barry14UK]

Hi Daniel,

My view is that on balance,  if you have got past the point where you qualify for 12 months extended warranty each time Lexus service your car, ie 10 years, you are paying out a lot of extra money for service that could go towards service by an independent and additionally pay for some parts.  In your position  I would go with an independent.  However, if you wish to sell soon, it might help adding one final stamp to the impressive record.

It is unfortunate that Lexus abandoned the Essential Service for older vehicles as it would have made continuing with Lexus Franchises a little more attractive.

[Lexiguy]

Hi Daniel

Although I appreciate what Barry has said, being in a similar situation to you I decided to stick with Lexus dealer servicing. My SC430 is now 15 years old and has 90000 miles on the clock and although it has a full service history the majority were carried out by independent garages.

I have a great relationship with my chosen dealer (Lexus of Leeds) and my car is now back on track with them doing the services and incorporating other extra work on schedule.

I now feel super confident about the reliability of my vehicle and believe  I would be well supported by the countrywide dealer network if I ran into problems away from home.

This confidence does come at a premium but in my opinion its well worth it. 

The choice is yours my friend and I wish you the greatest of luck whichever direction you choose to take.

Anthony

[lex - eleven]

I've had 3 ls430's and all had good main dealership servicing. However, I've only ever once taken a car to a main dealership myself opting for independent garages. For me, having all the stamps in the book was just as good. At least I knew that the servicing was being done regularly rather than not at all. Also when it came to selling my previous 2 cars there was never any problem. Money saved on dealership prices enables me to make sure I can always get the servicing done and put fuel in the tank. My car now is 18 has a book full of service stamps, never let's me down and I feel extremely satisfied that it won't. In fact my first ls430 only ever had a Battery, tyres and a front ball joint in the six and a half years of my ownership up to it's 20 years. I have a good relationship with my indy and they've been very helpful. It's just down to choice. Would I go to a main dealer if I had deep pockets? - absolutely! In reality I know that what I've done has kept my cars on the road with no problems and I've had peace of mind. 

[Spock66]

9 hours ago, DanLS460 said:

Obviously it’s now due a service but I wanted to get some opinions on whether I should keep up the full main dealer service history going {and inevitably pay higher costs} or take it to a local Lexus specialist.

If you have a local trusted specialist fine, my personal experience of independents is not great.

[ambermarine]

My car as two lexus stamps the first service and the subsequent 9k back in 99 the pervious owner had it independantly serviced but the service record was not entered in the book .

When I took it on it only had 18k miles on it so I was not fussed ,I had the first cambelt change done by Lexus Glasgow who had to replace all of the engine plastics because the techy was a numpty ,fortunatly the cambelt change proved to be fine .

I have done all the servicing on the car over the last ten years and have just had a second cambelt change by a superb independant at 48k miles both cambelts because of the ten year period.

I did enquire weather the local Lexus dealership could do the cambelt but they had no hour schedule in their computer and no one at the place had done a LS400,I am still waiting for a price.

I have always looked after my cars and would not take chances with such things as cambelt changes but general servicing especially when the service schedule instructs on requirements is within my capabilities.

As for intrinsic value of a service record from Lexus or other supply I think it as little value as the car ages and will only back up what is there to see.

[Lexiguy]

15 minutes ago, Spock66 said:

If you have a local trusted specialist fine, my personal experience of independents is not great.

That's right Andrew, I think you hit the nail on the head by saying "local trusted specialist", unfortunately there are, in my experience, not enough about!

[Malc1]

I concur, if you have a mechanic you can trust then fine ..  and you should save plenty of £££££   ...  if not then you have no option but to use the main dealer and empty your pockets at the appropriate juncture 

Best wishes with your deliberations  ..  hopefully your servicing and preventative maintenance garage visit will be just annually with the fresh MOT

Good luck 

Malc

[GEN]

Couldn't improve on what Malc said.  The problem for me is the mechanic I trusted (and looked after my Porsche and knew more than the Porsche dealer so he fixed something the dealer couldn't) told me when I let him know I was buying my first Lexus (some years ago) that the Lexus was the one car he wouldn't touch so I've had to go with Lexus dealership ever since as I just couldn't find a trusted mechanic.  To make things worse my trusted mechanic (who was still looking after my 928GTS) retired!

The dealerships have been expensive but reliable and helpful.  There is something to the saying that "I'm too poor to buy cheap things!"

[royoftherovers]

15 hours ago, Barry14UK said:

Hi Daniel,

My view is that on balance,  if you have got past the point where you qualify for 12 months extended warranty each time Lexus service your car, ie 10 years, you are paying out a lot of extra money for service that could go towards service by an independent and additionally pay for some parts.  In your position  I would go with an independent.  However, if you wish to sell soon, it might help adding one final stamp to the impressive record.

It is unfortunate that Lexus abandoned the Essential Service for older vehicles as it would have made continuing with Lexus Franchises a little more attractive.

Barry, I discovered this morning that individual Lexus Dealerships have the flexibility to charge the equivalent of former Essential Service charges for vehicles that are not covered by the current RELAX warranty. All the established customer needs to do ,is ask. I accept that this is not angled in the customers` favour,but if one dosen`t ask, then one doesn`t get !

[royoftherovers]

8 hours ago, Lexiguy said:

Hi Daniel

Although I appreciate what Barry has said, being in a similar situation to you I decided to stick with Lexus dealer servicing. My SC430 is now 15 years old and has 90000 miles on the clock and although it has a full service history the majority were carried out by independent garages.

I have a great relationship with my chosen dealer (Lexus of Leeds) and my car is now back on track with them doing the services and incorporating other extra work on schedule.

I now feel super confident about the reliability of my vehicle and believe  I would be well supported by the countrywide dealer network if I ran into problems away from home.

This confidence does come at a premium but in my opinion its well worth it. 

The choice is yours my friend and I wish you the greatest of luck whichever direction you choose to take.

Anthony

I agree with your approach Ant. It works for me and means "win,win" for both Dealership and the Customer.

[DanLS460]

19 hours ago, Barry14UK said:

Hi Daniel,

My view is that on balance,  if you have got past the point where you qualify for 12 months extended warranty each time Lexus service your car, ie 10 years, you are paying out a lot of extra money for service that could go towards service by an independent and additionally pay for some parts.  In your position  I would go with an independent.  However, if you wish to sell soon, it might help adding one final stamp to the impressive record.

It is unfortunate that Lexus abandoned the Essential Service for older vehicles as it would have made continuing with Lexus Franchises a little more attractive.

Wow everyone. Thanks very much. This has sparked a very healthy and worthwhile debate. I think on balance, Barry does have a good point re the warranty coverage. I’ve asked for a quote from my local Lexus specialist and will see what they come back with. Many thanks to everyone again for their advice it’s much appreciated 

[Micholas]

I use main dealers for servicing because they know the schedule to a tee and have all parts that might come up in stock (sump bungs, missing rivets etc.) 

I presume private garages would just do what you tell them rather than add insight on the different spark plug, diff oil schedules. 
 

HOWEVER the two main dealers I have used really didn’t like dealing with my LS430. I got the impression it was a hinderance and they’d much rather be doing servicing and warranty work on a 2 year old RX. 

But what is this essential servicing you lot speak of?? Sorry relatively new to the Lexus world. 

[GEN]

2 minutes ago, Micholas said:

I use main dealers for servicing because they know the schedule to a tee and have all parts that might come up in stock (sump bungs, missing rivets etc.) 

I presume private garages would just do what you tell them rather than add insight on the different spark plug, diff oil schedules. 
 

HOWEVER the two main dealers I have used really didn’t like dealing with my LS430. I got the impression it was a hinderance and they’d much rather be doing servicing and warranty work on a 2 year old RX. 

But what is this essential servicing you lot speak of?? Sorry relatively new to the Lexus world. 

Leaving aside my particular circumstances above) I would only use a dealership for critical items (timing belt, etc) as I I just trust the dealership/s to do the best job and wouldn't take chances of these items with an independent.

[Micholas]

It’s also worth mentioning that Lexus’s service pricing is actually really cheap considering other ‘luxury’ car brands. A major service for £400 inc VAT, is very good!! I work at BMW and you won’t get a lot of change from a grand when the major service comes along. 

[royoftherovers]

17 minutes ago, Micholas said:

It’s also worth mentioning that Lexus’s service pricing is actually really cheap considering other ‘luxury’ car brands. A major service for £400 inc VAT, is very good!! I work at BMW and you won’t get a lot of change from a grand when the major service comes along. 

I``m not aware of Lexus offering a major service for £400 Nicholas.

[Micholas]

That’s what I pay at Lexus Tunbridge Wells.. I say £400, it’s more like £435. 
 

For all models they only offer a minor and major service. The minor is approx £200.. the major is £400ish 

[Las Palmas]

1 hour ago, Micholas said:

It’s also worth mentioning that Lexus’s service pricing is actually really cheap considering other ‘luxury’ car brands. A major service for £400 inc VAT, is very good!! I work at BMW and you won’t get a lot of change from a grand when the major service comes along. 

Do not know what a major service is but today we had our CT serviced 80K km (50K miles I think) and it did cost 700€.

Not what I would call cheap.

[GEN]

10K/12 month intermediate service on my LS600hl today = £165.14

[Malc1]

14 hours ago, Micholas said:

because they know the schedule to a tee

and the schedule is occasionally lacking in necessary detail ..................

14 hours ago, Micholas said:

I presume private garages would just do what you tell them rather than add insight

.................... where your indy would probably, without a second breath actually service the calipers, greasing them etc which no Main Dealer would do ....  as that's excepted from the schedule

Main Dealers are OK when you have to have them but a ( usually ) expensive option when you don't

Malc

[jonthetourist]

My 2p is I have a main dealer 10 miles away, but drive 50 miles to Osaka, a specialist, because the work is done by a man who served his apprenticeship on 400s and 430s, and knows them inside out. 

 

[royoftherovers]

38 minutes ago, jonthetourist said:

My 2p is I have a main dealer 10 miles away, but drive 50 miles to Osaka, a specialist, because the work is done by a man who served his apprenticeship on 400s and 430s, and knows them inside out. 

 

Osaka in Newport, John ?

[jonthetourist]

That's the one. 

[DanLS460]

Hello everyone

Just to tie off the topic, I purchased some official parts I needed from Lexus Parts Direct and got my local very reliable and trusted garage to do the work for me.

Many thanks for everyones advice and input

Dan