Cambelt overdue for change

[Guest]

Hi I bought a 2002 one owner car this year with just under100k miles, but although generally well maintained, the cambelt wasn’t replaced so obviously ought to be replaced by now I guess despite what I’ve read about how well they last?

I’m very disappointed with my two email enquiries to two nearest local Lexus dealerships that either have not responded twice (!) or seemingly misquoted when asked about the added cost of a water pump replacement ( since this is recommended due to the amount of labour involved). Eg quoting an additional £600 for the water pump which I think may simply be the standard cost just to replace the water pump as a separate job - so doesn’t inspire me with confidence in their (in)competence. Since this is quite a complex job I don’t really want to risk it being done by a normally competent garage, I thought I ought to get it done by a Lexus dealership for peace of mind but not prepared to be ripped off due to to incompetence. Can anybody advise either another Lexus dealership ( other than Gatwick or Tunbridge Wells) or expert alternative anywhere within reasonable distance of East Grinstead please? I did ask for quotes from two so-called specialists from Redhill and Sidcup with no response so am concerned that nobody wants to tackle this difficult job ( having seen what’s involved on YouTube). 
 

Any recommendations very welcome l. 

[Malc1]

Anthony why not use your usual garage / Indy mechanic that you’ve built a rapport with over the years you’ve had your cars serviced by …….. it’s not rocket science doing this job …… many normal competent garages can do this job 

Malc 

[Nigel Coleman]

True it's not rocket science for any competent mechanic just the radiator needs moving first.

Should be well under £1000 for a non-dealer to do the job?

My 2019 invoice for doing the work was £600.

[Boomer54]

6 hours ago, Nexus7 said:

Hi I bought a 2002 one owner car this year with just under100k miles, but although generally well maintained, the cambelt wasn’t replaced so obviously ought to be replaced by now I guess despite what I’ve read about how well they last?

I’m very disappointed with my two email enquiries to two nearest local Lexus dealerships that either have not responded twice (!) or seemingly misquoted when asked about the added cost of a water pump replacement ( since this is recommended due to the amount of labour involved). Eg quoting an additional £600 for the water pump which I think may simply be the standard cost just to replace the water pump as a separate job - so doesn’t inspire me with confidence in their (in)competence. Since this is quite a complex job I don’t really want to risk it being done by a normally competent garage, I thought I ought to get it done by a Lexus dealership for peace of mind but not prepared to be ripped off due to to incompetence. Can anybody advise either another Lexus dealership ( other than Gatwick or Tunbridge Wells) or expert alternative anywhere within reasonable distance of East Grinstead please? I did ask for quotes from two so-called specialists from Redhill and Sidcup with no response so am concerned that nobody wants to tackle this difficult job ( having seen what’s involved on YouTube). 
 

Any recommendations very welcome l. 

To be frank I think you are making a mistake trying to organise this via email. Either call , or visit and I suspect you will get more response. Within the scale of possible mechanical jobs this isn't that difficult from what I have seen and I wouldn't hesitate to use a recommended local Indy. Malcs right as usual.

[Bob King]

Ring up Gatwick ,Tunbridge Wells and Sidcup and get a quote from each, see if you can them to price match against each other .

   Any well established independent garage would be able to do the job 👍🏻

[Bob King]

Just a thought …West Malling Garage use to be a Toyota dealer worth a price from them .

www.westmallinggarage.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the rapid responses. I obviously got the wrong impression about the complexity and would rather not pay Lexus hourly rate or have to travel more than necessary, so I will now use a local garage that I know. I’ll post back with the quoted charge in due course for general info for others. 

[Mossypossy]

Be good to know. Some sellers don't seem to factor this into their selling price, but secretly are very aware. 

In my limited research of these 20+ year old cars some have no evidence of cambelts ever having been done once, never mind the recommended twice.

Also exhausts are likely getting on.

 

[Boomer54]

46 minutes ago, Mossypossy said:

Be good to know. Some sellers don't seem to factor this into their selling price, but secretly are very aware. 

In my limited research of these 20+ year old cars some have no evidence of cambelts ever having been done once, never mind the recommended twice.

Also exhausts are likely getting on.

 

Indeed Steve, plus rust are all top of my list of must knows before I could think to put a value on the car.

[Bob King]

My first SC430 in 2016 I done mine at home on the drive, had no history of it being done…once it was all stripped…it HAD been done 🙄

so I just replaced the belt as I’d already bought it .

[Malc1]

Amazing and sad and very inconvenient  no one had placed the usual date sticker by the engine somewhere 🧐

Malc 

[Mossypossy]

Another for sale. Cambelt done in 2012 at 86,000.

Now on 133,000. Due one by age but not on miles.

Would you?

 

[Bob King]

5 minutes ago, Mossypossy said:

Another for sale. Cambelt done in 2012 at 86,000.

Now on 133,000. Due one by age but not on miles.

Would you?

 

11 year old timing belt wants to be changed. 

[Mossypossy]

I agree. I change mine on my motorhome at 7 years. And it is older than any SC430.

[Dr Philip]

I think it is a shame that my SC430 had only done 18,000 miles before the time for change came up. Had it done though - just in case..........!

Philip

 

[Localhero]

Unless you are David Beckham or have a company Lexus, I don't think anyone can afford £150+ per hour labour charges, I have a fault on my Rav 4 and 3 main dealers could not tell what the fault actually is!! I read of one person who had his car in a dealer for 5days before they discovered a loose connector on the ecu plug, we all love our Lexi and know they are special, but to a  competent technician they are no different to work on than any other car! Just my opinion 🤷 Stew

[Malc1]

At an age where a competent trusted indy can take over servicing and maintenance is good imho

Cambelts tho ........  on my very first J reg Ls400 years back I had the first cambelt change at 123k miles . a year after my ownership 

A second Ls400 I bought with 7k original miles ( written off in 2011 ) and the cambelt change had been done at the 10 year interval by the first owner at 3600 miles 

My 4th 1991 ( just bought ) Ls400 at nigh on 100 k miles approaching and I don't think the cambelt has been changed  ..  but it's the non-interference engine whatever

Paying Main Stealer prices for anything is a bit daft if you don't have to

Malc

[Guest]

Thanks to the many who have responded and I shall definitely use a local Indy now and will arrange this after the holiday. I’ll report back with price and impressions once it’s completed - so probably toward the end of January since most garages get busy early in the new year from my experience. 
Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄

[Bob King]

A seller of a SC430 on eBay said he had the belt his done at Lexus and cost £800, so that is a figure to beat at an independent garage .

[steve2006]

My Japanese service history, stickers seem to be the norm 😀

Cam belt done before purchase so plenty of years and mileage left in that.

Last belt I had done cost me around £150.00 for all the parts and £100.00 labour around 12 years ago.

[fourbanks]

Tim is a master Lexus Technician at Gatwick. Danny is a good manager, so my advice would be to use this dealership for the cam belt replacement 

[Niskus]

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old post but I have just bought a SC 430 from Autotrader that last had it's timing belt done in 2014. I've fired an email over to Lexus Sheffield to see if they still honour the £595 cambelt and water pump replacement price for SC 430 Club members, I'll let you know what they say.

£595 seems like a very good price, the kit on it's own seems to cost £120 to £200 depending on who you go to, obviously without any labour charges which the garage would charge you for if you cannot do it yourself. 

[Bob King]

That is a very good price 👍🏻
looks likes you’ve got yourself a lovely example 😎

Black will keep you busy cleaning it 😉😉

[Niskus]

Thank you, you can blame Vlad's fancy video on the Facebook group for making me want a Black model

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2010606785672563/permalink/7317614948305027/

 

 

[Niskus]

So Lexus Sheffield were polite in reply email but don't take booking yet for July which is when I'm 'in the neighbourhood' to get it done, so I'll probably find a local garage to do it. I don't see any Lexus specialists near me (Scotland) but I guess a competent indy garage that has seen similar era Toyotas would do.

Quick question - I'm looking up kits so I can get my local independent garage to do it. I assume this is the right one? https://www.autodoc.co.uk/gates/13671360

I assume no special Lexus tools are required to do this job, so a standard (but competent) garage could do it?