Timing Belt Change

[John C.]

I have just had a call from Lexus Bracknell to remind me that the annual service is due on my IS200SE. Because the car is now 6+ years old they are suggesting I should have the timing belt etc changed at the service. I have looked at the previous postings on this topic and can see that this suggestion makes some sense but my car has only done 34000 miles! I have had it from new and it has a FLSH. I am seriously considering changing the car in the next few months (for something smaller, like an IS100 - oh, bother, they don't make one of those!) and wonder whether I really need to get the belt changed at such a low mileage. It is extremely doubtful whether I would get the cost back when I part with the car so have to decide if it is worth it. Any advice?

[SINGH182]

you wont recoupe the costs when you come to sell the car...i was advised by a few lexus dealers today that as my car is a 2002 years its advised to change the belt.

im putting my is300 up for sale in a few days, and its due a 60k service, rang round a few lexus stealers today for service prices inc. timing belt change..prices were around £1100 - Far too much to justify a lexus stamp.

..so rang around a few independent garages and found a bmw specalists who'll service and change timing for under £350

[yemgi]

A belt should be changed at least every 5 years whatever the dealer says, it is just rubber, it wears and cracks with time

[kam05]

Timing belt (with tensioner and idler) needs to be changed at 60k or when the car is 6 years WHICHEVER comes 1st. Lexus used to recommend changing the timing belt at 100k/10 years, this changed to 100k/6 years.

What's cheaper, a replacement IS200 engine or a timing belt, You decide...

[kam05]

you wont recoupe the costs when you come to sell the car...i was advised by a few lexus dealers today that as my car is a 2002 years its advised to change the belt.

im putting my is300 up for sale in a few days, and its due a 60k service, rang round a few lexus stealers today for service prices inc. timing belt change..prices were around £1100 - Far too much to justify a lexus stamp.

..so rang around a few independent garages and found a bmw specalists who'll service and change timing for under £350

Why don't you have the 60k service done by Lexus (to get the Lexus stamp) and get the BMW specialist to do the timing belt? May work out cheaper?

If you are keeping the car for a long time, then a FLSH doesn't really matter, just keep the reciepts/invoices of any work you have done on the car/parts you buy.