40K Service - £475... Why Are We Getting Ripped Off

[paul-uk]

I have sent the following to Lexus Head Office, I will let you know once they reply!!

Can you please explain why there is such a variation on the price for a 40k service between different Lexus divisions. I was quoted £475 from Lexus Cheltenham and £375 from Lexus Cardiff.

I then found that I could have exactly the same service for £199 via a Sytner website, however this is for cars over 5 years old. As my car is only 4 years old I have to pay more for the labour! I think this is absolutely outrageous. I spoke to my local dealership who advised this is a promotion for customer loyalty. Why should I have a service with Lexus and pay an additional £176 for my loyalty?

Sytner are currently advertising 2 promotions which offer either a "gold service" for £199 as shown here http://www.sytner.co.uk/lexus/aftersales/aftersales-offers/lexus-service-over-5-years-old.aspx , or a major service for £249 as shown here http://www.sytner.co.uk/lexus/aftersales/aftersales-offers/lexus-essential-care.aspx. Both the services are the same and from the same company so why the price difference?

Why wouldn't I just pay for an independent service with genuine parts for £153?

[adjust8r]

I had my 40k mile service last week in Belfast. Cost £300, having negotiated a discount of £25. I was quoted €460 ( approx £403) from a Lexus dealer in Dublin. When I suggested if a discount was available on this price, I was told in no uncertain terms.."the price is €460!!!!" Needless to say, I had the work done in Belfast and super service they gave aswell. It would seem to me that Lexus give their dealers free reign to charge what they consider appropriate, so as has been said many times on this site...shop around for the best deal.

[Felix]

too right,

I don't take the car to the dealers after she is over 4/5 years old, it will not add any value to the resale anyway.

A good specialist will do as good job as the stealer.

the stamps really worth nothing in my eyes

Felix

[Rory]

I have sent the following to Lexus Head Office, I will let you know once they reply!!

Can you please explain why there is such a variation on the price for a 40k service between different Lexus divisions. I was quoted £475 from Lexus Cheltenham and £375 from Lexus Cardiff.

I then found that I could have exactly the same service for £199 via a Sytner website, however this is for cars over 5 years old. As my car is only 4 years old I have to pay more for the labour! I think this is absolutely outrageous. I spoke to my local dealership who advised this is a promotion for customer loyalty. Why should I have a service with Lexus and pay an additional £176 for my loyalty?

Sytner are currently advertising 2 promotions which offer either a "gold service" for £199 as shown here http://www.sytner.co.uk/lexus/aftersales/aftersales-offers/lexus-service-over-5-years-old.aspx , or a major service for £249 as shown here http://www.sytner.co.uk/lexus/aftersales/aftersales-offers/lexus-essential-care.aspx. Both the services are the same and from the same company so why the price difference?

Why wouldn't I just pay for an independent service with genuine parts for £153?

Don't suppose you work for Sytner by any chance?

[Parthiban]

Don't suppose you work for Sytner by any chance?

Not sure but I don't think he's spamming, I'm sure I've seen him post before in the past.

Either way I must agree to a certain extent, I was quoted £180 to replace my rear pads which was subsequently dropped to £99 when they took into account the age of my car........is unusual how they seem to have developed two pricing structures now.

[Rory]

o I agree also, when I went to Lexus for my 60k in the IS200 they told me labour was £90 an hour, so I just paid for all the parts, and took it to BMW at £35 an hour

[ahmed24]

I was quoted £180 to replace my rear pads which was subsequently dropped to £99 when they took into account the age of my car........is unusual how they seem to have developed two pricing structures now.

I usually maintain a service plan with Lexus Woodford to get my services done. I get a discount for using the service plan and it works out cheaper than usual. But that's really all I get done at the dealerships. I stopped getting brakes and tyres done at the dealership. I just purchase the OEM parts and replace the pads and discs myself. I make huge savings this way. And the tyres I purchase from camskill and have my local tyre shop who i've known for a long time fit them. They charge me £10 per tyre to fit with new valve and re-balance.

[paul-uk]

I sent the email on Friday so hopefully will get a reply tomorrow... I dont see how they can charge labour at different rates depending on the age of the car!!

[nicnac]

We really as motorists should STOP all till ***** about Approved Lexus dealer stamps making the resell price higher .Its ALL a con job by them to up the anti!!!!

I do my own servicing and would not trust a Lexus dealer to do it correctly .The only time I had problems was when Lexus Belfast did my warrenty work just before the 3 yr limit .

When I got the car back I had a seized caliper on the front and a auto grearbox problem that had been induced by the garage by not putting the correct amount of toyota WS in the transmission. They would not cover the caliper as it was a week outside warrenty even though they had had the car for 3 weeks doing the vvti sprocket mod.I investigated the gearbox myself and found they had underfilled it by 1.5 Lts ( you really DO need to follow the correct fill procedure).When i had done it properly the gearbox was as smooth as ever.So be aware the guys are right ...the stamp is not worth the ink its stamed with.PS the mongoose lead is great for diagnostics!!!

[ihpj]

Ahmed24 makes the point that I was going to make, that being strong consideration to obtaining a Service Plan. People tend to write them off as expensive or worthless or not worth it - when in fact if you do the maths, they can work out much cheaper and it avoids the serial discussions around the cost of servicing, that we all know will come annually.

As for the 4+ servicing discount, manufacturers know that <3 years old owners will use Dealers for servicing. outside of factory warranty, people feel more comfortable to exercise choice and so they need to be competitive to ensure older cars come into the network as well. it simple economics: discount a product where you have competition, while holding price for one that you do not.

And lastly, the variance in servicing cost is usually down to Labour costs. Different Dealers/Dealer Groups price up labour costs differently. Some work in 10MIN slots, other 15MIN slots, while others still have a 'unit cost' for labour. Each job has a rateable value so they take that and multiply it by their labour calculation. So you get variance as a Dealership that uses 15MIN slots might be cheaper than a Dealership that calculates in 10MIN slots. Also different Lexus Dealers will include certain costs for a service, while others will not. You really have to see exactly what the cost breakdown is.

The onus really is on you to negotiate them down ;)

[stani1029]

Im going to get a price for oil filter, air filter, oil, gear oil, coolant, spark plugs and the 3 belts from toyota. Will let yous all know

[glenn-250]

well guys, i've arranged to take my car back to Toyota. they looked after my supra tt. for a good 5yrs,and no problems, they tell me they can get the parts no problems along with the necessarry info. they also reckon that their computor can deal with most problems as well as bein cheaper on the hourly rate. so as TOYOTA ownes Lexus it all equates to my car been well looked after,it will just have toyota stamp in the book instead of lexus.plus i won't have a 140 mile round trip

[Rory]

my Toyota dealer didn't even know that Lexus IS300 came in saloon form in the UK, and also failed to find what is rubbing near the wheel when I turn left, saying it must have been the old pads cos its gone now, but it hasn't lol, so i'll b paying them a visit and they can check it again, buggers

[paul-uk]

Here is the reply....

Thank you for your email dated 15 October 2010 and for taking the trouble to contact us.

I was sorry to note your comments and to learn that you are unhappy with the variation in service prices you have been provided by Lexus Cheltenham, Lexus Cardiff and the Sytner Group, I can understand your concerns and why you have felt it necessary to write to us.

I would like to take this opportunity to explain that the Lexus Centre network is made up of franchised independent companies and as such the cost to service a vehicle will vary depending on the Lexus Centre. The actual components will be the same recommended retail cost throughout and the Centres will set their own labour rates in accordance with their individual business needs.

We are actively looking to control prices and reduce ownership costs wherever possible, as such Lexus have implemented the Essential Care programme as an alternative for the standard Lexus service for older vehicles.

The standard Lexus service is designed for vehicles typically 0-3 years old that are still covered by the manufacturers warranty and that do normal mileage within that life cycle. These vehicles need to be maintained to factory standards and these services include a number of adjustments and replacements because of those typical demands.

The Essential Care service only addresses those essential adjustments and replacements needed following those first 3 years and ensures the vehicle is kept to a good basic standard of safety and road worthiness. Naturally, price and content is proportionate.

If you would like a further breakdown of the costs quoted by a Sytner website, I would respectfully suggest that you contact the Service Manager at your preferred Sytner Lexus Centre as they are best placed to discuss your needs and provide you with a service quotation. They are also best placed to provide a breakdown of the costs to service your vehicle.

With reference to the future servicing of your car, I would like to confirm that the maintenance can be completed at a garage of your choice. I can also confirm that in doing so the manufacturer's warranty on your vehicle will only be affected if a failure results from maintenance that is not keeping with the manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines.

In order to avoid this situation occurring it is incumbent upon you to keep records that can corroborate that maintenance has been completed in line with the recommended service schedule and that it has been completed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. I trust this clarifies the situation and we would always advise customers to use the facilities and expertise that are available within Lexus Centre network. This is due to the fact that they have instant access to the latest technical training and vehicle information.

It may also be worthy to note that if you wish to purchase an extended warranty, the terms and conditions of the policy do state the car must be serviced by an authorised Lexus Centre.

In closing, I would like to thank you for taking the time to write to us and for bringing your concerns to our attention.

Yours sincerely

Sam Ragan

Customer Relations Executive

[Crazy Harry]

Just as a matter of interest, did the different dealers break down the cost in terms of parts and labour? and if they did , were the parts all the same cost from all the dealers, as the reply states that they should be? I am following this thread keenly, as my 55 plate 250 is due for it's 40.000 service in the next month or so.

[F.A.]

We also use the Service Plan from Lexus Bristol and as Ahmed24 stated, its good value for money. Definitely worth considering.

[paul-uk]

Sorry for the delay ... however I have just booked my 40k service for my IS220d at http://www.fixautocardiff.co.uk/, I have asked for the Premium Service using Lexus parts and to have my front brakes pads replaced. £300 inc vat.

Lexus Parts breakdown -

Brake pad set £59.60

Oil £27

Air filter £18.15

Oil filter £9.33

Fuel filter £14.90

Fuel clean - £24

[paul-uk]

Should have mentioned the reason I found this company is because my neighbour reversed into my car and they are an approved Lexus repairer. The repair job was excellent and they give a life time guarantee on the paint job. They maybe in your area http://www.fixauto.com/en/world-network.sn

I also used the Sytner Accident Service - who basically claim directly of the 3rd party insurance (so no need to contact your own). They also gave me a GS450 for 2 weeks whilst my car was being repaired.

[shaunyboy]

Hello there,

I have a 2002 SC430 and it now needs a service, timing belt and MOT. Does anyone know of a good independent in the Cheltenham/Gloucester area?

Many thanks

Shaun

[Connoisseur]

Hi Shaun,

Too long since i lived in Gloucester to give a recommendation but this page on Honest John has helped me a few times:

www.good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk

Otherwise if you want someone you can absolutely trust and are prepared to travel then a day out in Warwickshire will have the whole job done by the independent who looks after my SC, and no arm and leg prices.

Mike