Low (Well Lower Anyway) Cost Servicing And Jobs For >5Yrs Old

[steve haley]

Just noticed that lexus have appear to have introduced lower cost service plans and fixed price jobs for cars over 5yrs.

The servicing may not be as thourgh as normal by the look of it but the fixed price jobs look reasonable given the parts costs. Ie normal price for discs and pads is £400-500 and parts alone are circa £220 so £280 would appear semi reasonable.

Servicing

ESSENTIAL CARE SERVICE TYPE

MODEL MINOR MAJOR

IS £129 £259

GS £129 £279

RX £129 £279

LS £129 £299

SC £129 £299

Mot £49

Note they also do 0% apr fixed monthley payment plans inc MOT which give the option of getting Lexus Road side assistance for £99 for 24mths

http://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/lexuscare/service-your-lexus/essential-care-service-plans.aspx

Fixed Price jobs eg pads shocks etc

The table below shows the price of some typical wear and tear components at your Lexus Centre.

ITEM RX 300 >05/03

Front brake pads £125

Front brake pads & Discs £280

Rear brake pads £99

Rear brake pads & Discs £220

Battery £90

Water Pump £350

wiper blades £50

Wiper Refills £35

Front Shock Absorbers £399

Rear Shock Absorbers £299

http://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/lexuscare/service-your-lexus/fixed-price-promise.aspx

[andy1610]

Hi Steve,

Recently had my '56 RX350 serviced at main dealer as part of a two service package. Obviously, quite expensive. Would you, or anyone else out there, know the actual difference between a ''normal'' service and the ''Essential Care'' version? I do anything between 20-40k miles a year in the car, drive for a living so of course need the motor to be ok etc.

Cheers

[mcleish]

In regards to the Lexus "Essential Care" servicing, the thing that put me off it was the fact that Lexus would not put their service stamp in my Service History Book. I asked why and was told that the Essential Care servicing is not as thorough as a full EXPENSIVE "proper" service. So I no longer get my car serviced by a Lexus main dealer. Not really sure if what I was told was correct, but my car is now 9 years old and I simply cannot justify the main dealer costs anymore.

[steve haley]

In regards to the Lexus "Essential Care" servicing, the thing that put me off it was the fact that Lexus would not put their service stamp in my Service History Book. I asked why and was told that the Essential Care servicing is not as thorough as a full EXPENSIVE "proper" service. So I no longer get my car serviced by a Lexus main dealer. Not really sure if what I was told was correct, but my car is now 9 years old and I simply cannot justify the main dealer costs anymore.

Sounds iffy to me. I would ring lexus uk. At very least they should stamp it but mark it. As an essential service.

[Valkirk]

Just had this done on a 2yr essential care plan for our RX300 54 plate.

To explain it you get a separate Essential card insert to go in your service book with the stamp put on. The checks are less but still include the main aspects, the Minor includes a Oil change with filter etc plus lots of checks (Given the cost of the oil it's pretty good value!). The major includes some filters in addition to the minor service work.

[lurch]

Well just spoke to Ipswich Lexus for a service quote, my RX400h 2006, has just done 37k so thought i would get a price for a service. They have just come back with £729.85 !! + extra £54.85p for an M.O.T., They say as its six years old they would do the 60k service.

Well looks like i will be taking it to my trusted independant dealer "Roys Motor Company " again. May give Norwich a call to see what they are asking but not that Lower pricing i don't think.

Phil.

[vadre]

Well just spoke to Ipswich Lexus for a service quote, my RX400h 2006, has just done 37k so thought i would get a price for a service. They have just come back with £729.85 !! + extra £54.85p for an M.O.T., They say as its six years old they would do the 60k service.

Well looks like i will be taking it to my trusted independant dealer "Roys Motor Company " again. May give Norwich a call to see what they are asking but not that Lower pricing i don't think.

Phil.

I was quoted very similar figures for the 6yr service for my 400h from my local centre. I got quotes from a couple of other centres, one was £80 cheaper for the service with a cut price MOT to boot.

I put these cheaper figures to my local centre and to my suprise they agreed to match the price, no questions asked.

Service and MOT now booked at my local centre for £100 less than previously quoted!!

[scottyd]

When I had my £50k / 5yr service on the RX350 at Christmas Lexus Leeds quoted me £585 inclusive for the next one at 60k / 6yr.

Anyone recommend any independent Lexus Specialists in West Yorkshire?

[blackpoolmike]

Hi All.

I've just come back to a Lexus having tried a Mazda for a couple of years. I've got a 5 year old LS460 and was very interested in the essential care servicing option. Prices looked good and made it sensible to stick with Lexus for servicing. However, on phoning various dealers and the Lexus call centre, I was very disappointed to learn that the service book would not be stamped! But my Lexus warranty wouldn't be invalidated - weird.

Before going in to all this I assumed that essential care servicing would be according to the book, but devoid of the frills such as the free courtesy car and the free pick up and delivery of my car from home (around 30 miles from Lexus centre). I also assumed I'd have to leave the car for a full day rather than have a while you wait service. These features are a great convenience that must cost the dealership quite a bit to provide and cutting them out should have enabled them to offer reduced price servicing for older cars.

As far as I'm concerned Lexus have missed as trick and shot themselves in the foot - the essential care system will not be successful in retaining customers with older cars. As it stands, you can get a better service from an independent and get the service book stamped. It's not as if most services need specific Lexus tools or skills. Only downside is not having a relationship with a Lexus dealer when you get a problem that needs a Lexus garage to fix!

Mike

[ColinBarber]

Hi Mike, you still retain full service history, it just isn't 'true' Lexus full service history. The service book gets an additional sheet to show the essential services. I would say it is still more valuable than having a service at a non-Lexus dealer in terms of resale value.

For the minor services there really isn't much different between the two options. On a full service things like replacing the pollen filter isn't included in the essentials service but is on the main one (unless you ask for it not to be done).

[Valkirk]

Mike as Colin stated and also from my earlier post, I really can't see much difference from the main Lexus service to the Essential Care one except a massive price difference.

My "Minor" Essential Care service on an RX300 cost £129, they picked the car up, did the service (Minor one so basically oil change, filter change and lots of checks) cleaned the car and dropped it back, haven't had the "Major" one yet but seems it's the same plus additional filters etc that are needed.

They give you an insert for your service book (Looks like a service page from the book) on which the stamps are collected.

I'm not sure what is included above and beyond in the "Full" Lexus service but would love to hear.

[passman53]

Hello.

I must get a new photo now i've changed the LS!

I have a 2005 RX300 thats done 57K. I took it in to Lexus Wolverhampton and had a 6yr/60K service as last year it only had the smaller service done. (I assume because it had done 50K at the time). When I called to arrange the job I was told the cost was just under £600 but as the car was over 5 years old I would qualify for a discount which reduced the price to £438.78.

The invoice shows that all the items listed in the service schedule have been done and yes, it does include the new spark plugs.

I was provided with a CT 200 whilst mine was done and the car was spotless inside and out when I collected it.

The service book was stamped as normal

I don't know if this was"essential" service but I consider the price for a major service and plug change to be very reasonable.

I have used Wolverhampton since I first had a Lexus 9 years ago and have never had any problems at all. Ironically i have only actually bought one car from them, my first Lexus-!" year old LS 400. but would always return for service.

Pete

[Valkirk]

That wouldn't have been the essential just the normal Lexus one discounted for age. The essential would have been £279.

[passman53]

That wouldn't have been the essential just the normal Lexus one discounted for age. The essential would have been £279.

Yes but the essential at £279 would not have included the plug change,which looking back at earlier posts is around £200!