Alternative to Dealer?

[ebod]

My 2004 LC is due for its 30k mi. servicing. At the dealer, this will cost over $300.00. Does this sound right even for a dealer price? Is it worth it to go to a dealer for what is essentially fluid changes, and a tire rotation? How much "should" this service cost from a reasonably priced mechanic.

Finally, does anyone know of a good independent mechanic in West Los Angeles or Culver City?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DMX84]

Check w/ the dealer and find out what is done. Then as yourself if you can do this your self. I think you can

 

[Jim_Chow]

IIRC, someone in the past posted that his dealer charged around $250 for the diff fluid/t-case fluid changes. Add $30 for an oil change, $20 for tire rotation, and you're at $300. You can buy a 5-gallon pail of Mobil 1 75w90 synthetic gear oil for the diff/t-case for about $125, buy a pump for the pail, and do it yourself. Look at those commercial fuel/oil supply shops (that supply stuff like red diesel to construction equipment, etc.). They have all the goodies, M1 delvac in cases/drums, etc. It's way cheaper than buying little quarts at PepBoys or Autozone.

In LA, I go to Fenton's indep. Toyota service on Marine & 405 in South Bay. The owner and head mechanic, Craig Fenton, is a seat-of-the-pants mechanic who's prev. dd was a toyota 4x4 (rescued from a swamp, rebuilt it), now drives a LS400 he bought for cheap and fixed.