So a Guy Walks into a Lexus Dealer for an Oil Change....

[Junglejack]

Hello,
Today I took in the 2000 LX470 I purchased last Friday for an Oil Change and to meet the Lexan's as I had owned an Infiniti for the past 7 years.

All seemed to be going swimmingly as they were quite surprised at how low the mileage is for a Y2K (now 72,000) and that it had not been at a Lexus Dealer for literally 10 years.

There are 2 Recalls or TSB's that had not been completed that are going to be done soon in respect to Daytime Running Lights and Trailer Wiring Harness that they are ordering the parts for and will be completed soon.

Mind you my older brother was going to purchase this LX and it is only due to someone whacking the living daylights out of my M45 that I even ended up purchasing this truck. That being said, he was worked at various car dealers for almost 25 years as he got his first job at an Acura Dealership at 15 and has worked steady in that industry since. This includes being Body Shop Manager for a Mercedes-Benz dealership for 13 years and GM of a Suburu dealership among other stops. He had had this LX on a Hydraulic Lift, did an extensive inspection, etc.

I dropped of the truck this morning and had not heard anything until 4:30 when my Service Advisor came back with some "recommendations". First, they noticed the CV Boots had a minor leak and due to age recommended the Timing Belt, and finally recommended an new A/C Filter. Grand total: $2,300. I was actually expecting more recommendations as it has not been in a Lexus dealership for this long.

Just to make clear I have been planning on doing the Timing Belt, CV's, all fluids flushed, etc at 90,000 miles and made that clear when I first spoke to them.
I do truly understand if the CV issue is really bad it means new axles, but after putting on over 1,000 miles and all the leg work done by my brother I just did not think the juice was worth the squeeze. Yet....
Cheers,
JJ

 

[slimbuddha]

Not really surprising they would recommend it. Seems kind of high, they must be considering all new CV's, and not just fixing the boot.

 

[patrickfinley]

Timing belt is 90k or 9 years whichever comes first. So you're looking at about 13 years, hence the recommendation. If the Timing Belt goes your engine is toast.

It could be in just fine condition, but places will recommend changing it anywhere near 90k or 9 years because they don't want you trying to sue if the engine goes and they didn't recommend a belt change. That and the fact that they want your $$$.

You should probably look into getting it changed somewhere in the next several months.

 

[re_guderian]

I'm probably the only one on MUD, but I'd buy 13 year old LX/LC with 100k miles and original timing belts all day, every day, and change 'em when I got around to it... Like in the next year or three...

Re-boot the CV's, buy your own AC filter,.and drive the snot out of it!

Not sure if the Lexus trailer harness issue is the same as the Land Cruiser, if so, the dealer fix sux, too. Many threads on here with much better permanent fixes.

edit: -> here's a link to the part # and install instructions for the trailer wiring harness fix on Land Cruisers. If the Lexus dealer will do your for free, go for it. If not, then I'm not sure it's worth the coin...

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/232931-trailer-lights-modulite-hd-install.html

 

[OregonLC]

I'm probably the only one on MUD, but I'd buy 13 year old LX/LC with 100k miles and original timing belts all day, every day, and change 'em when I got around to it... Like in the next year or three....

Yep. On my 2000 I'm just doing belt now at 95k and 13 years next month. Didn't worry one bit and would have gone a couple more years if time/funds didn't allow.

And x2 on the DIY maint. I've seen way to many shop related posts here lately. If you're man enough to drive the king of SUVs then be man enough to get your hands a little dirty (directed at the forum in general, not necessarily toward the OP).

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
As a sign of goodwill, I went ahead and had the A/C Filter replaced. I laughed when I saw just how easy the DIY was. Or as my brother told me his 10 year old son would have no issues doing it. I truly do understand the service recommendation due to the age and it is indeed an interference design, but I do not think waiting 17,000 is too foolhardy.

The CV job required an Alignment according to them and at Lexus added $150 on to the $1000 quote for the CV Boots. The thing is there is barely any leakage and she made it sound like it was going to corrode that chassis. I completely understand if not taken care of it means the axle so it will be done.

I truly feel blessed to have this LX. To find a 13 year old truck with so few miles and with no body damage is pretty rare. The interior is spotless and I just need to get the Nakamichi H/U fixed. I cannot decide whether to pay $540 at Lexus to not have to go a week without any music or $400 to send it off and wait at least a week.
All the best,
Jack

 

[phippsj]

Lexus upsells everything just like any dealer, but their shop rate is almost 3 times that of a Toyota dealer. They gotta pay for that fancy waiting room and free wifi somehow. Same oil, filters and most parts as Toyota.

I quit the dealer BS and just take my LC and wife's Lexus sedan to the grimy old garage down the street from my work. They do everything right the first time and don't upsell me at all. Oil changes, tires, alignment,brakes, suspension, everything. And they don't take all day doing it either. Good ol' boys who know their stuff.

Dallas Brake & Alignment on Market Center for those in Dallas.

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
I live in SW Florida and figuring I was just doing an Oil Change, I figured I would about break even as I had to drive to Tampa today. Driving an RX feels so different than the Canyonero. Amazingly, when I called about the gas level on the Loaner Agreement stating it had a full tank when it was actually half full, they actually told me not to sweat adding petrol. Of course, this was before I was told about the recommendations and subsequently declining.

I truly was expecting that they would throw the kitchen sink at me, but I was surprised it took until 4:30 to find out about it. And both Recalls are being done free of charge and with a loaner car. For not being in the Lexus dealer for over a decade, what they could come up with was less than expected.

And indeed Lexus dealers make their profits off used cars and non warranty servicing. Toyota/Lexus does not pay nearly as well as us customers. Now that it has been washed, I will take some pictures in the morning and just make this my intro thread.
Best,
Jack

 

[OregonLC]

No alignment needed for CV change. Just undo the UCA at the ball joint.

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
I agree about an Alignment not being needed to do the CV's. As I mentioned last night, I went ahead and took some pictures of the Canyonero.
Best,
J

 

[Junglejack]

And a few more.

 

[Junglejack]

Somehow only one shot made it from the last post.

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
It seems I have already exceeded my upload limit. That small picture is not mine and I tried to delete it so that I could use a different picture. Oh well.
Best,
Jack

 

[OregonLC]

Hello,
It seems I have already exceeded my upload limit.

Buy a silver star. $20 and problem solved.

 

[Junglejack]

Buy a silver star. $20 and problem solved.

Will do. Thank you so much for the information.

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
I figured out how to delete the shots I did not want for the time being before I add a star.
Best,
J

 

[Junglejack]

Now that I have a better handle on things.

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
Just a final follow up. Today I took my LX to a local Toyota dealership as I was curious what they would charge for the aforementioned CV Boot job that Lexus wanted in excess of $1000 for.

They were kind enough to do a complete inspection for free and better still allowed me to inspect the CV's. Only the fronts were slightly seeping and I mean slight. They honestly do not even think it needs to be done at 90k let alone now.

Toyota did recommend new Spark Plugs, Serpentine Belt, and I think that is that. The Spark Plugs solely due to age as the Technician drove it and said it drove wonderfully. I am disgusted with the Lexus dealer I went to however.
Best,
Jack

 

[re_guderian]

Lower your expectations. All dealers will go on "phishing" trips, hoping you'll bite on expensive, uneeded servics, based solely on uber-conservative guidelines from the factory, or worse. Just learn to say "no" always, then go and do your own research.

 

[Junglejack]

Lower your expectations. All dealers will go on "phishing" trips, hoping you'll bite on expensive, uneeded servics, based solely on uber-conservative guidelines from thhttps://forum.ih8mud.com/images/smilies/doh.gife factory, or worse. Just learn to say "no" always, then go and do your own research.

Actually, I used an Infiniti dealership for every single service on my M45 for the past 6 years and an Acura dealership for all things on the TL before it. I am a big believer in preventative maintenance and am not afraid to spend money of what is needed. However, for an initial experience after having extensive experience with dealerships, what was recommended was simply wrong in my estimation.