dmrinehart

I have 2003 LS430 with 75k miles and it is in great condition. I expect to drive this several more years and put 200k+ miles on it. Based on your experience, what guidance can be provided on maintenance that you would do now. The dealer is recommending the following based on mileage (and AGE):

1) Timing Belt and Water pump ($1,175)
2) Serpentine belt ($195)
3) Spark plugs ($545)
4) Power steering fluid flush service ($125)
5) Rear differential service ($120)
6) Air conditioning system refresh ($140)
7) Battery service ($60)

What would you recommended that I do now vs. later?
What would you absolutely recommend that the dealer perform instead of someone else? ?

UZ214

1) Timing Belt and Water pump ($1,175)- this can you get done at only lexus dealer i think you can wait till 1yr
2) Serpentine belt ($195)- can get done anywhere check local toyota dealer
3) Spark plugs ($545)- check local toyota dealer
4) Power steering fluid flush service ($125)- check local toyota dealer
5) Rear differential service ($120)- check local toyota dealer
6) Air conditioning system refresh ($140)-this is a recharge? again check with toyota dealer
7) Battery service ($60)-skip ths one, just get a new battery when it dies

BMW7_LS430

I have a 2004 with same mileage. I had done full service at 60K before.

At 75K this is what I did (& did not do) :
1) Timing Belt and Water pump - Will do somewhere between 90-100K. Will do it at a local shop run by Ex Lexus mechanic.
2) Serpentine belt - Bought one of the best ones from Amazon and replaced myself in 10 mins. Saw Youtube videos and researched before to make sure I am doing it right. Cost $28
3) Spark plugs - Will do along with TB/WP service
4) Power steering fluid flush service - Bought some ATF and hand pump. Pulled out fluid from top and replaced couple of times. Plan to do it every 6 months so that over life of the vehicle it will have cleaner fluid. Cost until now $8
5) Rear differential service - Want to do it myself but I don't have a lift. Vehicle needs to be lifted but horizontal. Still thinking about getting it done at a shop.
6) Air conditioning system refresh - Will do DIY when there is a need.
7) Battery service - I just buy a new one when old one gets used up. Instead of $60 for a service can get you a new battery. Buy one form Advance auto with $40 off $100 coupon.

Jabberwock

Those are some super high prices - battery service? Spark plugs for $545 - that's laughable.

If you are on a budget - order any parts you need online from Sewell Lexus in Dallas. Then find a really good independent shop that specializes in Toyota and or Lexus if you have one locally, to perform labor on the car using your OEM parts. Or if no good independents are avail, call your local Lexus and Toyota dealer and tell them you have OEM parts and you are shopping for their best labor quote on installation. Tell them you want to use them but you expect them to earn your business with their best labor quote. Lexus service managers are mostly used to dealing with people who don't question labor rates or price quotes. Don't be afraid to tell service manager you are on a budget and need the lowest rates they can provide.

Calling around on the phone and asking the dealer specifically for their best rates is the way to get best deal...don't just call and say what do you charge for spark plug replacements, instead call and say "I'm on a budget and am shopping around for best labor rate on spark plug replacement" that way you will get an entirely different response in most cases. In the former you get a standard quote (which will almost always be too high), in the latter you get the services manager trying to earn your business with a discounted rate.

Zodiac

iTrader: (1)

Wow $545 for spark plugs replacement is highway robbery. I recently bought spark plugs from Sewell Lexus for $8 each (8x8=$64). I can't believe the dealer charges $500 for labor. I replaced mine at 110K miles and they looked pretty good. Last week I bought a Costco 24F battery for $85 which comes with 3 years free replacement warranty. I believe they even install it for you for free but I am not 100% sure on the free install since I installed the battery myself. Find yourself a reputable local mechanic shop. I am sure someone will recommend one at your Clublexus regional forum. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/loc...al-forums-156/

warminwisc

Doesn't the serpentine belt come off during the t belt job anyway?

I guess service writers make commissions.

AlexusAnja

The only must do I would say is timing belt, just on age and possible rot of rubber. Also with interference engine you don't want to risk it. Everything else can wait. Surp belts I would say change next. Don't change water pump it's overkill. Rear diff and battery total fluff work and not necessary. Spark plugs not time dependent, they can go to 100k+

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

120k is normal spark plug interval and definitely your prices are high.

Rezonans

If you want to shop online, the better price now is http://www.oemlexusparts.com , sewwll lexus gives more expensive rates.

toddmorr

good comments by all. Let me add a few:
battery service: what, exactly, is this? they clean the terminals?? because I don't know what else you could possible do to service a battery...as others have said, replace it when it wears out or cranks slowly.
serpentine belt: real easy. google for the Goodyear Gatorback belt, 30$ or so and change it yourself. regular rachet wrench and 14mm socket iirc is all thats needed.
rear differential: you could actually do this yourself as well, without a lift. Just find a sloped area, park the car with the rear end hanging over the drop off area and you can get easy access to the drain plug by crawling under the car, in the sloped area. $30 or something like that with any fancy synthetic gear lube out there and you're good to go for minimum 50k miles.
don't be intimidated by this car....many things are so easy to maintain yourself I sometimes wonder if that was an actual design objective by those clever Japanese engineers.

dmrinehart

Great feedback by all of you:

Jabberwock - thanks for the great tip on negotiating with the dealers. I do have a few choices in Columbus, OH.

All - thanks for providing your thoughts on schedule to do this maintenance. Sounds like the focus should be on the timing belt / water pump coming up at around 90k, followed by some of the other things.

honeygee2

Timing belt can be done at any Toyota dealer