Threxx

I mean my god... I just took it in for the 30k mile service and they want to change darn near every fluid, filter, belt, and pad in the car.

Even my factory manual's recommended service interval seems rediculous.

I bought this GS assuming that it would be a relatively hassle-free, DURABLE, RELIABLE car. I didn't realize that I'd have to shell out 5x as much money in order to keep it durable and reliable.

I mean come on... my '00 Silverado's brakes, engine coolant, tranny fluid, rear differential fluid, in-cabin filter, spark plugs, belts (all), and so much more is guarenteed to last a minimum of 100,000 miles... some of it even up to 150,000 miles!!

The only thing I have to change inbetween is the tires, oil, and air filter.

Now if my AMERICAN MADE run-of-the-mill TRUCK can do this... why can't a "prefection-incarnate", ultra-durable, JAPANESE, top-of-the-line car do this?

Somehow I have a feeling that us lexus owners could take even our factory-recommended maintinance schedules and double the milage on everything. ie: 30k service at 60k, 60k at 120k, 90k at 180k... and everything would work 99% just as well and just as reliably.

VVT-i

I've see some of the 1st gen LS with over 300k and still runs strong. The owner taking good care of it with regular maintenance and in the long run I think it worth the money he's spend. I think this is personal preference and how do you want to tread your car.
Lexus do made the most trouble free, most durability car in the industry if you compare the problems on Lexus per 100 vehicles with another manufacturer.

mooretorque

Threxx, you've touched on one of the sore spots for some of us. The Service dept at the dealership is a seperate cost center for them and they've determined that one way to enhance profits is to recommend maintainence above and beyond the factory schedule, even when "rough duty" schedule is taken into consideration.

When questioned about this practice, my dealership replies that "they have determined that the service is good maintainence practice" and that Lexus is "more likely to cover anything that might develop when the car is out of warranty". I frankly am at a loss to understand how half a dozen guys at a dealership somehow can do enough research, development, and durability testing to essentially contradict the recommendations of the responsible engineering dept of the third largest car company in the world!!!

I'd stick with the factory schedule for normal maintainence that's printed in the manual unless you use your car like a taxi. But you'll have to tell your service advisor when you present the car for service; otherwise, you'll get the dealership's rec'd stuff, too.

<VENOM>

Regular oil changes should be fine up to 60k when you should get everything flushed and changed, unless your a heavy city driver

oldguy

Mooretorque expresses my thoughts very well. We must use our sense of machinery to moderate what the dealers say. I am in MN and do not feel that Toyota's statement of severe duty applies to me, as I almost never drive only a few miles after starting the car.
Saw a recent business report that stated that on average, half a dealerships profit comes from the "shop". Lexus has elevated this to a science. Many owners tell them to do what they recommend and have no question about the bill.
This is my second GS. The first, a 98, had the dreaded steering vibration, which they said could not be fixed, except by balancing the front tires every 2500-3000 miles. And the shocks were shot at about 40,000. I expected more from a $50,000 car. Bought another anyway, but they do not get much maintanance money from me, and I solved the shock question. So, when it came down to a big deal problem, they did not do me much good.
Did you know that when they service the transmission every 15,000 miles, they replace about 20% of the fluid? And that Toyota thinks it NEVER needs replacing? Had mine done once, at 30,000 a total replacement, and I'll not have it done again.
Many of us have lots of car experience, and drive a GS for good reason, but are not about to let the dealer get lots of extra money for not needed service.

yasir

Well i just sold my 92 Camry V6-XLE with 130,000 miles and i don't think i ever had to check the engine oil in between changes i never had a single drop of oil in my drive way I have been on Supra forums for almost 3 years and since i had had few reliable toyotas over the years here's what i would suggest.
1)-Engine oil every 3000 miles.Use Mobil-1 if possible
2)-Transmission oil along with oil pan Gaskit seal every 30,000 miles
3)-Coolant every 50,000 miles
4)-Brake fluid & power steering fluids every 70,000-80,000.I have checked with several sources and no one recommends changing them at all
The above fluids changes you can get it done at any reputable place,doesn't have to be the dealer.What i have done over the years is,find out if the local Toyota/Lexus master mechanic works on his own time and then have him do all the work.This way you have the piece of mind and yet you are saving atleast 40% off the dealer price.
5)-Timing belt: I'll definately let a specialist do thisand i think that's like at 60,000 miles.
5)-Tire rotation every 7000 miles.
If you follow this regimen you will have a very reliable vehicle,trust me
Later, Yasir

RON430

I hope none of my bimmer friends read this but my opinion is that Lexus developed these idiotic maintenance schedules in the early days competing with bimmer and MB. The cost and frequency of maintenance on bimmers is/was horrific. I assume Lexus interpreted this to mean 1) Luxury car drivers prefer to have the dealer perform these idiotic maintenance schedules and 2) there's money in them thar maintenance schedules. I just had the 15K service and just like bimmer, the majority of items were "Inspect". And as for the fluids they started changing at 15K (like the tranny) is just hard to imagine. I don't really know why a $20K MR2 goes to 217K miles with just oil changes and the odd timing belt but a $50K GS430 can't go 15K miles without someone inspecting the brake lining. Now, the funny thing is that when bimmer, Merc, and Audi went to paying for maintenance, all of a sudden the old maintenance schedule was just a joke and now they only want to see you twice in fifty thousand miles. I am not sure I am getting off the point here but I would rather see Lexus get a sensible approach to maintenance (meaning no $400 dollar "Inspections") so you can keep your warranty without becoming an income stream for Lexus than putting in the 50K free maintenance dodge. Come on guys, give us a break.

Oh, and do I think their inspections are worth the money for the peace of mind? NO, I will do more than what they just did. At the 15K service I paid for the wheels to be rotated, and the front two tires rebalanced. I didn't really want to argue with them because I will take the car to my alignment shop and have all four tires rebalanced and the alignment checked/redone if necessary. Only balancing the front two tires (?), this is a maintenance schedule for the slow and clueless. If you are going to put this idiotic schedule in for maintenance in order to keep the warranty, do some honest to goodness work and quit charging for inspecting the level in the washer reservoir. Just as insane as bimmer used to be. At least Magnussen in Fremont is pretty cool with not charging for air cleaners because I have a K&N, using my oil (synthetic) for oil changes and crediting back on the service. OK, through complaining.