calisnoopy

Hii!! I'm new to the forum but was excited to hopefully learn more and exchange tips/information with everyone on the board =)

My 2004 RX 330 just passed the 29,000 mile mark and is due for the 30,000 mile service...

I forget, is there a list somewhere that shows each mile marker service Lexus recommends...I know there was a 1K, 5K, 10K and 15K as well as a 25K service but I dont recall what they all entail...I just know each one always has an oil change and checking lots of stuff.

Up until now I have taken it to Lexus service but the 30K one is about 700 USD I think (correct me if Im wrong) and was curious if people usually take it to Lexus still or if I should take it somewhere else and what it is that I really would need done.

I just dont want them to miss something or not check something if I take it to a non-Lexus place...but again, if I can save a few hundred dollars, that would be awesome.

Thanks!!!

(BTW I live in Washington DC/Northern Virginia area)

calisnoopy

^^I ended up finding a place called:

Kaufman's Auto Clinic in Rockville, MD

My bf told me about it and they supposedly got good reviews on some car auto shop place online.

Anyhow, they quoted me 375 USD for the 30K service, one of the mechanics there used to work at Lexus service himself.

Heres a rough breakdown he did for me of the costs:

35 USD oil change/filter
50 USD rotate/balance tires
35 USD air filter change
100 USD coolant fluids
90 USD transmission fluids
?? brake/fuel tank fluids

And then he also suggested i do this "combustion" change for 150 USD which clears my transmission tank/fluids to clean it out...he said its recommended every 30K miles anyways--he brought this up when I first mentioned having hesitation lag issues and hearing a slight metal scraping sound when pressing the acceleration. But I declined it since the price I would be paying for all of this would end up being close to what Lexus would charge me...

Rockville Lexus charged 575 USD or so for 30K service and Lindsay Lexus charged 675 USD for 30K service

Any insight would be great--I know oil filter/change is usually 30 USD or so and rotating/balancing tires is around 50 USD I guess but I dont know if everything else is really marked up??

mandyfig

30K Check should just be as listed below (I am planning one myself). The amounts are just estimates outside of a Lexus Dealer:

Oil and Filter Change. $40.
Engine Air Filter change. $30.00
Replace Brake Fluid. $25.00
Check other Fluids. Transmission, if still pink, good to go, top off as needed, Steering, top off and Coolant, top off. $30.
Check brakes/pads, might need new pads. (With new Pads $ 80).
**Replace Transfer case oil, differential oil for AWD. $80.00


Go to a reputable service provider, one who is recommended by someone you know. Specify the items above and they will do it for you.

mandyfig

The List of recommended maintenance for an 04 RX330. taken from Lexus.com.

mandyfig

Rotate tires, I forgot. Mine's just been rotated. Most people need new tires when they hit 30K.

excluesive

iTrader: (10)

when we got out lexus, we purchased the service contract up to 30k miles, included all scheduled maintenance and oil changed for like 900 bucks. i wonder if that was a good deal

cdnewton

I can't believe they didn't replace the cabin filter at this interval.

At the price you mention, is the transmission service a drain/fill?

calisnoopy

im not sure--on my receipt this is what it reads this concerning the transmission fluids: (i just picked up the car yesterday)

Transmission Fluids-S 4.0@ 5.75= 23.00
Anti-Freeze-N (is this coolant?) 2.0 @ 15.00=30.00
Air Filter-S 1.0@ 20.8=20.89

But the labor cost for this section is 187.50

Isnt that a bit high? I'm not sure...

Lube oil and filer
Check fluids and air pressure

^^these 2 were 32.00 total

rotate and balance tires 48.00 total

And then there was a 6.00 hazard waste fee and 25.00 in shop supplies which I am not sure what that is.

calisnoopy

btw-what is the cabin filter? Is that for the AC filter?

calisnoopy

they also kind of pushed me to get the BG combustion service saying it would help with my transmission lagging/hesitation problem? But a Lexus service writer said its recommended to get the BG combustion service but it would NOT help with the hesitation/lag?

Lexmex

All this is going to do is get rid of some buildup in the combustion chamber and in the intake. I have done this before with other chemicals and though the effect is initially noticeable (feels like the vehicle has blown its nose) it will be running like it did before in about a month or so.

Dinomon

Hi, If you don't mind, how much did you paid total?
I would have taken it to Toyota and had them do the services. Lexus charge too much for even rotating tires, Totota: $10 for rotating tires when changing oil/filter.

andreys

wow, $187 for labor is high! You can probably get everything done at Toyota for about $100, including labor. Or you can even do it yourself, it is very simple once you do it. Lexus vehicles are very easy to work on and the entire service shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes or so.

cdnewton

Yes, I was referring to the AC / cabin filter ... by 30K, it would be pretty dirty.

Dinomon

You are right andreys. But isn't it very hard to change all the fuilds other than oil/filter??