Oil Change / Maintenance Service

[naminator]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this forum, and I am also a new lexus owner. Just recently bought a 2003 SC430 from a private seller. However I forgot to ask the previous owner about oil change and scheduled maintenance services, whether they are covered under warranty (while the car is still under manufacturer's warranty), or not. When I bought a brand new BMW before, all services (including oil changes) were free in the first 4 years / 50k miles. This is my first lexus, and I am not familiar with lexus dealer services. The car has 23K miles, and I'm thinking about bringing it in for 22,500/25,000 miles service. Is this service provided free of charge by the dealer? If not, is it expensive? Should I always have my car serviced at a lexus dealer? Would an independent shop do an equipvalent job (such as oil change) at a much less expensive cost? Thanks for your response.

[Gryphon]

Welcome to the Lexus world. I have a new 07 RX400h and only the first oil change at 5000 miles is free; thereafter one pays. There are other posts here about this (try searching) and I think that the consensus is that Lexus dealers are somewhat expensive for oil changes as well as push additional service items. (Service writers are commissioned.) Apparently Toyota dealers are equipped to do the same quality service, and are cheaper. I may give one a try when I reach 10,000 miles and/or just do it myself.

Tom

[naminator]

Tom, thanks for your response. I called the lexus dealer where the car was originally bought from. It costs $215. Wow, that's expensive for an oil change and other little things like tire rotation and checking fluids.

[Gary Naskrent]

Just purchased a 2002. I was told that Toyota can do any kind of work except for warranty work. Then you have to go to Lexus.

[Belle]

Boys,

If your not too proud ,...you can get a full synthetic oil change and filter at any Walmart for about $45

They will check all the fluids ,the air pressure in the tires, the air filter and vacume the car too. The oil filter is available because it also used on a Toyota. My theory is that it's better to have a superior lubricant ...Mobil1 or Castrol Full Synthetic and change it every 10,000 miles rather than using coventional oil for only 3,000 to 5,000 miles .

I know your thinking they will cut a corner like not using the correct oil, however I have watched then and they come into the store and get the quart bottles off the shelf. Ask them to save the half quart left over because the filter won't take a full quart, and they will put the half bottle in a clean plastic bag.

If you need more than oil srevice, then by all means go to the dealer or a specialist for such things as tires or alignment , but if it's just oil service there is nothing wrong with Walmart . I would use them for my BMW ,but they don't carry the cartride type filter.

Hey it's just a car !! :)