Car Advice

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Almost as bad in a Benz. Oil is every 10,000 miles. Synthetic oil does allow for the extra mileage between changes. 9 Quarts. In Benz speak we call it "A" or "B" service. They check all the fluids. Change Oil, Filter, tell you your brake pad percentage. And run a checklist of diagnostics and clip you for about $ 200.00. So its only about once a year which is not that bad.

Here is my SL. Dealer is the only option with this car. And yes you get nice cupholders. I get half a cup of coffee so I dont spill any. Built in Stuttgart modified and finished in Affalterbach by AMG. Cant buy a home so I got a nice car. Both are depreciating assets these days.

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Like most dealers these days. Its $ 80.00/Hr.

At Fletcher I think its over $ 100.00/Hr. You got to pay for that "Free" Latte.
 
irvine commuter,

IMO..lexus shares many engine with Toyotas. I doubt it's worth to put $100 for an oil change. I've had 96 Toyota Supra (turbo) and never took it to the dealership due to the overcharge. I simply took it to a local -somewhat trust worthy mechanic to change the filter and oil. With synthetic oil.the service cost me $40. I am not sure if the lexus you drive require Synthetic oil...but if it does..and the dealership is charging $100..it's not that bad to be honest.

I have yet to own a Lexus...but from my peers, I have heard Newport Beach Lexus is fairly new and hungry for more business. You may want to give them a try. Personally, I would take it to the nearest Lexus dealership..but I strongly suggest calling around.

My girlfriend has an Audi and she is due for its 15k mile service. I called Newport Beach Audi and they wanted $375. I called Mission Viejo and they wanted $280. And Yes, I made sure the service were identical...go figure. Where do you think i'm taking mine..haha.

Dealerships are not created equal.
 
I gave up on overpriced and incompetent shops 10 years ago and haven't looked back since. A lot of techs are simply not qualified. I've worked with some of them in automotive classes I've taken at the local CC and to put it bluntly I knew a lot more than all of the ones I've worked with. I think every luxury dealership has at least 1 or 2 stars, but I promise you they are never the ones doing your oil changes. Consider what these places charge. Consider that you're paying them in after-tax dollars. Then figure out how many hours you had to work to cover the expense. If you can do the job in fewer hours then consider doing it yourself. Oil changes are basic and do not require many tools besides a creeper, jack, stand and wrench.
 
Like most dealers these days. Its $ 80.00/Hr.

Right, but if you figure time and materials on their 15k or 30k service, the effective labor rate is much higher. They're no longer changing coolant, plugs, or points, nor are they adjusting carburetors. Yet the maintenance intervals somehow remained just as expensive.

The real ripoff is the 30k service on ordinary (non-status) cars. They do about 20 minutes worth of work and use maybe $30 in materials.
 
I also have a two car garage-duplex rental but my wife would never trust me enough for me to work on the cars. Not to mention the mess that I am likely to cause.
 
Yep, I change my own oil and use Redline Systhetic, its good stuff, the mustang costs about 100 per oil change (custom 9 quart pan), plus the engine goes through the oil pretty quickly at about 1500 per oil change. Changing the oil is as hard as cleaning your floors. The only difficult is getting under your car.... Sometimes you might have to lift the car to get it done in a reasonable manner.

Anyways goodluck

-bix
 
i've gone through my share of diff mechanics for my bmw and finally found a good, reliable, and reasonably-priced one in costa mesa. he charges half of what the dealer does for the inspection I ($200). john at coast mbz-bmw on paularino. they do mbz and bmws (duh).

another guy i've found reliable is steve at irvine imports on harvard. i've noticed that they quote top-down pricing, as in they take whatever the dealer charges and then charge you some amount less. you'll still pay less than the dealer but have to haggle or get some other quotes to get them down further. coast mbz i've always found gives a fair pricing from the get-go.
 
I just remembered something that drives me crazy. Instead of figuring out what is wrong with your car, the "mechanic" now hooks your engine up to their computer which either indicates what the problem is, or gives a few options of what the problem might be. And the "mechanic" charges $75 or whatever to have the machine tell him/her what the problem might be, and then asks the customer which of the possible fixes does the customer want to try, and pay for, whether it is the actual problem or not. I am serious. This is what they do at the Volvo dealership.

We take the Volvo to an independent guy now.
 
I just got some quotes:

Newport Lexus: $224

(Tire rotation, Measure and inspect brake pads and rotors, Check condition of engine air and a/c filter, Road test vehicle, Inspect all axle shaft boots, Ball joints and dust covers, Chassis nuts and bolts, Steering linkage, The vehicle will be vacuumed and washed.)

Tustin Lexus: $165 (I do get a loaner for the day though)

(Tire Rotation, Oil Change, and Brake Inspection. . .oh and the car wash too)

Westminster Lexus: About $150

(Tire Rotation, Engine oil and filter change and Brake Inspection...car wash)

Guy I took my Honda to a couple of times and also does Lexuseseseses: $40 for an oil change and tire rotation.

Man, that car wash is expensive.
 
The SRS light just came on in my 2001 Civic HX :-/

Anyone experience this in their cars before? Should I just bite the bullet and take it to the dealer?
 
Dude, you car is going to be 6-7 years old. It needs some sort of maintence. Its just probably some sensor, but it doesn't mean its cheap.

-bix
 
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