Dealer Selection

[amolkarnik]

My car is due for its 10k service now and I have booked it in at Lexus Croydon mainly because its not too far from where I stay (Bromley is the closest dealer) and their quote was the cheapest + 15% gold discount.

Some otehr members have express some amount of dissatisfaction with their past experience with Croydon (see - http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...owtopic=13650&). Should I cancel this apointment and go elsewhere? If so, what M25 area dealer would you guys recommend? Twickenham/Guildford come to my mind.

[ColinBarber]

Can't see how they can do much wrong with a 10K service. Change the oil and stamp the book.

[PQuist]

I have had a few jobs done there and cannot complain

[amolkarnik]

Thats reassuring. I think most Lexus dealers are much better than the average main dealer. Besides a bad experience almost always gets publicity. Not all good ones get that.

Should I be expecting a drastically different driving experience after the service? Should I look to supply my own oil? If yes, whats the best make and what quanity do I need?

[PQuist]

Check the wheels first because they kurb-damaged mine on one occasion and ended changing all four alloys.

[TonyGoose]

Should I be expecting a drastically different driving experience after the service? Should I look to supply my own oil? If yes, whats the best make and what quanity do I need?

Definitely supply your own oil - you'll save £30+ by doing so.

Any decent quality oil should do...

For no particular reason, I bought Duckhams Q (formerly QXR) - about 15quid.

Contrast that with £50+ for whatever el-cheapo sludge is at the dealers.

Of course what they don't tell you is they only pay a few pence per litre for it

[amolkarnik]

Just out of curiosity - are the dealers required to use a certain grae of oil? What happens if they use crap oil and you end up with some form of engine trouble? How can you prove its down to bad oil? Who remains responsible for fixing the damage. IMHO oil, tyres and petrol are the last think you should compromise on. Its false economy.

For no particular reason I was thinking of Shell Helix (synthetic). Is that suitable?

[ColinBarber]

In the owners manual Lexus state what oil is required. It needs to be of a certain standard and several different 'weights' can be used. Basically nearly every oil you can get in the UK is suitable. The dealer should indicate the oil they used on the service sheet.

Some dealers state that Lexus insist on full synthetic oil - this is not the case although synthetic oil will provide you with more protection.

If you want to use a certain type of oil then supply it yourself.

[mooranger]

Took mine to Lexus Plymouth and they put GTX Magnatec in. I don't think all dealers use cheap rubbish - speak to the service department beforehand to let them know what you want putting in.

[ColinBarber]

I don't think any dealers use cheap rubbish. However they have a massive price mark up.

[aido]

I mailed every dealer with an email address for my last service - well worth it to see the different prices kicking about (one didn't reply until a couple of days ago and that's nearly 3 weeks after I mailed them!!!!!

Have you had this done now?

From my info the dealers down South are more expensive. You get cheaper petrol and we get cheaper services so it balances itself out a bit!!!

[amolkarnik]

I emailed every dealer in the SE (London and the home counties). Less than half of them bothered to respond (shame!!). And the most expensive quote came in at 50% more than the cheapest one. Strangely the most expensive quotes were not from dealers within M25 but outside. The cheapest quote was a London dealer.

[Scorpion]

I've not had a problem with the service Croydon give its their parts dept that have problems when your'e ordering stuff.half the stuff arrives and not on the day they specify.