Using A Lexus Dealer?

peco84 · November 1, 2009

Hi guys ive read a few threads on using dealer or a independant garage and i agree with the comments about (just because he has lexus on his overalls makes him/her no better than any other tech/mechanic) i agree with them.

I was just going to ask your opinions on what you would like from a dealer visit? i.e More flexible labour rates

I can totally understand why people choose to go to a specialist and agree too but im just interested in your no holds barred opinions on the ideal dealer.

The only reason i ask this is because i spend most of my days in the workshop and never get the oppertunity to ask questions.

Many thanks guys

ormi · November 1, 2009

well yes and no from above yes i agree with the mental cost of going to the main dealers(£100+ an hour) but i dont agree with the no better than an other tec.i worked for reno for a long time 8 years once i had finished my 4 years i never seen an other training course again went to work for toyota been their 4 years and i've lost track of how many training courses i've been on!!and now i'm smt,tlt.ata and a mot tester i've had to study for the training courses and the exams many of my friends are tecs and on the whole just as good but could you give them a hybrid to work on????no they would kill themselfs how about a cvt gear box??nope or a mmt gear box(yes i know its just a standard box with a few wiper motors on it)but would they know how to fix it??

i have also helped a few people with problems from this site over the internet without even seeing the cars yet they have been in a few garages and been told their cars are fine.

you should know what i mean with the courses its mental the amount of money toyota and lexus spend training their tecs.

peco84 · November 2, 2009

see wat you mean bout the coarses im down notts tomorrow for the f gas licence 1 of many this year

Boothby Coggles · November 3, 2009

I know that (Some?) BMW dealers end their techs on courses. My son in law has been on every one going, so I imagine that it's probably the same with other premium brand dealers. However, some may try to cut costs and not send all of their techs on every course needed - they cost the dealers a packet. Also, when a dealer takes on a new tech, say from VW to Lexus/BMW/Merc or other, it may be some time before they get on to their 1st course to learn the particular intricacies of another brand.

Not all Lexus dealers are good. I got rid of my 220d after it had been in to the workshop 3 times, and came out each time with another problem caused by, or during, the work that had been carried out.

Ironically, I had a call from their sales dept this morning, obviously trying to drum up trade. They were told in no uncertain terms that as far as I was concerned the Lexus brand has been a big let down & I will never have another one.

peco84 · November 3, 2009

I know that (Some?) BMW dealers end their techs on courses. My son in law has been on every one going, so I imagine that it's probably the same with other premium brand dealers. However, some may try to cut costs and not send all of their techs on every course needed - they cost the dealers a packet. Also, when a dealer takes on a new tech, say from VW to Lexus/BMW/Merc or other, it may be some time before they get on to their 1st course to learn the particular intricacies of another brand.
Not all Lexus dealers are good. I got rid of my 220d after it had been in to the workshop 3 times, and came out each time with another problem caused by, or during, the work that had been carried out.

Ironically, I had a call from their sales dept this morning, obviously trying to drum up trade. They were told in no uncertain terms that as far as I was concerned the Lexus brand has been a big let down & I will never have another one.

Thats quite unfortunate was it the service that you got or the overall brand that made you choose not to have another lexus? Wat happent with your deisel pal?

Boothby Coggles · November 3, 2009

I know that (Some?) BMW dealers end their techs on courses. My son in law has been on every one going, so I imagine that it's probably the same with other premium brand dealers. However, some may try to cut costs and not send all of their techs on every course needed - they cost the dealers a packet. Also, when a dealer takes on a new tech, say from VW to Lexus/BMW/Merc or other, it may be some time before they get on to their 1st course to learn the particular intricacies of another brand.
Not all Lexus dealers are good. I got rid of my 220d after it had been in to the workshop 3 times, and came out each time with another problem caused by, or during, the work that had been carried out.

Ironically, I had a call from their sales dept this morning, obviously trying to drum up trade. They were told in no uncertain terms that as far as I was concerned the Lexus brand has been a big let down & I will never have another one.

Thats quite unfortunate was it the service that you got or the overall brand that made you choose not to have another lexus? Wat happent with your deisel pal?

I had a great row with the selling dealer, which is very close to my house. After that I would never take it back there & went to another one about 40 miles away. This was May last year & I'm stll waiting for a promised letter about it from Lexus Customer Services.

The 2nd dealer fitted a modified selector fork to my car to improve the change up to 3rd. About 2 months later I saw a pool of oil under the car. My son in law put it on the ramp at his garage and said the leak was coming from the input shaft seal. It was carted away & the repair "fixed", but in cold weather in December last year it took a great deal of force to select 1st & 2nd from a cold start, but came right after about 10 minutes or so of driving. So it went back & had a thinner oil in the gearbox. It was a bit better, but not much.

When it went in for service it had the alloys replaced because of corrision. When I got it back the metal valve caps had been replaced with black plastic. A very trivial issue I know, but it is, to me, indicative of a lack of

customer service and care.

I'll give the dealer credit for swapping the gearbox for one from that they had on the pitch, which was better than the original. This was done at the same time as the steering rack recall was carried out. However, the steering was not right when I got it back. It was very "twitchy", and I didn't feel safe with it. I understand, from someone else in LOC that new steering bushes would have put this right, but I'd got to the point where I hated driving the car and I'd had enough & flogged it.

peco84 · November 3, 2009

i understand where you are comming from. If the faults were fixed first time would you still have the car or was it the car itself? Lot of it sounds like lack ov quality control. Normally after a major repair there should be a quaility control system set up. We have our workshop controller/forman quiltiy control work carried out. Not to catch the techs out but to ensure the completed jobs is perfect if its not its given back untill hes happy.

Boothby Coggles · November 3, 2009

i understand where you are comming from. If the faults were fixed first time would you still have the car or was it the car itself? Lot of it sounds like lack ov quality control. Normally after a major repair there should be a quaility control system set up. We have our workshop controller/forman quiltiy control work carried out. Not to catch the techs out but to ensure the completed jobs is perfect if its not its given back untill hes happy.

I would have kept it longer than I did, (until April), and would more than likely still have it now. I think the car would have been more "driveable" with the replacement gearbox, although the car generally was something of a disappointment against Lexus reputation.

About the time the box was changed I had taken an option on a 250 auto of the same year, ('06), but when I saw it I didn't want it mainly due to the state of the paintwork; some fairly large stonechips which had been badly touched up with paint, (by the previous owner probably), that didn't colour match very well at all. This was at the same dealer.

I could have taken the 220 back to have the steering bushes done but, as I said, I'd just had enough by then. Also, if I'd had the 250, would I have had similar problems with shoddy repairs/servicing?

In a way they did me a favour on the 250 - they wanted something like £4k to change, and I got my current car, ('57 plate), for less than £1k ctc, which included fitting parking sensors for £250, and I really enjoy driving it in a way that I didn't at the end with the Lexus.