Lexus Used Warranty And Servicing

runbly · November 17, 2009

When I bought my 2002 LS430 it came with a years Lexus warranty (not third party, true Lexus warranty). I'm due a service whilst this warranty is in force and wondered what problems I might have if I went for a non-dealer service over going to my local Lexus dealer?

I have in mind a local Lexus specialist (Roys in Norwich) but didn't want to sacrifice my warranty.

OluGTR · November 17, 2009

When I bought my 2002 LS430 it came with a years Lexus warranty (not third party, true Lexus warranty). I'm due a service whilst this warranty is in force and wondered what problems I might have if I went for a non-dealer service over going to my local Lexus dealer?
I have in mind a local Lexus specialist (Roys in Norwich) but didn't want to sacrifice my warranty.

I would suggest if you're keeping the car within the warranty period, then main dealer servicing would make a bit of sense. If you're going to have the car for more than a year, a good mechanic will do. Just get the service book stamped.

mikesands · November 17, 2009

When I bought my 2002 LS430 it came with a years Lexus warranty (not third party, true Lexus warranty). I'm due a service whilst this warranty is in force and wondered what problems I might have if I went for a non-dealer service over going to my local Lexus dealer?
I have in mind a local Lexus specialist (Roys in Norwich) but didn't want to sacrifice my warranty.

I would suggest if you're keeping the car within the warranty period, then main dealer servicing would make a bit of sense. If you're going to have the car for more than a year, a good mechanic will do. Just get the service book stamped.

Main dealers (lexus or otherwise) don't get paid much for warranty work, so it's not in their interest to point things out that might need attention, if you haven't already spotted it yourself. When I got my LS430 2001 last month I paid CP Motor Services in Stockton £60 to go over the car with a fine tooth comb. He discovered the Battery was old and if I hadn't flagged that up to Lexus straightaway, they may well have shrugged their shoulders and said it's not covered by the warranty. He also spotted something odd going on with the tyres (tracking he thought), but lexus then discovered a ride height sensor had snapped off, and someone had fitted oversize tyres. All of which they replaced without question. I think my £60 has probably saved me nearly a grand already. So my advice would be to find an independent specialist who knows about lexus cars and pay him AS WELL AS paying lexus to do the service.

Mike

1967andy · November 17, 2009

When I bought my 2002 LS430 it came with a years Lexus warranty (not third party, true Lexus warranty). I'm due a service whilst this warranty is in force and wondered what problems I might have if I went for a non-dealer service over going to my local Lexus dealer?
I have in mind a local Lexus specialist (Roys in Norwich) but didn't want to sacrifice my warranty.

I would suggest if you're keeping the car within the warranty period, then main dealer servicing would make a bit of sense. If you're going to have the car for more than a year, a good mechanic will do. Just get the service book stamped.

Main dealers (lexus or otherwise) don't get paid much for warranty work, so it's not in their interest to point things out that might need attention, if you haven't already spotted it yourself. When I got my LS430 2001 last month I paid CP Motor Services in Stockton £60 to go over the car with a fine tooth comb. He discovered the Battery was old and if I hadn't flagged that up to Lexus straightaway, they may well have shrugged their shoulders and said it's not covered by the warranty. He also spotted something odd going on with the tyres (tracking he thought), but lexus then discovered a ride height sensor had snapped off, and someone had fitted oversize tyres. All of which they replaced without question. I think my £60 has probably saved me nearly a grand already. So my advice would be to find an independent specialist who knows about lexus cars and pay him AS WELL AS paying lexus to do the service.

i never bothered too much with the lexus service, but when mine was under warranty i made a point of taking it to lexus for mot, they quite happily told me a range of faults - leaking air con pipes £1100, rear ride height sensors £800 plus other bits and pieces, then asked how i would like to pay . when i queried if the work might be covered by warranty, i wish i had got a camera to capture the face change from kerrching to oh bugger. i wonder how many faults the car would have had if they had known about the warranty first.

when i bought my car from lexus it had just been serviced and had 12 months warranty. so after 12 months i had it motd by lexus, repaired foc by lexus and then had it serviced by a local independent ( just over £100). i also didnt renew the warranty as it was £880 for the year - and due to the age of the car the warranty covers very little if you read the small print

Mike

runbly · November 18, 2009

Thanks for the input. Good idea about the MOT/warranty issue -I shall not volunteer any information to ensure I have an impartial review of any work that they say needs to be done. I think the warranty has some MOT-type clause that says anything it fails on under warranty is covered.

mikesands · November 18, 2009

Mike - something similar happened to me. On a previous Lexus, I had negotiated 2 years free servicing in the deal. As it came up to the two years, it was about 1000 miles shy of needing a new service, but Lexus were happy to book it in. And it was a big service, as they pointed out when I went to collect it, so would sir mind giving us a cheque for £490. Exactly that same oh bugger moment when I showed them the invoice from when I bought the car. Give them credit though, they took it on the chin and with a smile.

.... and this time they MOT'd the car just before they sold it to me. You are entitled to get it re-Mot'd up to 30 days before the expiry of the current certificate, so I will ask them to do so and if they won't I'll take it somewhere else but still well before warranty expires.

Mike

ManicMark · November 18, 2009

Mike - something similar happened to me. On a previous Lexus, I had negotiated 2 years free servicing in the deal. As it came up to the two years, it was about 1000 miles shy of needing a new service, but Lexus were happy to book it in. And it was a big service, as they pointed out when I went to collect it, so would sir mind giving us a cheque for £490. Exactly that same oh bugger moment when I showed them the invoice from when I bought the car. Give them credit though, they took it on the chin and with a smile.
.... and this time they MOT'd the car just before they sold it to me. You are entitled to get it re-Mot'd up to 30 days before the expiry of the current certificate, so I will ask them to do so and if they won't I'll take it somewhere else but still well before warranty expires.

Mike

Hi Mike anouther Lexus main dealer would be best for the mot & ask them to go through it with a fine tooth comb, ( you want to make sure its 100% safe dont you) :D

raynorfolk · November 22, 2009

I took my 2002 LS430 to the Lexus "specialist" you mention in Norwich for a full service. When I went to collect it I noticed on starting the car the VSC warning light and engine light was on. They told me it was because I needed a CO2 sensor and they would order one and contact me to arrange fitting. This explanation did not seem quite right to me so I took the car to another garage (recommended by a friend with an LS400) They thought that someone has plugged in the wrong diagnostics tool and confused the electronics. They turned off the warning lights with their equipment and I had no further problems. Incidentally Roys never did ring me back. Maybe I got them on a bad day but they won't be touching my car again!!

Jon Evans · November 23, 2009

I took my 2002 LS430 to the Lexus "specialist" you mention in Norwich for a full service. When I went to collect it I noticed on starting the car the VSC warning light and engine light was on.

I always get the VSC warning when the Battery has been disconnected, but it disappears after about 10 seconds.

In your case something else was wrong too, but I just wanted to point out that the VSC warning after Battery disconnect is nothing to worry about, unless it stays on.

Jon

JellyBean · November 23, 2009

I took my 2002 LS430 to the Lexus "specialist" you mention in Norwich for a full service. When I went to collect it I noticed on starting the car the VSC warning light and engine light was on. They told me it was because I needed a CO2 sensor and they would order one and contact me to arrange fitting. This explanation did not seem quite right to me so I took the car to another garage (recommended by a friend with an LS400) They thought that someone has plugged in the wrong diagnostics tool and confused the electronics. They turned off the warning lights with their equipment and I had no further problems. Incidentally Roys never did ring me back. Maybe I got them on a bad day but they won't be touching my car again!!

I have used Roys for five annual services. It seems to me that they like doing the service part but not anything else. For example, on separate occasions I have asked them, having taken car in for service, to adjust headlamps, realign steering wheel, fix faulty alarm. They did none of these things.

Wondering where to take my beloved next year...

raynorfolk · November 24, 2009

If a garage calls itself a specialist in a particular make then surely they should be willing and able to do more than standard servicing. My LS430 and my mates LS400 are serviced by Breckland Autos in Attleborough. No fancy premises but do the job and specalise in electronics. Ring 01953 455845 and ask for Glynn Morgan who should be able to tell you what services they can provide. Prices were slightly less than Roys.