Servicing Main Dealer Or Local Garage?

[Barry1000]

I would be very interested to hear views about servicing experiences at main dealers compared to using local garages. In particular when having something more major done such as cam belt change is it more important to go to a main dealer? Clearly main dealers are very much more expensive but are they worth it. As a car becomes older the second hand value becomes less influenced by a service book full of main dealer service stamps although the sailabity may be improved.

I have just signed up to a main dealer plan over a few years but am wondering whether it may be a waste of money!

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

I had my Cambelt done at Lexus as I believe it's such an important part I didn't want to take any risks but thats just me. I'm not going to say its more important to go to the dealer for your major stuff as most will say don't bother and go to an independent.

Anyway, dealer was £50 dearer than my local garage who I do trust for the cambelt, but they admitted they hadn't worked on many IS200's so I went to the dealer. Lexus also stamp your engine cover with the date, mileage and initials of the mechanic who changed the belt which I liked. Excellent service, nice coffee, paper, sky sports news etc :)

I also had the 100k/10 year service done at Lexus. They were initially £120 dearer than my local for the same work but I haggled a little and got them down by £70. Again superb service. Also I had the 3 aux belts changed at Lexus for £55. My local garage wanted £80.

I've also struck up quite a good relationship with the dealer as I've bought brake callipers, spark plugs and new keys through their parts department. I've found I get great treatment the more business I put their way as they let me test drive a GS250 even tho they knew I couldn't afford it and while I was on said test drive they did a wheel balance on all weels for £15 and washed my car inside and out. Ok it was the 28th Dec and I was the only customer for miles and just forked out £200 for a brake calliper but still....

Most people are put off by main dealers as their scared of paying over the odds but I've found Lexus will negotiate just like any other business.

So that's just my experience and I've been very happy with Lexus and will continue to use them for servicing. I know the stamp in the book adds no value to my car at 12 years old but I don't go there for that. I would think most on here with similar age cars to mine will think I'm mad

[jpjsavage]

Everyone makes their own choices in this respect, and that is how it should be imho. I take my car to an independent mechanic who I have used for many years and trust implicitly. I don't think he is the cheapest out there but I'm not paying main dealer prices either. My car is 15 years old but, to be honest, I have used him for any car we have owned that is out of mail dealer warranty. He has never let me down. It is also very convenient (2 mins from where we live) so that helps too :).

[ambermarine]

I had an experience recently which exemplifies why the main dealer is the best for major jobs.I took my 98 mark IV to Glasgow lexus for the cambelt change as it had only done 18k miles and there was no record of it being done.As the owners logbook says if not on mileage then it needs doing on ten year intervals.

I got a quote of £332 and took it .

Unfortunatly I did'nt find out until I got home that the technichan had loused up the covers on the engine, scratching them.

The car was and still is absoloute mint and I was very dissapointed.

I reported in the same day and was told by service reception that it would be dealt with.

In due course I received a very apologetic letter and promise that eveything would be put right.

It was and the Lexus after sales manager came to my home and with new parts fitted them I also received complimentary car care sundries.

Since then I have needed to purchase from them a small blanking panel that was ruined by the previous owner fitting a non -standard switch ,again they brought it in from Japan as it was a non -standard stock , it was hand delivered by the After sales manager because they don't like them getting lost in the post at Xmas.It cost 18 pounds so they are not even covering the petrol cost.

As I have said before If you can service your car yourself do so, I serviced my Mark1 for 10 years except for belt changes but the saving made through using an independant for large jobs that they may be using as a learning curve could prove very costly in the long run.

[jpjsavage]

That sounds like excellent service, but clearly they needed to return your car to the state it was in prior to the incident. It was great that they did but perhaps it should never have been allowed to happen in the first place?

[ambermarine]

That sounds like excellent service, but clearly they needed to return your car to the state it was in prior to the incident. It was great that they did but perhaps it should never have been allowed to happen in the first place?

That is correct and the cause was dealt with and no longer works there I hasten to add that he was not fired but chose to go ,the point I was trying to make is, would any other of the possible alternatives to using a Lexus dealership had the same outcome bearing in mind the replacement parts were £700.00.

To err is human to forgive is saintly, well thats my version .

[Scribe]

For me, it all boils down to trust, especially when it comes to major work like cambelts or starter motors. And you're probably more likely to trust a main dealer (and to expect service like ambermarine got when they c*ck up). I take mine to an independent who isn't the most conveniently situated but who's Toyota/Lexus trained and who was generous with his time giving me tips on what to look for when I was Lexus-hunting. That's the sort of specialist who's worth seeking out, but not everyone can be so lucky.

[Bluesman]

For me, it all boils down to trust, especially when it comes to major work like cambelts or starter motors. And you're probably more likely to trust a main dealer (and to expect service like ambermarine got when they c*ck up). I take mine to an independent who isn't the most conveniently situated but who's Toyota/Lexus trained and who was generous with his time giving me tips on what to look for when I was Lexus-hunting. That's the sort of specialist who's worth seeking out, but not everyone can be so lucky.

I agree. We have used our village garage for more years than I care to remember but time is taking its toll on our special Motor Engineer. I call him an Engineer because that is what he is. He can often be seen on a lathe making something for a car that you cant get parts for anymore and indeed just to repair parts that are quite serviceable but need new brushes etc. But he now finds it hard to take on heavy work because of back trouble and therefore I split it between servicing and other light repairs goes to the village garage after that its down to Lexus in Reading. Mike

[Mike Floutier]

I just bought a 2006 LS430 for £6,700. It had been sold to the one owner and then maintained by a Lexus main dealer which was very reassuring.

I obtained the last 4 years' service records direct from said dealer as I am planning to maintain it myself and I wanted to know what was due to be done when.

I did chuckle when I totted up the cost; it was just under £14,000!!

[ipwn]

dealer as theyre dirt cheap.

Cost me £120 for a minor service on the ls430.

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

dealer as theyre dirt cheap.

Cost me £120 for a minor service on the ls430.

See I've found the same. Just negotiate and you can get it just as cheap or cheaper than an independent :)

[ipwn]

And honestly, I don't buy the whole, can't trust a dealer as they won't change the filter etc.

[lexusdaduk]

Went for the service plan for 3 years fixed servicing 1 big and 2 small, i think my car is in excellent condition so for the monthly cost i went with it, £16.50 per month, first one's due 15-16th jan, going with main dealer as they are so good and nothing is to much trouble although i have never really asked for anything, car picked up, courtesy car dropped off (god awful CT200h) car serviced, and valeted, returned and the (god awful CT200h) taken away, 3 MOT's as well thrown in.

Mark