Why would someone do this.. 1st service at an Independent?

[anonymous-user]

..On a 60k car ?

I'm still looking for a Lexus RCF that ticks the right boxes. In other words a full Lexus service history with low miles. The latest offering out there is within my price range but comes with a bit of an issue and I'd welcome some thoughts on it.

Its 2 1/2 years old . The first service (and only to date) is carried out at a VW Independent, when there's a fully functioning Lexus dealership 20 minutes up the road. So firstly its not on the Lexus service system as having any history whatsover and secondly in the service book is one nice big stamp for Joe Bloggs motors (made up name) but you get my drift.

So for the sake of probably £200 in price differential between services this car may well prove troublesome to move on / part ex in the future (I keep my cars for 2/3 years)

I contacted the garage, they have a good reputation as a VW Independent, have stated it was serviced with genuine parts, they know the owner who always takes their cars there. it may well be that the previous keeper trusts their Independent more than the dealers, their posh coffee and acres of glass and marble.

That aside bearing in mind the rarity of the car, its value / performance etc and its relatively young age, would you walk away simply because of this stamp or take it on the chin, factor it in on the negotiations and accept that it may impact moving it on in the next few years.

I've no issues with Independents after say 4-5 years but 12 months into ownership on a car like this at a non Lexus specialist?

I guess I know what the answer is. Its the third I've enquired on that have missing or non Lexus histories. I guess as long as it satisfies the lease company people don't care.

[Pothole]

What is covered in this service? Unless there is something you think only the Toyota technicians are trained to/have the special tools to do, I can't see the problem...for you as the buyer. You MAY experience some difficulty when you come to move it on, but do MOST people really pay that much attention?

[anonymous-user]

Pothole said:

What is covered in this service? Unless there is something you think only the Toyota technicians are trained to/have the special tools to do, I can't see the problem...for you as the buyer. You MAY experience some difficulty when you come to move it on, but do MOST people really pay that much attention?

Oil and filter and probably a once over. It doesn't need a running in service or anything such like, 12 month Intervals still apply with Lexus.

I've contacted two Lexus dealers to ask about future warranty issues. One says Lexus UK might quibble over the history but I wouldn't know until a claim went in and the other said no issues .

Do most people pay attention to a service history you ask ? I'd say on a car like this yes but I guess the longer I keep it the less of an issue it would become - that said I change cars every 2/3 years. Just mulling it over.

[Glenn63]

Owner might have worked there or new someone who did.

[Leicester Loyal]

Glenn63 said:

Owner might have worked there or new someone who did.

This. Or he's been going there years and trusts the garage over a manufacturers garage.

[ChocolateFrog]

I'd have thought you'd be more likely to get the disinterested, incompetent apprentice at a main dealer than you would an independent anyway.

You're paying for a particular stamp, which are cheap to buy on ebay anyway.

Offer £200 less and be happy in the knowledge the work someone else paid for has probably been done.

The number of full services my car has had by Honda yet when I picked it up at 20 years old and went to change the cabin filter found it was original as you have to cut a piece of the dash out to get it out the first time you do it. Checked the book and had been charged for more than once.

There's evidence Ferrari do it with cambelts too.

[ZX10R NIN]

Ask the Indy if they have proof that they used OEM parts as this will help with any future Warranty issues, also you could always give it a Main Dealer service for added peace of mind.

[TheDrownedApe]

I took my 1st service to an independent. Dealer didn't deserve my custom and I bought all original parts and was charged about £50 less. Its mainly an overpriced oil change anyway.

[Trevor555]

It's all about when you come to sell the car.

I'd hazzard a guess that Lexus dealers won't buy an RCF that's been serviced away from the brand.

I wouldn't personally buy the car either, I'd sooner pay a bit more for one with FLSH.

So how long do you intend to keep it? And what value will it be when you come to sell?

If you're keeping it a while and it'll be sub 20k then I'm sure independent specialist dealers will buy it.

Another question I'd ask, to which I don't know the answer.

Can you extend the Lexus warranty if it doesn't have FLSH?

I only ask because it's great value for money.

Last time I looked it was £500 per year, but included full AA cover for myself, and the missus.

Edit... Just re read and seen it's had one service in 2.5 years.

They're meant to be done every year.

Hasn't been looked after properly at all, I'd just find another unless it's silly cheap.

[anonymous-user]

Trevor555 said:

It's all about when you come to sell the car.

I'd hazzard a guess that Lexus dealers won't buy an RCF that's been serviced away from the brand.

I wouldn't personally buy the car either, I'd sooner pay a bit more for one with FLSH.

So how long do you intend to keep it? And what value will it be when you come to sell?

If you're keeping it a while and it'll be sub 20k then I'm sure independent specialist dealers will buy it.

Another question I'd ask, to which I don't know the answer.

Can you extend the Lexus warranty if it doesn't have FLSH?

I only ask because it's great value for money.

Last time I looked it was £500 per year, but included full AA cover for myself, and the missus.

Edit... Just re read and seen it's had one service in 2.5 years.

They're meant to be done every year.

Hasn't been looked after properly at all, I'd just find another unless it's silly cheap.

Hi Trev ... The two year service was due Feb / March but didn't happen due to Covid, The lady owner had part ex'd for a new car back then but things stalled. I've spoken to the Indy who did the service, they know the owner and said it was done to Lexus spec and will forward the receipts. They seem genuine.

I've negotiated a discount, saying I will get its second service at Lexus rather than two non lexus in the book. My understanding is that Lexus will agree an extended warranty once they've serviced it and its then serviced within their guidelines.

I rang two Lexus dealers. One said a warranty claim may be argued by Lexus UK, the other said no issues once its back under the Lexus umbrella.

My first Lexus had a missing first service, Lexus still called it a 'Lexus approved' history and stuck an extended warranty on it.

Its not totally ideal but the price is pretty decent for an 18 plate, part ex is above book, new discs / pads being stuck on it. Its the third RCF I've looked closely at without a full Lexus history. I guess people are choosing Independents over main dealer prices when getting on lease deals.

[xjay1337]

doog442 said:

..On a 60k car ?

I'm still looking for a Lexus RCF that ticks the right boxes. In other words a full Lexus service history with low miles. The latest offering out there is within my price range but comes with a bit of an issue and I'd welcome some thoughts on it.

Its 2 1/2 years old . The first service (and only to date) is carried out at a VW Independent, when there's a fully functioning Lexus dealership 20 minutes up the road. So firstly its not on the Lexus service system as having any history whatsover and secondly in the service book is one nice big stamp for Joe Bloggs motors (made up name) but you get my drift.

So for the sake of probably £200 in price differential between services this car may well prove troublesome to move on / part ex in the future (I keep my cars for 2/3 years)

I contacted the garage, they have a good reputation as a VW Independent, have stated it was serviced with genuine parts, they know the owner who always takes their cars there. it may well be that the previous keeper trusts their Independent more than the dealers, their posh coffee and acres of glass and marble.

That aside bearing in mind the rarity of the car, its value / performance etc and its relatively young age, would you walk away simply because of this stamp or take it on the chin, factor it in on the negotiations and accept that it may impact moving it on in the next few years.

I've no issues with Independents after say 4-5 years but 12 months into ownership on a car like this at a non Lexus specialist?

I guess I know what the answer is. Its the third I've enquired on that have missing or non Lexus histories. I guess as long as it satisfies the lease company people don't care.

I wouldn't have any issues myself as long as there are invoices for genuine parts used.

I would take my car to be serviced at my friends garage even if it was new. The only exceptions would be something like a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lamborghini where there are people who care about the brand behind the stamp in their service.

Main dealers do not always know more, quite the opposite in fact, most just do it as a job in mechanics , rather than an independent that tends to take a little more pride in their work and are not always working to bonus schemes (fully aware some private garages offer similar).

To me it would not even be a point of "bartering" so to speak , the only bartering point would be if it's due a service or if a service was missed or otherwise late.

Any warranty concerns you have immediately answered with your own experience, a car that missed a service all together was given a warranty by Lexus. Also, under laws across Europe a car can not have warranty impacted because of "out of network" servicing, as long as it's within it's service intervals. However, with Covid most manufacturers are offering 6 to 12 month service extensions.

If you're super concerned you can always get it serviced at a Lexus dealer or a.n.other dealer immediately upon purchase.

Either way it's a really minor thing so don't get caught up on it.

[Sheepshanks]

doog442 said:

I guess as long as it satisfies the lease company people don't care.

If it's leased, why would they?

Some leasing companies won't use franchsed dealers - we had one at work that used Halfords for a while.

I take my old Merc to an indie and he says he services a number of Mercs from new. The local MB dealer has been emailing me for a year saying they'll match any price. After using them for a few years I wouldn't go back if they were free.

[CABC]

for a keeper i'd take a quality indy over main dealer and put additional value on it, esp for a specialist car.
some marques are "special", but we've moved on from them being just cars at that point.

[Trevor555]

doog442 said:

Trevor555 said:

It's all about when you come to sell the car.

I'd hazzard a guess that Lexus dealers won't buy an RCF that's been serviced away from the brand.

I wouldn't personally buy the car either, I'd sooner pay a bit more for one with FLSH.

So how long do you intend to keep it? And what value will it be when you come to sell?

If you're keeping it a while and it'll be sub 20k then I'm sure independent specialist dealers will buy it.

Another question I'd ask, to which I don't know the answer.

Can you extend the Lexus warranty if it doesn't have FLSH?

I only ask because it's great value for money.

Last time I looked it was £500 per year, but included full AA cover for myself, and the missus.

Edit... Just re read and seen it's had one service in 2.5 years.

They're meant to be done every year.

Hasn't been looked after properly at all, I'd just find another unless it's silly cheap.

Hi Trev ... The two year service was due Feb / March but didn't happen due to Covid, The lady owner had part ex'd for a new car back then but things stalled. I've spoken to the Indy who did the service, they know the owner and said it was done to Lexus spec and will forward the receipts. They seem genuine.

I've negotiated a discount, saying I will get its second service at Lexus rather than two non lexus in the book. My understanding is that Lexus will agree an extended warranty once they've serviced it and its then serviced within their guidelines.

I rang two Lexus dealers. One said a warranty claim may be argued by Lexus UK, the other said no issues once its back under the Lexus umbrella.

My first Lexus had a missing first service, Lexus still called it a 'Lexus approved' history and stuck an extended warranty on it.

Its not totally ideal but the price is pretty decent for an 18 plate, part ex is above book, new discs / pads being stuck on it. Its the third RCF I've looked closely at without a full Lexus history. I guess people are choosing Independents over main dealer prices when getting on lease deals.

That's good that Lexus will welcome it back for warranty once they've serviced it.

If the garage can give you a receipt of genuine parts used then ok, but I'd double check Lexus will allow a six month delay in a service for a warranty claim. Hopefully they will due to Covid, I'm sure loads of people/cars are in that boat.

Just one last thing though, you say it's low mileage, but needs new brakes?

Mine had done 15k when I sold it, and the brakes were fine, how many miles has this car done?

Edited by Trevor555 on Tuesday 14th July 21:04

[anonymous-user]

Trevor555 said:

Mine had done 15k when I sold it, and the brakes were fine, how many miles has this car done?

Edited by Trevor555 on Tuesday 14th July 21:04

Cheers Trev, I think I read previously you had an F

20K on this and I specifically pressed them on supplying brake pad and disc wear. Its being sold by an Audi main dealer to whatever standard they do their used approved . Didn't expect them to flag up the discs at that mileage so I guess they're lipped. Previous owner is a female not sure if she tracked it in her spare time or they're just erring on the side of caution.

Still mulling it over but thanks for the comments from all.

Edited by doog442 on Tuesday 14th July 22:42

[ITP]

New discs and pads at 15k miles? There’s something not right about that.
Either it’s been driven very hard, it’s actually done a lot more than 15k miles or maybe because it’s been for a service at a large German franchise dealer instead of Lexus and they have automatically said it needs new brakes, wether it needs them or not. They tend to do this I find. Can’t help themselves. Would be ironic if this was the case due to someone was trying to save £100 on a Lexus service and they got stung for new discs and pads!

Might be a good car though, it’s just if you can be bothered trying to explain the same questions in a couple of years when you are trying to sell.

[ZX10R NIN]

It's the main dealer being overly cautious don't knock it, it doesn't happen often but I've come across it before.

[Sheepshanks]

Could be it’s only been used intermittently or been stood for a while and rust has set in - the back of discs often looks a lot worse than the outer face. Or, is it one of those cars with over-sensitive stability control so it’s always using the brakes?