IS300 30,000 mile maintenance

galletgun · Lexus Owner Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 3

Hey guys before I get to the main point, here is a little background on my car. My car is a lease and ever Since I have gotten this car I have taken it to the lexus dealership for its periodic maintenance's. As you all know it is very expensive. Since my car was leased for four years I did not know what I was gonna do witht the car when my lease matured so I always took it to the lexus dealership for maintenance just in case If I ever planned to give the car back to them and I didnt want my lease to be void if I took it to a "Nonlexus" place and they screwed up my car.

WEll it turns out after four years since I am so happy with my car and its in perfect condiditon, I will be keeping it for myself. Since my car is no longer leashed to my lexus dealership, this brings up the problem of should I still go to lexus for my 30,000 mile maintenance which will be very very expensive or should I take it to "nonlexus" place with a very good reputation where it will be much less? (right?)

Orrrrr, should I do it myself? Now you guys should know I am a novice when it comes to car maintenance since I have always taken my car to the dealership for maintenance. Here is the list from the lexus manual of what is covered under the 30,000 maintenance.

-replace air filter I know I can do this
-replace brake fluid [color=#CC0000] I know where the container is but how do I remove the old brake fluid?
-replace engine coolant [color=#CC0000] I know where this is too, but how do I remove old engine coolant?
-replace engine oil and filter [color=#CC0000] I know how to replace the filter, but how to remove old engine oil?
-retorque drive shaft flange boots [color=#CC0000] Obviously I cant do this, I mean I have a torque wrench for my wheels, but I am assuming its not the same thing...I would have to get this done at a place
-rotate tires [color=#CC0000] Dont have to do this b/c I had new tires installed and its only been like 1000 miles on them.
-road test vehicle [color=#CC0000] ...this is irrelevant I road test whenever I drive my car...
-inspect the following:
__ball joints and dust covers [color=#CC0000] seems unnecessary right? I dont notice anything unusual
__body I can do this.. I am not blind...
__brake lines and hoses can not do this, unnecesasary? get done at a place?
__bake linings/drums and brake pads/discs not necessary, not time to change brakes, no noises.
__differential oil in the manual is says only replace if car is used for towing a trailer or as a camper, which its not..
__drive shaft boots can not do this, get done at a place?
__exhaust pipes and mountings unncessary, im not blind..
__fuel line, connections, bands, vaper vent sys. hoses can not do, unnecessary?, get done at a place?
__fuel tank cap gasket not blind...
__rack and pinion assembly unnecessary? ge tdone at place?
__steering linkage and boots nnncessary? get done at place?
__transmission fluid get done at place? or does it need inspecting, no engine problems, IF I can check it myself how would I go about doing that and what do I look for if it needs replacing.
-inspect nuts and bolts on chassis and body [color=#CC0000] unnecessary.

What do you guys think should I do? Should I #1 just go to lexus dealership and get it done, or #2 take it to a "nonLexus" place to get it done, or #3 do all the things that I can do and ignore all the unnecessaries and anything that is important that I can not do myself get it done at a place, b/c I enjoy getting my hands dirty and doing stuff myself.

Your opinions would be much appreciated!

Mikey6981 · Lexus Owner Joined: Sep 01, 2007 Posts: 6

Everything stated above is nessary and is easy to do.....all you should need is a manuel like a hayns or chilltons, a torque wrench(there all the same), and basic hand tools, and maybe another set of hands.....