Full Major Service + - Costings and Advice

[RXtoAL]

Hi all, 

 

I bought my 2008 Vellfire a few weeks ago (circa 50,000 miles), and although it has been serviced once in the UK upon import I am looking to go full belt and braces before some long distance summer driving. 

 

I have contacted my local Toyota garage to price up a full service + extras -see below - the question is, A) Would you, or did you do something similar? B) what is overkill, and C) are these prices high? 

 

Full Major Service £468 INC VAT. 

 

Extras 

Gearbox oil change- £135.88 

Brake service – fluid changed and everything else checked and replaced if needed.- INC in Service
Alternator belt and water pump  - £1072.29

Spark plugs & ignition coils - £1450.27

Air conditioning service / re-gas- £130

 

Many thanks, 

Edited February 9, 2023 by RXtoAL

[victoras]

The prices are high. Let me know where do you live, we might be able to help.

[RXtoAL]

Stroud - Gloucestershire 

[Rojie]

8 hours ago, RXtoAL said:

Hi all, 

 

I bought my 2008 Vellfire a few weeks ago (circa 50,000 miles), and although it has been serviced once in the UK upon import I am looking to go full belt and braces before some long distance summer driving. 

 

I have contacted my local Toyota garage to price up a full service + extras -see below - the question is, A) Would you, or did you do something similar? B) what is overkill, and C) are these prices high? 

 

Full Major Service £468 INC VAT. 

 

Extras 

Gearbox oil change- £135.88 

Brake service – fluid changed and everything else checked and replaced if needed.- INC in Service
Alternator belt and water pump  - £1072.29

Spark plugs & ignition coils - £1450.27

Air conditioning service / re-gas- £130

 

Many thanks, 

 

 

Hi Sam,

 

Consider yourself lucky that your local Toyota dealer will service the car, many won't.

Service price seems reasonable, imho.

 

Good gearbox oil is not cheap, cost should include an oil filter too.

The  alternator belt and water pump cost seems high. Doesn't include cam belt as you don't have one.

My guess is you should not need chains, and it would be even more expensive

Regas sounds high too. depends what is included. Gas (only) should be 50 pounds or less; maybe cabin pollen filter too ?

 

Spark plugs are cheap, coils less so, but you only have four. Seems pricey.

 

Much of the work could be done elsewhere, unless you want to maintain a full Toyota Service History

 

[arthurj]

Sounds normal. My local Toyota garage serviced the car but it cost me a fortune after all the 'extras'. Glad I got the car checked by an official garage but I'm going elsewhere next time for sure.

Edited February 10, 2023 by arthurj

[Aftab]

I would have thought that the service would have included the spark plugs especially if it includes the brake oil change.

The rest seems expensive apart from the gearbox oil change.

 

I agree with Rojie that a lot of dealers are hesitant to service imports for some reason. You can guarantee that they will pull up other things on the Alphard to make more money. 

 

The gearbox oil change sounds very cheap as I purchased the oil for around £60 discounted. I did all my own work when I brought my Alphard as I wanted to make sure everything was done right.

 

The dealer I brought it from had the brakes/discs and the infamous rear bushes changed before I picked it up.

[Fab]

To RxtoAl,

Hello there,

I come across this topic now that I am looking forward to book for a major service. 

I see you have gone through this headache before, could you please advise a list of works for the Major service? 

My vellfire is approaching 100000 Km/62000 Mls, do you know at what milage is requested?

Thank you

Regards

fab

[pipsyp]

I'm lucky enough to have a friend who does all my work on the Alphard (and trust him more than anyone).

 

Best thing to do if you can is just get genuine Toyota parts sourced and get a decent independent to do the work.

 

The alternator and plug/coil prices quoted above seem extortionate but otherwise not bad at all.  I concur with the gearbox oil change......they hold alot of oil and it's not the cheapest stuff so sounds reasonable.

 

Also, if there's no suspect worries about anything (I.e it's running well, not losing coolant etc), it's probably not worth doing things like coils and water pump unless they are obviously failing or it's definitively time to do it.

 

If you have a V6, it's a non interference engine so even if you had the timing belt go, it's likely to end up just being a major inconvenience than causing any damage to the motor.  The 2.4 is chain driven and if that snaps it will decimate itself, but they arent known for stretching/breaking timing chains.

 

The 2.4 apparently requires very occasional valve adjustment as the tappets aren't self adjusting, but again I don't think it's at all common that they go out of spec and need re-shimming.  Mines on 82k miles and it's as smooth as anything.

 

Key to keeping these things healthy is ensuring the cooling system is all good, and regular oil changes.  Do that 2.4 or V6 they will literally run forever.

Edited June 10 by pipsyp