What do you think of this 2000 LS400?
#1
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What do you think of this 2000 LS400?
Saw this Lexus at the dealer. It is in very good condition. 2000 LS 400 with 79,000+ miles. Hasn't
had timing belt yet. I am going to take it to an independent Lexus shop to have it checked out before
buying. Just wondered what you guys thought of this particular car and its price. Those are original sport wheels I believe.
By the way, I entered all the info on the Lexus site and it has had a very good maintenance history.
Here is a link:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...32756934&Log=0
Cheers
mrjazz
had timing belt yet. I am going to take it to an independent Lexus shop to have it checked out before
buying. Just wondered what you guys thought of this particular car and its price. Those are original sport wheels I believe.
By the way, I entered all the info on the Lexus site and it has had a very good maintenance history.
Here is a link:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...32756934&Log=0
Cheers
mrjazz
Last edited by mrjazz; 02-02-13 at 02:19 PM.
#5
Keep in mind the car is 13 years old and could start leaking from the front seals soon -- regardless of the miles. 1998-2000 LS400s have Variable Valve Timing and to replace the camshaft seals is 5 hours labor per head since the camshafts have to be removed (unlike the 1997 and lower where you can change the camshaft seals in minutes).
I bought a 1998 with 179000 miles for $5000. I knew it needed a timing belt change and that the front seals were leaking. I figured this could all be done for under $1000 and decided to buy it (after the pre-purchase inspection at Lexus dealership). (I didn't know how complicated it was to replace those camshaft seals.) Turns out it cost me $2300 to replace the timing belt, water pump, 2 timing pulleys, 1 drivebelt pulley, camshaft seals, crankshaft seal--because the job is so complicated I had to take it to a Lexus dealership; anyone else would most certainly likely fail on this task and ruin the heads. It also turns out that the cam timing oil sensors get clogged up when doing this job--the dealership replaced them both for me free of charge (normally $95 per head for the part)--they didn't want to sit there for hours keep trying to flush out the carbon from these cam timing oil sensors.
I got about $8000 in this car now, about a $1000 more than I wanted to spend, but I know it'll last me a long time now since those front seals, water pump, pulleys & timing belt are fresh. I'd hate to spend $13k on a car though and then spend another $2300 to replace the camshaft seals on it.
I bought a 1998 with 179000 miles for $5000. I knew it needed a timing belt change and that the front seals were leaking. I figured this could all be done for under $1000 and decided to buy it (after the pre-purchase inspection at Lexus dealership). (I didn't know how complicated it was to replace those camshaft seals.) Turns out it cost me $2300 to replace the timing belt, water pump, 2 timing pulleys, 1 drivebelt pulley, camshaft seals, crankshaft seal--because the job is so complicated I had to take it to a Lexus dealership; anyone else would most certainly likely fail on this task and ruin the heads. It also turns out that the cam timing oil sensors get clogged up when doing this job--the dealership replaced them both for me free of charge (normally $95 per head for the part)--they didn't want to sit there for hours keep trying to flush out the carbon from these cam timing oil sensors.
I got about $8000 in this car now, about a $1000 more than I wanted to spend, but I know it'll last me a long time now since those front seals, water pump, pulleys & timing belt are fresh. I'd hate to spend $13k on a car though and then spend another $2300 to replace the camshaft seals on it.
Last edited by ls400geek; 02-02-13 at 03:56 PM.
#7
Lead Lap
I've seen lower mileage early LS430's here in the midwest for similar or lower prices but they were private party sales. It's different with you being in the "reality-free zone" of California. The biggest "issue" with that car is that it has the horribly obsolete navigation system - no updates since 2004. Run, run away from it.
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#9
I really want 2007 GS350 18" wheels They look so good! RA40, btw did you modify your suspension to handle the 18"s or did you keep it stock?
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landon1850
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
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10-13-16 01:59 PM