New Member looking to pick up a 2001 LS 430
06-28-12, 12:19 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Member looking to pick up a 2001 LS 430
Hello everyone,
I am currently looking at a 2001 LS 430 and I had few questions to help make the correct decision.
Few things I saw that needed attention on the car was as follow
**Lower molding on the passenger door was a little noticeable, how do would I go about fixing this?
**The plastic chrome trim on the rear bumper was looking rough, Can I replace just that trim if so how do I go about doing that?
**Driver side folding mirror is actually up, it opens however goes all the way and you have to put it back in the regular spot to see traffic, when it closes it keeps making a clicking sound for a min before it stops and stays closed.
**What would you ideally pay for something like this with 120K and 2 previous owners.
*I would like to know how can I tell which trim it is? It does not have navi but has the ML system and I know its not an ultra luxury trim.
*Car has 120K on it and would like to know what services should I go ahead and do if I pick it up just to be on the safe side?
*What brand and weight oil do you guys typically run?
Goal is to get it running 100% and up to date with maintenance then will come modding.
Thank you in advance,
I am currently looking at a 2001 LS 430 and I had few questions to help make the correct decision.
Few things I saw that needed attention on the car was as follow
**Lower molding on the passenger door was a little noticeable, how do would I go about fixing this?
**The plastic chrome trim on the rear bumper was looking rough, Can I replace just that trim if so how do I go about doing that?
**Driver side folding mirror is actually up, it opens however goes all the way and you have to put it back in the regular spot to see traffic, when it closes it keeps making a clicking sound for a min before it stops and stays closed.
**What would you ideally pay for something like this with 120K and 2 previous owners.
*I would like to know how can I tell which trim it is? It does not have navi but has the ML system and I know its not an ultra luxury trim.
*Car has 120K on it and would like to know what services should I go ahead and do if I pick it up just to be on the safe side?
*What brand and weight oil do you guys typically run?
Goal is to get it running 100% and up to date with maintenance then will come modding.
Thank you in advance,
06-28-12, 01:00 PM
#2
Hi there. The recommended oil weight on these cars is 5w30. Sounds like your car is a base with Mark Levinson audio package. Not really sure about the trim pieces, are they damaged? The mirrors can act up on these cars, I just set mine and don't let them fold in. I paid 9800 for an Ultra Luxury with 150k miles and two owners just last week. The car was meticulously maintained. Check if the timing belt has been changed, it's a major service that needs to be done.
06-28-12, 01:08 PM
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for the heads up. I am having a pre purchase inspection done(non-lexus) I am hoping they will be able to tell if the timing belt has been done or not.
TIA
TIA
06-28-12, 02:11 PM
#4
Driver
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I asked the question about the strip on the bumpers that is chrome colored.
My answers were
1. it is glued on.
2. it is glued and has pin retainers.
I haven't removed it yet to see as I don't want to make it worse.
We just purchased a 2001 two weeks ago and just love it.
Ours has the nav so there is a lot to learn.
Good luck with your purchase.
My answers were
1. it is glued on.
2. it is glued and has pin retainers.
I haven't removed it yet to see as I don't want to make it worse.
We just purchased a 2001 two weeks ago and just love it.
Ours has the nav so there is a lot to learn.
Good luck with your purchase.
06-28-12, 03:45 PM
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for the info on the trim. Glad to hear people who are still purchasing these are enjoying them. If you do not mind me ask what was the ballpark you picked yours up with and how many miles?
TIA
TIA
06-28-12, 03:45 PM
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi there. The recommended oil weight on these cars is 5w30. Sounds like your car is a base with Mark Levinson audio package. Not really sure about the trim pieces, are they damaged? The mirrors can act up on these cars, I just set mine and don't let them fold in. I paid 9800 for an Ultra Luxury with 150k miles and two owners just last week. The car was meticulously maintained. Check if the timing belt has been changed, it's a major service that needs to be done.
Where in TX are you located?
Trending Topics
06-28-12, 04:18 PM
#8
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just got the pre purchase inspection back and it doesn't seem that good or at least I don't feel comfortable.
Issues:
Front suspension:strut bearing,end links,control arm bushings
both side mirrors not working correctly
leaks from tran pan,valve cover gaskets,steering rack,
timing belt due
trans fluid dirty
hood shocks are gone
engine and trans mount are shot
water pump is due
50% front pads 30% rear pads
spare tire dry rotted
Issues:
Front suspension:strut bearing,end links,control arm bushings
both side mirrors not working correctly
leaks from tran pan,valve cover gaskets,steering rack,
timing belt due
trans fluid dirty
hood shocks are gone
engine and trans mount are shot
water pump is due
50% front pads 30% rear pads
spare tire dry rotted
06-28-12, 04:49 PM
#9
Just got the pre purchase inspection back and it doesn't seem that good or at least I don't feel comfortable.
Issues:
Front suspension:strut bearing,end links,control arm bushings
both side mirrors not working correctly
leaks from tran pan,valve cover gaskets,steering rack,
timing belt due
trans fluid dirty
hood shocks are gone
engine and trans mount are shot
water pump is due
50% front pads 30% rear pads
spare tire dry rotted
Issues:
Front suspension:strut bearing,end links,control arm bushings
both side mirrors not working correctly
leaks from tran pan,valve cover gaskets,steering rack,
timing belt due
trans fluid dirty
hood shocks are gone
engine and trans mount are shot
water pump is due
50% front pads 30% rear pads
spare tire dry rotted
06-29-12, 08:12 AM
#12
Driver
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are a lot of em out there that are a much better purchase.
Ours has just over 64,000 miles and we got it for under $12,000
Private party that had purchased a new Jaguar and this was sitting in the garage.
Keep looking and good luck.
Ours has just over 64,000 miles and we got it for under $12,000
Private party that had purchased a new Jaguar and this was sitting in the garage.
Keep looking and good luck.
06-29-12, 10:12 AM
#14
For information on the trim level (including pictures), go to the following forum:
Club Lexus Forums > Lexus Model Forums > LS Models > LS430
How to tell if LS430 is equpped with Ultra Luxury Package?
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...package-6.html
Last page, Post #84
You can easily navigate there from the sticky: LS430 FAQ thread
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...aq-thread.html
It is primarily for the 2005 LS430, but almost all of it is also applicable to the '01 - '03
and it includes data on all trim levels, not just the UL.
If it does not meet your needs, please let me know how it could be improved.
Club Lexus Forums > Lexus Model Forums > LS Models > LS430
How to tell if LS430 is equpped with Ultra Luxury Package?
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...package-6.html
Last page, Post #84
You can easily navigate there from the sticky: LS430 FAQ thread
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...aq-thread.html
It is primarily for the 2005 LS430, but almost all of it is also applicable to the '01 - '03
and it includes data on all trim levels, not just the UL.
If it does not meet your needs, please let me know how it could be improved.
06-29-12, 12:10 PM
#15
Driver
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We looked for about 5 months. First we looked at Audis and then BMW and then Jaguars.
The maintenance seemed very high.
I went to many forums so I could read what real owners were complaining about.
When we started to look at Lexus and I began reading some of the forums including this one I realized the complaints were pretty small stuff compared to the other nice cars.
Our mechanic, independent with his own shop and trained as a Toyota mechanic, told us they are built like a tank and he could easily work on it whereas he didn't work on BMW, Audi or MB.
The maintenance seemed very high.
I went to many forums so I could read what real owners were complaining about.
When we started to look at Lexus and I began reading some of the forums including this one I realized the complaints were pretty small stuff compared to the other nice cars.
Our mechanic, independent with his own shop and trained as a Toyota mechanic, told us they are built like a tank and he could easily work on it whereas he didn't work on BMW, Audi or MB.