writes123

Thought I'd create a new thread since it appears to be the trend when acquiring a "new" 430.

Year - 2005
Color - Flint Mica w/ Black Interior
Mileage - 121,959 miles
Package - UL w/ PCS w/ 18" Chrome Wheels
Price - $10,500 + TTL
Date Purchased - 1/13/2014
Clean Carfax though possible off the books accident. Possible work done on driver's front side. Power Steering Rack replaced under extended warranty by original owner around 87k.
Condition - Good/Fair. Regular Oil Changes. Timing Belt (possibly w/ Water Pump) done @ Keyes Lexus @ 114k 8/2013. 2x Transmission Fluid D&F - Toyota WS, Coolant Flush - Radiator + 2x Engine block drained, removed thermostat, 2x Prestone Radiator Flush + Cleaner, Distilled H2O, installed new thermostat w/ gasket and finally 2x Toyota SLLC (50/50) gallons with distilled H2O to top off (about 40% coolant concentration), Spark Plugs - Denso Iridium Power, 2 Front Air Struts - Toyota OEM, Brake Fluid Flush - WalMart Supertech DOT3, PS Fluid D&F x3 - Mobil 1 ATF; 4 New Tires - Continental PureContact 235/50R18, Alignment, 2 Front LCA Bushings - Toyota OEM, Engine Air Filter - NAPA Gold, Cabin Air Filter - NAPA Gold, Rear Cabin Air Filter - Beck Arnley, 6x air/seat filters - OEM, Hood and trunk Struts - Ebay Aftermarket, Thermostat w/ Gasket - OEM, Rear Diff fluid D&F - Mobil 1 75W-90LS; oil change - Pennzoil Ultra 5W-30 w/ Fram Ultra Oil Filter, MAF Sensor - Cleaned; Throttle Body - Cleaned; Wipers - ANCO Contours; Serpentine Drive Belt - Goodyear Gatorback
Done since acquiring by self or Vinam Auto Repair
Complete Lexus Service Records - Mostly complete service from Lexus dealer
Private Party Sale
How Long Did You Search? - 1 year
Inspected 2 older 2001 LS430s prior to this car. Both Ultra Packages. 132k and 88k. Both fell through due to work needed vs price discount. Fiat Dealer and Mitsubishi Dealer, respectively.
City & State - Irvine, CA
Source - Craigslist

1st owner lease and purchase - Real Estate Agent in Sherman Oaks; Most likely traded it in due to 2 front Air Shocks (and LCA bushings) that were leaking. Definitely made the car and steering wheel rattle and shake like no one's business on any road imperfections.
2nd owner (owned for 3 months) bought from less reputable used car dealership which acquired from auction from a Honda dealer in SoCal

Came with Only 1 Master SmartKey. Have since purchased 3 additional NEW smart keys from Lexus Dealerships. Hopefully program them soon.
I consider it a practical 1 owner car. I have spent quite a bit of time and effort reconditioning the car back to original condition. Still have the PCV valve replacement left to do. Had 2 Transmission fluid services done in a span of 3 days (search posts for that ordeal).

Still need to replace a small bulb under the gearbox shifter.

I will have to replace my rear struts. They're not leaking but the rear is not rising as much as the brand new front air shocks. even after ECU reset.

Likely do a brake pad with possible rotor replacement within 1 year. Pads @ about 30%. Got some Advic pads - OEM supplier (I believe)

Will most likely do a transmission filter replacement and drop and fill or possible fluid exchange via torque converter in 10-15k or 1 year time.

I will most likely do the following services on this schedule:
3k-3.75k - Oil & Filter Change (Pennzoil Ultra 5W-30 or Mobil 1 0W-40 with Motorcraft Fl-400S or Fram Ultra XG3600)
Excessive - most likely but I installed a Fumoto Oil Drain Valve and prefer shorter OCI. I could use a Pennzoil YB w/ Motorcraft Oil Filter for $21 total or a Ultra/Mobil 1 w/ Motorcraft or Fram Ultra for $29-35.
15k/1 year - Transmission Fluid D&F, Brake Fluid Flush, PS Fluid D&F, Front Cabin Air Filter with inspection of other 7 filters
30k/2years - Rear Diff D&F, Engine Air Filter, Coolant D& F (radiator only or engine block too, TBD)
90-120k/9 years: TB, water pump, thermostat, drive belt

Kansas

Congrats on getting one with PCS. Now that we have a vehicle with PCS, I could never consider buying another vehicle without it.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

It is normal for the rear to sit lower. You may want to check to see if the height sensors are adjusted properly on both the front and rear.

3k oil changes on synthetic is just throwing money down the drain but it is up to you. 5k is what Lexus recommends on regular oil. Anyway, congratulations and welcome.

nDrew

iTrader: (1)

I think naturally the rear sits lower. When I bought mine it was the same. I used the data controller to level it out and I offset by using 6 on the front and 3 on the rear (Higher the number lower the car).

chrispy

iTrader: (21)

That's pretty much exactly the car I bought a year and a half ago but I paid more than that. You got a great deal!

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

thats a great deal! UL for that cheap..

CheryVP430

I agree this is an awesome deal that's what I paid for my 03.

username32

Was this one the advertised by a Lexus dealer in Bakersfield? Motorcity Lexus i think it was? They had one exactly like what you described. It looked hella clean in the picture. And whats wrong with using factory oil filters? They are like $4

username32

Yea mine sits like that too, rear is slightly squatting, i hate that too, i was thinking of adjusting both front level sensor rods to level it out in the meanwhile.

writes123

Nope. Don't know about the one from Lexus that you're referring to.

Factory oil filters are fine. I can get them for $3.25 each. I just wanted a higher filtration filter like the Fram Ultra which may cost $7-8 each or a recommended Motorcraft (bypass valve) both of which were recommended by LSCowboy as oversize filter recommendations. I would like the option to use the original Toyota Japan Oil filters with the higher quality media, but the extra cost seems a bit excessive. The Motorcraft costs $3.50 or so after tax, close to the same priceas the Toyota OEM paper filter. I prefer the more recommended Motorcraft vs. the original Toyota OEM paper filter at the 3.50 cost range. If I want finer filtration I'll opt for the $8 splurge on a Fram Ultra.

In my analysis, even at my conservative 3k OCI, if averaging about 21 mpg I'll consume about 143 gallons of premium gasoline. Multiply that by the cost of premium gas in SoCal (3.80) that'll equal $543.40. An extra $5 really doesn't make a dent into that when considering one of the best oil filters on the market.

username32

I think you are way over thinking this, if you change out the oil and filter in a timely manner the engine will outlast the car itself, i just prefer using the factory filter as they are actually larger then most AM replacements and cost is spot on acceptably cheap. The aftermarket ones ive seen are often YZZD1 sized unitss vs the big YZZD3 units this car takes. Sq inch of the OEM is fairly hard to beat and quality is good, Toyota engineered the YZZD3 specifically for the V8 engines so i like that over a filter made for a...uh a Ford? If you prefer aftermarket with high filtration, many recommend Purolator Pure one.


This is pretty good read too... https://parts.olathetoyota.com/tacom...omparison.html

writes123

Interesting point you made. I just compared my Toyota OEM, Motorcraft and Fram Ultra. the "oversize" Aftermarket filters are the size of the regular Toyota OEM filter. I never really considered that. New fact learned. The "oversize" Aftermarket filters are the same size as the OEM Toyota filter. XG3600 and FL-400S. The comparison then lies in the quality of the media, build quality, surface area of media, anti-drainback valve. Motorcraft seems to have a higher quality anti-drainback valve vs. the OEM filter. the media and filtration in the Ultra is pretty consistently rated higher than the OEM filter media.

LSCowboy commented about the link you posted: "the filter comparison at Olathe Toyota (they paid Jason at TacomaHQ.com to do it, actually) is not a bad little filter comparison, but it is by no means scientific, but more observational, which can be helpful in its own right, to spot major sloppiness, but nothing that some of us haven't done at home with our filter cutters."

Check outthis link:http://www.gmtruckcentral.com/articl...gradesheet.htm

Interesting read. I'm like the ultra over the motorcraft after reviewing this article again.

username32

The reason why i said over thinking it, is quite frankly Ive worked at automotive places since 2004, ive never seen a car engine "fail" because of a oil filter wasn't up to task, i would think itsa quite rare however i have seen a motorcycle oil filter fail on a Hayabusa where a AM filter made by Hiflo had a by pass valve failed and cause oil starvation on a turbo busa after the media clogged up. Ive seen many Toyota, Nissan and Honda engines go 250K + miles problem free using just the ordinary crappy Fram or quick change "Group7" filters. Just make sure its done in a timely manner and the car will run forever.

BMW7_LS430

Heads up.

MotorCraft FL-400S are sold on Advance Auto Part for $3.69 (Same price as Amazon & Autozone now).
Advance Auto parts has a $10 off $25 coupon WD18
You can get 7 filters for $16 after coupon (or you can mix it with other stuff you want to get).
From what I read on internet this is a great filter. Some even call it better than current Toyota version and equal and better than original OEM. I bought one and going to give it a try.

warminwisc

If it is the led on the digital readout on the transmission selector it is a new dash cluster you will need.