Johnson599

Hey there,
Looking to purchase a 2010 GX 460 with 124k Miles. We are in he Dallas/FW area and would like to have a thorough inspection done. The Lexus dealerships don’t do this anymore. Any recommendations? Thanks.

Johnhav430

What I would do (I purchased a used LS430 in 10/16), is first, I would like to have an extended test drive. 2 hours say. I wouldn't necessarily cruise on the highway 1 hour away, I would like to run errands to try to uncover anything. For me? This would have uncovered some annoying things like the driver door actuator being inoperative, and the brakes pulsating. Then some more minor things...high mount light out, ash tray 12V not working, rear sunshade not working properly, telescope wheel weak.

Luckily, on the major items, the selling dealership made good with no charge (techically it was sold in NYS and had a 1 mo. / 1,000 mile powertrain warranty by law, based on 81k on the odometer, if 79,999, then 3 mo./3,000)--they replaced the door actuator ($840 at dealer) and replaced the front brakes with Lexus OE. The others, I lived with and did myself.

The 2nd part, I would take the vehicle to an indie Japanese specialist. Usually, they now have their own "xx-point multipoint inspection." This will often uncover stuff that a dealer would not.

On my car, the indie recommended an output shaft seal, it's a <$20 part, but $200 labor. Let's say a Lexus dealer gets $400 for the job--this is too small for them to really care, they are after bigger jobs. I had 2 Lexus multipoints which missed it. The indie said there's no point in doing a drain/fill of your tranny if you don't address that, because we don't know what level your fluid is at. Indies are more like you and me, they care about what they are doing and care about their reputation and if what they say makes sense.

So next time I buy used, I would do an extended test drive, and take the car to an indie...my .02

edit: Just to illustrate how useless I think Lexus multipoint inspections are, they recommended 3 $1,400+ or so jobs. One, the indie did for $250 labor, one they said was totally unnecessary, and the last was timing belt, Lexus wanted $1,800, indies usually $850 tops. While recommending all these expensive repairs, they did not recommend the output shaft seal, and they even told me my clutch reservoir was full on one report. hint: the car is an auto

Older cars are treated better at indies imho

edit 2 Now I remember they recommended a 4th $1,000 job, so 2 of these high $ items, the indie told me absolutely unnecessary, as well as the one they got $250 for. So 3/4 jobs they said were really not needed. The indie tech even showed me my car on the lift, he said look, here's your tranny mount and one of the motor mounts--why would you replace these at 86k? They're fine!

huy33

If the car is in the DFW area, take it here:

JP Euro
3521 Security St #101
Garland, TX 75042
(214) 221-3135

There's a lot of places that will come to the dealership to do a PPI but you don't want that since they can't lift the car up to see. You basically want the shop/dealership to take it to an independent shop and give them a couple hours to go through it. Trust me, the place I suggested is very thorough. It's better to know too much than not enough.

bagwell

just found with Google search, I have no affiliation or experience with them.

http://lemonsquad.com/local/dallas-tx

Wandl

Where is the GX? I'm also in Dallas, I've had Park Place Lexus (I was in Plano at the time) do a PPI, but Davenport motors (run by ex-Sewell Lexus master mechanics) are a great independent shop that I would also trust (https://davenportmotorco.com/). There is also a *guy* that I know who lives in Grapevine/Hurst area who is a Toyota/Lexus master mechanic and does stuff on the side at his house.

anabil

Hello, New to DFW area and just bought a one owner 2008 ls460 with 200K miles. How can I get in touch with the “guy” you mentioned who services on the side at his house. Thanks