Hey all!
I’m looking to replace my 02’ ES300 with a 07’ GS350 RWD.

Is there anything I should check for specifically with this model? So far only problems I can find with the 3.5V6 is leaking water pump, which this has no signs of. It’s got 119k miles and needs a little TLC inside (leather is thirsty), and some cracked clear coat on the door handles and side mirror housing. Otherwise is very clean and drives smooth.

Also, since there’s no AUX or Bluetooth for media, is there a decent radio replacement available? I’ve seen the Bluetooth adapter that plugs in the back of the stock radio but not sure about functionality.

Thanks!

edit for more info:
I test drove the car yesterday and it had an awful “growl” coming from the wheels. Couldn’t tell if it was front or rear. Service center said tires were overinflated by 10PSI and the noise is gone. Going to test again in a couple days.

 

There solid cars, replace the water pump, do atleast 2 drain and fill of the transmission.

Normal for the tires to growl with over inflated tires. It may have cheap tires on it aswell, more expensive tires are smoother and less noise

They do make plug in units to allow you to have an aux

 

At 119k miles, the two things that should have been done by now are the water pump and spark plugs. Ask when the spark plugs were last changed and what brand were used.

 

my 460 has always had a lot of road noise- more than other Lexus I've owned. Tires are Michelin sports. It's quiet on asphalt, but much less so on concrete. I was surprised when I got it, but am used to it now.

 

A few things, in no particular order:

1) The 3GS V6 models use a coated leather, so you may not have much luck with a leather conditioning product. You might be able to clean the surface up and make some progress that way, though, as a clean coated leather surface will feel and look substantially softer than something that has a lot of build-up.
2) With 119k miles on the clock and ~15 years of weather, the lower control arm bushings in the front suspension should be closely inspected for cracking and deterioration. If the car wanders when coming to a stop or you get excessive tracking or vagueness at highway speeds, replacing those bushings can usually help. "Upgraded" harder bushings are available (the 4GS GS-F and RC-F bushings are a direct swap, as well as aftermarket poly bushings from RR-Racing and FIGS Engineering) if desired. The swap is pretty simple on the 3GS models (basically 4 bolts and a nut). Weak lower control arm bushings can also lead to increased inner edge tire wear, so take a close look for that.
3) If the alternator hasn't been replaced, that is another candidate for additional scrutiny. 3GS models are one of the first to use a special overrunning alternator decoupler pulley, and in '07 they may not have come with a protective dust cap so they wear faster. Listen for squeaking when turning on accessories, high beams, etc., and also rev the car to ~1500 RPM and turn it off, and listen for squeaks that would indicate a failing OAD pulley.
4) If you haven't already, create a login for the Lexus driver's website, and enter the car's VIN. You can get a basic overview of any service that was performed at Lexus dealerships (including warranty work).
5) '07 models had several recalls -- VVTi cam gears, valve springs, brakes, fuel pressure dampeners, etc ... make sure all are complete on the vehicle you are looking at.
6) Early 3GS models can be plagued by squeaks and rattles especially from the dash. There was a service bulletin that dealers would complete for free on the early models that helped to reduce or eliminate noises. Later in the production run, changes were made to reduce the need. If you search around for the service bulletins, you can find the specific VIN cut-offs to see if the one you are looking at is affected.
7) 3GS V6 models can consume oil (like up to 1qt per 1000 miles), often without a significant impact to drivability (assuming a proper oil level is maintained). If can be difficult to know if the one you are looking at is affected until you've driven it for a few tankfuls. Definitely keep a very close eye on your oil level when you first take ownership of a 3GS V6 model.
8) If the clear coat is cracking on the mirrors and handles, the vehicle may have been re-painted in the past, so I would thoroughly check for any signs of prior body damage.
9) The 3GS, being a significantly heaver and more powerful vehicle than the 02 ES, will generally go through tires and brakes more quickly than you may be expecting.

 

WOW. Thanks so much for all that info! I wasn’t getting notifications so I thought I got 0 reply’s lol.
Anywho, I went back a week ago and drove it again. Road noise is the exact same. Starts around 20mph and the pitch of the noise rises with the speedometer. Did not notice any change with hard acceleration or hard braking (was trying to rule out rear differential).

They put it on a lift and allowed me to inspect underneath and I quickly found that the rear left tire is worn significantly more inside than outside (as in the inside is almost bald while the outside appears near-new). I think I’d be correct in assuming this is the source of the horrible road noise along with a worn out control arm bushing.

Also noticed something odd with the rear brakes. All 4 rear pads seemed to only make contact at the EDGE of the pad facing the front of the car. ( |\ ) <Think of the “|” as the rotor and the “\” as the pad. Obviously it was in park and not running but I’m used to seeing pads sit flat to the rotor face even when relaxed.

Also noticed one of the rear brake calipers was replaced.

Didn’t notice any noise from inside even on winding roads. No shutter or shake when braking. Light “squeak” from rear brakes on every wheel rotation at very low speed that goes away when applying brake pedal.

I don’t even know if I should be wasting time on a 14 year old car at $14k that I’m already questioning, but I’m afraid these are the times we live in.

Thanks again!

 

Huh, the noise seems pretty wacky. Can you get a professional mechanic to do a pre-purchase inspection? Seems like a wheel bearing could be needing replacement. My best guess is that the front control arm bushings are worn / bad, and the left rear tire used to be on the front but was rotated to the back recently. Certainly possible that there is a worn rear bushing or damage to the rear suspension though. An unevenly worn tire could make some road noise, but I'd be surprised if it made enough that most people would call it horrible. I would also note that edge wear is often attributed to running a tire at low pressure, and the response to edge wear is often to increase the tire pressure, so perhaps that explains why the pressure was 10PSI over when you first looked at it.

Not a pro, but the uneven rear pad wear could be caused by one of the caliper slides binding or freezing on each side. It could also be caused by an improperly done brake job where the pad return spring hardware was not reinstalled. Pads should wear evenly. I've read about rear brake caliper slides needing to be re-greased frequently especially in harsh climates. If they seize, the fix is usually to swap in a new caliper.

If you need a car now, you need a car now, so you have to roll with the market. Definitely suggest a pre-purchase inspection so you know exactly what you are getting. That said, $14k for an '07 GS350 RWD with 119k seems a little high to me even in these inflated times, even if it has navigation, Mark Levinson audio, and parking sensors. Good luck!

 

I thought so too, and the lowest they’ll go is 13,900. Come to think of it, I remember seeing the parking sensor button but there are none on the front or rear bumper. Another red flag. I’m gonna pass on this one thanks so much for all the info!

 

I would pass on that deal, $13,900 and rear suspension issues. More likely worn suspension bushings!

If its possible hold off on buying a new car until the market cools down a bit. Dec the market is supposed to be low, usually 10-15%. But it spikes during feb, due to tax season