jjbiub

I've been perusing through these forums and love the great information here. I needed a second car for bad weather, transporting bigger items, etc and was tired of renting so have been looking for a GX over the past 6 months. Finally found a well maintained 2006. It has 175k but has been well maintained by the lexus dealer and is in great shape. Any mods/updates I should do out of the gate?

Right now I'm thinking:
-Rear Spoiler (looks like it came from the factory with one but now there is just a wing nut attached to the bolts on either side. Looks like aftermarket painted ones can be had for $200 or less
-10.4" Android vertical touch screen that replaces factory nav/head unit. Looks like installation is pretty straightforwrd.
-Trailer hitch. Came with trailer package but I don't see a hitch under the hitch cover. Was this normal? I will likely pull a utility trailer or transport bikes and need a hitch. Maybe I need to take a better look.

What else should I be looking at? Timing belt was replaced at 92K six year ago...will likely do that and water pump in the next few months.

chiph9

Trailer prep was a separate option from the hitch itself. There are 2 hitch options - frame mount and what Lexus calls a "pintle" hitch (it isn't). Get the frame mount as it's rated for 6500 lbs (despite what Lexus says). If you order from the dealer, they pay the shipping on what is a very large and very heavy part.

I would look at the fluid ages. Coolant is good for 3 years. Brake fluid is good for 3 years unless you live near a large body of water (ocean, Great Lakes) then it's 2 years. Differentials & transfer case: 30k miles. Transmission fluid - do a drain + fill (NOT a flush) every 30k (will get about 1/3 of it out, and that's fine.). Power steering - every 5 years maybe. Oil + filter - 5k miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first.

For fluid choices, use OEM Toyota for coolant, transmission, and power steering fluids. For all other fluids, any commercial product that meets the Lexus spec is fine (Castrol, Mobil-1, etc). There is no point in paying extra for specialty fluids if you change them on schedule and aren't doing stuff like racing.

Chip H.

RockfordRX

Spoiler.... is that a performance mod? lol If your budget has no limit, then go for it.
I would invest money in some good tires. Check the manufacture date on the sidewall and replace tires if >6 years old as they may have dry rotting. Again, if money is no subject, go for Michelin Defender LTX M/S for highway use or BF Goodrich K02s for offroad use. Be prepared to pay for a new set of TPMSs as they are 13 years old now and the battery life on those is expiring soon. There is a mod where you can disconnect the TPMS warning light on the dash if they die and you do not want to replace/pay $96 for each one.
Make sure to service the brakes as the calipers can stick if not cleaned regularly (1-2 years).
Enjoy your new GX!!!

chiph9

Good point about the TPMS sensors. I regret not paying for new ones when I got tires several years ago. Instead, I ended up paying *again* to get the tires mounted and balanced as each one (there's five of them) went bad over time. $80 x 5 when buying tires beats ($80 + 40) x 5 and the hassle of going to the shop to get it done.

Chip H.

jjbiub

Thanks guys.

As far as the spoiler...it's just cosmetic but at $125 or so it is worth it to me not having the Sanford and Son rusty wingnuts showing.

The truck came with nearly new tires...not what I would have put on but they will last. TPMS doesn't work and I'll probably wait until I replace the tires to have that addressed.

Fluids are all up-to-date per the carfax so I'll just pick up the service at the next interval.

I'm ordering the touchscreen radio/nav this week.

It's amazing how great the truck looks and drives and no one would ever guess it has 175k.

cardboy008

Which touchscreen replacement did you choose to go with? Are you nav or non-nav?

jjbiub

jc12

i reallllly want an update on the install and quality of that unit @jjbiub !!

RPH74

SomeDude

Spoiler can be had for $89.99 painted and shipped:

http://www.spoilerauthority.com/spoilers/1nueef8ti2awtq1zdzubj8vmmn3197

RockfordRX

[/QUOTE]

Sorry I have not done it myself. I have read about it on this forum, but cannot remember the original poster

101

I just did the TPMS delete on my "new to me" 2006.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...e-sensors.html

LexusIsrae

Who does the install?

MTD1

This is the first recommendation think you should do. Then Lets talk about what a great decision you made. Then you can get to the other things!