theotter

Hey all, I'm looking to purchase this 1998 LS400 from a dealership. I will post the link, the carfax (one owner car) is on there. Please give me any concerns, issues, etc... Please tell me the amount of money I might dish out in the next 50k miles for regular maintenance issues...blah blah blah I drove the car and it is sweet! Thanks for your help all!

http://www.belllexus.com/VehicleDeta...-AZ/1833035343

SPhoto

The big thing i remember is timing belt being one of the majors...nice pick up though if you really are picking this up

hotdawwg

Car looks amazing! Get it!

Dranom

iTrader: (7)

If the timing belt and water pump wasn't changed then thats gonna be pricey i paid around $1800 cash no tax
after that the bushings might be worn so your looking around $300-$700?

door331

at about 160k mi I would check when the timing belt was done- if it was not done at the 90k service try to negotiate to get that service done at the dealer (I did this, ended up going 50/50 on the cost of waterpump/timingbelt)

As Dranom said, bushings will eventually start wearing out along with other regular maintenance parts (I had to do rear brake pads right after I got mine)

Do you plan on doing repairs/maintenance on this yourself or at a shop? that will help determine the overall costs over those next 50k (also how fast you go through 50k mi? It takes me about 2 yrs lol). Some parts for the Lex are expensive- others are not much more than any other foreign car.

theotter

Thanks for the feedback everybody. I will check on the timing belt, but if it was replaced at 90k should it be replaced again at 180k? Thanks!

rrgone

I had to have the starter motor changed on my wife's '98 LS400 earlier this year. That's another job that is fairly labor intensive. I spent about $1200 parts and labor for the starter job at an indy shop. I think the starter failing is not uncommon on these, from what I have read in here. Knowing what I do now I would have had the starter changed when I did the timing belt.

BTW, I let the timing belt job go until there was about 110K on the engine.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

i did my belt at 130k, through the neglect of the previous owner. to my understanding, the starter is under the intake manifold, which is a completely different job from the TB/WP all together!

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Starter is a PITA but not all LS's will have that issue, the last starter replacement got me $660.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

so happy to be at 150k on the original starter

RA40

iTrader: (6)

I just know mine is prone to starter replacements. Except for the bushings I don't think many of us have encountered duplicate wear issues. One of my buddy's who had his 1LS was telling me that I can count on replacing:

Steering rack and PS pump,
A/C compressor along with receiver/dryer
Alternator
Master cylinder

The PS pump was rebuilt. Alternator yep but I have to dig through the receipts for when.

Might have to do a poll to see what the incidence of common repairs are.

door331

Starters in my household seem to go out around the 160k mark including my two previous cars (which I still own).

though these were all domestic vehicles. I am the first one to purchase a foreign vehicle in my immediate family.

rrgone

The starter was going out when I had the timing belt replaced. I just didn't recognize the early signs that it was on the way out and thought it was the battery or charging system. Anyway, would have been far more convient if I had recognized the signs and had both jobs done at once. Probably would have saved some $$ on labor that way too. Definately would have saved my wife a day of her time.

I just looked at the invoice and the starter job was really only about $700. I forgot that I had brakes done and oil changed at the same time.

Kennyr44

My 91 has 185k and the starter is original and fine. Ive replaced the alternator twice, steering rack and pump, control arms, removed and resealed the transmission, brakes and rotors many times, timing belt, waterpump and pullys, radiator,rear cam seals a couple sets of spark plugs, caps and wires, hood struts, all shocks, 2 sets of sheepskin seat covers etc. Its all a labor of love cause the car looks and drives like bran new . Best car I love it. Id throw 3 grand in it tomorrow if I had to. By the way ive owned it for 14 years and did all the work myself.