Finn

Based on your experiences would you trust aftermarket parts or only OEM?

The price difference seems to be huge.

LScowboyLS

only OEM, and the difference in smoothness of the engine is huge! (the OEM motor mounts have a fluid filled technology that has never been successfully copied)

besides, the transmission mount is very low cost here in USA for OEM, around $40 or so at many online factory authorized Lexus dealerships (Lexus of South Atlanta, Park Place Lexus, Sewell Lexus, Lexus Parts Now, etc.)

Finn

Motor mount USD 260,- each and transmission mount USD 211,- at the local dealer.

Thanks for the info.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

buy from the US or mainland europe. the trans mount is ~$35-45+shipping here. engine mounts are an easy hundred off (each) too depending on year.

even with shipping you'll be better off.

Finn

Well, Sewell had OK prices on parts but their shipping cost was more than parts total so with tax and customs it's not that far off of local prices here.

I'll need to check if our office in USA could arrange shipping as our courier costs are a fraction of these quotes.

YoshiMan

I will admit that i put aftermarket Engine and tranny mounts in my LS400 upon first buying it last year. I had about a week and a half to get ALOT of work on it done when i first bought it and simply couldn't afford OEM everything at the time.

They made a world of difference and made it feel like a new car. However, recently when its really cold out there is a pronounced drive line rumble that goes away once the car hits operating temperature. I blame this on the aftermarket ones, and plan on changing them out again sometime in the future.

If you are not in a rush, and can do a little searching to find the OEMs for cheaper, i would definitely do those just because the engine mounts on these cars are a TOTAL PAIN to do!

LScowboyLS

you just need to call some of the large Lexus dealerships in USA and negotiate with them to ship in a flat-rate box with US post office or else via UPS and ship for actual shipping cost (what it costs them) - I think you should be able to negotiate all 3 OEM mounts, shipped together, to Finland for ~US$330 total, including all shipping charges to Finland*

call all of those dealerships I mentioned previously, as well as Carson Toyota

*source - I ship a lot of ebay items to Europe, including Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania

Finn

FWIW, we changed the mounts today, all OEM from Sewell.

I was a bit disappointed to see that all three mounts were intact with zero visible damage. But the difference in ride quality is huge. The ride now is absolutely phenomenal. Which is nice.

qha_vn

one of the factors to decide OEM or aftermarket would be how long you want to use your car. if less then a year and the part is so bad and need to be replaced, go with cheap aftermarket otherwise OEM OEM OEM.

LScowboyLS

good places to use aftermarket parts on LS400:

● battery
● oil
● oil filter
● brake fluid
● air filter
● CD player
● tires
● freon
● rear end differential lube
● wax
● washer fluid
● windshield wipers
● fuses
● distilled water (for coolant mix, battery)

I can't think of any others

LScowboyLS

THIS - and the the cold weather, are the only two reasons I don't live in Finland!

Yamae

I have lived and visited different countries. I still feel that Japan is the best except the hot summer and cold winter but much warmer than Detroit MI. My transmission mount has worn out at 85K miles. I think this is partly because of the big heat cycle.

YoshiMan

Anyplace is probably better than YellowKnife! I check the temperatures up there on occasion just to let myself know it could always be worse somewhere else.... as of the moment I am typing this, it is -17, with a windchill of -39.... ouch!

My new OEM tranny mount is on the way. As I said above, the aftermarket one held up for less than a year before the rumblies came back, so this should put the nail in the coffin...

Finn

It's not cold, only -12 °C today.

Only thing left - that I know - is to plug the steering pump valve. Then it's time to play with the Harley for a change.

LScowboyLS

everyone's LS400/Celsior transmission mount wore out at 85K miles, it's just that a lot of folks haven't realized it, and therefore do not realize that their LS400/Celsior could be much more smooth and vibration free inside!