I've owned my 170k 2005 UL since 2009 and have enjoyed it, but time and circumstances crop up. I want to detail the issues to get some thoughts.
(1) First, the car runs great as a daily, fairly low mileage each year, say 6k. Short of a flat tire or dead battery, it has never left me stranded except alternator once in 16+ years.
(2) Front bumper has had a corner slice, deep (cracked) for years. Ignored, but sadly, last evening at dusk, a single wild turkey in middle road caused me to swerve. Hit it alas with same damaged corner, and 2 parking sensors got damaged. Either pushed on or gone, hard to tell. But I had to turn off the parking sensors, and there are 2 open holes there now on top of the existing hardly great bumper damage.
(3) Radiator has slow (but not tiny) coolant loss. Probably for years. If temp starts to move up at all a bit, I know. Needed to add nearly a gallon 15 months after a full coolant change. I can get it checked in case other sources of loss, but after 20 years, I probably need a new radiator to be totally safe. Not urgent so far.
(4) Just got a new A/C compressor and condenser for $1500. Water under bridge...
(5) Bad passenger seat rip, plus wear on arrmrests, plus center nav bezel bad wear. I'd bring it to an interior specialist to clean all seats and interior, etc. Adds some money. At a minimum, fix the seat.
(6) Original air struts. They work, but car does not ride as it once did. Tein Flex Z's as decent coilovers? or find a place that can build original struts/mounts/etc.? I so not want to lose the swivel AFS headlights!!
(7) Original susp, some wheel wobble (visible vibration) on some surfaces at 60mph. Could be a bent rim (dealer mention years ago!)? did rotation, balancing, alignment at dealer although notes said they could not adjust in back? Some adjuster part marked as stuck. They did not even tell me verbally. Most likely the old (air) struts?
(8) I could use replaced headlights (HID low beams)
(9) tilt wheel motor shot for years. willing to ignore
(10) Timing belt due again in 2 years (it'll be 9 years from last time). I should probably add in front cam seals this time.
(11) diff fluid due (cheap enough) and trans fluid due after 75k miles/9-ish years (not cheap for WS full exchange)
(12) All original hoses and suspension everywhere. No oil leaks / original valve cover gasket etc.
(13) Door edges on driver side bit rusty. Not horrible, but could get worse so want to consider options to arrest/fix.

In next two years, I see radiator/coolant, Timing Belt, and (sooner) trans fluid as fairly essential. But I don't want to drive something that is becoming a beater. The bumper/parking sensors will cost a small fortune (guessing 2k at body shop?) and I need to at least fix the seat rip.

The car is 20 years old and I don't know about rest of suspension ,although no one has said the bushings are bad or control arms etc.

So: radiator is maybe 1k although maybe combine with TB to save labor, TB/water pump 1800 with cam seal (guess), trans fluid WS full replace is probably $450+. Bumper / Parking sensors is probably $2k+ (no collision/comp), struts conversion are probably 2k . Maybe headlights cheaper for labor with the bumper. The interior I want to do to keep the car nice, I could see 1000 on that between seat repair/recover etc. Seat alone probably less, say $350

I have always done all core maintenance timely (even if my trans fluid is a bit overdue), but I am not DIY. With the added bumper damage (really, the parking sensors), I could see this costing me 7000-8000 to make the car nicer. I don't commute to work with it, and it has been very reliable, but I do wonder if between fixing all the above or selling it (someone able to work on it will get a great fundamental car). Or I can plug the bumper parking sensor hole and leave it off and keep going, doing just the timing belt and trans fluid. But car is not "nice". Alternative is bumper touch up (maybe? I have doubts) + seat rip fix, ignore suspension for now.

I'm flailing a bit here, not sure if I start with a body shop or the best approach other than just do maintenance alone. I know people think LS's last forever, but things crop up, and the bumper thing got me thinking, kind if the item that really affected my liking the car in its current state. I can easily spend many thousands on this. yes, a newer car will cost more and depreciate more, and not be this level, but the car really needs some work and money. Not sure I'd want to just get another one either, as I know my hstory and that car is fundamentally mechanically sound.

No answers yet, just questions, and thoughts welcome.



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You know my thoughts on this. (https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...work-done.html)
The decision has to be yours. I looked at other cars and other LS430s, and in the end decided to spend money on what I have because I like it :-)

 

your plan is good, is the cost within your budget or not is the question.

 

BigBoomer, thanks. I forgot frankly that I had posted/replied so recently. Priot to the bumper, my plan was: radiator with timing belt in 2 years + fix seat now. The bumper/parking sensor damage added to that tally and got me thinking, since I also just replaced the a/c compressor. My new plan I think is: get estimate on the bumper/parking + door rust first. I want the cosmetics decent to keep the car. It will not look new but will be improved. If acceptable, do the trans first for a while before even the cosmetics, to ensure the trans is still fine after. If so (and I hope/expect), then fix bumper + headlight bulbs + rusty door edge at once and interior. Do TB/radiator in 2 years when TB is due, keeping an eye that radiator is OK for now. Defer any suspension issues as the car rides fine for now even with that very slght occasional 60mph wheel vibration.

I will start with quotes on the exterior and consider from there.

The real hit here is the bumper. I had not planned on fixing it but I think I want to, as I do want to fix the parking sensors. The key Q as you said is investing significant $$ in a 20 year old car. I will spread it out but am aiming to if my wife is OK with it.