danmiles86

Hi all,

I'm really having a tough time deciding what to do with my 430. It's the best car I've ever had but its now getting on a bit now at 9 years old and done 176,000 miles.

For most of its life its been reliable and not too expensive to run as we have converted it to run on LPG (half the price of petrol in the UK.) However in the last 20,000 miles its started to get expensive and not sure if its going to keep getting worse.

I've done my budgeting and decided if it costs more that £1500 a year in repairs then it needs to go. Its been well looked after and main dealer serviced its whole life.

Recent big bills (last 2 years /20,000 miles) include telescope motor (twice!), complete new air con system, 2 air struts, 4 02 sensors, rear view camera, 2x suspension bushes, exhaust, replacement wheels (corrosion) and maybe a couple of other things I forgot. Total apx £9000, aka £4500 a year over two years.

The big question is in other folks opinion have I replaced a lot of the common stuff and will get back to good reliable motoring or is this rising cost trend likely to escalate?

Thanks, Dan

tiger02

Dan,

I believe your experience is not typical of most. I spent $1200 at the 100,000 mile tune up, but outside of that I'd say less than $1000 in repairs. Hood struts, trunk struts, front and rear pads and rotors have been it, outside of normal fluid changes done by myself. I have around 145,000 miles on my 2001.

Good luck in your decision.

Vince

e60bmw

iTrader: (1)

The question is, if you replace it what would you replace it with? If you are spending $2500 a year for 3 years it would be roughly $7k or so. If you bought a new Lexus just so you wouldn't have to spend that money, it would be what $60k? It doesn't make sense if you were going to get something new expensive just so you wouldn't have to pay repair costs. Depending on how much you have put in the car may be pretty solid for a while since you did alot of major stuff like suspension and airstruts. I'm not too familiar with the car yet since I just got it, but aren't the engines and trannys in these cars pretty solid?

danmiles86

Thanks Tiger, good to hear a positive response.

e60bmw - It would be a newer CT or IS. I know they are not directly comparable but I've been impressed with just how good the top spect CT is. Pretty much all the toys of the LS (excluding rear leg room, massage seats and cooler!) so would be happy with this.

As I said I've done the maths and $2500PA really is the cut of as the where its worth changing it in.

Heck I've even seen a 2011 LS460 with just 42,000 miles for £15000 with 3 year main dealer warranty ($25000) and that would tempt me as it would have a lot of life left in that!

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

Hey dan , can you tell us more about this conversion you did?

What sort of fuel is it running on now?

danmiles86

Just a pretty standard OMVL LPG conversion kit. So it runs petrol until its warm then switches to LPG. I'm pretty confident in this system and the engine as a whole. Its all the Lexus electronics (and air suspension) that make me most nervous about potential cost!

Jabberwock

I'd replace the car if it has any rust on the body, undercarriage, or frame. If no rust issues, I suggest you drive for several more years at a minimum until there are good used affordable plug in hybrid luxury sedans to replace it. And LS460 has lots more HP but gets significantly worse mpg - not a good plan in a place where fuel is expensive.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

The main point to these cars is the longevity of the engine and driveline. With due care, previous model Lexus cars and Japan built Toyota's are capable of 500,000 miles/804K. Not many want to stick with a car that long but some do. 200-300,000 miles seems to be typical for long term owners before they want to move on.

You are nearing that point and there is no getting around mechanical parts that wear. For peace of mind, machines will have to be put to pasture or into other's hands who are willing to keep them going. Depends just how much you really like the car and whether the replacement brings equal or more peace of mind.

Generally with a competent mechanic performing the repairs, the replaced parts should have the longevity of the originals. Provided these are factory OEM parts and not third party aftermarket replacements. Other wear items will come due as well: alternator, rack pinion, PS pump, starter, various engine sensors, hoses, bushings, etc.

DonMolina

Well, since you pretty much replaced all of the expensive stuff that could reasonably go wrong in the car (judging from the community's aggregate experience), it makes zero sense to sell now.

You changed all of the O2 sensors, half your struts and re-did the ac system (what happened to it actually?).

Realistically things that could go are the radiator (less than 100 GBP on ebay - that's how much it costed me last year to ship one to Greece from the UK) and if you're really unlucky another strut. And if the steering tilt goes again, you should check if you're abusing it.


If you were halfway all the maintenance you did, I'd say sell it. With the question of "and buy what?" remaining.

Now, just keep it and see how it goes

bmore430

Why did it eat up 2 telescoping motors in the steering? That seems odd for a 2yr span.

I've also never seen a post where the whole ac system was replaced under 200k miles.

The rest of your repairs seem typical.

Was the exhaust a leak in the y pipe or did the cats go bad?

danmiles86

Thanks for the votes and comments.

I'm not sure why its gone through two motors... I'm just about to do the second replacement and found the rubber bush to be a bit past it. Plus the wheel its really hard to move in and out even with the gearing removed. Going to use to some spray grease on the column + new bushes to see if this will salvage the old motor.

Not sure what happened to the ac system, this was the last bit of work done by the previous owner.

All my replacement parts have been OEM and fitted by the main dealer. Had very regular servicing too.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

^ well that's why its been so damn expensive...

Bushings are a whole 15minutes of work and a few dollar part.

The telescopic motor should've had some kind of 'warranty' if not the dealer should've gifted or severly discounted the second as 'good will'.

The exhaust could be welded up, why anybody changes it [unless rotted through] is beyond me, again, a few bucks to do it.

The AC compressor can get pricey, a few hundred and a few hundred to fit it in along with recharge.

The struts & O2's can be pricey, however, I am VERY doubtful all four we're bad. I'm gonna assume you had a misfire and as a 'precaution' the dealer just changed all four instead of checking the problematic one(s)...

The rear-cam, you can score those used on the cheap.

The wheels are cosmetic, you could've had them powder-coated for much less.

All in all, you're a fool for continually going to a dealer that seems to bend you over each time you visit!

Lzam

Yeah I would find another person who knows lexus the up keep would be a lot less. My mechanic lets me buy the parts and charges less labor. $250 for 100,000 mile timing belt service!