True, repairs can certainly run into the thousands. My plan is to get a well serviced LS430 without air suspension for around 6 to 7K. And then I'll have a couple thousand saved for the timing belt. I've had some experience working on cars, so any other suspension related repairs I could do myself for cheap just pulling parts from a "pick and pull" junkyard. Other than the timing belt, there's really not anything expensive to repair other than maybe the door actuator as far as I know. Of course expensive things can break such as the auto turning headlights. I'm willing to accept the expenses for the pleasure of the driving and owning this car. lol

 

If you can handle RHD, there are some awesome LS 400/Celsior cars being imported these days. This one looks amazing, and has only 10,500 miles on it...I almost want to buy it myself

https://www.japaneseclassics.com/veh...sior-type-c-2/

 

I have a 2007 LS460 with 193K and you think they are reliable until you start adding up all the costs. With an extra 100 hp they also have speed rated tires and ride a little harsher in my opinion.

 

Best bet is getting an LS430 even with 150,000+ miles that has been serviced properly for 5-7,000 bucks rather than any LS460 which not only will cost more out of the gate, but will require a lot of money to be expended due to more inherent issues because of design flaws. The early (2007-2012) LS460s are not great cars. Period. Bottom line is that as our LS430s are old cars, there is no longer a free ride in owning them. Costs to keep them up can be expensive and finding a low mileage car will not be the answer either as age has set in, and they too will eventually require work. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

Wow that is pretty amazing...

 

The AFS sensor that typically causes the headlight turning to not work is a quick and easy fix, thankfully. It's three bolts and a plug, and is in the left rear wheel well, I just chocked the wheels and wiggled under there, no jack needed, no need to take off a wheel. Put a silicone bead on the new sensor and coat the new plug with grease after plugging in to keep water out, it's actually in a stupid location where water hits it. Also spray the bracket with oil coating. Part was $200 new, but can also be gotten as a junkyard pull. Stealership will charge $800 to do it. There's a knockoff of the sensor, but I've heard they fail relatively quickly, so I would go with OEM.

As soon as I did that, the AFS off light went out, the headlights gimbaled around and elevated to the right cutoff position.

 

I'd just be wary of big city cars, especially a city of like Pittsburgh. Carfax sometimes doesn't tell the entire story, especially if the thing had some ghetto adventures (the unfortunate fate of too many older Lexuses) and had body repair work done by the third owner's cousin off the books...or was one of those splayed-wheels stance cars, parts of the frame are now shot, and it's been put back to proper camber for sale.

I got the entire story on my low miles 430, single owner older rich guy who maintained it religiously at the dealership, widow kept it, then sold it. Looked at the service records, even a copy of original owner's death certificate as part of the ownership records before buying.

 

Carfax is grossly inaccurate. I've only started looking at it since 2016, when I got the LS430 used. If you say we have 4 cars in our household, a 1998, a 2006, a 2007, and a 2011? Only the LS430 and the 1998 seemed to be complete. The 2007 and 2011 were totally missing all dealership services. From new car dealerships (BMW and GMC). Suddenly, 2 mos. ago, they appeared out of nowhere. And the 1998 was shocking--every single service was on it starting 2001. I remember some of the services on that car were still hand written on paper invoices if you can believe that.

My buddy who lives in FLA says avoid all SoFLA cars, it's a rip off haven. Well, my cousin got a 535i wagon shipped up from Miami, clean carfax, and there was total damage on the vehicle to include the subframe. Granted he paid a price close to wholesale, point being it was totally misrepresented on eBay by a dealer.

I have no idea why? But so many Buick GMC at least to early this year, have used LS430s. Not sure if they sought them, or they were traded. Because the used car salesman on mine totally lied. I purchased in NYS and required by law is that I am given the previous owner's name and address (that's dumb, why lol). Just saying that info did not match what I was told by the salesman.

 

It's not like many LS 430s were bought by country folks! They are, in fact, typically found in large metro areas. The car I previously mentioned is posed in the driveway of a high end house in Cranberry Township, a really nice suburban area of Pittsburgh. In other words, it is possibly the sort of prime candidate you described. Whatever its story, much can be told from running the VIN included in the ad.

Well, the Lexus service history is not the best. It's had at least 2 owners and was hit fairly hard in the rear in 2011. Also, it's a CL, not a UL. I've seen many ads touting LS 430s as having "all options" (or using similar language) that don't.

 

From my personal experience, you can find a 2004-2006 LS430 with much less miles than 150k for $10,000. I searched Craigslist, Searchtempest, Facebook Marketplace, Autotrader, Cars.com, and Cargurus before I found one. I bought a 2005 Lexus LS430 Ultra Luxury with 69,000 miles for $10,500. Single owner older lady who had it dealer maintained. I had to go with the Ultra Luxury because of the double pane windows, back seat controls, and everything else that it added. You can have the air suspension replaced for $1000 parts and $400 labor. A potential yet not guaranteed repair that will cost me $1,400 is totally worth it in my book when compared to everything I got over the base model. But everyone is different.

After owning it for about 2 months I'm not impressed at all with the ride or air suspension. I'm meeting up with a local guy in Cincinnati who has the base with normal shocks and struts to see what his drives like. At this point, I really hope there is something wrong with my suspension just so I have an excuse to replace it. Everyone says the LS430 is so smooth and rides like you are on air and yet I have had many other cars that drove smoother than this. Including my 2004 GS300.

I don't say any of this to scare you away, because this is just my story. I know this car wouldn't have such a great reputation if everyone experienced what I am. I also am very very picky.

As for the LS460. I made a thread comparing the Toyota Avalon, LS430, and LS460 a month or so ago. A ton of guys responded with some great advice. I would take a look at those threads to maybe help answer some of your questions.

Here are the links. I got both the 3rd Gen LS430 owners opinions as well as the 4th Gen LS460 owners opinions.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...s-460-awd.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...s-460-awd.html

 

I am researching this very topic now and have been all year. I have owned a LS400 and LS430. Enjoyed both. I have been without a Lexus for several years (sad) and was going to go into a 460. I have been researching them but am thinking it is going to be to costly to repair and maintain so I will probably go into a clean 04-06 LS430. Sun/heat melting of interior parts, air ride and control arms are just some of the issues that concern me w the 460. I am thinking I can get into a clean 430 for 10-15k and it will be cheaper to maintain and repair. Looking like it would be mid teens on into the 20's to find the right clean 460....then I would have to look at maint and repairs. Not that I won't have to w a 430 but I am thinking I know what to look for already and it will be less on the 430

 

imho the entire premise of the 430 is that it's nearly bulletproof. And, there are some "givens" for repairs (such as door actuator @ $840 dealer price).

Otherwise, the used car market is wide open. On YouTube, Hoovie bought a 2007 M5 for $6500. His repairs are going to come in at $9k. At $15,500, who is to say that's not a wise purchase? For a car that listed at $90k new?

The LS430 is more for the person who is not really into repairs and wants a set it and forget it. That's why if the 460 has some repairs needed, I'd open it up to A8 or S550 etc.

 

Because that M5 is probably going to need the same total for repairs every year or two. They put a hole in the bottom of your wallet and it keeps draining. Lexuses age like wine. BMWs age like milk.

 

My 2007 purchased new has aged well, no problems. Twin turbo N54. I think there is a tendency for people who have no issues to not say much about it (I really feel this applies to the extended warranty discussions where no issues means wasted a ton of money [that is me with my 335i I thought extending the warranty was a no-brainer]--they tend to be one-sided where all these people got thousands of repairs under the warranty).

My theory is premium cars get traded in when problems arise and there is a big ticket one according to the dealership (whether true or not), and also they get pushed without proper maintenance when the owner has no interest in the vehicles longevity, such as with a lease.

For example, Lexus dealer stated my car needed $6k of repairs, upon doing the multipoint. Indie said none needed. My 2007 BMW went to the dealership yesterday for the PA state inspection (I only like them to lift it). In its 12 year life, I never paid more than $140 to the dealership, these being the brake flushes out of warranty and coolant flushes. I do brake flushes myself today, but still let them do the coolant every 5 year.

Nothing turned up on a "23 point inspection," and they charged me $40 while providing a loaner. Toyota charged $76 on the LS430 and I had to wait in the lounge. Just trying to illustrate German vs. Japanese is a totally different experience, it's not one-sided.

edit: riddle me this? My buddy told me his wife took the NX (2016 or 2017?) to the Toyota dealer, and was charged $970 for service? WTF does a new NX need that costs that much? Induction cleaning? lol If you pay $970 at BMW you're going to get something for it. 6+ alignments, 6+ coolant flushes, pads/rotors @ $800 (please DIY lol), etc. It won't be snake oil like Toyota.

 

I have a pearl white 2007 LS460 with beige interior 192K miles for $10K. how do I advertise it in the marketplace? Tom 561-346-2816