wantthatLS

I am currently looking at a 2003 LS 430 with ~96k miles. It has some issues which don't bother me (steering column motors inop, LR door lock actuator inop). It has been serviced every 5000 miles at the dealership (thanks, lexus drivers' site), and it has already had the water pump and timing belt already replaced. I plan on putting less than 2000 miles per year on the vehicle, as I have a motorcycle and a bicycle for primary transportation, but would need a car for rainy days and bigger shopping trips. My concern is this: how much should I expect to keep set aside for maintenance and repairs?

Johnhav430

Would likely be repairs, not maintenance. The door actuator is $840 at Lexus but people DIY, and the dealer that sold me, my car, fixed it and physically had the car for half and hour (2.5+ yrs. knock on wood still good). I popped the fuse for my steering motors just to stop the tilt so it wouldn't break. The repairs is unknown, maintenance very little a few hundred per year but unlikely you need it at 2k/yr....

OG Member

iTrader: (1)

Here are additional insight since we have similar vehicles (mine is an '03 with 117k miles) and projected usage.

Items replaced prior to my purchase:

• Timing Belt
• Water Pump
• Valve Cover Gaskets
• Coolant Flush
• Transmission Fluid Replacement
• Rear Differential Fluid Replacement
• Rear Struts (original seeping from shock)
• Front Hood shocks
• Rear Trunk shocks
• Front/Rear Brake pads and rotors
• In-Cabin Filter
• Intake Filter
• New Tires
• Side view mirror switch replacement

Items I've addressed post purchase:

• Front Struts + Alignment
• PCV + Grommet
• Spark Plugs
• Rear Passenger Door Seal
• Seat filters (helped increase flow of cooled/heated seats)
• Radiator cap (preventative)
• Gas Cap and VSV valve (due to P0456 code)

Based on the above, I would say estimate around 20% of the value of the vehicle for maintenance/repairs with an additional delta of +/- 5-10% if you do the work yourself vs. trusted mechanic.

Hope this helps!

BCT

I think what needed for maintenance for LS is comparable with other Japanese cars, which pretty great imo. One can drive a luxury car with pretty affordable maintenance cost. Having said that, these cost maybe a little more expensive, for example struts for Corolla probably cheaper than one for LS, tires probably more expensive just because it is larger size, etc. What @OG Member posted is about right.

The one thing that is different for LS is if this model is a Ultra Luxury because it has air suspension. You can do a search here, and see how much those cost if need to be replaced.

You can use those issues that you found for bargaining. It may save you a few hundred bucks of the purchase price. Do not tell the seller that you do not mind them. Good luck!

Vantage007

One thing to keep in mind with the 2003 is that the timing belt should be done every 8 years regardless of mileage. If the first change was done in 2011-2012, then you're looking at another change soon. Might as well get it out of the way so you're set for another few years. My '04 is in the shop right now getting its second change done.