02blkgs430

iTrader: (1)

05 LS430 with 90k miles- new radiator
- new front strut w/ mounts
- lower control arms
- now oil leak from transfer case
my OLD 02 GS430 with 245k miles
- nothing.just reg maintenances
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jayclapp

The only premium glass is the original OEM Lexus glass. My insurance refused to pay for OEM and put cheap Chinese (labeled as Pilkington) a few years ago and it looks like it has been sandblasted when looking into the sun. The installer told me he bought the "approved" glass for a little over $100 and got paid $200 by the insurance company to do the job. All the insurance companies seem to be in collusion in this scam.

BCT

Mind sharing what piece of memory foam/where to buy that you planning to install? I feel that my driver seat is sagging as well compare to the passenger seat. I like to replace the foam, but OEM foam is pretty expensive. Adding another piece of foam maybe a good cheaper solution, although I wonder how that would work with the cooling and heating for the seat.

Johnhav430

I had an issue with the lizard co. steering me to first repair, then safelite, on my BMW. They ultimately put Saint Gobain Sekurit with a BMW logo. I basically told them that it doesn't matter to me how much the glass costs, i.e. the spread, I have insurance, and they agreed. Honestly, I did hold it against the rep for reading the script on how the cheap glass is the same.

But you keep saying cheap Chinese. FUYAO is OE BMW today. Also Bentley. Pilkington at the time was an OE supplier to BMW as well. Don't know why you think it's cheap, and also say Chinese.

I would go by brand, not where it's made. If Saint Gobain Sekurit still made OE glass for BMW, it had the BMW logo, and was made in China, the fact that it is made in China does not make it cheap. When I removed my ABS pump from the BMW, it said, "made in Hungary." So what?

And if your insurance co. treated you that way, shouldn't you switch? I did afterwards. And saved money too with the hands people. More coverage, lower premium.

TominPT

To BCT's question "Mind sharing what piece of memory foam/where to buy that you planning to install?" I used a foam mattress topper I was not using, its actually 1 3/8 inches thick. Its quite soft and compliant, but it does work as a bandaid just placed over the seat bottom. I live in a mild climate and do not need heated or cooled seats. But when I do install it under the seat cover, on top of the existing foam, I will cut out some holes in registry with the OEM foam holes for the air to flow to the seating surface with a pair of scissors and call it good. Save ~ $ 250+ as compared to OEM seat cushions.

Jkallinen

My 2002 LS430 just cost me $1696.28. Turns out my rear brake issue was not the problem. When they put it up on the rack.
They found Rear Suspension Cross member Cross Frame that section of it had rusted away and collapsed. They found one
off Rock Auto and had it shipped for $250. OEM price $1278. The biggest cost was the labor since they to take it all apart and
fight rusty linkages.

Johnhav430

Man, that reminds me of my 1998 Maxima. That gen of Maxima routinely had the lower rad supports collapse at around year 9 or 10, and it was like a $2400 job at the dealer, who actually farmed it out to body shops who would often install aftermarket parts, where it collapsed again in 2 years. I don't get the Japanese design--we have places in the USA where salt is used, it's not an excuse to say well what do you want you're supposed to buy a new car before it collapses! Luckily for me a forum member fixed it for $130 and knock on wood it's now 9 years later and no issues...

warminwisc

https://www.pilkington.com/en/us/about-us

BCT

Without trying to sound like a total a**, unfortunately the answer is yes. Every products from airplane to cars to computers etc has an end of life, 5 years, 10 years, 100K miles, 100K hours etc. They also have a calculation, 90% 95% 99% of user/owner is not going to own this widget pass it's end of life. So any widget is not being built pass that time. I remember when one can easily get a lot more miles out of Michelin tires which make it a very good buy when one do cost vs benefit calculation. Now it seems that all of their models come with less thread. I guess they figure out that their tires are so good that they are leaving money on the table.

LS430 is probably pass it's end of life or near it, so problems is going to start appearing. You can have super low miles, but the fact is, LS430 is still 13 year old (or older) car with old parts and old rubbers. Rust is going to accelerate that problems. I am sure they have calculation how long rust will eat away things.