I have been an ES300 owner for some time now, and I decided to make the upgrade to an LS430. I found one locally, a 2003 that has the Nav/Levinson package with the Ecru trim. It has 230K miles but it appears very well taken care of, looks like it has 130K rather than 230K, both outside and inside. Always garage kept and full synthetic oil changes every 3-5K miles according to the owner. He also has all the original keys and manuals. It has some small problems, mirror adjustment switch is not working, headlight leveling warning is sometimes coming on and the brake pads are going to need to be replaced soon. The only big thing is there is no record of the timing belt being done anywhere in the service history online or that he knows of. It was noted in the service history as recommended for replacement by the dealer at around 170K miles, but no record of it actually being done. Is it worth $4000, considering the issues? I love DIY, so I have no problems fixing stuff myself, though a timing belt replacement I would probably have my mechanic do. Any advice is great appreciated!

 

I wish I could have asked the board what to look for when I bought mines. Edmunds says your car is worth 2500 by private seller. My costs as I remember:

T belt: 400-500
Rear main seal: 350
Two cats: 600
Starter: 400-600, did it myself
LCA: 250

I still need to get the y pipe done which is about 250. All these affects performance and are unavoidable. Not to mention the various gaskets, sensors, connectors, etc. all equaling to another 500 or so.

 

if they neglected the timing belt, what else did they neglect?

 

I went and checked it out, in addition to the mentioned problems above the steering column doesn't move and the VSC and ABS lights are on. However, the owner put 19" wheels from an RC350 on the car, would that possibly be causing the lights and the intermittent headlight leveling error? The car is very nicely kept, all the cosmetics are very clean with little wear and it has a pretty good dealership service history, the timing belt replacement was recommended to the owner before the current owner, but was never done. The transmission fluid is brown with a slight red tinge, but it does not smell burnt, so I think it will be okay. I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth $4000 or should I keep looking.

 

I went ahead and got it. WOW, this thing is so clean, and other than the timing belt it has been very well maintained as well. Almost everything works on it as well, just a few minor things that are well documented on here and not too hard to fix. I think I'm in love haha. Some pics from the seller's ad, it's way too dark right now to take photos.

 

Awesome, looks good. Congrats on the purchase.

 

You mentioned that the trans fluid is brown with a tinge of red. If yoiur transmission shifts ok DO NOT CHANGE THE FLUID! You don't know the service history of the fluid changes and at this point with those miles, leave well enough alone. Good luck and let us know how things work out.

 

congrats....i would get that timing belt done ASAP if it really wasn't done.

 

I don't think a pan drop, filter change and fluid refill would be as dangerous as you imply here.

 

I would change the trans fluid, but just not all at once. Drain/ fill 3-4 qts of trans fluid with each oil change.

The car looks great, the RC350 wheels look really nice on there.

 

Indeed, my ES300 had the fluid changed once in 193K miles when I got it, it was even worse looking than the LS. Did a pan drop, filter change and refill, then 3K miles later another drain and refill and it's worked fine since then, and it has over 257K miles now. Just changed it again recently. Maybe Bocatrip meant doing a flush? That I could see not wanting to do with this many miles.

Right now I'm waiting on my mechanic to get me in to change the timing belt and water pump, so until then I won't be driving it a lot. I will however start fixing the more simple problems, starting with the mirror switch. This was stupidly simple, from start to finish it took me 10 mins and I now have working mirrors again.

Some photos of the interior and engine bay, I cannot believe how clean this is and everything is in really good shape.

 

You can go conservatively with the drain and fill during your regular oil changes for the trans. That shouldn't disturb any varnish buildup on the trans clutches. Certainly no flush ever!

 

Congratulations. Great looking car. Many happy serene miles to you, sir!