I have been scanning the local ads for LS430s, and I see cars with 200K+, 250K+, even 300K+ but which look to be in top shape and well-maintained for $5-7K.

Given the same apparent condition, is it worth it to pay $10-11K to get a car with around 100K miles? The production year doesn't seem to affect the list price much, just the mileage.

 

I paid $4400 yesterday for a good running, not aesthetically perfect 01 430 with 134k miles.

I wish I could have got it for a bit cheaper, but considering how well it runs and drives it seems like fair value.

Keep looking.

 

If you can afford the lower mileage cars buy them, the money you save on a highter milage car isn't worth the repair costs. If you can't financially afford the low mile examples high mileage cars are still good, I drive my 220k 01 UL to work everyday never had a problem with the air suspension. The biggest problems I've had with my car are down to previous mechanic's work and oil seals failing causing leaks.

 

If you are not at all mechanic shoot for 100k, if you can do some DIY then 150k is fine since you will likely need to do some small stuff here and there and perhaps some oil leaks will need addressed. 200k is the upper limit and you need to be expecting to replace the suspension and reseal a lot of stuff

 

Thanks for your suggestions. I intend to get a car without the air suspension. Does the standard suspension need replacement?

 

If you want it to function correctly yes, otherwise it will have very poor rebound and wheel location over any inconsistency in the road from old bushings and worn shocks etc. Makes a huge difference when you replace everything as well as the steering system

 

This ^. I am working through right now the suspension issues on my new to me LS430 that had 140K on the odomoter when I bought it. On the front end, if you want the LS glide you might have been expecting, you are probably looking at lower control arm bushings (LS OEM bushings are not longer available), lower ball joints, upper control arms, struts, strut mounts, sway bar bushings (and possibly front sway bar end links), and perhaps a few other small bits. Engine mounts and the transmission mount are likely in your future too. My dearly departed AMG MB E550 ate such parts like candy, so I'm not surprised by the LS' appetite for rubber suspension bits., motor mounts, etc. , when the mileage and age starts getting up there.

I haven't yet identified what is the best bang for the buck for rear end apart from struts. Striker, any thoughts about this?

An overhaul of the cooling system is probably in order at 140K plus. It was for me. Here, you are talking new radiator, cap, hoses, and thermostat. In my experience, Toyota/Lexus radiators and hoses are about due for replacement at that mileage and corresponding age. You can throw the water pump into the mix if if hasn't been done yet (usually with the timing belt).

 

bear in mind high mileage cars may have had major parts replaced already whare as low mileage may need parts replaced sooner or later

 

IMO avoid air suspension. Lexus air suspension was/is good quality, but these cars are getting older. The air suspension WILL fail eventually...

 

I buy proforged for anything with a ball joint that is made for these cars, Raybestos sway links are Japan made and seem very nice, shocks and mounts I went with Sachs, upper arms I used B&A, bushings for the lower arms are moog and Lexus

For everything else denso or OE/Aisin

 

Kind of specific, but one thing that comes from age/mileage is a leaking camshaft seal. A bad cam seal could mean a PITA of an oil leak, especially right onto your alternator.
On the LS400's 1UZ without, that's no problem, just swap out the seal during a TB/WP service.
On the LS430's 3UZ with VVTi (and 1UZ's with VVTi, thanks jharris400)... no such luck. The camshafts (and valve covers, TB/WP, etc.) have to come off in order to replace that seal.

Besides all the seals that could possibly go bad... Suspension will fail with time, air suspension even faster. Electronics will start to fail (e.g. door lock actuators, mirror functionality, power window alignment, stereo amplifier(s)).
These cars are stout, they are well-made compared to other vehicles, but they still have their imperfections and still need regular service.

Service records that hit the major services and show a clean bill of health would be the most important factor when shopping for a used LS430, any car for that matter.

A decent LS430 will put a smile on your face, a well-maintained LS430 will keep that smile there. Good luck.

 

You do know the later model 1UZ's have vvti just like the 3UZ.

 

I just got a 2005 UL with 166K for $9500. Super clean always dealer serviced.

 

I would think that at 500k there would just be things that need attention, it would be more sensible to spend more and get lower miles. We're not supposed to compare to other brands on this forum, but since this is the first Lexus for me (owned it since 10/16), it would be impossible otherwise. imho anything < 200k is of no consequence. Since the cars are pretty old, why not just get one with say <= 199999.9? The prices are likely similar.

 

All things being equal, I'd prefer a car with 150k miles to one with 250k miles but finding a good car that was very well maintained (by Lexus or by expert shop) is likely more important than total mileage at this point. Obvious oil leaks are a deal breaker for me - some are cheap to fix but some are major money. But a car with 200k+ miles on it could be a great car if it was garage kept and had all major service done by the book, and has no oil leaks.

My car with 135k miles on it runs and drives like it is new...seriously...at idle at a stop sign the engine is totally silent with zero vibration, unless you look at the tach its hard to tell if the engine is running. These are crazy overbuilt and over engineered cars and if you take care of them will run perfect for many years.