Hello, I’m trying to buy a 07 LS460L and I was wondering what are some things I should look out for before buying it

 

Do a search on the forum here for issues to look out for. If it has air suspension, that would be one of the first things to inspect for leaks, including worn control arm bushings and brake actuator failure are the biggest most expensive repairs. Generally speaking the electronics are reliable in these cars. But if it has the Mark Levinson sound system, the amp in those can blow and will need to be repaired if no sound is coming through into the speakers.

 

I highly suggest buying a newer model 2012 or later due to control arm issues

 

Hi, there's a FAQ section at the top of the page that has lots of good info. This car, if well maintained can go 300-400k easily. So, owner records or going to Lexus drivers website and entering VIN # can be helpful for records. Parts and labor can be quite expensive if needed, so a $9k car can have $4-5 k in repairs if certain items need repair. Getting a prepurchase inspection is wise.

 

I have an 07 460L. It is a Love/Hate relationship. Love the comfort, size, performance, and even the amenities still hold up. I put a VLine in for better entertainment and that is OK, though the interface is becoming difficult as software updates are lagging. The Hate is the suspension. It is the hardest thing to manage. I've got 130K miles on mine, and had to replace the control arms 3x now. If I had paid Lexus, I'd have spent more than the car is worth in suspension work.

 

According to the VIN decoder on this site there is a 700lb curb weight difference between the 2007 460 and 460L , that's a lot.


Just in general for the OP, it's also key to know exactly what you're looking at when buying any vehicle or someone that does...and I don't necessarily mean the guy at the Toyota dealer because that's not their bread n butter and the info they have could just be off the internet like many others.
When people are doing repeat repairs in a relatively short time period I question the abilities and methods of the repairer and possibly the parts source. I would "try" to get rid of mine asap if it ever gave a hint of turning into a money pit, lot's of cars for sale out there.

 

In fairness to the OP, the pre 2012 cars had badly designed control arms. Improved arms were available for repairs on older models after 2012. So, buying a 2007 car now, one isn't likely to have old style control arms that die so quickly. Sorry that you did.

 

The big 3 for me to look at when I check them out are down below. I'd get a pre-purchase inspection, too.

On this control arm issue, I didn't want to start a 48,244th thread on it; but I see everyone talking about the front 8. I did research on the rears and even watched The Car Care Nut video on him doing major suspension work on an LS and he pointed out the rear control arms also (rear axle/back of the car). Are these prone to failure also? I've never heard anyone speak about them.

The aforementioned big 3 are: 1. control arms, obviously, 2. brake actuator, and 3. the coolant valley leak. The rest should be easy, basic maintenance items.

I called around shops to find out how much labor is for "all 8" (front) on a SWB, RWD, no air car. I got 10 hours @ $135 per hour from one (can bring your own parts), and I called a relative who works at a shop. He told me 6.7 hours @ $110 per hour (and he'd discount labor more for me). Amayama has all 8 arms for around $1800 to go OEM. Going cheaper can result in shortened lifespan of the bushings and not quite a factory ride. This is the scariest part of looking for one of these, because it's not if, but when. How are the newer revised arms holding up for everyone from the 2012+? I'm looking at 13's with the facelift. Setting aside $3k for this isn't really an exciting enticement.

 

Now you opened up a can o worms, everything wears out sometime.

 

Right, but no one ever mentions the cost or difficulty in replacing these. I searched all over here and Google and couldn't find anything. If they were that bad, people would be screaming about them like the fronts. Maybe those are 200k mile wear items.

 

I would not buy an 07 unless it's your dream car and you have deep pockets. It's a 16 year old car and will have 16 year old problems.

 

I would follow the advice SWFLA gave you in post #4, check the VIN on the Lexus site, and get a PPI.

On my 2007 SWB now with 165K miles, I had the control arms done once, the starter motor replaced (part is cheap but 6-8 hours labor),and recently the steering gear replaced (part expensive, labor cheap). Never had a problem with the brake actuator or any coolant leak, or with the Mark Levinson system.

I wouldn't shy away from a 2007 model IF it has been maintained. It's not for sale, but if anyone bought my car they would be getting one solid vehicle.

 

Year doesn't matter, the arms all will wear to the same extent but newer cars are newer cars so you won't have to address them yet. It's not a major job and can be done in 3.5 hours if you have done it before and you can buy parts under $600 that have lifetime warranty since OE/OEM arms will just wear out again and there is no reason to buy them.

 

do you mind to share what brand did you buy so far?

 

700lb difference? in the brochure of the 07 LS460’s, there’s only like 100lb difference between the SWB models and the L models from what it states.

I believe the 07’s L models only weigh like 4350lbs or so. But then again, it doesn’t state anything regarding the additional features such as the air suspension, ML sound system, and the added rear climate control option which all could add a few hundred pounds to the curb weight, especially the air struts which are fairly heavy.

The control arms and bushings are definitely weak looking IMO vs say what you’ll find in a standard SLA front suspension design with large more solid bushings which can take more abuse. And if one lives in a city with extremely bad road conditions, that added punishment on the suspension will accelerate the wear and tear of the 460 bushings.

The OP definitely should get a Carfax or info from the Lexus website regarding what maintenance or repair items that have been done to the car before even thinking about purchasing one.